When we consider the Great Commission given by Jesus Himself, we can be excited about the things that have been accomplished around the world in missions. However, it has been over 2,000 years since He gave the orders for the task, and still many tribes and people groups have not heard. Half the world has never heard of Jesus and what he did on the cross. This brings up two extremely important questions. What does it cost one to serve the Lord?  What do we think it should cost in order to serve the Lord? 

Martin Luther once said, “A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing and suffers nothing is worth nothing.”  How do we measure up to the early church when it comes to service and sacrifice? Right after Stephen’s death, such a great wave of persecution arose because of dedication of believers that they fled for their lives to other nations, carrying the Gospel with them. They didn’t plan their trip, make a budget or take little bottles of hand sanitizer with them – they only took the Gospel. They weren’t concerned about those who would mock them or even stone them – they just took the Gospel into every place they went, even as they were running for their lives. 

Well, things are a little different for us today. However, we have new missionary families on deputation who are giving their lives to pay whatever the cost to carry the Gospel to foreign lands. While remaining here in America, what are we willing to sacrifice to carry the good news to foreign lands? They are willing to go – are we willing to sacrifice and give to send them and get them there quickly? Let’s all increase our faith this year to do more and encourage others to do the same!

-by Jon Konnerup, Mission Director