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TL;DR:
A quotation from Ted Engstrom anchors a call to prayer, giving, sending, mobilizing, or going in support of global missions. The page illustrates how narrow, local-only evangelism reflects an incomplete grasp of salvation’s scope because it ignores Christ’s global Great Commission. The piece concludes that salvation's transformative, inclusive nature demands worldwide outreach.
"A congregation that is not deeply and earnestly involved in the worldwide proclamation of the gospel does not understand the nature of salvation."
Jumping out at me from Ted Engstrom's words is the phrase "deeply and earnestly involved." For me, those words raise questions like:
From time to time, I hear people describe their congregation's involvement in world evangelism simply by saying, "We always pay our budgets." Intercessory prayer, encouraging children and youth to become involved, and providing needed emotional support for missionaries serving cross-culturally do not seem to be on those people's radar.
In such descriptions, supporting world missions is apparently only about sending money. Moreover, the way they say "we pay our budgets" sometimes sounds like they view money given to world evangelism as a "tax" levied by the denomination. "We pay our budgets" gives me the impression that they are neither deeply nor earnestly involved in the worldwide proclamation of the gospel.
Others, when asked about their church's global involvement, will mention mission trips taken by small groups in their congregation. However, if sending a few members overseas for ten days each year represents the full extent of their involvement, can it be said that they are "deeply and earnestly involved"?
I've heard people in new church plants explain that it is too early in their congregation's history for them to think about the worldwide proclamation of the gospel. "We'll get to it eventually," they say.
Engstrom, who led Youth for Christ International and then World Vision International, would likely respond with something like this: If world evangelism is something your church hopes to add in the distant future, you really do not understand the nature of salvation. This is my paraphrase of how Engstrom might apply his statement, not a direct quotation from him.
I've known others who say, "We are called to evangelize right here in our neighborhood. This is where we are fulfilling the Great Commission."
To that, I think Engstrom would respond with something like this: The lost people in your immediate neighborhood need to hear the gospel, but if you are only concerned about them and no one else in the world, you do not understand the nature of salvation. Again, this is my paraphrase rather than a direct quotation from Engstrom.
"Deeply" and "earnestly" are key words. Do they describe my church's global involvement? Do those words define my own involvement?
— Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu
Being deeply and earnestly involved means immersing ourselves fully and passionately in an activity, cause, or pursuit. It goes beyond casual participation or passing interest. Such involvement requires an investment of time, energy, heart, and soul.
The biblical understanding of salvation underscores the importance of world evangelism. To begin with, Christ's Great Commission calls his followers to share the message of salvation with people throughout the world. What's more, salvation includes the possibility of transformation. By supporting world evangelism, believers help make the message of salvation available to people of every religious, cultural, social, and geographical background.
Scripture quotations are from the 2011 NIV.
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