Thinking Big ... Thinking Small

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By Colin Stott

This is an exciting time to be part of God's work in the world. Within the ministry of GRN, there are many things that I love and appreciate about our work. Here are two.

THINKING BIG

GRN has taken on a big vision and has grasped it with both hands! We have set our sights intentionally on providing the good news of Jesus Christ for every language group on earth.

Given the fact that there are well over 12,000 heart languages spoken in the world, that vision may seem pretty outrageous. But the enormity of the task never seems to faze our staff. I never hear anyone say it can't be done. We know it can be done if God is in it. With Him all things are possible. He can accomplish much through a few who are available for His purposes.

A few years ago, the Lord directed us to make plans to increase the number of languages we record each year. To do this, we felt it would be highly motivating to make it our goal to have recordings of the oral gospel message available in 10,000 vernacular languages. In addition, we committed ourselves to do a more thorough job of understanding the needs of the people before embarking on recording a language in order to provide them with messages appropriate for their needs.

We gave this all-encompassing renewed vision a name: the 10K Challenge.

Since 1939, GRN has recorded Bible stories and teachings in nearly 6000 languages and dialects. To get to the 10,000 mark is certainly a faith-stretching endeavor. But why not? Surely those who have no church, no Christian resources, and no missionary activity deserve to hear the gospel. If not now, how long must they wait?

We are not saying we will do this all on our own. Whenever possible, we will work in close partnership with local churches and missions to ensure that every language group has an effective presentation of the gospel. And of course, we count on you, our faithful prayer and financial partners, to continue to stand with us. You are as much a part of the team as any of us.

THINKING SMALL

God has given GRN a special love for the small unreached people groups, those with populations of less than five thousand...or less than one thousand...or even less than one hundred. We often state that no language group is too small for us to go to. And this is really true. We may not be equipped to reach the masses in the same way that radio or print media can. But our recording method makes us well placed to cross language barriers and make the good news understandable to the very smallest of tribes. Plus God has given us a strong motivation to seek them out.

One of our new recruits in India recently visited a low caste people group in Chattisgarh. These people were very economically deprived and were social outcasts with no contact with people of a higher caste. They had moved into the jungle and had not heard the gospel. When the new recruit shared the message with them they were overjoyed, especially when they heard that our team would come back and prepare recordings for them in their dialect!

In many ways, our work is simply an expression of the shepherd heart of God in search of those who are lost, downcast or even outcast. The parable of the lost sheep speaks of the value of one life. It is the heart of the Good Shepherd which resonates in the heart of GRN that keeps us in pursuit of even the smallest groups, especially the smallest groups.

WAYS TO BE INVOLVED

1. BECOME A PRAYER PARTNER: Help the work advance by praying daily for us.
2. SHARE THE VISION: Be an advocate in your church and mobilize members to be part of this ministry. Give out literature, share prayer requests, etc.
3. SPONSOR A LANGUAGE OR RECORDING TEAM: It costs $2500 on average to record a language. Why not encourage your church to "adopt" one language as a project?
4. JOIN OUR TEAM: Become a recordist or researcher, an audio technician, IT programmer, or office assistant. At GRN, there's a place for YOU!

For more details contact GRN USA