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God has given me the privilege of traveling the world for over 30 years sharing Jesus Christ and His truth. Through Living Word International, originated in 1993, incorporated in 1997, and approved as a 501(c)3 organization in the same year with the Internal Revenue Service, it has been a great honor to participate in evangelism, training and supporting pastors, encouraging believers, and meeting humanitarian needs. There is no greater joy than to see people come to Christ and grow in the faith.
In my travels, I have visited some of the poorest countries in the world and seen the many needs. Through our prayer and financial partners, we have been able to help support nations pastors, rebuild churches, donate medical supplies, supply food, print leadership materials, train hundreds of pastors, drill artesian wells, buy mattresses, and meet urgent emergencies. The needs are countless, and the help list is endless.
The life-changing messages of the Gospel truth, leadership training seminars, and encouraging believers has been a great joy over the years. Partnership with Christian leaders around the world has been a great blessing. As the Lord provides, we continue to serve Him faithfully and constantly. It is possible that our Lord could return anytime for His Church; therefore, we need to be in God's vineyard sharing the message of salvation. Over two-thirds of the world has never heard of His first coming; how, then, can they be expecting His second coming?
Our Lord commissioned us to go into all the world and share the Gospel, baptizing and making disciples in all nations. Our mission has taken us to many of the free countries where the freedom of religion still exists. But with doors beginning to close in these countries, we cannot stop the work of the Lord. It seems like those who have heard the Gospel in these open countries are turning from it.
There are millions of people in closed countries who have not heard the life-changing truth. I have stood in the midst of spiritual giants who put their lives on the line every day to share the truth with their people. Some have been martyred; most are constantly persecuted. For example, I met a young man who tried to escape his country several times and was eventually caught. He was sent to another closed country where he came to know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Today, he is back in his homeland and preaching the Gospel.
It was an unforgettable experience when a team of pastors went into a country that had just become free from Communist rule. We had just arrived after flying to the closest airport, traveling for three days into the country, ate a quick meal, and immediately to minister. All we desired was a good night's rest. I was assigned to a small country church. Upon arriving and going in, the church with no seats was completely packed. When I got up to preach, they took the doors off so that people outside could hear the Word. I also observed people pressing their ears against the windows to experience the truth. It was a lesson that I will never forget, and thank God, many came to know Christ that night.
While holding evangelistic meetings in India, we went to a church that had not seen a white man for over 35 years. In our travels across the country, we had car trouble. While we were waiting for help, the people in the village were pressing their faces against the car windows to see the foreigners who had arrived.
We do not limit our travels, but let God lead us each step of the way. We have had a ministry in the Philippines almost every year since 1992. We have traveled from the tip of the southern island to the tip of the northern island. Pastor Tica with whom I work told me that I am probably the only mission worker that has traveled the full length of the islands. Whether this is true or not, we are open to wherever God calls us.
God has also given us a world-wide radio ministry, and we have had responses from all over the world. Radio is a major means of getting the Gospel into both open and closed countries. The program is also available on our website: lwi-usa.org.
It is totally impossible for this ministry without our special partners. Your involvement in the Lord's work, whether it be prayer or finances, is equally important and your rewards will be the same as mine. God puts great value in those who stay home and remain faithful to His work. We encourage you to help us reach more people for Christ. Your gift of any size will be used wisely to share the Gospel, help national pastors and meet humanitarian needs.
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The Rev. Ronald Shupe is the pastor at First Baptist Church of Juniata County.