For everyone in the world to have the opportunity to hear of God’s love, we need to prioritize taking the good news to places where they haven’t heard.  One of our principles of mission is breaking new ground, an agricultural metaphor meaning that we want to plant the gospel seed where it hasn’t been sown before. This means prioritizing mission to least-reached people groups where the local church is small and needs outside help to reach their own people with the gospel.

"No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once."   Oswald J. Smith (Missionary statesman)

In Northern Thailand, Rob & Liz Lumkes are heading up a Bible training school for Shan people, training young pastors and evangelists to more effectively teach their own people and share the good news. God is using Rob and Liz to empower the Shan to take the gospel where it hasn’t been heard before:

Our translator shared that although she has been a believer since she was very young, and she is now in her 60’s, she has never heard anything like the Bible Overview class. During that week, God completely revived her faith and gave her the strength and vision to continue working in her churches. She is going to teach 10 other women in the Bible Overview teaching, who will then go out into all their villages and churches and pass it on. Already, God is multiplying the life-changing work of his Word.

One student shared how when the SBS is over, she wants to go to a remote area with 3,000 Shan people who have no gospel witness among them.

In Cambodia, Steve West-Newman provides training to Khmer physiotherapists in treating those suffering chronic pain. Debilitating injury and pain prevent poor Cambodians from working to support their family.

For over a year, Steve has been running his training clinic from the Mercy Medical Centre in Phnom Penh, alongside a staff of medical doctors, dentists, pharmacists and a dedicated spiritual impact team. Their mission is to proclaim Christ in word and deed by providing excellent health care while training the Khmer nationals to do the same. Last year they treated over 7,000 patients and also distributed water filters and iodised salt.

While the opportunity to gain medical care or clean water is a significant blessing for each of these people, the spiritual impact team also report other abundant blessings. Over 230 patients have come to know Christ and 53 patients and family members been baptised, resulting in the establishment of four new churches.