North America - Our Mission -

Catch this vision- A modern Parable

In a wide open space with perfect soil a farmer went out to plant. He had enough land for 100 rows of corn, yet he only planted between 40 and 60 rows of corn, he worked those 40 to 60 rows with all diligence, sweating and toiling over them day and night.
The following season the farmer's field grew, he now had enough land to plant 200 rows of corn, yet he still only developed that same 40 to 60 rows of corn. He worked those 40 to 60 rows with every bit of technology one could imagine. He bought the latest tractors, the best fertilizer, and produced the best corn one could imagine, but still was quite satisfied with his 40 to 60 rows of corn.
The following season the farmer's field grew, he had space for 300 rows of corn, yet sure enough he went back to the same 40 to 60 rows and planted once again.

- Today in America there are some 300 million people, with 3 out of 4 being lost. Churches today are occupying and toiling over about 40 to 60 million of those, but what about the rest. May we be encouraged to break traditional molds and reach out to the needy around us.
- Part of the problem is wealth - today in my theology class it was mentioned that Charles Wesley observed long ago that one result of conversion is a better work ethic, which stems from a desire to please God rather than man. This is a good thing, but a result of a better work ethic is more money, and more money, leads to a movement in socio-economic status (the way one lives). It is historically proven that churches grow fastest when they reach poor people, as a denomination or church rises economically, they generally become less evangelistically effective.
- As my Dad always says, "look, at your feet, wherever they go, that is your mission field."

Let us remember the lost today.

Story and stats taken from todays chapel at Southeastern, SBC's North American Mission Board President spoke - Geoff Hammond.