When I was a teenager in Argentina, a missionary from California taught me how to pray. His name was Keith Benson. Keith asked if I would like to pray with him once a week. I was thrilled! The first afternoon we got together, Keith put a map on the wall. On the map was the city of Cordoba, which is the second largest city in Argentina.

We began praying for each and every church in Cordoba. It took many months, but we did it! Then Keith began putting up maps of other cities throughout Argentina, and we prayed for those by name, week after week.

Eventually, it was on to South America. We prayed for each and every country. Finally, Keith brought out a globe of the world! And I fell in love with the nations! I learned so much through those prayer sessions. Keith taught me that regular prayer not only enhances your relationship with God, but it increases your vision for what God can do through your prayers. I determined that I was ready to go wherever the Lord called me!

In John 16, Jesus says: “My Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” Whatever we ask in Jesus’ name, He promises to do it. So dream big – but pray even bigger – that God will use you to reach your world for Jesus Christ!

Many Christians today are in the habit of not going to church. Most are good-hearted believers, who simply don’t think they need the local church. But Hebrews 10:25 tells us, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.”

Why do we need church? Because the local church is God’s way of shaping us, molding us, and then using us to reach our world. Although there may be people there who rub us the wrong way, that’s part of the genius of Gods design!

He wants to stretch us, and cause us to grow. We may get bothered by the style of this, or the sound of that. But it’s good for us! It’s humbling, it’s purifying, it’s “iron sharpening iron.”

As we are sharpened by others in the church, we become more like Jesus Christ. We also learn how to work with those who are different than us. And working well with other believers is one of the best expressions of Jesus Christ to our world.

So, dream great dreams for your church! Be faithful to it! Pray for it! And get involved. Ask God to use your church to reach your neighborhood, your city, your country for Jesus Christ. That’s exactly what He wants to do!

I love China and have visited there several times already in the last 10 years. More than 15 years ago, Billy Graham spoke at some churches in Beijing and Shanghai. After one sermon, an elderly Chinese man came up to Mr. Graham and said (through the interpreter), “What was the name of the man who died on the cross that you told us about?”

Mr. Graham said, “His name was Jesus.” And the elderly Chinese man said, “I have always believed in him, but I never knew his name.” God had revealed Himself to the heart of this Chinese man, but this man just didn’t know some of the details.

From the early days of the creation of man and woman, God has been revealing Himself in people’s hearts. But I also think God had the Bible written so that people could know what they believe and who they believe in and know the details!

Do you know someone who believes in God but does not know Jesus Christ? Encourage this person to read the Bible – especially the Gospel of John in the New Testament. It is God’s inspired Word. It is perfect!

As the prophet Isaiah says in the Bible, “It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Encourage someone today to read the Good Book! Especially as I said the Gospel of St. John.

Today, Africa is receiving much attention, both from the Church and the media. With proponents like Bono and Product Red, Africa is receiving help and funding. And that’s good! But what if every physical need was met today? What would that mean for eternity? Not only for Africa, but everywhere? Even if everyone was fed and clothed… without Jesus Christ, souls remain lost.

God pointed out our vital duty and that is to proclaim His Good News. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few,” Jesus said in the book of Matthew. We must sense the urgency of our time. How long must people wait before they hear the Gospel? How many more generations must pass? Some parts of the world have yet to hear the message of Christ!

Today, more than ever, we can reach “closed” nations with the Good News. God is doing incredible things in Asia, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Republics. But we must remain diligent in meeting both spiritual and physical needs of people. We must pray for these countries. If you are providing relief and monetary gifts to people overseas, that is good! Thank you! But let’s not neglect our call to care for people’s souls. Their eternal well being is at stake!