This was the sober and resolute statement made by a pastor recently in northeast India. When he says “no matter what” he means anything, including death. It happens more often than we would like to think in that part of the world. Christians are tortured and martyred for their faith.
Less extreme forms of persecution occur more frequently. Pastors are taken to jail; the charges don’t stick, but the authorities try to create fear and embarrassment for the pastor and the congregation. The children of pastors are ridiculed at school and they are rejected from attending good universities. Pastors can’t get a loan at the bank to buy a bike. Landlords don’t want to rent to them for fear that they will host Christian activities. Prices for land go up if the landowner finds out that the potential buyer is a Christian.
Recently our Director met with a faithful group of pastors to hear their stories. Many recounted instances of persecution, but those stories were not the focus. Reaching the lost, those who have not yet heart the gospel, was their passion and their singular aim. Processing through the meaning of “no matter what” he noticed something that didn’t make sense to the natural mind. As they explained the experiences of persecution and challenges in sharing the gospel, their overwhelming attitude about the work was joy and hopefulness.
They gave specific accounts of going into new villages where the truth of the Bible has not yet been heard. The reality is that, for these men, each day presents new opportunities for reaching the unreached in their area.
They are seeing progress! One example is a village about 50 miles outside a small city in their area has no Christians and no evangelistic efforts from the outside. That all changed when “Robert”, one of our ministry partners, realized that his wife is related to some people in that village. “Robert” and his wife began to visit her relatives. As they visited, they shared the gospel. Soon, they were invited to lead a Bible study. As the Word was taught, people responded. Villagers accepted Christ and were baptized. Now there is a growing church in that village and the new believers are planning to go to neighboring villages where there are no believers, “no matter what!”
What about you? Have you looked around your city looking for those who have not yet heard the gospel? They are there, all you have to do is ask God to show you where they are! When he does are you willing to reach the unreached in your area, “no matter what?”
If you would like to invest in pastors who are reaching the unreached in their areas, no matter what, click here.