by Patti E

Ha Ha Ha! – Is that paper I hear as you turn the page as quickly as possible? It’s so easy to read about what others do for the Lord and His Great Commission, but sometimes a little more difficult to be open to asking God, “Where do I come in?”

Our callings are as different as we are, and God has designed us precisely for the service that He has in mind for us. He knows our strengths, our weaknesses, our interests, our talents and how much He can stretch us day by day to be transformed to the image of Christ. And isn’t that what He calls us to? As we are transformed we begin to be more and more concerned about the things that concerned Christ. His last direction to us all must have been very important to Him. Don’t we also tell our children what’s most on our minds and hearts as we step out the door to leave them for a while?

His direction is different from our “Don’t hit your brother” or “That cookie jar better not be empty when I get home.” It reflects the love He has for the people of the world. “Go. Make disciples. Baptize them. Teach them all that I have taught you.” And that brings us back to our question: what about you?

Did God create you to be a faithful churchgoer, sitting in the pew, full of praise and worship, loving Him and serving in your local fellowship? Then, praise God, you are just where you need to be to influence the world for Jesus. He will show you how.

Perhaps you can approach your church’s mission board with samples of the numerous tools Global Recordings Network (GRN) provides. You probably have missionaries you are supporting who know nothing about the Bible messages and Christian music in over 6,400 languages to be found on the GRN free app called 5fish. More souls have been saved and churches planted from this simple tool than can be counted on this earth. We may only know in heaven when someone says, “My village found the Lord because you told your church’s missionaries about 5fish. We formed listening groups, then our hearts were pierced with the Gospel, and we soon formed a church. Thank you for speaking up for us. God has surely used you.”

Are you the one into whose heart God has put a burning fire to boldly reach out to others? What do you do when you try to share with someone who doesn’t speak your language? Or, what if you decide to purposely go to a part of town rich with ethnic people? Do you know that you can sit on a bench in a park, for instance, and hold the large picture book called “Good News.” Then on your phone you can play any 5fish language that has recordings of Good News in the language spoken by the people in that area. Simply play the Bible stories in their language while turning the pages of the picture book. People are usually very attracted and surprised to hear their language, and they listen to a short panorama of the Bible being beautifully presented.

And what about you, the missionary? You’re preparing to go to a distant land. You don’t know the language well yet, but your heart is yearning to share Jesus while you become part of the people. Or perhaps you’re already part of each other’s lives. Wouldn’t you love to multiply your efforts by training disciple-makers to go into unreached villages where they might go much more easily than you? A phone or a player/speaker with the language of your chosen country or area, and picture books in hand, and you have an army of people instead of only you.

Did God call you to be a pastor or youth pastor? Have you wondered how you can enlist your congregation in hands-on evangelism?  First, try it yourself. Go to the beach, the park, or the downtown bus stop and use these GRN tools to tell the story of Jesus. Then take your co-workers and let them experience the joy of obedience by building the kingdom outside the stained glass windows. Then tell your congregation the stories of what God has shown you–and if you have prayed and followed Him, He will show you. There will be people whose moms and dads, siblings and friends are diligently praying that someone will tell them. There will be those who have never heard the Good News. There will be suffering people who are desperate for what you have to share. The harvest is ready, but the laborers are few.

No matter where God has placed you, no matter how He designed you, there is a place for you in this Great Commission. When Jesus gave those last words He didn’t say, “Everyone go but George and Maryann.” The Great Commission is for us all. Let Him stretch you just a little, to be more like Him. Let Him show you the joy of sharing the greatest news ever given. Since someone once told you, won’t you tell others? And won’t you share with others, as well, about tools for telling the Good News?