According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, faith in Christ is growing faster than the population:
“Globally, Christianity is growing at a 1.27% rate. Currently, there are 2.5 billion Christians in the world. The world’s population, 7.7 billion, is growing at a 1.20% rate.”
from LifeWay’s Facts and Trends
June 11, 2019
Growth is good, but we could do better:
Lord, we pray for an explosion of Christian faith, a global great awakening to the gospel. Fill our hearts with an intense desire to share Your love with others. Move us out of our safe spaces, out of our sheltered comfort zones. Empower us to go out in faith and make disciples in Jesus’ name.
I am a sturdy Christian writer,
and like to see more convert-folk
willing to make their wallets lighter
through buying up my work.
To that end let us send abroad
the Gospel and its missionaries
to save the grimy heathen host, and nod
to needs of writing mercenaries.
I’m sure that God approves my plan
of making use of talents given
to reach the heart of save-ed man
without my fortune being riven.
Just one slight speed-bump that I see:
“Give all to the poor and follow Me.”
I’m intrigued by this self-described “writing mercenary.” It is an apt image for all Christian writers to ponder. It is tempting to hope our call to write will become our path to financial stability–making us writing mercenaries. Thank you, Andrew, for the nudge to keep my motives pure!
Nothing impure about the mercenary life, as long as one is honest about it.