The Final Frontier - by The Very Rev. Dr. Herbert G. Hand

At the beginning of every episode of the original Star Trek series, William Shatner said, “Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before!” From a science perspective, space is the final frontier, but what about from a faith perspective?

The Final Faith Frontier is the 10/40 Window, an area from 10 to 40 degrees north of the equator. Over 2,000,000,000 (that’s two billion) in and near the 10/40 window have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The encouraging news is that there are now many church planting movements in China, Nepal, Iran and throughout the 10/40 Window. The discouraging news is that only 3% of Christian missionaries venture into frontier missions. Ninety-seven percent of Christian missionaries go to lands where the church is already established. Jesus said to “go.” He didn’t say to go only to the safe places. He said to “go!” Possibly God is calling you to go to these unreached people or possibly God is calling you to be a Sender, to provide funds for those who go. One way or another, Jesus commands us to go! It is time to “boldly go where no man has gone before!” It is time to boldly reach the 2,000,000,000 with the life giving Good News of Jesus Christ!

In September I attended New Wineskins for Global Missions, a once every three years gathering of Anglican missionaries and senders. I also participated in the Anglican Frontier Missions pre-conference. For two days we heard one Anglican frontier missionary after another tell their experience for 15 minutes, then we prayed over them. One night we didn’t get done until 9:45. The map below shows the countries in which our Anglican Frontier Missions missionaries are serving. These are brave men and women who value the lost above their lives. Jim Elliot, martyred missionary to the Auca people in Ecuador, famously said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” If we are to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission, we must boldly go where no man has gone before. We must do frontier missions!

I am thrilled to report that our Parish Council has committed our church to be a Sender, to fund Anglican Frontier Missions in 2020! The Lord willing, next fall I will be spending a month assisting a frontier mission team within the 10/40 Window.

What can you do? Pray. Ask the Lord if He is calling you to go or to be a Sender of others. Pray for those within the 10/40 Window to hear and receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ.