Matthew 9:35-38

'Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."' Matt 9:35-38

I love these verses because they paint such a true picture of the mission field in countries like Africa and all over our world. Sometimes I hear people say that the bible is an old book that is not really relevant to our world today but it really isn't...In Jesus' day people needed "healing from every disease and sickness", they need "compassion because they were harassed and helpless" and they wandered around with no direction "like sheep without a shepherd".
That not only sounds like Africa to me but it sounds alot like people here in Los Angeles and all over the US, Europe, Asia, and the like!

It is important that we understand that missionaries are not just ones that venture out into the 3rd worlds but missionaries are also ones that stay behind. Missionaries are people that reach out to their co-workers, to their families, to the homeless they see around their towns, and to their friends in need. Every Christian is a missionary and every Christian has a mission field. Yet Jesus' statement that "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few" is so true. Where are all those people that claim to be Christians? If you take on the name of Christ then you too have a job to do, whether you realize it or not!