My daughter-in-law and son are in Nicaragua on their first mission trip. They are joined by about another twenty – five people. The mission team is a combination of folks with a two- fold purpose – providing medical assistance and preaching the gospel. They will try to meet the physical needs and the spiritual need. His concern was that they would like to start a church there and he has been tasked the responsibility to evangelize. Sensing his apprehension with this responsibility, I try to calm his fear. 

It is not up to us to build the church. Well we can put the brick and mortar together and build the building, but we can’t build the ‘Church.’ Only Jesus can build the Church. He told Peter, “…I will build My church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Matt 16:18  Only Jesus can change the heart of a person. But obviously Jesus would use people to spread the message. He would commission them to go and make disciples. He would give them the power necessary to do the work… “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Act 1:8

One of the first examples of this was the preaching of Peter on Pentecost. As a result of his preaching about 3,000 souls were baptized and added to their numbers. (Acts 2:41) They continued daily and “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Act 2:47 The apostles were faithful in delivering the message and it was the Lord who added to His church. 

Are you obeying by delivering the message? It doesn’t have to be to crowds of people. It doesn’t have to be in a foreign land. It may not fall on fertile soil. The message might be rejected. Your only requirement is to be faithful to deliver the message. “How beautiful are those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” Rom 10:15