How can they?

One of my favorite scripture verses is Romans 10:13-15, and has been a word from God to me that has inspired our decision to go overseas. Here are some facts about South Asia:

1.4 billion people live in South Asia, 99% have never even heard the name of Jesus. How can they believe in the God that we know, if they have never heard of Him?

In the state we will live, 3600 people die every 36 hours- that's 1000 people an hour on average, and 990 will die every hour, and will spend eternity in a real place called hell. They will never know that they can call on the saving power and grace of Jesus. How can they call on the one they have not believed in?

The people group we will focus on when we get on the field number 14 million in the state. Every 10 minutes, 3 of them die never hearing the Gospel. How can they, unless someone is preaching to them?

There are approximately 240 IMB units in South Asia, which breaks down to 1 IMB unit for every 6 million lost persons in South Asia. How can they preach unless they are sent?

I try to quote the verse in Romans 10 every day. It is the one passage of scripture that, like I said, has inspired me to make my decision to follow Jesus into the mission field. Read the passage and meditate on it- committ to partner with a missionary or two in prayer. In this way, you are helping to mobilize those who are called to bring Jesus to those who have never heard, and cannot call on the One True God, the way the truth and the life. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. The task sounds enormous, but God is a big God, capable of much more than we give Him credit. You may not be called to go, but you can partner with those going in prayer and be as much of an impact for the spread of the Word throughout the world. (Thank you to Alyce Faulkner, Debbie Kaufman and Milton and Nannette Lites for thier open support of and prayer for missionaries, and for praying for our family even though they have never met us!)

Here's a thought: one day, when we get to heaven, someone will come up to you that you have never met, and tell you "I am here in heaven because you committed to pray for the missionary who brought God's word and helped me and my whole family to believe in Jesus and accept Him in our hearts. Thank you."

How can they? Prayer. Prayer. Prayer.