Thoughts From The Vineyard

Missions is one of the true hallmarks of authentic biblical Christianity. And while everyone in church will affirm this, the fact remains that almost no one will participate in it, much less make it a personal matter. David Livingstone, missionary to Africa, rightfully said, "Sympathy is useless without action."

Believers who have the gospel keep mumbling it over and over to themselves. Meanwhile, millions who have never heard it once fall into the flames of eternal hell without ever hearing the salvation story.

K.P. Yohannan, founder of Gospel for Asia Bible Society.

"Not called!' did you say?

'Not heard the call,' I think you should say.

Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face — whose mercy you have professed to obey — and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world. 

William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army

"Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great Commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist." 

Oswald J. Smith