At a recent training event, Jilo sat among a group of young men commissioned as missionary church planters just six months prior. Working with eight different denominations, over 200 of these transformational leaders were equipped and sent into Ethiopia’s Borana Zone to reach the unreached. Reaching the unreached includes people groups who have never heard about Jesus.
Jilo’s Story
Jilo was a small woman with very delicate features. A sheer white scarf circled her face, and her white dress was spotless. At first impression, she was ordinary to look at except that she was the only female among the group of men sent out in the last 6 months to reach the unreached. As a result, this made her stand out in the pool of masculine faces. However, she sat patiently in silence waiting until somebody spoke to her. When the time came to retell her story of the move of God in her village, she sat up, and a sense of powerful purpose came across her face. She spoke with such courage and faith that the other North American pastors in the room paused to hear her story.
Someone Believed
As a young girl, Jilo became very sick with an unknown illness. Born to an unbelieving family, her parents took her to witch doctors to heal her. The witch doctor was unable to help her worried parents, so they took her to a local church pastor. God remarkably healed her! Jilo eventually became a Petros Network church planter in her village with a vision to reach the unreached in her village.
Over the last 6 months, she has led many to know Jesus. Bolstered with her faith in Jesus, she prayed for the sick and witnessed miraculous healings.
This courageous woman has continued to disciple her village and eventually baptized her entire church and neighbors in water. This happened because someone believed in God’s mission through her and sponsored her as a Petros Network missionary to create Redemptive Lift in her community.
Disease Does Harm To Our Body As Sin Does Harm To Our Soul
What would happen if you understood you held within your grasp the cure for the deadliest disease of all? More than likely, you would be compelled to share that cure far and wide.
Sin is the deadliest disease of all. God says, “The one who sins is the one who will die.” (Ezekial 18:20) “The wicked shall be turned into hell.” (Psalm 9:17) There is a steep price for the disease of sin, and God says it is forever in hell. And yet, within our grasp, we hold the cure — a life with Jesus now and forevermore. (Psalm 121) How can we contain ourselves and not tell others? We have the cure and we can send out courageous transformational leaders, like Jilo, to reach the unreached in the darkest places on Earth?
Our Opportunity Is Coming To A Close
As I talk with our international teams, I hear firsthand accounts of what Matthew 24 describes as the birth pains of Jesus’ return — persecution, famine, pestilence, the rise of false prophets, false teachings, wars, rumors of wars, and natural disasters. According to a new Lifeway Research survey focused on the study of end times, almost 9 in 10 pastors see at least some current events matching those Jesus said would occur shortly before he returns to Earth. In other words, our opportunity to reach the unreached is coming to a close. Our opportunity to share the cure for the deadliest disease of sin ends soon!
You Can Help Fulfill Bible Prophecy
Matthew 24:14 declares the final sign before Jesus returns, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” When you help us to send out missionary church planters to reach the unreached, you are joining hand in hand with the Missio Dei, the Mission of God, as proclaimed in Matthew. You are fulfilling the Bible prophecy that His name will be declared to every tribe and nation before He returns.
We Have The Cure For What Ails The World
Some of the stories from our Petros Network community, like Jilo’s story, will never show up on the nightly news. But, they are firsthand accounts of the move of God in the darkest places. Jesus is coming soon. The time is short. We have the cure for what ails the world — that cure is Jesus. His remedy is perfect and revives the soul.
Who Will Send Them?
For as little as $36 a month, you can send out a missionary like Jilo and help spread the cure for sin. Every monthly gift or one-time gift gets us closer to the Mission of God — reaching the unreached.
How can they call on one in whom they have not believed?
How can they believe in one whom they have not heard?
How can they hear unless someone tells them?
And how can someone tell them unless they are sent?