Mark Russell in his book called Missional Entrepreneur tells of a study that was performed on two different missionary teams that were going to the country of Thailand. Both teams wanted to go in and establish businesses in the country. But after that the two teams had very distinct strategies that they wanted to use. This study wanted to see what the results of the different strategies would be.
One team’s strategy was to go to Thailand, start a business and focus on blessing the people there. They would just get into the culture and find ways they could bless and help people and serve them in tangible ways. They were the blessers. The next group went into Thailand to start a business, but their strategy was to go and focus on getting converts through the business. They went in with the plan to convert as many people as possible to Christianity. This group was known as the converters. This study followed these two different groups for five years.
Do you know what the results of the study were? The study found that the blessers had a far greater social impact in their area and had 50 times as many conversions as the converter group. They found that the blesser group not only outperformed the converters in bringing people to Christ but also had a huge social impact and made life better for the people in practical ways.
I find that study remarkable but very obvious as well. It is only when we love people and bless them that they develop an interest in why we are doing it. It is the best way to help people find their way back to God. It’s the best way to be a link in someone’s life.
Love was God's whole motivation in sending Jesus to die in our place so we could come into a relationship with Him. We see it all over the New Testament. In John 3:16 it says, “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” or Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” His motivation, his purpose in all of this was his love for us. He wanted to bless us and provide for us. That was why Jesus came. That is why the Father sent the son. And at the end of the gospel of John, Jesus says, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” The Father sent Jesus with the motivation of love and that is the same way Jesus is sending us. To love people and to bless them and to tell them of the greatest news ever. That God wants a relationship with them. Who is far from God that you could bless today?
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