The 2010 Mission Conference is underway at Bethany Baptist Church this week. Special guests are, Micah and Jillian Dorr, missionaries to Mexico, and Phillip and Diann Crow (Forever His) singers.
Phillip and Diann will be singing Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Micah Dorr will be bringing messages Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings. Micah will speak to a Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Saturday morning. Jillian will speak to the ladies at a noon luncheon. Micah will be speaking Sunday morning. There will be lunch in the fellowship hall at noon and Micah will close out the Conference at 1:00 P.M. There will be no evening service, Sunday.
Darlene Sorensen sang a special song, Sunday morning. The Youth Choir sang in the evening. Pastor Bob Sorensen brought a message he called, “Is fulfilling the great commission still possible?”
During the first century after Jesus’ resurrection the gospel went out very quickly to the known world. Today there are billions of people in the world. Many of them have a general revelation about God as seen in the heavens and all of creation, but few have heard about Jesus. God intended for the whole world to hear the message of salvation. That is why the last commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples was to go into all the world with the gospel. Is it possible to reach the whole world today? The answer is yes.
Biblical and secular history tells about how the disciples and later believers did so with fewer resources than we have today. Even though we have more people, we have more technology and we have high speed printing presses, planes, TV, Internet, and satellites, but we don’t have a lot of time.
Today’s church are still under the commission. Is the word of God true? One day we must stand before God to give an account for what we have and have not done. Is it doable? Coke, Tupperware, and Avon were unheard of a hundred years ago, but now they are all over the world. If we can get Coke, Tupperware, and Avon out to the whole world why can’t we get the gospel?
It is not an option, it is a command. Since God made it a command he will provide the means. His plan will work, if we will work. Our part is to get the word out. God’s part is to bless his word with the saving of souls.
There are difficulties. Some countries are closed to foreign missionaries. However, we serve an all-powerful God. He can open doors that appear to be closed. Then there is the problem that there are still many places where the Bible is not translated into their native language. God has put people on the earth capable of translating the Bible. We must provide support to those who are making that effort and encourage others to take up that calling.
Perhaps the biggest difficulty is found in “sleeping” churches in America. Where is the preaching for holy living and separated lives? Where is the zeal for lost souls? Some Christians are content with churches that offer gentle messages, provide “Christian” entertainment, and social gatherings. If we are to reach the world with the gospel, we need a revival of faith, zeal, and obedience.
