1 of 100 of 1,000,000

You are looking at one of the hundred people in a population of one million people who is a follower of Jesus. Meeting this young man was a unique thrill for me. How ofter do you meet a true "Needle in a Haystack"? Not only did I enjoy the blessing of working amongst an unengaged people group while in Ethiopia last October, I also had the opportunity to meet a pure blooded national from this people group who was a Christian.

Praise God that he along with a small group of dedicated followers of Jesus are committed to loving God and loving others within the difficult context of his people group. Traditionally, his community has been very hostile to Christianity. However, I discovered when I met many of them that they were not at all hostile to me. They were very interested in me and my life as well as why I had come to visit them in such a remote place. When I expressed my desires to learn more about their community in order to bring help and blessing to them, they were very excited to develop a relationship.

Working with e3 Partners and One Story to reach this unengaged people group was a wonderful experience. Our church is being challenged to adopt an unengaged people group as defined by the Finishing the Task Organization. With under 700 remaining unengaged people groups in the world and with the 1000's of churches in our nation, why can't we network our CHURCH together to at least erase the thought of an unengaged people group? If we spend more a year on chewing gum than on blessing the nations as a nation, can't we collectively agree to help these remaining unengaged groups? Providing resources as simple as clean drinking water or an opportunity for educating their children are among the simple requests for help they are asking.

Will you help? Investigate these organizations. Challenge your church leadership to get involved. Adopt an unengaged people group. Commit to be a blessing to them. And then, down the line a bit, don't be surprised when they ask why it is that you have chosen to bring them such gifts...

BUMPER STICKERS

I've found my favorite bumper sticker- bar none! It reminds me of a question that I have been wrestling with- "Where can we first find the Great Commission in Scripture?" Where would you say it is? I landed on Matthew 28:19-20 but as it turns out, I'm many, many books and chapters off in my guess. As it turns out, God provided His first pass at the Great Commission His chosen people, the Israelites. In Genesis 12:1-3 He commissions Abram with His blessing and promise to bless His people SO THAT they will bless the nations and glorify Him. You may remember that Israel, amidst some successes, largely failed at their mission but God nonetheless accomplishes His promise and sees that many peoples come to faith in Him through the ways He shows off using the Israelites.

My faith in God is a byproduct of this Genesis 12 blessing. In fact, America's prosperity is a blessing from God and too is a byproduct of the Genesis 12 blessing. I find it difficult to sing along with "God Bless America" as I don't see how it is that we can ask God for more blessing when we as a country have not been good stewards of the many blessings He's already provided. We consume. We deepen the trench between those who have and those who don't in this world. When will we recognize that we need to in fact bless God back?

I am taking this bumper sticker, indeed this premier of the Great Commission, and making it my life's mission. I am blessed SO THAT I may bless others. Jesus teaches about the "least of these" to which my blessings can be directed. Feed the hungry. Provide water for the thirsty. Show kindness to strangers. Visit the imprisoned. Care for the sick. Clothe the naked.

Are you blessed 2 bless? Will you always delight in God? Will you fully depend on God? Will you take Him to the nations?