3.8 Million in 2007

"In the 30 seconds it took you to skim the headline and decide to read this post, somewhere in the world approximately 125 people were born, and 53 people died, 36 of whom did not claim to know Christ. In 2007, approximately 3.8 million people died who likely didn't know Christ."

That was the first paragraph of Editor Linda Lowery's column in the January/February 2008 Edition of "Outreach" Magazine. Statistics like that are always good for shock value as well as bringing home the point that the world is in urgent need of a relationship with Jesus Christ so that the eternal destination of multitudes can be changed.

However, I must sadly admit that while I find it easy to report those numbers, I struggle much more with translating that knowledge into real-time witnessing action in the circle of relationships God has given me. Because I spend the majority of my time working with churches, it becomes easy to spend all my time with those who are Christians already. When that's the case, the 3.8 million become a statistic that I feel dismay about but do little about personally. It's kind of like reading about the millions of children who go hungry every night around the world. The number is so big that I block it out as something I can't impact.

What would God have me do? As God opens my heart and mind, I see people all around me who need Jesus: a neighbor who grew up in a repressive church environment and has rejected the "institutional" church; my chiropractor who has expressed interest in spiritual things, and so many others. My wife, Becky has been faithful in an ongoing conversation with the guy who cuts her hair. This conversation has gone on for several years and I must confess she is more faithful than I in pursuing this witnessing opportunity. The bottom line for me is that I have to pray that the Holy Spirit would open my eyes to become very intentional in seeking opportunities to share the Gospel and be an inviter. I need to cultivate relationships with those who don't seem connected to God or any community of believers, genuinely caring about their eternal destinies.

When that happens, God can use me to have impact on whatever part of the 3.8 million come into my little world. When that happens in the lives of believers everywhere, the gates of hell are stormed, witnessing becomes part of everyday life, new missions are planted and more people get connected to God for eternity. How is God using you to impact the 3.8 million?