USA (MNN) — As Christians, we're living in exciting times. The Gospel is going into places of the world never before reached. God's Word is penetrating the hearts of those who have never had Scripture in their own heart language. And, more progress has been made in seeing the Great Commission completed than ever before. Today, the JESUS Film Project wants to tell you about it through an informational video.
If you live in the West, you may not see the full scope — the advance of the Gospel that's taken place…especially in Third World and developing countries. It's accelerated so much in the past 30 years that many feel fulfillment of the Great Commission is indeed in sight.
This progress is the result of tens of thousands of missionaries, workers, partnerships, churches, prayer, sacrifice and miraculous movements of the Holy Spirit.
Over the centuries, those who loved Christ obeyed Him. They went on missionary journeys. They translated Scripture so the average plowman could understand it. They took His story to places and to people, whatever the cost.
By 1900, one person out of 40 in the world was a follower of Jesus Christ. However, only one-third of the world's population had ever heard Christ's name. Worse yet, less than one-sixth of the world had even a single verse of the Bible in their own language.
By 1980, one person out of every 17 people in the world was a follower of Christ.
In the last 30 years, the speed of evangelism has increased even more. Today, Scripture has been translated into more than 2,500 languages. That's allowed the JESUS Film to be dubbed into more than 1,100 languages. The majority of today's mission force is now made up of non-western missionaries, allowing the JESUS Film to reach previously unreached people groups. Today, one person in eight is a practicing Christian.
We are members of the first generation in history to see the story of Jesus spread farther and faster than the entire previous 1900 years combined.
So, at a time when so many are filled with fear and uncertainty, rejoice in the certainty of God's Kingdom. His Kingdom is not in doubt. If you'd like to see the video, click here.
