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The Challenge and Opportunities of Missions in the 21st Century

by John Bueno

This band of approximately 300 men and women probably did not know what the consequences of that resolution would be for world evangelization.

On November 23, 1914, at the Stone Church in Chicago, the following resolution presented by Brother L.C. Hall was unanimously adopted by the Council: “As a Council, we hereby express our gratitude to God for His great blessing upon the Movement in the past. We are grateful to Him for the results attending this forward Movement, and we commit ourselves and the Movement to Him for the greatest evangelism that the world has ever seen. We pledge our hearty cooperation, prayers, and help to this end.”

This band of approximately 300 men and women did not know what the consequences of that resolution would be for world evangelization. Eighty-five years later, that commitment by our founding fathers has multiplied into a force of approximately 2,000 people who are preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in 158 countries, and a worldwide Fellowship of over 30 million. It is impossible to estimate how many millions of people have heard the gospel because of that one resolution made at the beginning of our Movement.

Our early leaders’ commitment to reaching the world with the message of Christ and planting New Testament-patterned churches provided a solid foundation for future generations. Their example of obedience has been followed by trained national leaders throughout the world who proclaim the gospel to their own people as well as to other nations. When we consider the multitudes of people who have been touched with the compassion of Christ and invited to become His followers, we arrive at the end of the 20th century with tremendous expectations of what will happen in the new millennium, should the Lord tarry.

Never have the opportunities, challenges, and harvest been greater than in this hour. The Assemblies of God is poised on the edge of one of the greatest revivals this world has ever experienced. Thousands of national pastors, trained in Assemblies of God Bible schools and other educational programs, will multiply themselves over and over as they invest in the lives of others. It is almost mind-boggling to think of what can happen in the next few years as churches, now growing at rapid speeds, continue to multiply and extend throughout their countries and around the world.

Two examples of exponential growth are in Africa. Superintendent Lazarus Chakwera has led the Malawi Assemblies of God from 150 churches to nearly 1,300 in 9 years. Africa Director Don Corbin, says, “While we have had a part in the growth, the once slow-moving Malawi Assemblies of God is now the pacesetter.”

The Nigeria Assemblies of God now has 38 districts with 1,422,000 adherents, 6,642 churches, 7,681 ministers, 9 Bible schools, and 106 primary and 8 secondary schools. Their Fellowship supports all its ministries and is moving beyond simply being self-supporting and self-propagating to becoming a mission organization itself. As Superintendent Charles Osueke and his colleagues share their vision, it is easy to see that the Nigeria Assemblies of God is a senior partner in our worldwide outreach.

Space will not permit telling of other places where this same missions vision is taking root. The spiritual revolution sweeping across countries such as Argentina and Cuba is beyond calculation. Some say that on any given Sunday in Argentina more theaters are being used for preaching the gospel than for showing secular films. In Cuba, Castro has been in power over 40 years, but he has not stopped the wind of the Spirit that has caused the church to grow from 89 congregations to 1,400 preaching points in the last 8 years.

Other examples abound: Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, and the extension it has had around the world; the tremendous outreaches of the churches in Singapore and other parts of Asia; David Mohan and his band of prayer warriors at New Life Assembly in Chennai (formerly Madras), India; and other areas where God is using His servants in powerful ways give us a glimpse of the fabulous days that are ahead for our worldwide Fellowship.

God has raised up thousands of national pastors throughout the world. Along with the missionary force that the U.S. church supports so generously, these national pastors are moving into the 21st century as part of the greatest harvest this world has ever experienced.

Considering what God is doing, our current worldwide constituency will probably double in just a few years. From then on, it will be almost unbelievable how this Movement will multiply and duplicate itself. The time will come when more missionaries will be sent out by our foreign mission fields than by the U.S. church. This is the fulfillment of our Assemblies of God forefathers’ dream.

Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and join the force of millions of men and women who believe that the time for the Church has come. No government or political system can hold back the force of men and women who truly believe that Jesus Christ is Lord in the world and in our hearts today.

L. John Bueno is executive director of the Division of Foreign Missions, Springfield, Missouri.