Mission Field or Mission Force?

_{Editor’s Note: This article is drawn from the message in the video above, which also includes a Q&A session you can watch here.}

While missionaries historically brought the gospel to Guatemala, followers of Jesus in Guatemala now have a unique part to play in spreading the gospel from Latin America to the ends of the earth. God is awakening believers across Latin America to see that the Great Commission is not only for the Western church. It’s for every follower of Jesus, everywhere.

The Mandate

The foundation for this calling is found in Acts 1:8, which provides a framework for how the gospel spreads:

• Ordinary people: The spread of the gospel is not dependent on highly trained or famous individuals. Instead, it occurs through everyday believers who are serious about following Jesus, as exemplified by the unnamed people who planted the mission-driven church in Antioch.
• With extraordinary power: This supernatural power is granted through the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit who appeared in dramatic ways at Pentecost lives within followers of Jesus today, and he uses them to speak the gospel in a way that leads people from eternal death to eternal life.
• Proclaiming the gospel: Being a “witness” means more than just living a good life. It means actively speaking and testifying about Jesus. The word “witness” in Greek is martureo, which is the root of “martyr.” It points to the reality that sharing the gospel can be costly. In some parts of the world— places like Bangladesh, Somalia, and North Korea—it can even lead to death. But the Bible commands believers to boldly share the gospel with those around them, knowing the Spirit is with them.
• Planting churches for the glory of Jesus among all the nations: The ultimate aim is the global spread of the gospel and the establishment of churches among all people groups.

The Global Mission

The world can be categorized into zones: green zones are places where the gospel has spread; yellow zones are places with some gospel exposure, and red zones are spots with little to no gospel access. There are approximately 3.2 billion people in red zones who might live and die without ever hearing the good news about Jesus. There’s an urgency for believers to work together to spread the gospel to these unreached populations.

Lessons from Spain: Challenges and Opportunities

Spain serves as an example of a historically green zone where gospel presence has significantly declined. Meanwhile, there’s been a rapid increase in people who identify as non-religious or agnostic/atheist, and a growth among Muslims. 

But the Protestant church in Spain is now experiencing growth again, largely due to significant immigration from Latin American countries. 

A pressing need still remains for pioneering work to establish an evangelical presence in many towns and villages in Spain. The country also has a unique opportunity to reach North Africa, with believers already expressing a burden for neighboring Moroccan and Algerian populations.

A Call to Action for Every Believer

Believers are called to dedicate their lives to spreading the gospel, both within their local communities and globally. This commitment involves:

• Daily growing in intimacy with Jesus and walking in step with the Holy Spirit, pursuing holiness and honoring Jesus in all aspects of life.
• Learning about the cultures and beliefs of the people they intend to reach.
• Being bold in sharing the gospel, even when facing rejection, understanding that obedience in sharing is the measure of success, not immediate acceptance by the people who hear. God is actively working in people’s lives worldwide, and believers are invited to join his ongoing mission.