The Reason

In a month or so Baptists from all over the country will embark on what the NAMB is calling GPS (God's plan for sharing). Now, although I wish they had come up with a better name for it, I like the idea. It is the goal of Baptists all over North America to share the gospel with every person in North America by 2020.

I think it is a very noble goal, and our church will be joining with other churches to help accomplish this enormous task.

But let me ask a question, it's kind of personal, so I hope you don't mind, but it is a question that has driven how FBCH will participate in GPS.

What about the person living next door to you?

Now don't get me wrong, I think it is wonderful that people are out canvassing neighborhoods that they don't live in, inviting strangers that they have never met to a church service that they won't even sit with them in... but why is it so difficult for you to simply walk across your yard and meet the family that is living next door or across the street?

Let's do a little exercise: Close your eyes... wait, you're reading... imagine you are walking out the front door to your house. Look to your left. Who lives there? Write their name down. Look the right. Who lives there? Write it down! No cheating! Look ahead of you. Who lives across the street?

Three homes. Three families. If the average holds true, around 10 people. They need to hear about Jesus. They are probably looking for love and acceptance and joy and peace... and you know where to find it!

Acts 17:26-27 says this:

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set before them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

God has placed you where you are living. In the community in which you live. On the street on which you live. In your home. He has placed you there so that people, and I believe the people living all around you, can call upon his name and find salvation and love and acceptance and peace and mercy and grace.

Wow. Just think about that. You are where you are and your neighbors are your neighbors on purpose. It isn't an accident.

What a huge responsibility. I pray that we may learn to take it seriously lest we disappoint the One who breathed life into our lungs.