World Mission Report South Central District WELS Family Conference – Galveston, Texas October 8-9, 2009

The Advance of the Gospel in the World The Apostolic Age

The Advance of the Gospel in the World The Apostolic Age –Jesus gives the word to “Go!”

The Advance of the Gospel in the World The Apostolic Age –Jesus gives the word to “Go!” –12 become 120 in Upper Room after Jesus’ Ascension into heaven

The Advance of the Gospel in the World The Apostolic Age –Jesus gives the word to “Go!” –12 become 120 in Upper Room after Jesus’ Ascension into heaven –Increase to over 3,000 on Pentecost Day

The Advance of the Gospel in the World The Apostolic Age –Jesus gives the word to “Go!” –12 become 120 in Upper Room after Jesus’ Ascension into heaven –Increase to over 3,000 on Pentecost Day –Half a million believers by end of first century

The Advance of the Gospel in the World The Apostolic Age –Jesus gives the word to “Go!” –12 become 120 in Upper Room after Jesus’ Ascension into heaven –Increase to over 3,000 on Pentecost Day –Half a million believers by end of first century –Christians by then in Middle East, Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, Italy, Spain, Persia, India, Egypt, and Africa

The Advance of the Gospel in the World The first millennium

The Advance of the Gospel in the World The first millennium –By end of second century, ten million Christians in world

The Advance of the Gospel in the World The first millennium –By end of second century, ten million Christians in world –By end of fourth century all heathen temples destroyed or turned into churches

The Advance of the Gospel in the World The first millennium –By end of second century, ten million Christians in world –By end of fourth century all heathen temples destroyed or turned into churches –By end of ninth century, 100 million believers

The Advance of the Gospel in the World At the dawn of the 21 st century

The Advance of the Gospel in the World At the dawn of the 21 st century –Number of believers grown to two billion

The Advance of the Gospel in the World At the dawn of the 21 st century –Number of believers grown to two billion –Estimated that of all believers from first century to present, 70% came to Christ since 1900

The Advance of the Gospel in the World At the dawn of the 21 st century –Number of believers grown to two billion –Estimated that of all believers from first century to present, 70% came to Christ since 1900 –Shift of center of Christian gravity from Global North to Global South

The Advance of the Gospel in the World

Undeterred by hardship and affliction

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Undeterred by hardship and affliction –Persecution in early church

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Undeterred by hardship and affliction –Persecution in early church –In our times average of 182,000 believers a year worldwide martyred for faith

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Undeterred by hardship and affliction –Persecution in early church –In our times average of 182,000 believers a year worldwide martyred for faith –But accompanied by unprecedented spread of gospel

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Undeterred by hardship and affliction –Persecution in early church –In our times average of 182,000 believers a year worldwide martyred for faith –But accompanied by unprecedented spread of gospel –Christian Church built on blood of martyrs

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Mission work always a struggle

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Mission work always a struggle –Hans Egede to Greenland

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Mission work always a struggle –Hans Egede to Greenland –Judson in Burma

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Mission work always a struggle –Hans Egede to Greenland –Judson in Burma –Morrison in China

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Mission work always a struggle –Still awaiting a breakthrough in Japan

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Mission work always a struggle –Still awaiting a breakthrough in Japan –The lesson of the South Sea Islands

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Mission work always a struggle –Still awaiting a breakthrough in Japan –The lesson of the South Sea Islands –Europe in the Dark Ages

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Mission work always a struggle –Still awaiting a breakthrough in Japan –The lesson of the South Sea Islands –Europe in the Dark Ages –Do we have the patience and trust in the Gospel to persevere?

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Gospel marches triumphantly on

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Gospel marches triumphantly on –Africa in 1900 had 7.5 million Christians

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Gospel marches triumphantly on –Africa in 1900 had 7.5 million Christians –Today more than 400 million, expected to top 630 million by 2025

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Gospel marches triumphantly on –Africa in 1900 had 7.5 million Christians –Today more than 400 million, expected to top 630 million by 2025 –Percentage of Africans who are Christian has risen from 10% in 1900 to 45% today

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Gospel marches triumphantly on –Africa in 1900 had 7.5 million Christians –Today more than 400 million, expected to top 630 million by 2025 –Percentage of Africans who are Christian has risen from 10% in 1900 to 45% today –Lutheran Church of Central Africa had 700 members in 1971 when this speaker went as missionary; 50,000 today

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Gospel marches triumphantly on –Wolamo & Kembatta tribes in Ethiopia

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Gospel marches triumphantly on –Wolamo & Kembatta tribes in Ethiopia –Christianity in Korea

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Gospel marches triumphantly on –Wolamo & Kembatta tribes in Ethiopia –Christianity in Korea –Marxist, atheistic China

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Gospel marches triumphantly on –Ludwig Nommensen to Indonesia in 1861

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Gospel marches triumphantly on –Ludwig Nommensen to Indonesia in 1861 –starts work among Batak peoples, known for cannibalistic ways

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Gospel marches triumphantly on –Ludwig Nommensen to Indonesia in 1861 –starts work among Batak peoples, known for cannibalistic ways –By 1900 becomes largest Christian church in Asia with 180,000 members

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Gospel marches triumphantly on –Ludwig Nommensen to Indonesia in 1861 –starts work among Batak peoples, known for cannibalistic ways –By 1900 becomes largest Christian church in Asia with 180,000 members –Batak Church today nearly 9 million members

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Gospel marches triumphantly on –Ludwig Nommensen to Indonesia in 1861 –starts work among Batak peoples, known for cannibalistic ways –By 1900 becomes largest Christian church in Asia with 180,000 members –Batak Church today nearly 9 million members –For first time since Dark Ages great numbers of Muslims (half a million) converted to Christ

The Advance of the Gospel in the World A myth that can be laid to rest

The Advance of the Gospel in the World A myth that can be laid to rest –Islam is not the fastest growing religion in the world

The Advance of the Gospel in the World A myth that can be laid to rest –Islam is not the fastest growing religion in the world –People worldwide are being brought to Christ at the astounding rate of one million per week

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Much work needs to be done

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Much work needs to be done –Six billion people in the world

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Much work needs to be done –Six billion people in the world –Four billion of whom are unsaved

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Much work needs to be done –Six billion people in the world –Four billion of whom are unsaved –But God’s program of “each one reach one” (personal evangelism) makes the mathematics manageable

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Much work needs to be done –Six billion people in the world –Four billion of whom are unsaved –But God’s program of “each one reach one” (personal evangelism) makes the mathematics manageable –The world can be evangelized in our generation

The Advance of the Gospel in the World What we can do

The Advance of the Gospel in the World What we can do –Our prayers

The Advance of the Gospel in the World What we can do –Our prayers –Our financial support of Christ’s mission in the world

The Advance of the Gospel in the World What we can do –Our prayers –Our financial support of Christ’s mission in the world –Our personal witness

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Let none hear you idly saying,

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Let none hear you idly saying, “There is nothing I can do,”

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Let none hear you idly saying, “There is nothing I can do,” While the souls of men are dying

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Let none hear you idly saying, “There is nothing I can do,” While the souls of men are dying And the Master calls for you.

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Take the task he gives you gladly,

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Take the task he gives you gladly, Let his work your pleasure be:

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Take the task he gives you gladly, Let his work your pleasure be: Answer quickly when he calls you,

The Advance of the Gospel in the World Take the task he gives you gladly, Let his work your pleasure be: Answer quickly when he calls you, “Here am I, send me, send me!” Amen

World Mission Report South Central District WELS Family Conference – Galveston, Texas October 8-9, 2009