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Hard Truth About Accessibility
Posted by
Bob Fetherlin
,
18 March 2008
·
884 views
A few weeks ago I was sitting in the living room of some US Alliance workers living in Ecuador. They serve in regional ministries helping train leaders in several Latin American countries. The US C&MA is in the process of transition from Ecuador because our family of partner churches there has shown very encouraging signs of strength and maturity. While the idea of transition is very difficult, while missionaries don't want to leave and we want to continue a healthy relationship with the Ecuadorian Alliance, we are intentionally moving forward with transition from Ecuador. A key reason for this is access.
The concern is having access to the good news about Jesus Christ. And here are the specifics this couple shared with me that evening in their living room. "If a person walks out their front door in Ecuador to seek someone who can share how to be reconciled to God through Christ, that person has to talk to four or five people before finding someone who can do this. In Spain, a person seeking the same help has to talk with five hundred people. In (a North African country), it's thirty thousand people."
What does this mean? Relatively speaking, the gospel is quite accessible to the people of Ecuador. The accessibility factor is much lower for the people of Spain, and extremely low for the people of (the North African country). Where, then, is the greatest need for help in making the gospel more accessible? In (the North African country).
It's essential for the Church of Jesus Christ to understand this reality . . . and respond to it with the heart and passion of Christ! In doing this, we need His grace, resiliency, wisdom, and courage. There will be a cost, but He is absolutely worthy! He is the resurrected Lord.
The concern is having access to the good news about Jesus Christ. And here are the specifics this couple shared with me that evening in their living room. "If a person walks out their front door in Ecuador to seek someone who can share how to be reconciled to God through Christ, that person has to talk to four or five people before finding someone who can do this. In Spain, a person seeking the same help has to talk with five hundred people. In (a North African country), it's thirty thousand people."
What does this mean? Relatively speaking, the gospel is quite accessible to the people of Ecuador. The accessibility factor is much lower for the people of Spain, and extremely low for the people of (the North African country). Where, then, is the greatest need for help in making the gospel more accessible? In (the North African country).
It's essential for the Church of Jesus Christ to understand this reality . . . and respond to it with the heart and passion of Christ! In doing this, we need His grace, resiliency, wisdom, and courage. There will be a cost, but He is absolutely worthy! He is the resurrected Lord.
