“There is more work that needs to be done than you can imagine. Almost 2 Billion people who have never heard of Jesus Christ. Hundreds of millions right here in India. Pray for laborers.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Two BILLION people? How? In the 21st century? With our technology and internet and modern conveniences could ANYONE not have heard of Jesus? Gobsmacked as I was, here was a missionary in India telling the situation as we sat over tea and coffee.

As a recent college graduate in 2014, I was a vocational drifter like many in my generation. Moving from role to role. I was serving as an intern for my local baptist association when an invite to come and preach in India was offered. As a licensed preacher, I viewed that as my calling even if I wasn’t doing it as a job.

My host in India had come to America to look for guest preachers at his church’s end of year conference. I was the only one who responded. So, he extended an invite to come to Andhra Pradesh and preach the Gospel.

You can read about my experiences there in the blog here on the SRM website.

While there, I met a missionary who explained to me The Great Need. A need for preachers and teachers of God’s Word. A need for missionaries to go to the hard places of the world. A need for solid theological education. A need for 2 Billion people who have never heard of Jesus Christ to hear His Name. Most importantly, the need for someone to say “Send me.”

We then talked of the state of the world. One topic dominated our conversation: the new Silk Road that China was trying to build. The One Belt, One Road initiative is the hope of the CCP to grow China’s trade reach to Europe, Central Asia, North Africa, Russia, and South Asia. His work in North India had been greatly effected by it with the influx of Chinese workers and the local government’s attempts at reaching out to all foreigners as a result. Yet, despite this disruption of normal ministry activities, he saw promise. As did I.

Upon my return home, the seeds of Silk Road Mission were fully implanted. Over the next three and a half years they would grow from an idea to a goal to a plan. Finally, in 2018, I took the first step to move overseas. Now, SRM is moving ever forward to taking the Gospel to the unreached along the Silk Road.

Countries along the road are now opening up to foreigners for the first time in a long time. (For some, decades.) We have an awesome opportunity to reach them. I pray that we will not squander the opportunity of a millennium.

This is my life’s work. A gift from God that will be nurtured and grown. Then, at the right time, passed on to the next generation. Will you join me in this adventure? Will you GO?