The Perpetual Problem

by Dr. Don Sisk

Lost Souls! Jesus has always been and is today interested in the problem of the lost souls of the world. He viewed the multitudes of his day and proclaimed, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few.” There is nothing wrong with the harvest. However, there are insufficient laborers to gather the harvest. This was the situation in AD 29. It is also the situation in AD 1997.

Now! Nearly two thousand years have passed. However, the problem is still the same. The problem still persists. It is apparent in the local church. Most churches are continually pleading for workers. It is apparent when we look at our country and see various groups of people who are totally ignored by most churches. Others, at best, make only a token effort to reach these groups with the gospel message. I think of the 40 million Black people and 30 million Hispanics in America that need the gospel. There are great numbers of other ethnic groups who are perishing because “No one cares enough to be involved.” Not only is this evident in the church, but in every mission field I visit, the problem persists. There are thousands of cities with no gospel witness. Great masses of people are unreached.

Many! When Jesus made this profound statement, there were only one hundred and thirty-five million people on the earth. By the year 1000 the world population had reached 250 million. It was not until 1830 that the population reached one billion. From 1830 to 1930 the population doubled to two billion. By 1975 the population had again doubled to four billion. Presently, there are 5.8 billion people living on planet earth. Each person will spend eternity either in heaven or hell. These billions represent more than mere numbers they are precious souls that Jesus died to save. Jesus loved each person so much that he came to this earth to provide redemption for each soul that would trust Him as Savior. The “bad news” is that most are lost and on their way to hell. The “good news” is that they do not have to go to hell. The blood of Jesus Christ is sufficient to save every person on planet earth.

Why? I am convinced that God is not shocked with the population explosion. He is omniscient. He cannot be shocked. I also believe that God has provided sufficient manpower and material wealth to reach every person. God has graciously endowed our churches with enough money and manpower to evangelize the world. The failure seems to be that in many instances the wealth is misappropriated. We are not using the means that God has given us for the purpose for which it was intended.

How? The solution to the problem of insufficient manpower is obvious! Jesus said to his disciples, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” It is his harvest. We are totally dependent on him. He is far more concerned about his harvest than any of us. However, we have a definite part. He said, “pray.” When was the last time you were obedient to this exhortation? What would happen if parents began to storm heaven with the request that God would send their children into the harvest fields of the world? Can you imagine how many laborers would be forthcoming if pastors, deacons, Sunday School teachers, youth pastors and others began to pray that God would thrust out laborers from their churches? We often pray that God would bring them in; however, seldom do we hear people praying that God would send them forth. We judge the effectiveness of the church by how many people we are bringing into the church. Indeed, we must bring them in, but that is not the total ministry of the church. Those who become a part of the church are to be involved in the Great Commission. This means that each person will answer the call of God to be a missionary, or if they are not called, they will help send those who are called. The success of a church is not determined by its seating capacity but by its sending ability. The next time someone tells you how many people are coming to their church, you may want to ask them, “How many have you sent out as missionaries from your church.”

Wake Up! Too many of us are totally indifferent to the need. We have not even taken time to observe. I am reminded of the two Christians who were discussing church problems. One asked, “What do you believe is our greatest problem, ignorance or indifference?” The other replied, “I don’t know and I don’t care.” He was both ignorant and indifferent. It is sad, but many do not know about the great problem of the insufficiency of laborers for the harvest and will not make the effort to investigate the need.

Available! The laborers are in the Bible-believing, fundamental Baptist churches in our country. There are at least fifteen thousand fundamental Baptist churches in North America. However, there are fewer than ten thousand fundamental Baptist missionaries. Thousands of churches have never sent one missionary to the mission field. Thank God for good sending churches. However, this is not a task for a few, but for all. Every church should be sending forth missionaries.

Your Church Can! Recently, I was in a conference that emphasized the evangelization of Black America. That church in the past five years has sent out thirteen pastors to start churches. Also, I was in a commissioning service recently in a church of approximately 250 people. The couple being commissioned was the fifth couple that had been commissioned by that church in the past five years. You did not have to be in either of those churches long to realize that they were serious about their God-given responsibility to pray for laborers and to send them to the mission field. Churches receive what they choose to emphasize. It is no accident that many missionaries come from some churches and none come from other churches.

Some have! I thank God for every missionary. I am encouraged at the good number of missionaries who are joining BIMI. We now have over 1,025 missionaries. This is wonderful, but when I look at the great harvest fields of the world, I am brought to my knees. I am encouraged; yet I am burdened.

Will You? Regardless of your position in your local church will you heed the exhortation of our Lord to pray for laborers? Will you acquaint yourself with the needs by reading mission-related materials? Will you consider visiting the mission field?

Where?

Lay Ministry - Perhaps you could participate in BIMI’s C.L.A.I.M. ministry (Christian Laymen Assisting International Missionaries) by going to help construct buildings and assist missionaries in various ways on a foreign field. If you cannot participate in this ministry, there are other opportunities of service in your church or at the BIMI World Missions Center.

Youth Ministry - Why not attend Camp BIMI (Basic International Missionary Institute) next year and really get involved in missions?

Pastors - Will you determine that you will do all that you can to make your church a great sending church?

Youth Pastors - Why not give your young people a real missionary challenge? Take them to the mission fields. Show them the “real world of the harvest” that needs to be gathered.

Principals and Teachers in Christian Schools - Why not make missions a priority in your school? God has given many Christians a real burden for missions through these avenues.

We have the means. We have the manpower. Let us quit majoring on the minors and get to the major — the real business of the church which is WORLDWIDE EVANGELIZATION.