panta ta ethne.

the past 14 weeks i've been taking a class called "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement." if you haven't heard of it, you should take it. It is an eye-opening way of looking at the bible and the history of mankind since the bible and saying, what is God's perspective in all of this. What is His story, and how do I fit in. It's like a fire hose of incredible information.

It's also overwhelming. God has been weaving together an incredible and beautiful story since before Adam and Eve, all the way until now. How, I have been seeking to know lately, do I fit in??

In an effort to process some of the information, I'll share the main points of this class that God has really used to move in me.

Matt 24:13-14 - "And the Gospel of the kingdom will be preached to the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

Gen 12:2-3 - first commissionary statement - "Go and fill the earth, all nations will be blessed through you"

Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God; i will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth." Before we can be missional, God calls us into an intimate knowledge of him.

We are blessed, so that we can be a blessing to others. Abraham was blessed to bless the nations. We are not blessed so that we can horde our blessing. God will be glorified in all nations coming together to praise Him.

Startling statistics:

1.8 billion people have still never heard the good news of Jesus.

Yet, only about 1.7% of Western Christian's salaries are given to reaching the lost.

And, 98% of missionaries go to places that have already been reached.

Around 2,000 languages still do not have the Scripture in their language.

In 1900, 90% of Christians were Western, and lived in North America or Europe. Today, over 2/3 of Christians are non-westerners. The church is shifting.

Every day, over 20,000 people come to Christ in China, and in the continent of Africa. Though the church there is being persecuted, people's faiths are stronger as they see God glorified through these suffering.

God move in the hearts of the church of North America. Show us how to live more radically and missionally.

"I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." john 4:35