God’s Work Is Worldwide

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;” Revelation 7:9

It is good to be reminded sometimes that Bible believers who came before us have followed Christ’s commission to take the Gospel into all the world. I have been blessed to travel to many far-flung parts of the globe in my private life. When I travel, I like to meet local people if I can. I often travel on local transportation, just for opportunities to talk to people. Sometimes God opens the door for me to witness to people. In contrast to that, I am often surprised by the boldness of believers in other countries.

Yesterday evening, I attended a language exchange here in Taipei. The idea is for people from various countries to gather and to practice each others languages. It is usually a jovial time, and last night was no exception. I was praying for an opportunity to speak of Christ with someone. A young Taiwanese man approached me and asked if he could practice his English with me. I told him that I would be delighted. His English was quite limited, but it soon dawned on me that he was trying to witness to me! He told me that he grew up a Buddhist, but due to the influence of his aunt he went to a Baptist church here in Taipei and got saved. Now he seeks out opportunities to witness to others. I had to admire this young man’s conviction. He fearlessly came up to me, a stranger, and witnessed to me in my language which he does not know very well. 

God Has His Witnesses

I am grateful for the reminder that God has placed witnesses around the world. As Americans, and westerners, we can fall prey to the belief that if we are not there doing ministry, then it is not getting done. I am grateful that is not the case. In fact, after I walked back to my hotel, I let my mind drift back to the different times and places where something similar has happened to me. 

As a young man I took one of my first overseas trips to Spain. Unbeknownst to me, the car I rented was a diesel. I filled it to the brim with unleaded gas, and then got to wait on the side of the highway for a tow truck. When the truck arrived the driver had the beard, physique, and jolly demeanor of Santa Claus. As soon as he loaded the car we got in the cab. He exchanged pleasantries with me, and then after a few minutes said, “I need to ask you a question. If you died today, do you know for sure you would go to Heaven?” We shared a sweet time of fellowship in the cab of the tow truck. 

Another time I was sitting at a bus station at night in a small town in Rwanda when a local pastor came through handing out tracts and witnessing to people. We talked for a while, and then prayed together. A couple of years ago, I was strolling around Tirana, Albania when I ran into a group of Romanians who had come there on a missions trip to hand out tracts in front of the central mosque. Despite knowing neither Romanian nor Albanian, I joined in. I got to know a young waiter in Mexico a few years ago after I had eaten at his restaurant a couple of times. One day, I could tell he was nervous around me, so I asked him what was wrong. It turns out he was trying to work up his nerves to witness to me! I ended up attending revival services at his church that week.

I have slipped quietly into churches in the Muslim world, sub Saharan Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. I have sung along in languages that I know, and mouthed along ineptly in languages that I don’t know. I have been blessed to hear faithful men of God preaching His Word with the power of the Holy Spirit. One church stands out to me. I was at a large church in northern Iraq eleven years ago with a couple of friends. After the service, the church called us forward and prayed over us. I was humbled that these lovely believers, in such a difficult place, were willing to intercede for us, the Americans.

I could write dozens of these stories. The point is, God is working around the world. Even if we do not know of it, or see it. Will you commit to pray for the believers whom you do not know? The people about whom you may never hear? Pray for God’s strength and wisdom as they carry the Gospel to places we cannot go. On top of that, do not be discouraged at the size of the task before us. We are not alone. 

– John Buckner, Taipei, Taiwan. April 8, 2025

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About John Buckner

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