One of the big take aways from the anthropology portion of my degree was that people are people no matter where they are found. As humans we all have the same emotions and the same basic needs and desires. What can be difficult is realizing that those emotions and needs can be expressed quite differently based on the culture you are in. However regardless of culture we all need the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, and the need is great in every culture.
A common message I have heard over the years, and that I have used myself, goes something like this: "This is the least reached city", "This place lacks the most ministries and resources", "The need is greatest in this place". Often times it is possible to count the number of churches or ministries or pastors in an area and come up with a quantifiable number we can use to assign such labels and there is value in doing so. It can allow the church to direct time and resources to areas with great need. But the reality is, where there is a person who does not know the Gospel and has not accepted that Jesus died for their sins and rose from the dead so they could be called sons of God Most High there exists the greatest need.
Another lesson from the missiology portion of my degree is 'God is on mission in the world and as followers of Jesus so are we.' What this means is God has a grand plan of salvation that comes through Jesus Christ and we as followers and imitators of Christ have been called to be a part of that plan. We are on mission with God and He has roles for all of us. For some He calls to be pastors, missionaries, deacons, elders in the church. These are some of the more formal roles within the church. But for others He calls them to be bloggers, architects, teachers, police officers and any number of other positions. But what is universal for all of us who have believed the Gospel is we are all called to make disciples of Jesus Christ. As we go about doing that let's keep in mind that God wants to use us where the need is greatest and that is wherever there are people who don't believe.
A common message I have heard over the years, and that I have used myself, goes something like this: "This is the least reached city", "This place lacks the most ministries and resources", "The need is greatest in this place". Often times it is possible to count the number of churches or ministries or pastors in an area and come up with a quantifiable number we can use to assign such labels and there is value in doing so. It can allow the church to direct time and resources to areas with great need. But the reality is, where there is a person who does not know the Gospel and has not accepted that Jesus died for their sins and rose from the dead so they could be called sons of God Most High there exists the greatest need.
Another lesson from the missiology portion of my degree is 'God is on mission in the world and as followers of Jesus so are we.' What this means is God has a grand plan of salvation that comes through Jesus Christ and we as followers and imitators of Christ have been called to be a part of that plan. We are on mission with God and He has roles for all of us. For some He calls to be pastors, missionaries, deacons, elders in the church. These are some of the more formal roles within the church. But for others He calls them to be bloggers, architects, teachers, police officers and any number of other positions. But what is universal for all of us who have believed the Gospel is we are all called to make disciples of Jesus Christ. As we go about doing that let's keep in mind that God wants to use us where the need is greatest and that is wherever there are people who don't believe.