by James Ray

There are currently 6.5 billion human beings on planet earth, most of whom live in deep spiritual darkness. Large cities exist with populations in the millions without so much as one missionary per million.

Missionaries working through BIMI are presently in more than 80 countries. God has led us to embark on what we are calling The 100 Nations Project. Our goal is to expand our presence into 100 nations by mobilizing new missionaries to 20 new countries over the next five years. We are asking pastors, with their churches, to band with all of us at BIMI (directors, missionaries, staff, and prayer partners) to ask God for 100 new missionaries to take the Gospel of Christ to these 20 new countries. The need is so mammoth, the laborers so few, and the time so short. We are praying for 100 churches that will put the 100 Nations Project in their monthly budget for $100. We are praying for students and others who will enlist in the project and visit a mission field with us. Will you pray earnestly with us?

In 1887, China Inland Mission was 20 years old. The mission had 187 missionaries in mainland China. But as Hudson Taylor looked at the millions–untouched–unreached, his heart was burdened.

Taylor made his way back to Great Britain to speak to the churches and to lay a burden on their hearts for 100 new missionaries. The missionaries in China caught the vision and were all praying for the “100”. They sang a little mission chorus:

“Oh, send the hundred workers,
Those of Thy Heart and Mind and Choice,
To tell Thy Love both far and wide–
So shall we praise Thee and rejoice....
So shall we praise Thee and rejoice....”

Taylor moved up and down the country and into Ireland laying the burden on the churches and pleading for workers. In Edinburgh, he held meetings with 40 possible candidates. At one meeting in Scotland 120 people offered themselves for missionary work to stay or to go as God would lead. It would take £10,000 to get them to China. This was a gigantic undertaking in 1887, but God was in it. (In 1887, the British pound was the equivalent of $68 in today’s money, hence they needed $680,000).

A special mission breakfast was organized in London. During the breakfast a man at the table pulled from his pocket a letter that had touched him deeply. It was from a poor widow in Scotland who, with only a few shillings a week to live on, frequently sent donations for the work in China. He read the note. The widow had written, “I can do without food, but the people in China cannot do without the Gospel.”

Everyone at the table was touched–a poor woman, a widow doing without food, so that people in China could hear the Gospel and be saved. Another man at the table stood and said, “I have large sums for the work of God, but what I have given has never cost me a meal.” He pledged to give £500 ($34,000). Then one by one, three other men made promises to give to the work.

By November, Hudson Taylor was able to announce that the 100 missionaries were committed and all the money needed to send them was in–not £10,000 but £11,000 ($748,000).

In one year 100 new missionaries were on their way to China. The missionaries in China would go to the ports to welcome group after group of new missionaries. Back in Britain new volunteers were still surrendering. During his mission ministry, Hudson Taylor prayed for workers and over 900 people answered the call of God for China.

God was in the movement.

Hudson Taylor, commenting on this, said, “People say, ‘Lord, increase our faith.’ It is not great faith you need but faith in A GREAT GOD . . . . The Lord will provide. Let us see to it that we KEEP GOD BEFORE OUR EYES.”

Now, that is the secret for this hour. Let us band together as did Hudson Taylor and the missionaries in China and plead with God to send laborers into His Harvest. Read this issue of the World Magazine carefully and prayerfully. Perhaps God would have YOU to go. Perhaps God would burden your heart to sponsor this great project . . . and as Hudson Taylor said, “Keep God before our eyes.”