There are 6750 unreached or unengaged people groups in the world. That’s roughly 60% of the world’s population with little or no access to the life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ, and many of these people (3684 groups, or 8% of the world) have never even heard the name of Jesus uttered. (source: IMB Global Research)
It is our foremost priority as a church to spread the Gospel to people who have never heard it (Matthew 28:17-20; Acts 1:8), and we at Hickory Grove are stepping up our missions efforts to fulfill the Great Commission. Here are a few of the guidelines we’re setting for our church.
Our missions efforts must be…
- Born out of our worship. We will only be as effective in spreading the Gospel to the degree that the work of the Gospel has changed our hearts. We will exalt Christ in our worship, take broken people – dead in their sins – and make regenerate disciples of Jesus out of them, then lead them to pass along the torch of faith.
- Based on the authority of Christ. Has anyone ever referred you to a professional service – maybe a doctor or realtor or insurance agent – and said something like “Make sure you tell them I told you to call” or “use my name”? That’s what we’re doing when we go in Jesus’ name. Our names have no authority and carry no weight; we rely on the name of the One who is going to do the work in the hearts of the people we’re trying to reach. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus tells the disciples that HE has all authority in Heaven and on Earth, and he passes that authority along to them to GO in His name. We, too, will go under the authority of the name of Jesus.
- Centered on the Gospel. We need a firmer grasp on what the true Gospel of Jesus Christ really is. If we have a strong understanding of what Jesus did for us, we’ll be able to communicate His work more clearly to others. That’s why we’re going to study together What is the Gospel? this fall in our worship services and in Sunday School.
- Intentional in planning the trips that we take. A real mission trip is not Christian tourism, yet that’s what we (the church in America) have turned some of our trips into. When we take a trip, we’re going to take the Gospel with us. The work rarely will be easy, and some trips will be to very dark places – spiritually, politically, and culturally. We might not see a great number of decisions, but we will pierce the darkness and plant seeds with the Gospel.
- Focused on developing partnerships with the International Mission Board to reach unreached/unengaged people groups. The IMB has an army of committed and talented missionaries all over the world, and we’re going to help them. As a church, we want to be a resource that backs them up with prayer, financial support, and our mission teams. We’re going to go to where some these missionaries are serving as well as bring them to us so we can take care of them and show them that our church believes in them.
What about you? Will you pray about how the Lord wants YOU to be involved? Will you go?
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DIRECTION OUR CHURCH IS GOING
Pastor Clint- I Truely enjoy your Blog. Please say Hi to Don – Pat Allen for me. Don is my old Basketball coach. You are always in my Prayers———–Blessings- Bob Gaska
Mary Jo and I had the privilege of hearing your message last night via Internet. We are very grateful for our ties to HGBC and the tremendous support we feel from our friends in the Wade SS class, worship ministry, WMU, etc. Thanks!
Steve Cooke
Chile
I am very excited about your sermons charging us as Christians to BE the Christian God intended. Our S.S. class is praying for you and for your protection as you preach the Blood of Christ and a call to action.
We are so blessed to have you as our Pastor.
Sue Kemper
Clint, Let’ get out there and get the gospel to the world!!! We need each other to reach the unreached for Jesus Christ!! Let’s GO!!!
Clint- I’m asbolutely excited. This is His direction – it’s entirely biblical, the right focus because it’s about Jesus, His glory, His gospel and beats with His heart for those who have never even heard His name. They don’t know because His church has failed to obey our Lord. I’m ready for Him to change me and to use me, that He may be gloried and many repent and turn to Him for salvation.
THANK YOU FOR THE TENDER HEARTED FOR THE LOST SOUL IN THIS WORLD,AND WANT REACH THE UNREACHABLE,FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY THE WAY I AM PASTOR IN FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST CHURCH TREDE,KUNASI GHANA WEST AFRICA,PLEASE I WILL BE GLAD TO BE ACCOPANY WITH YOU,BY SPREADING THE GOSPEL,THE RESON IS THAT IN MY COUNTRY ABOUT 98% ARE ON SAVE PEOPLE,THERE ARE HUNDRED’S OF FALSE DOCTRING HERE WHO DO NOT PREACH THE GOSPEL,SO PLEASE TRY TO SEND MISSIONARIES HERE AND COME AND TRAIN MEN TO START PREACH THE GOSPEL,AND THIS THE GATEWAY TO AFRICA, WE HAVE FREEDOM OF WHORSHIP SO YOU CAN PREACH EVERYWHERE,WE NEED YOU BECAUSE THE HARVEST FILLED ARE WIDE BUT THE LABOURS ARE FEW,IF NOT HELP SUPPORT MY MINISRY AND I WILL YOU THIS TO TRAIN ME TO SPREAD THE GOPEL,I WANT TO DO MORE TO REACH MANY SOUL FOR CHRIST BUT MONY IS EVRYTHING,THANK YOU GOD BLESSED YOU HOPE MY REQUEST WILL BE ACCEPTED AND GOD WILL BE GLORIFY AMEN,