God’s Team - Who are they?
When you’re hoping to share the gospel in a Muslim megacity of 15 million, where do you begin? That was the question our Frontiers team faced when we moved overseas 30 years ago. We were excited, but also overwhelmed.
We threw ourselves into learning the language, building relationships with Muslim neighbours, talking about Jesus and the kingdom of God, and eventually started a house church. For many Frontiers teams like ours it didn’t take long to discover this challenge was far too big for us and that more workers were needed. Over time, our teams in various locations began to realise that God has already prepared three unsent groups of people right nearby who could, if invited, join us in the work. Let me introduce them.
1. NATIONAL CHRISTIANS
It might seem obvious that we should have partnered with local Christians, but there were reasons why this didn’t happen naturally. In many countries, Christian minorities have long been oppressed by Muslim majorities, creating a fear about making things worse by witnessing to them. Some were afraid of retaliation, while others had no desire to engage with their Muslim neighbours at all. In the 1980s Frontiers founder Greg Livingstone met a church leader in the Middle East who told him that, as far as he was concerned, Muslims could “go to hell.” On top of that, Christians and Muslims from the same country are often divided by language and culture, making relationships difficult.
However, things are changing. In places with significant Christian communities near Muslim populations, like Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, China, and Egypt, Frontiers teams are seeing growing and fruitful partnerships. God seems to be giving local believers new courage, often inspired by foreign gospel workers. Fear is being replaced with faith, and long-held prejudices are fading.
2. MIGRANT WORKERS
Nearly half of the 50 million people living in the Gulf, places like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, are expats. Among them are large numbers of Christian economic migrants, especially Filipinos, Indians, and Chinese. Despite certain restrictions in these closed countries they still gather to worship in churches, sometimes in their hundreds.
For most, it had never crossed their minds that they could be Christ’s ambassadors to their Muslim co-workers and employers, until someone challenged them to think differently. Now the passion, commitment, and perseverance of Frontiers workers has become an inspiration for many, and our teams are seeing a growing desire among these believers to join them in sharing the gospel. Training opportunities are being offered locally, and some who catch the vision are even choosing to relocate within the country in order to be more effective.
3. PEOPLE OF PEACE
Before Jesus sent out the 72 (Luke 10) he gave clear instructions to first pray for workers, but also to look for ‘People of Peace’. These are people within an unreached community who are welcoming, open to the message and, most importantly, actively inviting others to hear the message. In other words, Jesus is showing us that the workers to reach the harvest are often found within the harvest. Making disciples and planting churches isn’t for a few specially trained missionaries but God is using ordinary people whose desire is to obey the Great Commission.
We’re living in extraordinary times as more Muslims are turning to Christ than at any point in history. Often the most effective evangelists and church planters are the locals who reach their own families and friends. However, as with the 72 that Jesus sent, it first needs outsiders to go, share the gospel and find these People of Peace who will reach their own people.
ARE WE STILL NEEDED?
The Great Commission was never meant to be Western-led. It’s a beautiful, heaven-crafted collaboration, with God moving his people around the world to work together so that everyone has the chance to respond to Jesus.
At Frontiers, we’re simply joining in with what God is already doing: mobilising ordinary people like us to go, to serve, to step out in courageous faith, to break new ground, and to invite others along. And we’re just as grateful for those who stay and make it possible, through prayer, practical support, and generous giving. Together, let’s keep sending and going for the glory of God.
Mike Jones – Director
