As You Go...

We often think of the Great Commission as something that is to be accomplished in a land foreign to our own. The past few years I have been challenged to think that the Great Commission can be fulfilled as we go throughout our day, that as we go we can “make disciples.” The United States has become the third largest mission field in North America. Theologian Philip Jenkins claims that the present reality is that most Westerners cannot see beyond themselves. Prior to writing The Next Christendom Jenkins notes that in celebration of the millennium there was a historical review of the high and low points of the past thousand years. Jenkins was shocked that religious events were not as highlighted as major secular trends. Because the focus of Christianity over the past few hundred years was on North America, Westerner Christians are failing to recognize that Christianity is expanding in Africa, Asia, and Latin America more than anywhere else. It is stunning to hear the predicted statistics of those who will embrace the Christian Faith in those regions by the year 2025 where half the Christians on the earth will be populated on Africa and Latin America. Jenkins notes face of Christianity will change forever as it moves to these regions and becomes immersed in their cultures. One of the exciting advantages to such an expansion is that as the Pentecostal movement has spread in these regions there has been a focus on scriptural authority, specifically the areas of spiritual gifts and warfare. Jenkins believes that the idea of a “New Christendom” will in some fashion mimic Western Christendom in the Middle Ages as Africa and Latin America will Christianity’s two main centers.

The major difference in Africa and Latin America is the birthing of churches, almost on a daily basis. So what about the United States? . Missiologist Win Arn and his team researched the state of the Church in the U.S. This was their finding: “Today, of the approximately 350,000 churches in America, four out of the five are either plateau or declining.” “80-85% of the churches in America are on the down-side of the growth cycle. Further, of the 15 percent that are growing, 14 percent are growing as the result of transfer rather than conversion growth.” If American churches continue on this downward spiral, we will have more churches closing their doors. The key is to reach new people with the Gospel and plant new churches!

As I was leaving my apartment last week I noticed a guy mowing my grass. Doug introduced himself to me and said I looked familiar. We finally realized that we had recognized each other from the gym. Doug and I chatted outside my apartment for an hour. We exchanged phone numbers and are going to train together in the gym a few times a week. Doug was sharing his story with me about hitting rock bottom due to alcoholism. Doug is slowly gaining his life back and wants to learn more about God. Talk about divine appointments! Doug and I connected right away. I believe this will be a fruitful relationship.

Later that day I went to my new house to check it out. I went by twice to show a few different people. The guy that is preparing my house lives next door. His name is jimmy. Jimmy is about 50 years old and said he is exited about the coffee shop that we are opening up. Jimmy is thankful that good people who will make a positive difference are moving into the neighborhood. Jimmy warned me about all the parities that take place on the street. I smiled really big, he asked me why I was smiling so big and I told him it was exactly where I wanted to be. Jimmy and I talked for about 45 minutes. He is excited about the Friday night dinners and wants to hang with us. God is up to something!