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Related topics The Great Reversal We get our first glimpse of the all-nations theme at the Tower of Babel, where God separates and disperses earth’s inhabitants because they worship false gods (Genesis 10).
R ecently, I asked a new Christian in the Middle East how God brought about his conversion. “I obtained a Bible and started searching for ways to prove Christianity wrong,” he replied. “But as I studied it, God changed me.” This man, who baptized 17 people in his country last year, became the first Seventh-day Adventist pastor in his country. A great reversal, indeed! I believe that the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14 are and will continue to be God’s means for bringing about a great reversal in the lives of millions. The message of the first angel is especially interesting. Verses 6 and 7 read, “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water’” (NKJV). I’d like to draw your attention to the words “to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” because it’s a theme found throughout Scripture that helps us unlock not only the meaning of Revelation but also the entire Bible. We get our first glimpse of the all-nations theme at the Tower of Babel, where God separates and disperses earth’s inhabitants because they worship false gods (Genesis 10). Here, we’re given a genealogy of Noah’s sons and their dispersion after the Flood, focusing on the major known nations. The word nation is usually understood as geographical or political in nature. But what separated nations in Scripture was the deity the people worshipped. Worship was a central part of their identity. So, when we read “nation” in the Bible, we need to think in terms of a religious group of people. Fortunately, God didn’t give up on humanity after dispersing them. From the time Adam and Eve abdicated the dominion God gave them, He desired to reestablish His reign in this world through His people. We see God’s missionary heart in Genesis 12 when He tells Abraham, “I will make you a great nation . . . ; And you shall be a blessing. . . . And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (verses 2, 3, NKJV). Here we learn that every blessing we receive from God is intended to benefit the world. Sadly, we know that Israel rarely lived up to the light God gave them. Yet He continued to give them opportunities to reach the nations that He loved. “The very existence of the Bible is incontrovertible evidence of the God who refused to forsake his rebellious creation. [. . .] [It] testifies to a God who breaks through to human beings, who disclosed himself to them, who will not leave them unilluminated in their darkness, . . . who takes the initiative in re-establishing broken relationships with us.”1 The phrase “all people, nations, and languages” appears seven times in the book of Daniel. One occurrence of this phrase refers to Nebuchadnezzar’s conversion, one of the great reversals in Scripture. In Daniel 4:34, Nebuchadnezzar says, “I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation” (NKJV). Here a man who was determined to burn people who wouldn’t worship him calls for people to honor the God of creation. Isn’t that interesting: a pagan king telling the world what God’s people were supposed to share? Jesus brought about the greatest reversal of all time, fulfilling God’s mission to the nations that Israel rejected. In Matthew 24, He incorporates the all-nations theme into His prophetic discourse: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (verse 14, NKJV). How are we doing with reaching all nations? Where are we with the 10/40 Window—home to two-thirds of the world’s population, comprising 69 nations, 5.3 billion individuals, 8,868 people groups, and 3,343 languages? Ninety-five percent of this region, where most people are Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims, has not been evangelized by any Christian denomination. God promised in Revelation 14 that another great reversal is coming. The three angels’ messages give every nation and every person an understanding of who He is, a warning of the false systems of worship in the world, and an invitation to respond to His great love. If most of the world still has no witness, what are we doing? We need to talk less about who the remnant is and start doing what the Bible says the remnant does. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We need to be blessing people with the love of God. God is waiting for us, but there are some significant steps we must take. All our dreams and ambitions must be reassimilated to the mission of Jesus. We need to re-create and reorganize a system to enter every nation, every large city, and every ethnolinguistic people group in the world. And, to do that, we must, through God’s power, live sacrificially, boldly proclaiming the truth of Jesus in preparation for His return. More from Mission 360° Magazine Get to know the region Resources Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

We get our first glimpse of the all-nations theme at the Tower of Babel, where God separates and disperses earth’s inhabitants because they worship false gods (Genesis 10).

The Great Reversal

Related topics Are There Still Mission Challenges? “It takes about two years of sharing the love of Jesus with the non-Christians who live here full time before they open their hearts to Him,” Justin said.
We thank God for the growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church since Global Mission began some three decades ago. We’ve reached many new people groups and entered new countries. We’ve planted thousands of new churches. We’ve seen literally millions of people find hope and salvation in Jesus. Of course, many mission challenges remain. But that’s nothing new! When the good news about Jesus spread from Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago, it didn’t happen because the apostles came together, planned together, prayed together, and said, “I will go.” No! Sadly, it happened as a side-effect, a by-product of persecution. When believers fled Jerusalem for safety, they shared the good news in the places where they landed. One place they landed was Syrian Antioch, where the church was started by refugees from Jerusalem. Today’s Antioch—now called Antakya—is located just over the Turkish side of the border. And it’s still a destination for refugees. Tens of thousands of refugees have poured over the border from Syria in the past few years. Antakya, Turkey Rick Kajiura, communication director of Adventist Mission, recently visited Antakya. “It was here in Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first called Christians,” he said. “Antakya soon replaced Jerusalem as the mother church, and it became the base for sending out missionaries. “The apostle Paul launched his missionary journeys from here, planting churches throughout Turkey and the then-known world. Today, Antakya is in the heart of the Ten-Forty Window, one of our most challenging mission areas, where more than sixty percent of the world’s population lives. In this window, there are some seven thousand unreached people groups. They’re considered unreached because they don’t have enough of a Christian presence to continue without outside help. “In this window, you find some of the world’s poorest people and also some of the world’s richest. It’s also home to the world’s great religions, with only a handful of Christians. In fact, right here in the Middle East, there are cities of more than a million people and not one single Seventh-day Adventist.” Of course, the urban mission challenge is not limited to the Middle East or the Ten-Forty Window. In Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Americas, and Europe, cities—where the majority of the world’s population now live—are our new mission field. And, of course, cities are home to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. In any large city today, you’ll find ethnic enclaves or neighborhoods such as Little Italy, Chinatown, Little India, or Little Korea—the list goes on. People like to stick together. And in the large cities, you’ll find every conceivable religion, belief system, or nonbelief system. And it’s this last group—the nonbelievers, the secular, the post-Christians, those who live their lives without any reference to God—that is particularly a mission challenge. How do we even begin to reach people who don’t believe in God and have never seen a Bible? How do you begin to reach people who are rich and increased with goods and feel they have need of nothing? These questions have confronted the church in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe for many years. Now they’re starting to confront the church in every world territory. Saint Marks was built in the 1820s as a Church of England chapel. Today, it is no longer a place of worship. It is the Mercado Mayfair. It’s a food hall where people come to eat, to drink, to socialize. And it’s like hundreds of other former church buildings throughout England, throughout Europe, that no longer serve their original purpose. They have become apartments. They have become restaurants and bars and art galleries and yoga studios, serving every purpose except that original purpose, and they symbolize the new post-Christian society that we are facing. Today, we look at the growing secular and post-Christian populations. We look at the adherence of other world religions and unreached people groups in the Ten-Forty Window. We look at the cities. In the face of such huge mission challenges, some see walls, but we see opportunities. Many see a lack of funds, but we see the Source of all funds. Many see our weakness, but we see His strength. God has invited us to participate with Him in His mission of salvation here on earth. Who will say, “I will go?”  Our church urgently needs people who will answer God’s call to reach the unreached with hope and share the good news of Jesus. People who will say, “I will go!” Reach the World: I Will Go is the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s strategic plan for 2020 to 2025. It’s a rallying cry to all members to fulfill the Great Commission, inspiring and equipping them to use their God-given spiritual gifts in witness and service to Christ. I Will Go outlines specific objectives and ways to accomplish this task. Explore the “I Will Go” plan at IWillGO2020.org and find your place in this global movement! Go through prayer. Go through giving. Go through service.   Please help Global Mission pioneers reach the 66 percent of the world’s population who haven’t had the opportunity to experience Jesus.  WAYS TO GIVE ONLINE To make a secure donation quickly, visit Global-Mission.org/giving . PHONE Call 800-648-5824 MAIL In the United States: Global Mission, General Conference 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601 In Canada: Global Mission SDA Church in Canada 1148 King Street East Oshawa, ON L1H 1H8  Get to know the region More Stories Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

“It takes about two years of sharing the love of Jesus with the non-Christians who live here full time before they open their hearts to Him,” Justin said.

Are There Still Mission Challenges?

More from this quarter Related topics Sports and World-views
Monday, April 1, 2019 A sports analogy that helps us understand two distinct world-views.
 Full story Downloads Topics Get to know the region From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

A sports analogy that helps us understand two distinct world-views.

Sports and World-views

Seventh-day Adventists are known for looking at numbers, such as baptisms and offerings, but perhaps we should be looking at a different set of numbers.

Christ’s Metric Alone

Related topics What Does it Take?
Being willing and adjusting – are the two most desirable qualities in a volunteer. Those who develop these qualities make wonderful, successful volunteers. Being willing and adjusting – are the two most desirable qualities in a volunteer. Those who develop these qualities make wonderful, successful volunteers. I am often asked what it takes to serve as a volunteer and this is my typical answer – be willing and flexible.
I have just returned from a multi-week trip to East and West Africa. What volunteers accomplish is really amazing! Just saying “thanks” is truly inadequate when expressing appreciation for the service they provide. What a huge difference volunteers can make! The first part of my trip was to participate in a school complex building project, headed by Maranatha, at Bugema University in Uganda. I joined a group of about 25 volunteers from all over the United States who came to build modified, one-day school buildings, which will be used as dormitories and bathrooms. A previous group had already constructed a number of classrooms and offices (approximately 15) and local workers had been trained to lay all the cement floors for our buildings. In five days we were able to build ten dorm buildings and three bathrooms, which will enable the university to house five hundred ladies who are presently forced to find housing in the rural community. Volunteers were able to do what the university could not. The Maranatha volunteers ranged in age from 19-72. One couple was on their honeymoon, while others were retired. Some had never left the United States, while others were very experienced at these types of projects. All were willing to adjust to do whatever was needed, and changes in assignments happened frequently. Every morning we met and discussed the day’s needs, and without saying much, the leader got volunteers to fill every need. These two qualities – being willing and adjusting – are the two most desirable qualities in a volunteer. Those who develop these qualities make wonderful, successful volunteers. I am often asked what it takes to serve as a volunteer and this is my typical answer – be willing and flexible. Another way of stating this is that a volunteer needs to be ready to serve in any capacity – to be adaptable and flexible. Going in with an open mind and being willing to see and learn how others do things the local way before giving input is hard for most people to do, yet it is vital for success. Those from the West are very prone to making judgments and spouting solutions or “should-do” statements without giving consideration to others first. This can be accentuated when dealing with other cultures! In most cases, the way the local people do things works for them in the long run. It is the way they can do it within their culture. Volunteers go to help them. Arriving with an attitude like a bulldozer blade, backed by full throttle horsepower and ready to shove their way aside is the road to failure. Successful volunteers look and learn from those around them before starting to make small changes. These changes need to enable those who remain to carry on after the volunteer leaves. The last part of my trip was to visit volunteer sights in Cameroon and Chad. In Bere, Chad, I was delighted to meet the 20 or so volunteers and full time missionaries serving at the hospital and Adventist Frontier Missions (three and a half miles away). Adapting to life in that remote part of Chad is necessary for survival and these volunteers had adjusted well – dusty, sandaled feet and all. In 1 Corinthians 9:20-23, Paul talks about becoming like those whom he served. This was not a compromise to his Christianity and beliefs, but rather an adaptation to the cultural setting into which he moved. He knew that reaching others would be enhanced by identifying with them, becoming a part of them. Jesus left heaven and became a man in order to better serve us. Likewise, we need to be sensitive to the ways and needs of others as we serve them. Studying about those to whom we minister is a good exercise in preparation for effective service. The love of Jesus in our hearts can, through our service, fit into all the world. Are you willing? Get to know the region More Stories Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

Being willing and adjusting – are the two most desirable qualities in a volunteer. Those who develop these qualities make wonderful, successful volunteers. I am often asked what it takes to serve as a volunteer and this is my typical answer – be willing and flexible.

What Does it Take?

Related topics Volunteer Longevity
Volunteering driven by an inward desire to help and serve others can result in God’s blessing of a longer life that enables us to serve others more. The longevity study does not factor in a relationship with God. It does count the motive for serving, and it is here that Christianity can factor in.
I recently read an article done by the University of Michigan (September 2011) which reported on facts gleaned from several volunteer longevity studies, some tracking people since 1957. Here is a brief summary. Those who volunteered regularly lived longer than those who did not. Those who volunteered out of an inward desire or compassion for others outlived those who volunteered for personal reasons. Additionally, those who volunteered for personal reasons had the same death rates as non-volunteers. Motive seemed to be the biggest factor in longevity. This is what sparked my interest. I just returned from a trip to Thailand where I visited our volunteers. If I were to summarize the comments I received from the volunteers, they would fall into two camps. One camp would be those who chose to go as a volunteer out of an inner desire to serve and the other camp would be those who went for adventure. My non-scientific review leads me to conclude that those with the inner desire to serve others had a happier and more successful experience volunteering compared to those who were motivated by personal reasons. When we look at the Biblical account, we find that conversion empowers the Holy Spirit to make a new person with a God-given desire to serve others. This comes in two facets – first a love for God, and then a love for others (Matt 22:37-39). Both of these are equal in God’s sight and cannot exist apart from each other. I am not saying that those who went for personal reasons lack a relationship with God. Certainly those who volunteer out of a desire for adventure can love and serve God. It would, however, appear that volunteering out of an intrinsic desire to serve others is a product of the working of the Holy Spirit. This may bring greater blessings. Volunteering driven by an inward desire to help and serve others can result in God’s blessing of a longer life that enables us to serve others more. The longevity study does not factor in a relationship with God. It does count the motive for serving, and it is here that Christianity can factor in. God can add His blessing to anyone who does His will in helping others. Life is a gift on loan from God! It stands to reason that if we choose to live within His plan, we will receive His blessings. Plan to get the most out of your volunteer experience by following His purpose for your life.  *Helen Hall began her volunteer career in December, 1993. She retired in December, 2013. Get to know the region More Stories Topics From the front lines of mission—straight to your inbox

The longevity study does not factor in a relationship with God. It does count the motive for serving, and it is here that Christianity can factor in.

Volunteer Longevity

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