Facts That Shame The Church

[Sister Alvear]

I read this today and thought some might be interested...I don´t know how up to date the figures are...I just know when I finished reading I was weeping..
taken fron the old time gospel ministry


Facts That Shame The Church

There are over 2,700,000,000 people who have never heard the Gospel at all, and there are only 5,000 to 7,000 missionaries worldwide, working directly with these totally unreached groups of people. That means there is approximately one missionary for every 450,000 of these people!

There are over 16,000 different and distinct cultures and people, groups, even whole countries, where not one single church is in existence. There are 7,010 distinct living languages, and 5,199 of them still have no Bible or Scripture translations available in their own language!

Do these figures move you at all? Does it matter to you than an estimated 80,000 unsaved people die every day (approximately 3,333 every hour...55 people every single minute!) to face the judgment seat of Christ?

Right now worldwide there are only 85,000 workers on the mission field, working mainly among those who have heard the Gospel before. This figure includes missionaries from all over the world of every nationality. When you compare this number with the amount of Americans selling Avon or Amway products, it is staggering. Just in America alone there are 435,000 Avon sales-people (with 1,280,000 worldwide), and over 750,000 Amway products distributors (with over a million worldwide)! Do you realize that these two companies combined have fourteen times more representatives in the United States alone than the Church of Jesus Christ has in the whole world outside of America? And what about the Christian representatives we do have in the world?

Only nine percent of the world's population speaks English, and yet ninty-four percent of all ordained preachers in the whole world minister to the nine percent who speak English. And ninty-six percent of all Christian finances are spent in the United States on six percent of the world's population. Only four percent of all Christian money is spent on missionary efforts to reach the other ninty-four percent of the world's population!

There are over 1,000,000 full-time Christian workers in the United States; while one half of the world's population (three major groups - Moslem, Hindu, and Chinese), 2,200,000,000 people. have only 2,417 full-time Christian workers. As you can see by these figures, something is definitely wrong. While we in America have approximately one worker for every 230 people.

Those who have never heard the Gospel even once have one worker for every 450,000 souls!" At our home bases we have only about four new converts a year for over two hundred professed believers. At this rate it would take centuries to reach the current population of the earth.

I read where a man said the Irish have a saying that: "Facts are like mules; they are stubborn things and must be faced." We must face sober realities and confess that, unless something revolutionary takes place in our midst at once, then we shall have failed God, and we will be held responsible at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Success of the Early Church in Reaching the Lost

They succeeded where we have failed. So we must get back to apostolic evangelism. Dr. Graham Scroggie says: "The period covered by the Acts is approximately 53 years (B.C. 4 - A.D.30) thus showing how intense is the activities of this first generation of the Church History. Had the later generations of the Church followed the example of the first, the world would have been evangelized fifty times by now."

The truth is the church in its first 25 years of existence accomplished more than at any other time in the history of Christianity.

Their very existence was a living miracle of the power of God. Who would believe the fantastic story that Jesus of Nazareth, that man who died such an ignoble death of shame as a criminal on a felon's cross, had risen from the dead, and that He was the Son of God? Yet they had daily additions of 3,000 and 5,000.

They lived in a hostile atmosphere. The church's message was in direct opposition to the Jewish religion and to the worldwide conquest of Imperial Rome.

I read this today and thought some might be interested...I don´t know how up to date the figures are...I just know when I finished reading I was weeping..
taken fron the old time gospel ministry

not sure on all of the figures, but they don't sound right...

2.7 billion haven't heard about Jesus at all is very unlikely...

The book of Acts covers from approximately 30 CE to approximately 65 or 70 CE, not 4 BCE to 30 AD (I can't believe they got that wrong)...

according to my calculations there are 322 million English speakers on earth(http://spanish.about.com/library/weekly/aa070300a.htm), we passed 7 billion people on earth about 6-12 months ago (I don't recall exactly when), that means 4.6% of people on earth speak English... of course that number is impossible to be true since according to this site (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._by_population), these are population of known English speaking countries:
America 302,871,332
UK 60,587,300
Australia 21.055.915
Canada (English except Quebec) 33,024,100

plus many people worldwide speak English as a second language (most of Europe, Japan, China, India, and tons of other places)... so yeah... :still looking: (yes, I do write while researching lol... its just how I do)

AHA! According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language these are the totals:
First language: 309[38] – 380 million[3]
Second language: 199[39] – 600 million[40]
Overall: 1.8 billion[41]

so that number would mean that 15.4% of the earth's population speaks English on some level, although only about 5% speak it natively...

and as far as church representation, it depends on what you mean by "church"... If you mean those who are in a specific org, its real low... if you mean people of specific type of doctrine (say "Oneness Apostolic"), its bigger but still not overly huge... if you mean those who are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the number is actually very large...

interestingly, though, this is similar to what I was saying (and got ripped for saying) in another thread... so let's see if everyone rips on you for it, or if it was a personal thing against me...

(note: the only reason I looked up the numbers is because you said something and they looked a smidge off for modern times... It was nothing personal, Sis. Alvear and I actually considered not posting just in fear that you might think it was...)

[ILuvFPC]

Originally Posted by redeemedcynic84

not sure on all of the figures, but they don't sound right...

2.7 billion haven't heard about Jesus at all is very unlikely...

The book of Acts covers from approximately 30 CE to approximately 65 or 70 CE, not 4 BCE to 30 AD (I can't believe they got that wrong)...

according to my calculations there are 322 million English speakers on earth(http://spanish.about.com/library/weekly/aa070300a.htm), we passed 7 billion people on earth about 6-12 months ago (I don't recall exactly when), that means 4.6% of people on earth speak English... of course that number is impossible to be true since according to this site (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._by_population), these are population of known English speaking countries:
America 302,871,332
UK 60,587,300
Australia 21.055.915
Canada (English except Quebec) 33,024,100

plus many people worldwide speak English as a second language (most of Europe, Japan, China, India, and tons of other places)... so yeah... :still looking: (yes, I do write while researching lol... its just how I do)

AHA! According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language these are the totals:
First language: 309[38] – 380 million[3]
Second language: 199[39] – 600 million[40]
Overall: 1.8 billion[41]

so that number would mean that 15.4% of the earth's population speaks English on some level, although only about 5% speak it natively...

and as far as church representation, it depends on what you mean by "church"... If you mean those who are in a specific org, its real low... if you mean people of specific type of doctrine (say "Oneness Apostolic"), its bigger but still not overly huge... if you mean those who are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the number is actually very large...

interestingly, though, this is similar to what I was saying (and got ripped for saying) in another thread... so let's see if everyone rips on you for it, or if it was a personal thing against me...

(note: the only reason I looked up the numbers is because you said something and they looked a smidge off for modern times... It was nothing personal, Sis. Alvear and I actually considered not posting just in fear that you might think it was...)

the point of the post was that people are dying lost and we need to do something about it....... not to get out the calculator................

Originally Posted by ILuvFPC

the point of the post was that people are dying lost and we need to do something about it....... not to get out the calculator................

hence the disclaimer at the end...

I'm a geek... I can't help it... I see numbers and I wanna divide and multiply!!!

Originally Posted by redeemedcynic84

not sure on all of the figures, but they don't sound right...

2.7 billion haven't heard about Jesus at all is very unlikely...

The book of Acts covers from approximately 30 CE to approximately 65 or 70 CE, not 4 BCE to 30 AD (I can't believe they got that wrong)...

according to my calculations there are 322 million English speakers on earth(http://spanish.about.com/library/weekly/aa070300a.htm), we passed 7 billion people on earth about 6-12 months ago (I don't recall exactly when), that means 4.6% of people on earth speak English... of course that number is impossible to be true since according to this site (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._by_population), these are population of known English speaking countries:
America 302,871,332
UK 60,587,300
Australia 21.055.915
Canada (English except Quebec) 33,024,100

plus many people worldwide speak English as a second language (most of Europe, Japan, China, India, and tons of other places)... so yeah... :still looking: (yes, I do write while researching lol... its just how I do)

AHA! According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language these are the totals:
First language: 309[38] – 380 million[3]
Second language: 199[39] – 600 million[40]
Overall: 1.8 billion[41]

so that number would mean that 15.4% of the earth's population speaks English on some level, although only about 5% speak it natively...

and as far as church representation, it depends on what you mean by "church"... If you mean those who are in a specific org, its real low... if you mean people of specific type of doctrine (say "Oneness Apostolic"), its bigger but still not overly huge... if you mean those who are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the number is actually very large...

interestingly, though, this is similar to what I was saying (and got ripped for saying) in another thread... so let's see if everyone rips on you for it, or if it was a personal thing against me...

(note: the only reason I looked up the numbers is because you said something and they looked a smidge off for modern times... It was nothing personal, Sis. Alvear and I actually considered not posting just in fear that you might think it was...)

RC,

Your postings are reprehensible. Your tone is always looking to tear down and destroy... you are antagonistic and TOTALLY missed the entire point of the article.

And I am a MAN and I despise your posting style and much of the content you put out there.

[Sister Alvear]

Well, precious saints my point is there are a lot of people lost however we want to look at it and as a missionary it is my job to remind my fellow countrymen and women of the task before us.
As I mentioned I was reading on that site and those are the figures they gave...
Here is a little story I may have told before this happened many years ago.



One day as we were getting out of the van to make visits, a lady walked up to me and said: " You must be the American everyone talks about that comes to our colony." "Yes, I guess I am," was my reply. She invited me to go with her to her home. So, I left the ones that were with me, and went with her to her home.
Soon I found out that she and her husband were both lepers, and presidents of the leper society. Soon our conversation turned to spiritual matters. I discovered that they were Spiritist, and very active in their religion. As we talked it seemed that my religion fascinated them. "Is your religion new?" Mrs. Isabel asked me. I replied, "It is the oldest religion on earth." She pondered my words, then as if she could hardly believe what I had told her, she said: "Missionary, I have a story to tell you, and you will understand why we are spiritist. My mother and father both died lepers when I was a young girl. We came from quite a large family so there were quite a few children left for someone to take care of. It was the spiritist religion that took care of the funerals, and they raised us. That is all I have known of religion. Was your religion around back the, Missionary?"
I lowered my eyes and could not meet her gaze, "Yes, it was around," I replied. She shook her head, as if she could hardly believe it. Spiritist because that is all we know were the words that would continue ringing in my ears. In the nineteenth chapter of Acts, Paul was amazed to find those who did not know the Holy Ghost existed. That was twenty-one years after Pentecost. Now, it is almost two thousand years and billions still do not know. That alone is enough to make angels cry!
As time passed Mr. Francisco became convicted of his sins, and he was the second person that we baptized at the leper colony. I rejoiced to see him go and bring souls to the Lord. On that day there was joy in heaven, in my heart, and in our Brazilian Church.

[Sister Alvear]

It was their first visit by a missionary. Although indescribable poverty surrounded them, and the famished dogs, cats, and chickens wandered through their little humble "lean to" at the foot of the Andes Mountains looking for a crumb of something to eat, the family welcomed us with great pleasure. An old guitar with only three strings was brought to Brother Raul.
After tuning those three strings, he began to sing: "At The Cross." I caught a glimpse of a yearning in their eyes, to know more of the story about the Man who died for them. Oh, the tears of the music of His call! We just happened to be there passing by. Since we were honored guests, something (according to their custom) had to be offered to us to eat. A few sticks were gathered, a fire was built, a batter was mixed and right there in the open air little "pancakes" were served to us.
Needless to say, the flies were in abundance. Looking at that filth, I began to feel Nauseated, but only for a moment, as I beheld the joy on that couple's face, because they had received missionaries into their home. Each time the little lady would look at us, she would smile. Her eyes shone with happiness, as she fried those pancakes. She would laugh to herself at the thought of having visitors in her home. As she brought the "pancakes" for us to eat, we bowed our head to thank our Heavenly Father. I could only feel an overwhelming thankfulness to Him from whom all blessings flow.
Soon we were gone, and to them would be only a remembrance of a missionary family that once visited their home. We are reminded of the millions for whom Christ died, that have never received a visit from one of His messengers. There are countless numbers of families that live like the one mentioned above scattered all over the world. Some in a jungle, others in out of the way villages. Some in large cities, and no doubt others just down the street from you. They are waiting for a visit from one of God's messengers.
The saddest thing is that His messengers are slow in coming. It has been said that 90% of all Brazilian homes have idol gods. From the richest homes to the bamboo huts, idol gods are found. Almost every family names some of their children after an idol god. Would it interest you to know that they are very faithful and loyal to their idol gods? Should we not be more faithful to our true and living God, than they are to their idol gods?
My soul arises and says, "Yes!" The miles should never be counted as sacrifices when traveled for God. The nights without sleep should be counted as joy, when used for preaching the Gospel of Christ. Yes, among the people of the earth, it is you and I who are the blessed ones. We know Him in the power of His Might. He and He alone deserve all glory, honor, and praise. Can we sit at ease and let gods of wood and stone be worshipped when all the worship, and all the praise belongs to the One true and Living God?
We worship in the finest churches, carry leather bound Bibles, sing the latest hymns while many in other lands have not churches, no Bibles, no triumphant hymns. They're enslaved people, not liberated by religion. They are chained by awful sacrifices and rituals. Rituals that take and never give.
You and I have a Divine Savior who has given us victory over sin, and given eternal life as the heathen are marching blindly on to death. If you were the heathen, you would be on that march. Yes, we are debtors to those near. We cannot evade the issue. This generation, God will hold us responsible for those which pass by our way.
The sad condition of the lost, and plain command of Christ should cause us to proclaim His message of salvation to all the world, by life and by lips, by prayer and by praise. Their fate, their destiny depends on you and I , who know so much about the wonderful plan of Salvation. To those who live far away and have never heard.
If the Gospel is not taken to every person in the world, we are responsible. This should be the great purpose, for if all the people in the world were to stand in a continuous line, spaced one yard apart; they would stretch for more than one million miles. That is more than the distance of three round trips to the moon. Or, a solid army in close formation, marching four abreast, encircling the earth at the equator sixteen times. And believe it or not, all of these people, including you and I are on a march to eternity. Over half of these souls have never heard for the first time the plan of Salvation.

[Sister Alvear]

In Bahia, not long ago I sat beside an old, old lady who is a witchdoctor. 'Do you know Jesus?" I asked. She looked at me with such a blank expression. Obviously no one had ever turned her thoughts toward heavenly matters before, and she was solemnized. Looking wistfully at me she said, "There has never been anyone to teach me about Him." Oh, what a rebuke to the luxury loving church! "For some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." (1 Cor. 15:34)
How painful it is to me to see souls like this and know that there are millions just like her. They live in a bleak inward world because they have never heard, "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear." You see, the demons they serve and listen to do not comfort them. Instead they torment them. Their today is like yesterday, and their tomorrow is like their today. To them demons and idols are all powerful for they know no greater power. Their lives are dominated by an unending chain of heathen monotony.
Only a clear, powerful message, saturated with the love of God can possibly dispel the darkness that has so long enslaved these people and set them free. What a day for the Church of Jesus Christ! What a opportunity to make Him known.

[Sister Alvear]

So, I don´t know how up to date the figures are but I do know there are millions that sit in pagan darkness and Larry Boy I ask you, my friend, whose sin is this?

[Sister Alvear]

The Lord is... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (II Pet. 3:9)