When people think of "missions", often the image that comes to view is something alont the lines of David Livingstones work in the jungles of Africa,or some other missionary laboring far from their home country, bringing the gospel to peoples who have never heard before the wonderful news of Gods salvation plan.
From the days of Livingstone until not the methodology of missions has remained pretty much the same. Single men, couples, or small groups being sent out from one country to another to proclaim the gospel.
In the last one hundred years, however, there has been great advances in technology that have provided opportunities for sending the gospel into the world much more efficiently. Even as the invention of the printing press revolutionized the publishing of the written word, making the Bible available to the masses, even so modern technologies like radio and television made it possible to communicate the gospel to large portions of the earths population in ways never possible before.
For decades, radio has broadcast into China and the former Soviet Union in the languages of the people. Even though those countries allowed no missionaries t enter. When the Iron curtain fell and China slowly opened its doors to the world, the body of believers was found to be present and the harvest of the kingdom of God taking place.
Today we have another technology that has swept across the world. The internet. And like every other technology man has invented, it can be used for evil to satisfy the greed and lusts of wicked men, or it can be used for the glory of God and for the sending forth of the Gospel.
There are those who believe the internet to be entirely evil, and especially such features of the internet as chatrooms and message boards. It is not difficult to find other media, ie television, radio, and print, giving warning about the dangers of the internet, with special emphasis on chatrooms.
But the fact is, chatrooms and message boards via the internet are in no way evil in and of themselves; But are rather a legitimate opportunity to be seized by the faithful servants of God to advance His kingdom. Not only can friendships be forged, and relationships established, but the Gospel can be proclaimed, and Gods plan for the salvation of those he came to save can be accomplished according to his good pleasure.
Christians and those seeking Christ from all over the world can come together in one place for fellowship as they gather around the Word of God, freely discussing and learning together those things God has revealed about himself in the Bible.
So along with the printed page, the word preached, radio, and television, the internet with all its various opportunities, are being used by God and his people to fulfil the mandate for missions, as was given by Christ himself.
Mark 16:15-16.."And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
So as we labor together here at Christian Chat Forum, whether as moderators or regular members; Know that your efforts will not be in vain. That Gods word will not return to him void but it shall acomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 For some as we present the Gospel, we will be a savour of death unto death; and to others the savour of life unto life. 2Cor 2:16 But always according to to Gods good pleasure and purpose.
So if you are searching for a place to serve the Lord in "missions", we welcome you here. And may we together in all things give thanks to our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever...Amen.
Wendell aka blueheron32
