The evangelization of the world is supremely important because it deals with the deepest need of the human race. In Matthew 9:35, 36 it says:

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Jesus saw their sicknesses and diseases, and He healed them. But when He saw them as sheep without a shepherd, He was moved with compassion. He was concerned about their physical needs and responded. However, He felt compassion for their spiritual needs. This ultimately led Him to the cross of Calvary. We all know the basic needs for our world are food, shelter, medicine, and education. As Christians we should not close our eyes to those in need of these. Our missionaries around the

world are church planters who also use their ministries to reach out into the communities responding to physical needs. As you have read in this, missionaries are reaching out to feed those who are hungry. MANNA Worldwide partners with some of our missionaries to accomplish this task. Reports show that many children and family members have been saved through these efforts. Shelter is being provided in various regions. Clinics have been set up by some of our missionaries to assist those with sickness and diseases. Schools have been started to help educate the less fortunate. Orphanages have been started to meet the needs of the fatherless. We have seen and heard of those who have been fed that have trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior and now are leaders in churches. Many of those whose wounds were treated have responded to the gospel. Many educated in our schools and brought up in orphanages have become leaders of local governments and educational institutions as well as in their churches.

However, there is a need that is deeper still. One can meet all the basic needs and still there is a profound emptiness within the heart. This reality makes evangelism and church planting the most important task of missions. It is important to keep these community outreaches under the ministry of the church as a means of credibility for the church in the neighborhood. You see, it is not enough for us to give bread to eat; we also have to give them the Bread of Life. It is not enough for us to teach them how to write their own names; we must also teach them to trust in the Savior’s name. It is not enough for us to introduce them to a better way of life; we must introduce them to the One who can impart everlasting life. One missionary put all this into perspective by saying, “We hope to be successful in our projects to improve the health and welfare of the people, but we must remember being healthy in hell doesn’t count for much. We are failures until these people know Jesus as their Savior. We must present the claims of Christ and plead with them to be saved.”

– Jon Konnerup | Mission Director, Baptist Bible Fellowship International | Baptist Bible Tribune, May 2011