30
Aug '23
August 2023: Reaching the Final Frontier of World Missions
30
Aug '23
Growing up, I was a big fan of the Star Trek TV series (1966). Each week, I eagerly awaited the latest episode of this cutting-edge program for young adventure-seekers like me. Each show began with the iconic Star Trek theme, followed by that now-classic opening—“Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Its 5-year mission: To explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before.” As a young boy, those words always roused a sense of adventure in me…especially the last line. Could I ever accomplish something that brave and adventurous? I knew I had slim chances of exploring the universe on a spaceship—but it was fun to dream about!
Brian ministering at a “Christian block party” outreach in St. Petersburg, Florida during the Jesus Movement
When I met the Lord at 19, that same sense of adventure kicked into gear. Suddenly, I saw the reality of Daniel 11:32: “The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits” (NKJV)—not to go to strange new planets but rather to “boldly go” into all the world and proclaim the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. By God’s grace and power, we did just that in city parks, juvenile detention centers, prisons, nursing homes, coffeehouses, and more. Then, we went on to the next frontier, preaching the gospel in many states through music, slide shows, and the Word of God. Then on to Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Peru, led by the Holy Spirit to “boldly go” to seek and save the lost. Praise God, thousands found Jesus through these journeys—but I sensed God wanted to do more!
Brian ministering at Faith Fellowship in Ohio in 1993
Heading to Guatemala with the family in the 90s
Then, a fresh command to “boldly go” rang out like a clarion call. Now, God was calling me—“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). I knew this meant we must move beyond the Americas. I soon discovered that about 98% of missionary funds supported reached nations—including the very places where we had focused most of our efforts. That discovery opened my eyes and rent my heart. I knew it was time to reach the final frontier of world missions. Heaven’s headquarters had sent a clear command—we must boldly go “to preach the gospel where Christ was not known” (Romans 15:20)!
Brian, son, JJ, and Jim Randall in Cambodia in 2014
In 2014, my son, JJ, and I took our first eye-opening mission to Southeast Asia to work with Jim Randall. From then on, Jim introduced us to countless native ministries devoted to “boldly go where no man has gone before” with the gospel—to places where the gospel is scarce, thousands of unreached villages remain, and over three billion souls live in unreached people groups. God called MM to stand behind these faithful witnesses to the 10/40 Window, and now, by your prayers and support, they share God’s hope with thousands each month. Praise God, you and I get to “boldly go” with them as their senders. Thanks for joining our lifelong journey (not just five years like The Enterprise) to reach the unreached and train others to do likewise. Together, “We are…Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Interested in sharing God’s hope through MM? Please click the green button below to discover four ways to join arms with us in God’s Great Commission.
