By Denys Blackmore
Just over 33 million people live in Canada today. They reside in 12 million homes, from the windswept villages of the Maritimes to the postcard-perfect shores of Vancouver Island. They are a remarkable cross-section of humanity, a true mosaic of people from all walks of life. But we must ask…
Is there a way to reach all of them with a clear presentation of the Gospel of Christ?
This is the compelling question behind Mission 33 — our nationwide evangelistic campaign based on the theme, Finding the Hope.
For several years leading up to the launch of Mission 33 in October 2008, we prayed, processed, designed, wrote and rewrote. After countless hours of preparation, the day finally arrived when the first Finding the Hope mailings went out to people in communities in several provinces.
Since that time, progress has continued and the energy has increased bit by bit. It feels like a locomotive gaining more and more momentum. As of June 30th, we had reached over 127,000 homes in more than 60 communities of seven provinces, with many more in the planning and preparation stages. Please see the accompanying list of completed campaigns.
Simultaneously, we have kept on developing more resources to enhance the campaign and to assist our partner churches. The number of requests from prospective ministry partners is growing daily. We thank God for an ever-increasing number of concerned Christians and congregations from coast to coast who want to be a part of this historic outreach.
In answer to that first crucial question, we believe that Mission 33’s Finding the Hope message—mailed to every home in a community, city or region—can ultimately reach every home in Canada.
But there’s another question that we grapple with daily: What will it take for us to fulfill this mission, to accomplish the goals of this outreach?
Understandably, this far-reaching campaign will require significant financial resources. But it’s going to take something even more important—something that we discover in Matthew 9:35-38. This familiar passage of Scripture describes not only what Jesus did as he travelled through various towns and villages but also what he saw in those places and how it moved him…
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless,
On another occasion, Jesus told his disciples, “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
No factor is of greater importance to our strategy than the right way of seeing. We must have eyes like Jesus, looking at our world the way He does.
People who have eyes like Jesus see the true condition of lost people. They realize that people without Christ are without hope. Lost people need one thing above all: To hear the Gospel—the Good News of life and salvation in Jesus Christ.
People who have eyes like Jesus also have a heart that beats like His heart—with a compassion that moves them to prayer and action.
People who have eyes like Jesus will commit to do whatever they are able to do for His sake and in His name.
People who have eyes like Jesus see beyond people’s perceived needs to their true needs for spiritual rescue and redemption.
People who have eyes like Jesus sense the urgency of the ripened fields.
Recently I had the privilege of meeting a man in Alberta who wants to be a wise steward, dispersing his earthly possessions before he dies rather than leaving it to happen after his passing. He wants to see his assets invested in kingdom advancement, without estate tax implications. He is transferring ownership of property and other assets now so that people can be reached with the Gospel as soon as possible.
He is a man with eyes like Jesus! He sees the true need of lost people.
A number of pastors in one of our targeted areas for Mission 33 received information about the Finding the Hope campaign and immediately responded by saying unanimously, “We must do this and do it now!”
They have eyes like Jesus! They see that lost people need help to find the way.
I am grateful that others are joining in this challenging campaign, giving generously and praying faithfully so that lost people might come to know God’s love in Christ.
They have eyes like Jesus! They recognize the priority of fulfilling our Lord’s Great Commission.
I am saddened to say, however, that there seems to be a declining percentage of Christians across Canada who have eyes like Jesus—fewer who seem to recognize what is right in front of them: a world of people in desperate need, and only one solution to that need.
We are faced with a double urgency. One is the urgency of people perishing without hope. The other is the urgency of disciples to rise to the task and declare more clearly and passionately than ever before that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Only in finding Him can one find real hope.