UPG's -- "You Shall Be My Witness..."

Here in the buckle of the bible belt I've often said that you can't throw a bible down the street without hitting at least 2 churches. That is not the case in other parts of our country, but especially the world.

A UPG is an unreached people group. Here is the official definition from the International Mission Board Website (imb.org) "A people group is unreached when the number of Evangelical Christians is less than 2% of its population. "

Let's dissect that. People group - that is a group of people (duh) that share some commonalities. Like location, language (dialects), and other cultural commonalities. You can't just say a country, or nationality because that is too broad. Every country and nationality has within it smaller subsets of culture -- people groups. One country can be comprised of even hundreds of different identifiable people groups. Or, it could have just a few.

Unreached -- this phrase is used to describe "evangelical presence". Evangelical means different things to different people, but in this context it is used to refer to bible believing Christ followers who also believe in evangelism in that particular people group.

So, a UPG is a country/people group that has less than 2% that acknowledge to be bible believing Christians. Statistics vary, but here in America there are anywhere from 25-40% that acknowledge being evangelical(we will save a debate on the validity of those statistics for another time). This means if you are to walk up to a random person in America and ask them if they have heard of Jesus, they will probably say yes. If you do the same thing in an UPG they will probably say no.

In November I am going with a small team on a mission trip to Estonia. Estonia is an unreached people group. Less than 2% of the population acknowledge being evangelical. The overwhelming majority of Estonians are lost, unsaved, don't have Jesus, are heading to hell. God loves them just as much as he loves you and me.

The great commission of Jesus commands us to "go, and make disciples of all nations". It's not the great "suggestion", it is a command. It is important for us to realize that there are lost people right where we are, and that there are lost people all around the world. Doing nothing is not an option. People's eternity is at stake -- will we be obedient to the Lord who rescued us from our sin?

Why I Do Missions

Mission Estonia 09

In exactly 14 days I will be leaving for my second mission trip to Tallinn, Estonia. I am pumped about the trip this year and truly sensing that the Lord has big things in store. I will probably be doing a lot of posts about the trip before, during and after. I thought I would begin with a few thoughts about why I do missions?

1. Obedience – I believe the Bible. I believe Jesus when He said, "And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”" (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV)

2. Need – There is a genuine need for the spread of the gospel. Of course, this doesn’t have to necessarily be in some distant land. Sharing the gospel should begin with where I am and then move out from there. I don’t want a foreign mission trip to be an excuse for me not to share Christ where I am. But I should also be willing to leave my comfortable surrounding and take the gospel to “all nations”. He (Jesus) said it, I am going to do it. Estonia needs the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a free and open society. There is not a huge Christian influence there. God is working there. All of those ingredients create the need to go.

3. Personal Benefit. This may surprise some of you. I do have a somewhat selfish reason for going on missions. It benefits me personally. There are few things that stretch my faith like being somewhere that makes me realize my utter dependence on God. I should have that same sense anywhere that I am, but it is always brought home to my heart when I go on mission.
I will be put in situations that make me uncomfortable. I will be asked to do things that are not in my personality and are not my “gifts”. So what will I do? Pray and trust in God. That is good for my soul.

4. Pastoral Responsibility. I am called to pastor the flock of God. That means that I am to lead the church to grow in our faith. If the shepherd is not being obedient to the great commission, then that is what the sheep will follow? I don’t want that on my conscience. I want my flock to grow in their faith, to become bold in sharing Christ, to be active in missions. But, I am not going to ask them to do something that I am not willing to do myself. That would not be functioning as a leader. I know that I am not a perfect example but I hope by the grace of God that I am a growing one.

So, this trip to Tallinn, Estonia is not just some sightseeing excursion. I would not be going if I did not sense that it was something the Lord was directing me to do. I know that it will be hard. I will not get much sleep, it will be taxing and costly. There will be spiritual battles. I will be away from my family. I am not going to be sitting on a beach sipping iced tea. But the difficulty is the very thing that will require me to press in closer to the Lord. For that, I am excited. I pray that I will begin pressing closer into Him now, and then when I return I will continue to press closer in to my Heavenly Father. Pray for me.

Mission Estonia - Back In The States

I am writing this blog from Ohio! I have a 2 hour layover before I head to Dallas.

Last night was our last night and it was wild. Old Town was packed with people partying hard. I did get to witness to three people and they listened well. It looked like they were really thinking about the gospel, but they weren't quite ready so I didn't push things.

The rest of the night we watched the depravity of man. I don't see how getting perfectly drunk would be any fun. Especially not compared to the kind of fun I had this week. I saw lots of drunkenness, debauchery, sexual immorality and all kinds of other sin. It reminded me how badly people need the life changing grace of Jesus Christ.

As we were about to leave we took one last stroll through the square. We said goodbye to Tom and he walked away. As we watched him leave Nathan said, 'There goes our only missionary in this whole country."

I pray that the Lord will use Tom mightily for the kingdom and I pray that the Lord will call others to come to this great country and great people to share the good news of Christ.

I have to say that of all the mission trips I have been on I think this has been the absolute best. I am a believer in the work going on in Estonia and feel like the Lord has a great plan. Lord willing, I would come back for another trip in a heart beat. I would love it if the Lord opened a door for First Baptist Southlake to have an ongoing relationship with the mission work going on in Estonia.


Scott

Mission Estonia - 4th Quarter

We are nearing the end of our trip here and things have gone great, thanks and glory to God. We have passed out about 30 thousand gospel tracts and handed out hundreds of Bibles. We have done street evangelism each night.

God has done some great things.

Today we handed out bibles in a couple of villages on the outskirts of Tallinn. I don't remember the names of the towns. We just put the Bibles in people's mailboxes, on their doorsteps, or handed them out. I believe in the power of God's Word and there is great potential for people to be reached.

Last night we went back to the Old Town to do more evangelism. There weren't as many people as we thought there would be but those who were there got to hear the gospel.

Not every conversation is as clean as you would think. Some people listen, others argue, some just walk away, others you can tell the Lord is working on their heart. Nathan and I were having a conversation with a Russian gentleman who was absolutely drunk. He seemed lucid at times and then he would say something completely off the wall. At one point he told me, "Jesus was a communist." O.k. next! We laughed about that for a while.

Keep praying for us as we near the stretch run of our trip.

Thanks,

Scott

Mission Estonia -- More Pics

McDonalds is not my favorite place, but in a foreign country it is safe and palatable. They actually have this burger that is really good. It is different from America. It's big and tasty:)

This is the prison in Tartu. Can't take pictures inside

Tom briefing us before we go to the prison




















Preparing Bibles for distribution.

Mission Estonia -- Update

Cards and Evangelism.

Our trip to the prison was really to open the door for further ministry for Tom, the missionary here. They were so impressed that we would come all the way from America to give them Bibles and minister to them. The prison officials and prisoners seemed really touched. It should really give Tom an opportunity to continue ministry there when we are gone.

That night we went back to the party district to do some more evangelism. It has been really good, difficult, and fun all at the same time.

There has been lots of spiritual warfare issues that you don't realize at first but then your eyes are opened to things going on. For example: last night we were talking to a couple of guys from Georgia(the country not state). One spoke really good English, the other not so much. I get started with the gospel and he is interested in hearing what I have to say. He translates to his friend who didn't understand. Once he figured out we were talking about Christ he got real mad and literally pulled his friend away and wouldn't let him talk to us.

Prostitution:
It is legal here in Estonia, and we have seen lots of it around. I have never really seen this first hand and I have to tell it is so sad. These women have such a low self image, are so desperate for money, and have such a great need for Christ. It breaks my heart.

Cards:
We finished passing out the evangelistic cards this morning. All told, it will be close to 30 thousand. This could be the first time many people have any exposure to the gospel of Christ at all.

Mission Estonia -- Humor In Prison

Yesterday( I think. All my days are getting mixed up), we went to a men's prison in a town called Tartu which is a couple of hours drive from Tallinn. We got to do a service for some prisoners and give them Bibles.

While there, we were given a tour of the facility. They have speakers all throughout the yard and it is playing all kinds of music even American. We were out in the yard and a Phil Collins song comes on that goes like this:

"Oh, think twice...

It's another day for me and you in paradise..."

I am not sure that is what the men in that prison are thinking about their stay there.

Mission Estonia -- Pics

Some typical apartments where we would pass out evangelistic cards







Old Town Estonia - a central district for shopping and eating

This is the sky at 11:30 at night! Still light.

Mission Estonia -- Blitz

It's been busy, interesting and fun the last day and half. We have been involved in mass distribution of evangelistic cards all throughout the city. Most people live in apartment complexes which makes the distribution a little easier.

When we get cards in the mailbox in America we don't generally read them. We throw them away. That is not the case here. They will read them. And the vast majority of the places we put these out have never had any exposure to the gospel at all! Let that sink in for just a moment. Most people here have not heard any of the gospel. It is incredible to me that something as simple as passing out a card could have a huge impact.

In Biblical terms what we are doing is "sowing the seed of the gospel". You spread it around and let the Lord handle the outcome. Pray for the seed of God's Word to fall on fertile, fruit bearing soil.

Tomorrow we travel to a men's prison to do a service and pass out Bibles.

Keep praying,

Scott

Mission Estonia - Arrival

Well, I am in Estonia! It took quite a while, but I am here. I missed a connecting flight due to an airline delay and that added 10 hours to the trip. I got to Estonia midnight their time on Saturday night. But, things got started quickly.

A few guys were going to the "party district" (kind of like Deep Ellum, lots of clubs and bars). We passed out evangelistic cards and shared the gospel with lots of people. It amazed me how many people could speak English. I got to share the full gospel with about 20 people. It was really a great time.

A quick note: I hesitate a little to mention these witnessing opportunities. My caution is because I don't want anyone to think that I am some type of super evangelist and that I am just good at this stuff. I am not. I get nervous and tentative and don't know what to say. But, I try and trust the Lord and pray for His boldness, strength and wisdom.

I got a varied response last night. Some people would not even take the card I handed out. Some I got to talk to and share the gospel and they seemed real interested. Others were not interested and one guy was even a bit hostile in tone. But, it was great to be involved on any level.

Here are some other first day notes:

- When I went to bed at 4 a.m. Estonia time I had been up for 40 hours.

- It does not get dark at night! The sun set at 10 pm and rising again by 3:30 a.m.!

More to come, keep praying.

Scott

Mission Estonia - Where in the World is Estonia?

Where is Estonia? go to google maps and check it out. Here are some other facts about Estonia.

Estonia is a former Soviet block country. It was Russia for a long period of time, like many other countries. When communism fell and the wall came down the Estonian people began the quest for their freedom. In the near past it was granted its full independence and has embraced capitalistic democracy.

Estonia Fast Facts
Location: Northeastern Europe, on the Baltic Sea across from Finland
Size: slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
Population: 1.3 million
Languages: Estonian (official) 67%; Russian 30%
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Land: flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie more than 1,500 islands
Capital: Tallinn
Independence: August 20, 1991 from Soviet Union
Economy: modern market-based economy and one of the highest per capita income levels in Central Europe.
Religion: Lutheran 13.6%; Orthodox 12.8%; Christian 1.4 %; nothing 66%

Open to the Gospel
Estonia is less than 2% Christian. This categorizes it as an “unreached people group”. A URP is a location that has little exposure to the gospel of Christ. Being under former communist control the people are mainly atheistic. This is not the intellectual style atheism, it is lack of exposure atheism. They have not heard the most basic truths of the gospel. What makes this a fascinating opportunity is the openness of the country. It has only been recently that the country has been opened to new ideas of any kind. This lends itself to a great opportunity for the gospel

Mission Estonia -- Cooperation

From: Nathan Lino, Pastor – Northeast Houston Baptist Church

Tomorrow Team Estonia heads out. All told, five churches are involved in this trip. Four churches worked together to raise the money to purchase the Estonian Bibles we will distribute: NEHBC, Shoal Creek Baptist Church (SCBC) in Alabama, First Baptist Church of Southlake (FBCS) in the Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex, and Newmarket Baptist Church in Virginia.

Four churches are playing key roles in the distribution of the Bibles by sending personnel to the field: NEHBC, SCBC, FBCS, and Faith Family Baptist Church here in Houston. Though we are four churches, we are going as one team to work together to distribute as many Bibles and Gospel tracts as possible.

It is our goal to distribute 32,000 pieces of literature, either Bibles or tracts. The country of Estonia has roughly 1.3 million people of which about 700,000 are Estonians with the vast majority of the remaining 600,000 made up of Russians. 32,000 pieces of literature among 700,000 Estonians means almost 4.5% of Estonians in Estonia will get either a Bible or tract from us on this one trip. Can you fathom such a thing? This gets even better. If there are three people, on average, in each home among the 700,00 Estonians, we will put either a Bible or tract in 14.7% of Estonian households. I am overwhelmed at the possibility.

I am so thankful to the Lord Jesus for the way He has made this all happen. I wish I could take credit, but I can’t. Multiple American churches banding together to take the Good News to an unreached people group. (Less than 2% of Estonia is born again.) Almost 15% of Estonian households getting literature from us. I stand amazed at the way the Lord moves. I’m just thankful I get to be along for the ride.

Mission Estonia - Here We Go

Tomorrow I leave for a mission trip to Estonia. The next several blogs I will try to keep you informed about the mission, and how things are going(Lord willing). I think I will have the access to update my blog periodically. If not, then just keep praying for me and the team.

Leave: May 23rd

Return: may 31st

Countdown

The first word of the great commission that Jesus gave to His disciples, and to us, is the word -- GO!

The word in the Greek is an implied imperative. It is actually an aorist participle and woodenly translated reads, "As you are going." The emphasis being that the action is taking place and is to continue taking place. We are to always be engaged in "going". We don't need to ask if we need to go, we have already been told to go.

Go where? Does this mean that all believers must be oversea missionaries? Not necessarily. Missions doesn't begin by going overseas, it begins by going next door. It means that everywhere you go from your house to the ends of the earth you are to be making disciples.

In four days I will GO on a mission trip. But, the mission begins before I ever reach the destination. I need to be living out a mission trip today, and tomorrow. I need to look for the opportunities that the Lord presents from my house all the way to Estonia. I am going to be seated on a plane an inch a way from someone for 8-10 hours. I wonder what we should talk about?

Let's be obedient followers of Jesus Christ and "GO".

Mission Trip To Estonia

"Go and make disciples of all nations." Matthew 28:18-20


One of my favorite Christian musicians was a guy named Keith Green. He had a line in one of his songs that said, "How can we not go. It should be the exception if we stay."

I think that is a little hyperbolic, but it makes a good point. We do not have an option of whether or not we are going to be obedient to the Great Commission. As followers of King Jesus, we must do what He says. This inlcudes missions.

I think every believer should go on an out of country mission trip at least once. Every mission trip that I have been on has had a huge impact in my own personal life and walk with God. It is good for us as Americans to see how good we've got it.

Mission trips are always challenging and difficult. You have to travel a lot, which can be taxing to say the least. You get exposed to different cultures and food that you are not accustomed to. For some that is very difficult. I actually enjoy sampling the different cuisines of other cultures. (I ate scorpion one time.) Accomodations are always different that what you are used to. And then there is the spiritual battles that go on when you are being used of God to spread the gospel.

But, those difficulties are also carry the potential for some of the greatest blessings in a persons life. And those blessings sometimes come from the smallest things. I remember teaching Ukrainian adolescents how to play American football. They had no idea what to do, and we threw around the football that I had brought and the kids had an absolute blast of a time. To see their faces when I left that football with them is something I will never forget. I also won't forget seeing God work in their lives and draw them to Himself.

This May, Lord willing, I will be going on a mission trip with a team of people to the country of Estonia. I will do a separate post about this country and the need for mission work their.

Please pray for me and the others that are planning on going on this trip. Thanks.