3 minute read
The International Gospel need
Peter Tasker
I was around 17 years old when our youth fellowship group became aware of the five young men who had lost their lives seeking under God to reach the Auca Indians of Ecuador with the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We were being well taught in the scriptures through our Moore College Student Ministers and our eyes were being lifted to see the world through God’s eyes by our CMS link missionaries. The words of Jim Elliot, one of those five young men, impacted many of us, “he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose”. Words based on Matthew 16:23-27, where Jesus said to his disciples, “for whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it”.
At this same time the Lord was raising up Billy Graham, and it was through the Counsellor Training Courses in preparation for the 1959 Crusade that many of us were learning how to share the gospel one to one. Jesus’ words again to his disciples in Matthew 9:37-38 had an impact on many—“the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” As I prayed this prayer one day it struck me, why not me!
It is now 59 years later!! Has the work been completed? No!! Each generation is called to reach out with the gospel to their generation. We must continue to pray for long term committed labourers.
Over these last few years the Lord has brought our Diocese into contact with many in the Anglican Communion who have said that they believe the Bible but are still looking for adequate training to understand it and be able to effectively preach and teach. They have heard that Moore College trains trainers, has biblical resources to share, and that CMS still sends long term cross-culturally trained workers.
The words of Jim Elliot… impacted many of us, “he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose”.
As an example let me share a conversation I had in Madagascar a couple of weeks ago. Alan Lukabyo has been going to Madagascar at least once a year for at least six years, taking a group of twelve through a French translation of the first six PTC subjects. The aim has been to train two from each diocese who will return to their diocese and take others through the course. One of the young men who has completed this course explained that he has a Masters in Theology from the local University but had never done anything like the PTC. Biblical Theology. Studying a whole book of the Bible. Because of infrastructural and financial problems, most of these dioceses are looking to start small Bible Colleges to give basic foundational biblical training. There are six of the PTC subjects in French, with many now asking, when will the remaining twelve be available? Madagascar was formerly a French Colony, and thus the need for French language material. However, the greater need is for the PTC to be translated into Malagasy. Madagascar has roughly the same population as Australia and it is believed that originally many years ago the first inhabitants came from Indonesia!
The Anglican Church in Tanzania has mature godly leadership in Christ. However, the younger generation is heavily influenced through what they see and hear on the internet. A new generation to be reached with the gospel, a new generation of pastors and teachers needed. Support and encouragement for the Bible College teachers remains a vital need. Part of the PTC is in Swahili. I am being asked, “When will we see the remaining subjects and the diploma course in Swahili?” One of the needs here, as elsewhere, is to train and support trainers who can reach out to others.
There are many false teachers seeking to draw our brothers and sisters in Christ away from believing that Jesus Christ is the ONLY Lord and Saviour. The only way to recognise counterfeit, is by clearly seeing the truth. The need is as great today as in the first century church, for the truth of the gospel to be clearly proclaimed and taught.
Peter is the Archbishop of Sydney’s Bishop for International Relations, Anglican Church, Diocese of Sydney.
