FILL IN YOUR BLANKS ABOUT MISSIONS!

1. Today we have approximately 5 billion people on the earth. By the year 2012 there will be _____________billion people on the earth.

2. _____________ people die in India every day without hearing the gospel.

3. Population increases in the world each year at the rate of ____________ people per year.

4. There are _______________ missionaries on the field today.

5. There will be _______________ of these missionaries retiring before 1994.

6. There is one Christian worker for every 230 people in America. There is one Christian worker for every __________ people in the world.

7. The average Christian gives ________% of his income to the church.

Of that percentage _______% goes on to foreign missions.

8. ____________ lost people die in America every day.

9. While Islam (Muslims) has increased 500% in the last 50 years, Christianity has increased ________% in 50 years.

10. ________% of evangelical Christians are witnessing Christians.

11. ___________ lost people die in the world every hour.

12. The average Christian earns $ ______________ per year.

13. One Christian book publisher spends $ ______________ per year on postage to ship books. (That's at the 1990 book rate which runs about $1 per pound.)

14. In 1985 the total giving to the Jerry Falwell, Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker and Pat Robertson ministries was

$ ________________ .

15. If there are 10 million evangelical Christian families in America and they earned an average of $20,000 per year, how much money would be given to missions if every family tithed to missions? $ _____________ .
 
 
 
 

ANSWERS TO TEST:

1. 16

2. 4,000

3. 77 million/that's 146 per minute

4. 50,000

5. 30,000

6. 100,000

7. 4% and 15%

8. 562

9. 4.7%

10. 50%

11. 2200

12. 29,000

13. 1 million

14. 693 million

15. 20 billion
 
 

SCRIPTURE READING: "He who testifieth these things saith, Surely, I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:20

The figures that follow have been gathered over the years 1984-91 from books, magazines, newscasts etc. I will just list and comment on the facts as I have heard and read them. I believe that this will be the most effective method of communicating all of the information. Though these facts are a little old, I doubt that things have changed for the positive in recent years.

In Christ's time there were about 250 million people. In 1620 world population doubled for the first time. It reached 500 Million. In 1840 world population doubled to one billion people.

In 1930 world population doubled to two billion people. In 1960 world population increased to three billion people. In 1987 it has been announced that we are at five billion people. OVER DOUBLE 1930 LEVEL!

Most agree that the population will be six billion before the turn of the century. (World Census Bureau states 6.2 billion by the year 2000.) According to some, ONE BILLION OF THESE PEOPLE WILL BE MUSLIMS, ONE BILLION OF THESE PEOPLE WILL BE IN CHINA, ONE BILLION OF THESE PEOPLE WILL BE IN INDIA. (I recently heard that the figures are even more drastic than these are.)

In 1988 there were 5 Billion and by 2000 some say there will be 8 Billion and by 2012 there will be 16 Billion, according to a tape from Evangelical Teacher Training Association ("CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE").

One half of the world's population has never heard of Jesus Christ. That is 2.5 Bill. in 1991. I have heard television people mention that the world has heard the gospel because it is going around the world via television and radio. That is true if every man woman and child in the world have access to radios or televisions sets - which is absurd to assume.

Thousands of lost people die in the world every hour.

To just zero in on one country, let us consider India. In India 950 of every 1000 villages have no one to tell them of the gospel. Thousands die in India every day without hearing the Gospel.

It is estimated that today there are four to five thousand missionary positions open. ANYONE AVAILABLE?

Population increases by 77 million per year.

Estimates of numbers of missionaries on the field with the Gospel range from 50,000 to 80,000, but I see the 50,000 most of the time. That is all shades of Christianity.

It is important to know that reports from Moody Monthly Oct. 87 tell us that 30,000 of those missionaries will retire by 1994 and that we only have about 5000 candidates preparing at this point in time.

Again, ANYONE AVAILABLE?

The Mormon Church has doubled their missionary force since 1973 to 30,000 workers. (1988) (I believe these are permanent workers. I have seen figures of 200,000 fully supported missionaries which would be the short termers on bicycles.) Is it any wonder that 4000 people/week become Mormon.

Mormons take in $3.5 million per day from offerings and business transactions. (1986 figures) That's 1 1/4 billion a year. That's almost comparable to Saddam Hussien's income!

For every one convert to another faith from Mormonism there are 40 that leave other faiths for Mormonism. (from Lela Gilbert, Jeremiah Films)

In case you would like to know, the tax-free status of religious organizations costs taxpayers millions in lost taxes. The Buddhists once had two city blocks in the down town area of one of our major Midwestern cities with office and apartment high rises on them. The small temple was on one side of the property and the whole thing was tax-free.

The Jehovah Witness's have for every person baptized, visited 740 hours and distributed 1,650 copies of their magazines. That's over 2 hours a day and 4.5 magazines a day. HOW'S YOUR VISITATION THESE DAYS CHRISTIAN?

I've been told that there are about as many Protestants in America now as in 1830 yet the population has tripled. This would indicate that Christians aren't doing all that well at home.

I once sat through a message by the representative of a home mission organization. The messenger was questioning the cost effectiveness of foreign missions. I don't think that the cost effectiveness of American church conversions is all that good either.

There is one Christian worker for every 230 people in America. There is one Christian worker for every 100,000 abroad. (There are approximately 1 million full time Christian workers in America while there are only 50,000 foreign missionaries.)

The average Protestant gives 3% of his income to church or charity. In 1980 Christians gave 4% of their income to the church and 15% of that 4% went to missions. 1980 missions income was $928 million.

The head of the missions department at Appalachian Bible College has a book out. He mentioned there were 90 Million unevangelized in America in 1987. He mentioned there are 40 Million evangelical Christians in America in 1987. That is 2 unevangelized persons per Evangelical Christian. If we each would witness to two people in the next year we could evangelize the United States in one year. Actually if you think about it the ratio of 2 to 1 is sick when compared with the 50,000 trying to reach the 2.5 billion on the foreign field. AND SOME TODAY CALL FOR SPENDING MORE HERE AT HOME, WITH SOME EVEN SUGGESTING TAKING FOREIGN DOLLARS FOR HOME MISSIONS!

I. THE NEED

World Religions in 1986

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1. Islam 14 %

2. Roman Catholic 11.3 %

3. Hindu 10 %

4. Confucian 5.5 %

5. Buddhist 4.9 %

6. Protestant 6.4 %

7. Eastern Orthodox 1.8 %

8. Animist (Primitive) 3 %

9. Shinto 2 %

10. Taoist 1.7 %

11. Jewish .3 %

12. Other 20 %

Microsoft's Encarta lists Christianity at almost 1.8 billion, Roman Catholics at 1 billion, Muslims at near 1 billion, Hindus at about 700 million, Buddhists at about 300 million and the nonreligious at about 850 million. Protestants are listed at almost 400 million. ARE WE LOOSING THE MISSIONS THRUST OF THE PAST?

Over one Billion call themselves Christian in the world today. HOWEVER, The following gives a little clearer picture for us.

PROTESTANTISM -- 6th IN THE WORLD! After almost 2000 years!

The communist party since 1945 has subjugated 6000 people per hour or 144,000 per day. At one time they controlled 1/4 of the earth's population. We were so excited in the early 90's because of the sweeping changes in the communist world, yet we still have a large part of the world's population under communist rule.

Christianity increased almost five percent in the last fifty years, but the Muslim world increased 100 times that in the same fifty years.

Need we suggest that the Protestant world is loosing ground not gaining. We need to understand that all the isms of the world are pouring money into their evangelism, while we pour a small percentage of our finances into evangelism.

Just some facts:

For 50,000 people (the number of missionaries on the field today) per day to hear the Gospel in their own language it would take 165 years to tell 1/2 the world now living about Christ.

World Evangelical Fellowship estimates that there are about 70-150 million WITNESSING Christians today. Estimates say that there are 259 Million believers in the world so about 1/2 are witnessing Christians.

Gallup in 1980 reported 50% of Evangelicals in U.S. considered reaching the world for Christ a priority. Only 10% of the clergy felt their church had a successful missions program. (FOM May 86 vol xvi #2 p3)

THIS IS ONLY A PART OF THE PICTURE!

IT GETS WORSE!

Present population increase = 77 million per year, that's 210,959 per day, 8,790 per hour or 146 per minute. That is a lot of people for 50,000 missionaries to reach!

Christians represent 6% of world population

To maintain 6% of 77 mill increase it would take 4,620,000 new converts/year. That's one new convert per 59.74 Christians. Check the numbers in ten years and see if we were able to gain one convert per 59 of us believers!

If we were able to do this we will see a .04% increase in Christians in the world. Let me ask you a question. Would you put out $100,000 at .04% as an investment? NO. Why should God be happy over a .04% interest on His Sons investment - His life!

With 77 million per year increase in population if 50,000 missionaries decided to only deal with the increase they would have to witness to 1540 people per year, or 4.2 people/day 7 days/week. Every year! That 77 million figure will increase yearly also.

In 1984 5,417 people per hour died on earth. 2200 per hour die without ever hearing of Christ.

There are 16,000 distinct cultural groups with no church. (22,000 in the world)

There are 7,000 languages in world -- 5,000 have no scripture in their language.

2,000 tribes have no written languages.

50,000 missionaries out today. Catholics in 1977 reported 138,000 in service.

There were over 500 Islamic centers in the US in 1989. It has been well reported that the Muslims are spending millions to propagate their beliefs around the world.

Over the next 10 years the US will retire missionaries 4 times faster than recruits will be found.

94% of all ordained ministers in the world minister to the 9% whose mother tongue is English. 6% minister to the other 91% of the world's people.

90% of all Protestants are among the 9% who speak English.

CAN WE SAFELY SAY THERE IS A NEED? IT'S OBVIOUS -- THERE IS A NEED!

II. THE RESOURCES

Churches give approximately fifteen percent of their receipts to missions. I've seen figures in the area of one billion dollars per year in recent years for foreign missions in all Protestant works.

I recently read that 20% of givers give 80% of income to churches. Think about that! It ought to put 80% of us to our knees to ask what we can do!

If you do some figuring the average believer gives less than the price of a cup of coffee per day to missions (about thirty-five cents).

"Giving declined by 8.5 percent from 1968 to 1985, while disposable income increased by 31 percent. The average percentage of the disposable income given to the church dropped from 3.05 percent to 2.79 percent during that time period. One researcher commented that 'people are placing a higher value on their life-styles than on their church.'" (a survey of 31 denominations. ANAM NOTES May Aug. 1988)

The United States is richer by far than any nation in history. While the United States has only 6% of the world's population, this country has been blessed with:

50% of the world's wealth.

63% " " " manufactured goods.

29% " " " railroads.

58% " " " automobiles.

44% " " " trucks.

56% " " " telephones.

43% " " " radios.

35% " " " electrical output.

26% " " " steel.

29% " " " petroleum.

22% " " " coal.

A few years back the save the __________ river front fund was created in Oregon. $850,000 was the goal. In only weeks $1.5 million came in.

Larry Poland in his book "Rise to Conquer" mentions a pastor showing him the new church. It's cost was over $800,000 and was awaiting its $125,000 organ. In the hall Larry was shown with pride a bronze plaque - "Our Missionary". He told the pastor they could be supporting 100 missionaries. His reply was this and I quote - He "laughed heartily".

1988 Christmas report on TV news mentioned that the average American child would get $200 worth of toys for Christmas.

TRY THIS ONE CHRISTIAN! In 1985 $400 MILLION WAS SPENT ON SPIRITUAL CONCERTS AND RECORDS AND TAPES IN THE US! Do you want to total all the books, films and videos up?

I received a letter in 1987 from one of the nations Christian publishers. They mentioned they mail over two tons of books per day. I don't know what non-profit postage rates are but normal postage in 1989 was approximately one dollar per pound and that figures to over a million dollars per year for postage alone to mail out all the books we order.

It was reported that 6.1 million people went through PTL'S holiday resort a few years ago. IMAGINE! If each person had donated $10 for an investment fund to support missionaries they could have set up 300 $200,000 accounts. 300 couples could go fully supported to the field and live on the interest. The principle would earn interest until the Lord comes. 300 couples per year!

It takes six times what it took in 1966 to put a person on the mission field.

It takes eleven times what it took in 1946 to put a person on the field.

It takes twelve times what it took in 1926 to put a person on the field.

It takes thirty two times what it took in 1906 to put a person on the field. (from SIM Now. Nov/Dec 86 p7)

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION:

They say there are 40 million evangelicals in the US. If we assume an average income of $20,000 per year and assume an average family of four, that is 10,000,000 families. If each family sacrificed a bit and gave 10% to missions it would put $20 Billion into missions. THAT'S 800,000 FULLY SUPPORTED MISSIONARIES AT $25,000/year. 16 TIMES AS MANY AS WE HAVE NOW ON THE FIELD! WE COULD MULTIPLY OUR MISSIONS FORCE IMMEDIATELY! TO 16 TIMES AS BIG AS IT IS TODAY!

IV. THE EXCITING NEWS

SIM reports 20,000 non-western missionaries on the field today! They also predicted that the non-western missionary would make up the majority in only a few years. (1987)

A new theological institution opens in the third world each day. (Church around the world Aug 87)

While we are here we might mention that the 3rd world equals in 1989 about 2.5 Billion people and they have 17% of the worlds wealth. Yet they have 20,000 workers out! (from Mission Handbook 12th Edition 1979)

Missionaries in Brazil and many other countries are having good success in reaching people and planting churches. The results are there if only we could get the workers out there.

A QUOTE TO CONSIDER:

"ARE MISSIONARIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TOTEM POLE?

"Dr. Don Sisk of Baptist International Missions, Inc., recently said that he has observed in visiting fundamental churches around the country that few if any prominent pastors have children of their own on the mission field. Is it possible that, regardless of our rhetoric, our children have sensed that being a missionary is really not important?

"A young lady at a well known fundamental university recently surveyed her classes for a sociology project. The question was 'Rate the employees of the local church according to their value and importance.' Those included were pastor, assistant pastor, youth pastor, music director, evangelist, missionary, secretary, school teacher, janitor, musicians, etc. Without exception, missionaries were last on every list, even below the janitor. Frankly, that astonished me. Whatever message we are putting out, our attitude toward missions and missionaries is coming through loud and clear to our young people.

"Have you asked God to call your children and grandchildren to the mission field lately? It's not too late to start." (Pastor Norman Pyle; Riverdale, Georgia; from FOM's Focus on Missions vol. xvii #1 2-87)

I mentioned this quote in a church were I was speaking. We were at the time missionary appointees, and we had recently taken the churches custodial duties over to help make ends meet. When I mentioned the fact that the missionary was listed under the janitor, I also mentioned that I supposed that made us social climbers! NOT REALLY FUNNY, BUT TRUE.

Indeed, what messages are we giving to our young people these days?

II Pet. 3:9 mentions "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (NASB)

We have over TWO BILLION lost people to tell of our LORD!

HOW WILL YOU CHANGE YOUR LIFE TO BETTER ACCOMPLISH THAT JOB?

HOW WILL WE CHANGE OUR CHURCHES?

HOW WILL WE CHANGE OUR PASTORS?

HOW WILL WE CHANGE OUR SCHOOLS?

HOW WILL WE CHANGE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE?

THE GREAT COMMISSION IS STILL IN EFFECT!

THE GREAT COMMISSION CARRIES WITH IT SELF RESPONSIBILITIES.

MAY WE FACE UP TO THESE RESPONSIBILITIES!

MAY WE BE FAITHFUL STEWARDS!

James N. Spurgeon

"A job is at your choice;

A ministry is at Christ's Call.

"In a job you expect to receive;

In a ministry you expect to give.

"In a job you give something to get something;

In a ministry you return something that has already been given to

you.

"A job depends on your abilities;

A ministry depends on your availability to God.

"A job done well brings you praise;

A ministry done well brings honor to Christ."

"He who testifieth these things saith, Surely, I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:20

I'd like to close by reading a portion of the Hymn LIVING FOR JESUS.

VS 4. "Living for Jesus through earth's little while, My dearest treasure, the light of His smile; Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem, Bringing the weary to find rest in Him. O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee, For Thou, in Thy atonement, Didst give Thyself for me; I own no other Master, My heart shall be Thy throne; My life I give, hense-forth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone."