The call to make disciples of people from every people group on earth was Jesus’ last command to his disciples.  Consequently, Christians have often commented that Jesus’ last command should be among our first priorities.

In one sense, the task has been a smashing success.  If we ask the pollsters, there are between two billion to two and a half billion Christians in the world.  Furthermore, as many are telling us, Christianity has, in the last half century, grown to a considerable degree in the global south and in nations that have been highly resistant to the gospel.  If we take these accounts at face value, Christ’s commands have been kept.

But we need to remember that the problem with these statements is that they have a poor definition of what it means to be a Christian and how many adherents there actually are.  A few years back, I discovered a website featuring the most Christian countries in the world, and to my surprise, found that they had listed Canada as 67% Christian.  Our neighbours to the South were listed at 71% Christian.  Because I know something of the miserable state of the Christian faith in Germany, I was surprised again when they listed 56% of Germans to be Christian.  My sense is that that might be news to some of the Germans who are listed as Christians.

Then again, on the other hand, I was just as surprised to read that they had listed Iran as having less than half a percent of Christians.  And China, which has seen such a massive uptick in the underground church, gave little indication of having any at all!

All that to say, the figures are wrong!  But what if we were to change the equation.  What if we asked how many nations and people groups in the world have ready access to a confessing, believing church in their area? Furthermore, how many people groups are within earshot of hearing the good news of a Saviour that has come to take away their sins and reconcile them to God?

The task is not done!  Although there are reasons to be encouraged, we know there are still a great many people outside of earshot of the gospel.  Some time ago, missiologists identified a region of the earth they called the 10/40 window.  This is a rectangular surface area of the earth.  It is a land mass within 10 and 40 degrees latitude.  It includes the majority of the world’s Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists.  It encompasses some five and a half billion people in almost 9,000 people groups.  The majority of these people are considered unreached, in that they have no reasonable opportunity to hear the gospel.

What then, if we are to take Jesus’ last command to the church are we to do?  Clearly, we must pray.  And we must pray specifically for the people in this part of the world.  Furthermore, we must inform our churches of this reality, and call for church prayer meetings.  The events of Acts 13 should inspire us.  The Antioch church was in prayer and fasting when the Holy Spirit called out Paul and Barnabas for the work of missions.

But I wish to add one more important item.  Back to the Bible Canada is not a church.  But in His grace, God has opened a door for us to be heard online in over 130 countries around the world.  I pray that we, too, might have a modest part in obedience to our Lord’s command.  On one trip to India, I met two young men who told me they had been forbidden any contact with Christians.  Both young men told me they listened to Back to the Bible Canada and came to faith in Christ.  Clearly, God has opened a door also for us.

And so, let’s continue to think missions.