— An Historic Milestone —
We don’t know where it happened or even exactly when it happened, but sometime in the first half of 2011 EHC passed an historic milestone of ministry. Somewhere in the world, the 100 millionth person responded to a Gospel message delivered by EHC evangelists. Not even EHC’s visionary founder, Jack McAlister, could have imagined reaching so many people with the Good News of Jesus. We give glory to God for this amazing news! And at the same time we realize: The work is not done. There are multiplied millions, even billions, waiting to hear the message that can transform their lives.
This is a good time to remember why we have committed our lives to this worldwide outreach, to revisit the guiding convictions that compel us to keep pushing forward, to keep striving to reach every person possible, in every place possible, by every means possible. These are not mere opinions but things about which we are absolutely, positively convinced.
We are convinced… that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Not a way, a truth, a life. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life. He is the one an only way to relationship with God. He said categorically, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
We are convinced…that salvation is found in no one other than Jesus. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter stood before the Jewish council and proclaimed, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
We are convinced…that God’s desire is for every person on earth to hear the Gospel of Christ and have the opportunity to believe in Him, receive Him and follow Him as a disciple. Jesus left us with these words: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20)
We are convinced…that as disciples of Jesus Christ we are responsible to proclaim in our words (by preaching and teaching) and in our actions (by loving, gracious service), the message and character of God’s saving grace to every person. We are, as the Apostle Paul wrote, “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
We are convinced…that unity in the Body of Christ is essential to reach a whole region and eventually the whole world. Jesus prayed for us, “…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21)
We are convinced… that it is Satan’s plan to hinder the work of evangelism and to hold people captive. As a result, the church must engage in spiritual warfare. Paul admonished the Corinthians, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God…made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Corin. 4:4-6)
We are convinced…that God has given us the gift of prayer to call upon His power to lift the veil that blinds perishing people from seeing the light of the Gospel and to remove other obstacles that hinder effective evangelism and discipleship. Jesus gave this promise: “I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” (John 16:23)
We rejoice in the wonderful news of 100 million responses to the Gospel message (in fact, we just received word that we’ve now passed 101 million!). But there is so much more to do, so many more to reach. Our purpose is clear. Our cause is compelling. Our calling is sure. We must never forget the “all” and “every” factors and the imperative to take this life-giving message to cities, towns, villages, and to “the ends of the earth.”
-Denys Blackmore