Inspire, Spring 1993

InSP Alumni ire A News Publication for Cedarville College SPRING 1993 WhatisONE among53Billion? by Dr.Floyd S.Elmore the WORLD—whata place! Huge continents, marvelous mountain ranges,great rivers, monstrous deserts,and fertile farmlands. But the world consis s of more than places;the world for me is PEOPLE! Ever since I first sensed God's direction in my life to get involved in missions— now more than 30 years ago—I have been fascinated with the diversity of people who live on this globe. The 5.3 billion people who occupy our planet speak thousands of different languages and worship millions of different gods. Yet we all have one common need due to our shared sinfulness—to know the only true God;to know Him is life eternal (John 17:3). How do people come to know the true God and His Son Jesus Christ? ONE AT A TIME! That belief helps me keep in perspective what I can do as one person among 5.3 billion. I can point one other person toward Jesus Christ Who is the only way to the Father,and then point another and another as the Lord gives me opportunities. You can do the same. No one is insignificant who lives today in the world. Every believer is very significant when he or she considers that the Lord has chosen to call His children to Himself through the gospel(2Thessalonians 2:13-14). Opportunities to share the good news about Jesus Christ have always abounded, but today's world offers us special privileges. I would have never dreamed that I could go to Russia to preach and teach the Bible,but now that is a reality. American Christian workers can team up with our sister churches in Russia to assist them in discipleship training as never before. Teaching English as a second language is one such way that has been used by God to open many doors formerly "closed." Christian people with professional skills can use them in many countries ofthis world as tentmakers— disciple-makers who go at their own expense. A computer analyst, programmer,or technician practically has the front door key to every nation on earth! And if this person is a wise and Spirit-directed disciple-maker,an opportunity that is hard to match anywhere in the USA lies wide open. What a world where one person can have such an impact for Christ! In recent years, I have been amazed at how the Lord has opened doors ofservice for me to be involved as a Bible translation consultant with Bibles International(a division of Baptist Mid- Missions). I have worked with godly Bible translators from Myanmar,India; Chad;and Spain. In workshops designed to check their translations for accuracy, we have worked our way verse by verse through large parts of the New Testament and several books of the Old Testament. What an experience to see thejoy on the faces ofthese men as they personally grasp the meaning ofGod's word more clearly,knowing that their people will better understand God's word as the translations improve!That scene is "lasered"into my memory! People helping people—that is the heart of missions! And that is what one can do among 5.3 billion! Will you be that ONE in the WORLD? Floyd Elmore '77, associate professor of Bible at Cedarville College. teaches many of the missions-related courses. He and his wife. Pam, were missionaries to Honduras. During the past three summers Floyd has been a Bible translation consultant with Bibles International in India and Chad. He earned his Th.M and Th.D. at Dallas Theological Seminary.