Did you know that there are currently more Christian missionaries being sent to the United States than any other country in the world?

Take a minute to really understand what that means. It means that Christians from around the world are looking to the United States and collectively thinking among their gatherings, “America needs our help!” They are thinking that to such a degree that they are raising funds to support sending missionaries here to preach the Gospel.

When I heard that fact, I was honestly shocked. I was torn between gratitude and grief.

On one hand, we can express great gratitude knowing there are Christians from around the world who are thinking of us and care so much about us that they would raise funds and dedicate their lives to preaching the Gospel in our country. It warms my heart to reflect on that thought.

On the other hand, my heart is broken recognizing that even though there are roughly 213 million U.S. citizens who consider themselves to be Christians (according to a Pew Research Center poll conducted last year), we are collectively doing such a poor job proclaiming the Gospel that other countries feel that sending missionaries here to do it is the best way they can steward their resources.

Why is this the case? Have we just been collectively passing along the baton, the awesome opportunity to serve God by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others, to the next person in hopes they would do it for us?

Have we as Christians stopped viewing sharing the Gospel with others as something exciting that we look forward to doing? Have we ceased seeing it as the most loving thing we can possibly do for our friends, family and everyone we meet? Have we just become too busy with all of the other things that fill up our daily schedules?

To be honest, I am not sure what has led us to this point. We could easily point to one thing or the next as to the reason why. After all, shifting blame to others is the easiest way to deal with our shortcomings but it never solves anything. No, I believe this is one of those occasions where we each need to take a hard look at ourselves.

A time of asking God through prayer to give us discernment about how we have been living out our faith and if our passion for serving him still burns as brightly as it did when we first trusted in him.

The prophet Jeremiah once said, “His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”

My prayer is that self-reflection and Holy Spirit led conviction not only brings us back to a deeper study of God’s Word but that it would reignite a fire in our hearts as well. That we would be bursting at the seams to tell everyone we can about the God of grace who loves us all so much.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”