You’ve heard the story of the five missionary martyrs in Ecuador. They were killed by a hostile jungle tribe in 1956. Well, there was another martyr you’ve probably never heard of: Tonio.

Tonio heard the Good News through two of the martyrs’ relatives: Nate Saint’s sister, Rachel, and Jim Elliot’s widow, Elisabeth. Both women went into the jungle after the killing and brought the Good News to Tonio and his people. But there were other tribes downriver who were still killing people. Tonio had family in them. So he decided to go and take the Good News Gospel to his family.

Well, they did not like the message. So one day, one of them killed Tonio. Still, Tonio had brought the truth to that people. Years later, a missionary couple I know saw one of the young men from the tribe that killed Tonio. He was preaching the Good News, and baptizing people!

God tells us in Isaiah 55, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” We can’t always see how God will work good out of tragedy. Even when it seems you’re at a dead end in your witness, be assured: God is still at work!

One of the greatest ways you can reach your world with the Good News Gospel is by living it out in your family. Christianity found only in a church sanctuary is about as helpful as a car that never leaves the garage! We’ve got to lead our families into authentic, daily worship. Worship that begins at home and then overflows into the rest of life-at the grocery store, at the workplace, on the golf course. Following Christ isn’t just a Sunday thing! A Christian is a Christian 24-7!

Psalm chapter 1 says of the man (or woman) who is blessed by God, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Make following Christ a part of daily life by having regular family worship times. Read the Bible together and discuss it. Sing a favorite hymn or chorus. Pray for each other. What about involving your children in ministry? Or making holidays and traditions spiritually meaningful? Invite missionaries into your home?

Whatever you do, show your children how to worship God with their whole lives-not just on Sunday. You’ll make an eternal impact not just on your family, but on every person who witnesses what living for Christ is really all about.

I remember the story of Keith Green. He was a highly influential American singer and songwriter from the 1970’s. Before he gave his life to Jesus, though, he was heavily involved in drugs and eastern philosophies. But one night he was invited to a Bible study at a friend’s house.

The true fellowship in the group impressed Keith. He saw people full of joy and love as they studied the Word of God together. And that’s where the Lord really began to tug at Keith’s heart. Later he paraphrased Matthew 18 like this: “It’s time to quit playing church and start being the Church.”

Keith was “burdened with reaching the lost, and broken with the true message of the Gospel.” And he had witnessed himself the power of community in reaching lives with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Living out the Gospel message in Christian unity is a powerful way to make an impact on our world. Psalm 133, you remember what it says… It says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”

When you and I live together in the joy and peace that only comes from Jesus Christ, the world, like Keith, will sit up and take notice and our neighborhood will notice too. The world will pay attention when there’s unity. Jesus said that in John 17 and I’ve seen it to be true all over the world.

A New Way of Thinking
We’ve all heard these phrases: “Fight fire with fire.” “Fight it tooth and nail.” “You’re fighting a losing battle.” There are lots of sayings about fighting. Are you prepared to fight the good fight of faith? Actor Bruce Lee once said, “A fight is not won by one punch or kick. Either learn to endure or hire a bodyguard.”

The follower of Christ has to learn endurance, also. We are in a fight, my friend. The Bible says in Ephesians chapter six, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the invisible evil authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

We must strengthen our spiritual muscles and arm ourselves with the truth of God’s Word. I guess you could say that’s kind of like our spiritual “bodyguard,” don’t you think? Knowing the Bible helps us reach non-believers with the Good News Gospel message. And you know, when you know the Bible, you’re more prepared.

You don’t want a hollow witness, a “Do as I say, not as I do” mentality. That won’t take you far. To go far and to persevere, I must keep on praying, speaking, loving-and fighting!-so that others might know the Good News of Jesus Christ. Yes, Satan attacks, but we have the indwelling Christ and “Greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world.”