Too many churches, etc?

[Debp]

Let me explain what I mean......in the USA we have churches on almost every corner, Christian radio and tv, Christian bookstores and magazines....you name it, we have it.  And more and more money goes to support these things (which are good).  But then, let's think about alot of places in the 3rd World and the Middle East where most people have never even heard the name of Christ.  This is why I am trying to help in these areas of the world......yes, the Gospel is needed in the USA, too, especially if Muslims and Hindus are moving here.

I guess what I am trying to say is some Christians may be "overfed" and there are other people groups that are "starving" regarding the Gospel of Christ.

[mississippi_jesus_chic]

I definitely agree.  As much as I believe that there is a major need for revival in our own country, I also believe that people in other countries need to at least hear the gospel.  A lot of people here just choose not to believe and we are to try to show them the light.  But people in a lot of these third world countries haven't even been given the chance to turn Jesus down!  You've got to hear something before you can set your mind against it.

[Soldier4Christ]

U.S. population for the year 2000 was placed at 300 million. Naturally in 7 years it has grown considerably. This figure does not include those that are here illegally. The estimates on this population is that one third, that is 100 million people that are not Christians. The remaining 200 million claim to be Christian but you all know that many that claim to be a Christian really have no idea what it means to be a Christian as they don't even know who Jesus is.

That is a lot of people that are lost. These numbers are growing by the day. Yes, there are many in overseas areas that have never heard of Jesus. There are also many in the U.S. that even if they have heard of Him they have no real idea who He is. It is highly commendable of you to have a desire for 3rd world countries. I do not mean this as a put down for you in that, after all if this is what God is calling you for then that is what you should be doing.

All I am saying here is that there is a real need in the entire world for us to witness to the lost no matter where we are or where we are led. Preaching the Gospel to all. That is our mission.

[ibTina]

......in the USA we have churches on almost every corner

The remaining 200 million claim to be Christian but you all know that many that claim to be a Christian really have no idea what it means to be a Christian as they don't even know who Jesus is

I was also gonna add my 2 cents worth and say something like what Pastor Roger said. What I was gonna say is that sadly ALL those churches on almost every corner are not filled with "True Born again" "washed in the Blood" "Bible believing" people .... just lost folk who  get all fancied up and go to Church.

[airIam2worship]

There are literally hundreds of countries that do not have the WORD of GOD translated in their language.
At our church we have a list of these countries and we pray for them for the WORD to be interpreted into their language.

Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

[Debp]

True, there are alot of people going to church in the USA that are not born again....but at least, they have had an opportunity to hear the Word of God.  Also, I'm sure many of you know people that have heard about receiving Christ as their own Savior, and they do not believe.  So they also have had the opportunity to hear.....so I'm just saying there are those that have never heard at all.

I know, Pastor Roger, that you must continue to preach and feed the flock you are called to....as other pastors should, too.  But let's all remember those that have never heard, even if it is in prayer like AirIam2worship mentions.

[airIam2worship]

I was also gonna add my 2 cents worth and say something like what Pastor Roger said. What I was gonna say is that sadly ALL those churches on almost every corner are not filled with "True Born again" "washed in the Blood" "Bible believing" people .... just lost folk who  get all fancied up and go to Church.

Amen! There are also a lot of folks who go to church looking for a handout. I know this because we had a certain person visiting our church who was always trying to get a handout from someone. This person was going to church for several months, and every month she would ask someone for some sort of financial assistance. She even called me at my home and asked me to pay her rent for her, she was living with 2 roommates (both) male, and none of them worked.  .. This person may have genuinely received Jesus as her Lord and Savior, but her heart was not in the right place. Sad to say that is the same story in many parts of our country.

There are countries where people walk for miles, to get to church where they don't even have running water or bathroom facilities, much less air conditioning. And they may do this 3 or 4 times a week. 

[nChrist]

Brothers and Sisters,

I firmly believe that GOD has work for all of us to do. If we are yielded and willing, HE will give us our calling and work. GOD'S ARMY has a lot of work to do, and it's all important. Further, I firmly believe that GOD will equip us for what HE wants us to do. When it comes to the LORD'S WORK, there is no menial labor. Whatever HE gives us to do, we should simply give thanks and pray that HE works in us and through us in whatever way HE Will.

Love In Christ,
Tom

2 Corinthians 3:5 NASB  Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

[Debp]

Amen! There are also a lot of folks who go to church looking for a handout. I know this because we had a certain person visiting our church who was always trying to get a handout from someone. This person was going to church for several months, and every month she would ask someone for some sort of financial assistance. She even called me at my home and asked me to pay her rent for her, she was living with 2 roommates (both) male, and none of them worked.  .. This person may have genuinely received Jesus as her Lord and Savior, but her heart was not in the right place. Sad to say that is the same story in many parts of our country.

There are countries where people walk for miles, to get to church where they don't even have running water or bathroom facilities, much less air conditioning. And they may do this 3 or 4 times a week. 

Yes, you are right...there are a few people who go to church just for a handout.  Several years back (when I attended a different church that got too liberal so I left).....there was a young woman who was on a disability and she would always fill up a few large soda bottles with a beverage at the coffee hour.  She did this every Sunday....finally one of the workers from the kitchen told her not to do that (we people at the church didn't mind).  Well, after she was told not to do that, we never saw her at church again!!

Also, I personally know a native pastor in Nepal.  He has walked even twelve hours to reach villages where people have never heard of Christ.  He is extremely thin....sometimes he does not have enough food or water.  Once he went to a village where there was hardly any food or water, and he came back from that trip extremely ill.  It took him quite awhile to recover.

[airIam2worship]

We have it extremely easy. We can drive to church, sit in an temperature controlled climate, in nice comfortable chairs, have access to nice clean rest rooms, and nice cold water.

We hear GOD'S WORD and then most of the time by the middle of the week we forgot what it was about 

What some Christian Brothers and Sisters go through to hear GOD'S WORD is amazing and they go even further and spread the WORD more than we do. Sometimes I am ashamed that we don't do more.

[Soldier4Christ]

While it is nothing compared to what the pastor mentioned in Nepal has to go through I do remember going to church on an empty lot in the open air. Not even a tent to cover us from the weather. When that church was built it was just a basement with a flat roof. Years later when the upper floor was built there was no affordable air conditioning back then. We didn't even have fans. This was only the second church in that city. Yet we had large attendance right from the start. Now many people refuse to go to a church even if it has all the amenities.

[airIam2worship]

It is sad that satan has blinded so many with the lusts of this world.   

[Debp]

We have it extremely easy. We can drive to church, sit in an temperature controlled climate, in nice comfortable chairs, have access to nice clean rest rooms, and nice cold water.

We hear GOD'S WORD and then most of the time by the middle of the week we forgot what it was about 

What some Christian Brothers and Sisters go through to hear GOD'S WORD is amazing and they go even further and spread the WORD more than we do. Sometimes I am ashamed that we don't do more.

That is why I try to help indigenous missions....even though my donation is not too large.  I figure even a small amount can help....those people can live on even a dollar a day.

[Debp]

While it is nothing compared to what the pastor mentioned in Nepal has to go through I do remember going to church on an empty lot in the open air. Not even a tent to cover us from the weather. When that church was built it was just a basement with a flat roof. Years later when the upper floor was built there was no affordable air conditioning back then. We didn't even have fans. This was only the second church in that city. Yet we had large attendance right from the start. Now many people refuse to go to a church even if it has all the amenities.

Another thing that is happening is that some ethnic groups want their own churches, instead of joining already existing churches.  In my area, the Koreans have a multitude of churches in office buildings!  If they do really need a separate church (maybe if some older ones do not speak English), it would be good to rent a chapel from an existing church.   Then the rent would also help another church.  Our church rents a chapel to a Korean congregation. 

[JustinD]

I've lived in China for almost 5 years and, as you may or may not know, religion is strictly monitored and controlled here. What amazes me is that Christianity is actually on the rise here! State run churches are popping up and underground seminaries are also popping up in the countryside. Christianity hasn't, and probably won't, entered popular culture here but in the face of government persecution it's nice to see the Word being spoken here.

Helping those in thirld world countries and the middle east is a nice idea in theory but, as an individual, I just don't how one could make much of a difference. It will take organizations getting into godless areas to make things work. Organizations that are protected and influential.

At the same time I think most on the planet know the name of Christ. I think what's lacking is direction on how to attain salvation and, while sad and somewhat discouraging, may one day change. One can only hope. And pray.