JACKSON, Tenn. — June 3, 2008 — The daily news coming in from the disasters in Myanmar and China is horrifying on many levels. Many are discussing what we should do and how we can help.
Most of us, though, may feel confined to the role of spectators. However, as those entrusted with the spread of the gospel, we should look squarely at the death tolls and the message contained in them.
According to a senior U. S. diplomat, the death toll from the cyclone that hit Myanmar may top 100,000. The latest word I have heard from the earthquakes in China is that the death toll is over 68,000. When I hear news like this about disasters, I typically take down my copy of 鈥淥peration World鈥� and look up the statistics on how many people are thought to be Christians in each place. This is always for me a sobering call to missionary prayer which I then share with my children.
According to 鈥淥peration World,鈥� only about 7 percent of the Chinese population professes to be Christians. If that percentage held for these many who have tragically died, that would mean this disaster saw over 63,000 people descend into hell.
The same source says that only about 9 percent of the population of Myanmar professes to be Christians. If that percentage held for those who lost their lives in the cyclone, then 91,000 people were ushered into hell in this catastrophe.
In these two recent disasters then we would have 154,000 people streaming into hell in a matter of weeks. These numbers are appalling and difficult to contemplate, but we must face them, hoping that more were converted than we knew and then pray and do all we can to see that more of their countrymen come to faith.
These catastrophes ought to remind us of how much is left to accomplish in the Great Commission and of the fact that we must not be sidetracked from the task of world evangelization. People are dying daily without the Savior, and such catastrophes simply highlight this tragedy on a large scale.
So as we see the news stories coming in, let us not simply be overcome with pity and sit immobilized. Rather let us lay hold of the gates of heaven and pray the Father to send forth laborers into the fields (Luke 10:2). Let us pray that the gospel 鈥渕ay spread rapidly and be honored鈥� and that believers in these places 鈥渕ay be delivered from wicked and evil men鈥� (2 Thess. 3:1-2; HCSB).
Pray for missionaries and local believers, that the Lord might open a door for them to speak the gospel and that they might speak it well (Col 4:3-4). Pray that they might 鈥渕ake known with boldness the mystery of the gospel鈥� (Eph 6:19; HCSB). And pray in confidence, knowing that you are praying 鈥渁ccording to the command of the eternal God, to advance the obedience of faith among all nations鈥� (Rom 16:26; HCSB).