How a Simple Whiteboard Had a Profound Impact!
What is the significance of this whiteboard? A few of you have heard my story, most have not. This
picture was taken last year on my visit to Azerbaijan with my home church, Community Bible Church in
High Point, NC. I already had a real appreciation for Crossover Global, the organization I was travelling with and sent to learn more about. I had learned about their vision, strategy and philosophy of church planting and how they were highly accountable in their reporting. I was impressed with all I had heard. However, on our first day in Azerbaijan I saw this whiteboard in the regional office in Baku City and it all became real to me.
Let me explain the picture. I have cropped out the far left column which represents various countries where churches are being planted among unreached peoples. The grid represents (from left to right): total churches planted, churches that are not self-sustaining after 2 years, churches that have not multiplied after 3 years, and finally in the far right, churches that have are both self-sustaining and have multiplied. These are considered viable multiplying churches. So the 135 churches in the bottom right represent successful church plants in the region. This is all happening with incredible speed, efficiency, and accountability. Leaders are intentionally being raised up, discipled, and sent out to plant new churches. I was amazed and humbled!
The Lord is working in ways we can barely even imagine here in the US! Crossover Global is only ONE organization among many around the world doing this pioneering work among unreached peoples. Many of these organizations, like Crossover Global, are international, staffed by missionaries from the majority world (non-Western countries). This was the moment God jumpstarted my journey towards joining Him in His movement. When you see first hand how He is advancing His Kingdom, it is VERY exciting! I urge you to join me on this journey! Here are just a few of the many ways you can partner in the movement.
Anyone can pray! Pray daily for the 42% of the world that remains without any access to the Gospel. This includes the 6 nations represented in the whiteboard above. You can find additional prayer resources on my website: www.jimburchel.com
Consider going either short-term, medium-term, or as a career. All occupations are needed and can be used. Church planters are desperately needed, and there are never enough for the work at hand! Begin to explore ways in which you might GO!!
Be a sender! Missionaries like me cannot go without you. Faith based missionaries rely on the support of ordinary people to do the work they do. Consider a gift in any amount. Monthly pledges are especially helpful! CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT JIM AND DANA
Welcome the stranger! The nations and peoples are all around you: international students, refugees, immigrants and more. Consider welcoming them into your home, greet them with a smile and a friendly word when you see them at the grocery store! Learn more through organizations like World Relief!
Become a mobilizer!! The fields are ripe for harvest but the laborers are few. Help me in my efforts to mobilize the church to tap into it's vast resources for this task of reaching those without access to the Gospel!!
For the Kingdom,
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