“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
— Colossians 3:23
Global Implications
As the calendar turns from December to January, the seasons change, and the new year unfolds. Annual Meetings, Lent and Easter preparation, new year resolutions, and if you live in the north – long winter days! Still ringing in our ears and echoing in our hearts, I hope, are the Advent and Christmas reminders of the global implications of the Savior and King born in that humble manger.
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned ….For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
— Isaiah 9:2, 6 NIV
When Simeon saw and celebrated Jesus’ arrival at the temple for His circumcision, he exclaimed prophetically:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
— Luke 2:29-32, NIV
Millions Waiting to Hear the Good News
There are still millions ‒ billions actually ‒ walking in darkness, waiting to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, the “Immanuel – God With Us”. How many? We can find the details by visiting the Joshua Project.
Current World Population: 8.17 Billion
Unreached Population: 3.57 Billion (43.7% of total population)
Mission Education
ALWM has resources to understand many of the terms missiologists use to help unpack the implications for the church ‒ terms and concepts vital to grasp, as at the end of the day it’s as simple as Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd left the 99 for the lost ONE!
The huge unreached population is a large number, but it’s about individual people from every tongue, tribe and nation that Jesus came for… lived for … died for … and rose again for! Mission education, something in which our Lutheran family generally tends to lag behind our evangelical protestant brothers and sisters in Christ, is just one part of a healthy congregational global outreach. A healthy Global outreach is not impossible – not complicated – not out of reach, but it just needs to start like any journey! We always are starting from where we are and moving toward where we would like to be!
Jesus’ Call to the Nations: Making It a Priority!
I urge you to read the great article from Pastor Lucas Kinser from Faith Community Lutheran Church (Longmont, CO) in this issue of CGM magazine in the Ideas from Churches category! He makes the case passionately and articulately for reevaluating and fine-tuning your mission outreach, with the many unexpected benefits along the way!
For many in NALC and LCMC, current mission giving is often a mixed bag of various local and global ministries you support, at times not remembering when or even why you started. Making Jesus’ call to the nations a priority – working at it with “all your heart” is worth it! Not as a burdensome task, but because the Babe born to be King called us to GO and MAKE DISCIPLES of all the nations (ethne) as His “last instruction” before He ascended! It’s a journey worth starting in 2026!
In Christ for the Nations,
Bill Moberly, CGM Editor
