The Urgency of Evangelism and Mission

The fate of those who have never heard the gospel is occasionally brought up in conversations.  It is a difficult question, not because the bible is not clear on it but because we do not think it is just or fair to condemn someone to hell who has not heard the gospel or we just want somehow to have hope for those who have never hear the gospel.  Unfortunately,  the bible is not optimistic at all toward those who have never heard and that is why evangelism and mission, both local and global, is a pressing concern in the New Testament.  Look at what Paul writes in Ephesians,

"Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands-- remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph 2:11-13 ESV)"

Paul does not think that Gentiles were innocent because they had not heard the gospel or because they did not possess the privileges of Israel.  Rather he describes them as 'without Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.'  Next he goes on to say, that they 'were far from God separated from him' and lacking any objective hope for the future.  Righteous Gentiles apart from the gospel are not on Paul’s radar screen at all; he concludes that if they are not believers in Christ, then they are alienated from God and face a Christless eternity (Eph 4:18).

That is why mission is central to the church, it is not some peripheral task that is a good idea to do when it is convenient.  It must be central to who we are and how we live.  It must be central to how we use our finances, how we pray, who we spend time with, and what missionaries we support.  That is why I think focusing more on Unreached People Groups is essential for us as a body and that is why we have invested so much in the Gond Project.  The project is still short about $7500 form being fully funded.  Let me encourage you to prayerfully consider giving to fully fund this project.