North American Missionary Force in Decline, Is a statement that should grip the heart of every born-again Christian. 

With the world’s population fast approaching 8 billion people the need for more cross-cultural witnesses of the gospel is greater then ever before.  Yet, the number of those willing to go from North America to the unreached and unengaged people in our world is diminishing.  The reasons for this dilemma are numerous.

One recent survey revealed that “51 percent of churchgoers had never heard of the Great Commission, and another 25 percent knew it existed but couldn’t define it. Leaving only 17 percent that could explain the Great Commission on the survey. Without a doubt, there is a theological famine in terms of many modern pulpits, as well as a crisis of low missional expectations from church members.”  A major mission organization reported that for the last 28 years they have seen and steady decline in the number of foreign missionaries willing to take the gospel message abroad.

I believe it might be safe to say that in many churches the Great Commission given by Jesus to his disciples in (Matthew 28:18-20; All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.) is not being preached and taught in an understandable manner.

One main reason is that people do not understand the responsibility given to Christians by Jesus himself.  Other reasons for the decline in the missionary force might be:

• Less teaching and emphasis on missions by pastors and youth ministers
• Missionaries have less exposure in churches to challenge others
• More “inward” focus of ministry by US churches
• Less compassion and focus on the spiritual condition of people
• Less prayer by Christians asking God to call people into ministry
• Less parental support for their children to enter vocational ministry

The list could continue but the bottom line is that when Christians stop and remember the impact of their own salvation, what the blood of Jesus means to them, the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ we should be moved to do our best to tell others of his saving grace.