A missionary risks their life for the sake of Jesus Christ. They speak of the Gospel and share their heart to others about what Jesus has done for them. They may do this at various times in their life for long enough periods of time to establish a relationship with the people they are with. They sacrifice so much of this material world for the sake of spreading God's word.
The most alarming and profound statements of the book are quoted below. They are not words easily written or spoken. They would offend so many, but then again, so many are not hearing these words, including me. They are observations from a 3rd world resident observing our world of materialism and lack of gratitude. They are reflections after being absolutely in a DAZE by what he saw here in our country.
Here are the some words from the book, "Revolution In World Missions," by K.P. Yohannan
*Why do you think God has allowed you to be born in North America or Europe rather than among the poor of Africa or Asia and to be blessed with such material and spiritual abundance?
*In light of the superabundance you enjoy here, what do you think is your minimal responsibility to the untold millions of lost and suffering in the Two-Thirds world?
You have been born among the privileged elite of this world. You have so much while others have so little. Think a moment about the vast difference between your country and the nations without a Christian heritage.
*One-fourth of the world's people lives on an income of less than a $1 a day-most of them in Asia. The gross national income per person in South Asia is only $460/year. Americans earn an average of 77 times more-and Christian Americans, because they tend to live in the upper half of the economy, earn even more. In most countries where Gospel for Asia is serving the indigenous missionary movement, a good wage is $1 to $3 a day. While much of the world is concerned mainly about where its next meal is coming from, affluent North Americans spend most of their wages and waking moments planning unnecessary purchases.
*People of the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe enjoy freedom of choice Political freedoms of speech, press and assembly, freedom to worship and organize religious ministries, freedom to choose where and how to live, and freedom to organize themselves to correct injustices and problems both at home and abroad are accepted as normal.
*Leisure time and disposable income, although not written into law, free citizens of the Western world from the basic wants that make living so difficult in many other parts of the world.
*A large number of service networks in communications, education, finance, mass media and transportation are available that make it easy to effect change. Not having these services available is an enormous handicap to people in most other parts of the world.
*Finally, few domestic needs exist. Although unemployment is a serious problem in some areas, it is many times higher in nearly every country of the two thirds world. How many of us can comprehend the suffering of the millions of homeless and starving people in nations like Bangladesh? Overseas the problems are on a grand scale. Some nations struggle to help themselves but still fail woefully.
This list is illustrative of the many advantages of living in the Western world where benefits have come largely because of a Christian heritage.
I read this and felt the humble words sink in. There are people who "assist" and there are "missionaries." The missionaries are really working hard to change these countries to Christian heritages for these reasons. There is a place for all assistance, but God Bless The Missionaries and those that do all this with such sacrifice, such quietness, and risk for the sake of the Two Thirds World.
