Romans 15:20 (NLT)

“My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else.”

We all have different ambitions and these ambitions sometimes change depending on the phase in life that we are in. However, there is an ambition that I believe should be central to all other ambitions, and that is to make Christ known in the regions beyond the Church. If we love Jesus and agree that Jesus died for the whole world, then we need to be doing something about taking Christ to the whole world. We may not all be preachers like Paul, but we all have a role to make Christ known, “where the name of Christ has never been heard.”

This was Paul’s ambition. His vision was not just to preach the gospel. Paul was more concerned about who he was targeting in his preaching. Because he knew that there were still so many virgin lands to reach, he refused to anchor his ministries in places where there were already others working. He didn’t want to go, “where a church has already been started by someone else.” To him, that would have been a waste of valuable time and resources. That’s why he could testify in verse 19, “from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” He kept moving. He kept searching for where there were no Christians, no churches, no ministry. That was his focus. That was his ministry, and all this was motivated by a love for Jesus and to make Him known among those who have never heard before. If we truly say we love Jesus, we need to find our roles in also making Jesus known in the regions beyond the Church.

“Take me away from the circuit of empty busy projects Lord; multiple tasks that don’t directly or indirectly affect the Gentiles beyond. No matter what I am focusing on, Lord, may my life influence and affect those living where the Church does not exist. In Your name I pray. Amen.”