9781433573606-epdf

Loosening Roots to Reach the Nations
the gospel. God’s ways are not our ways. But his mission is
sure. Jesus said so. And his word cannot fail. “I will build
my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it” (Matt. 16:18). “This gospel of the kingdom will be
proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to
all nations” (Matt. 24:14). Not “may be proclaimed.” But
“will be proclaimed.”
SETBACKS AS STRATEGIC ADVANCE
We may think the coronavirus outbreak is a setback for
world missions. I doubt it. God’s ways often include apparent
setbacks that result in great advances.
On January 9, 1985, Pastor Hristo Kulichev, a Congregational
pastor in Bulgaria, was arrested and put in prison.
His crime was that he preached in his church even though
the state had appointed another man as pastor whom the
congregation did not elect. His trial was a mockery of
justice. And he was sentenced to eight months in prison.
During his time in prison, he made Christ known in every
way he could.
When he got out, he wrote, “Both prisoners and jailers
asked many questions, and it turned out that we had a
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