42% of the world's 8 billion people have little to no access to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The episode begins with Pastor Joe recounting his recent trip to Croatia for the Europe Together conference, where he connected with 500 missionaries from across Europe. He describes the spiritual bankruptcy he observed in Europe, noting that many people are secular or lack access to the gospel. He then presents global statistics: out of 8 billion people, 42% (3.4 billion) have little to no access to the gospel, 2 billion do not believe in Jesus, and 1.6 billion are cultural Christians, with only 1.2 billion actively following Jesus. Joe acknowledges that listeners may be consumed with personal problems, but he argues that Christians should care about the lost world because Jesus does. He reads Acts 1:6-9, where the disciples ask if Jesus will restore the kingdom to Israel, and Jesus responds by giving them the mission to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Joe explains that a witness testifies to what they have seen or experienced, and he notes that the Greek word 'martus' (witness) is the root of 'martyr,' indicating the potential cost. He discusses Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples, emphasizing that God's presence now resides in his people, not in buildings. Joe shares a personal story about the church building at 755 S Keim St, but stresses that God's presence is with the people wherever they go. He outlines the book of Acts, showing how the gospel spread from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, and he applies this to Connection Church in Pottstown, urging gratitude that the gospel reached their community. Joe challenges listeners to have a global mindset, stating that if they belong to God's kingdom, they are 'ends-of-the-earth' Christians, not 'America-first' ones. He then introduces Kingdom Builders, a new church initiative to fund gospel projects. He explains that tithes will cover operational expenses and support missionaries, with a goal to tithe 10% of tithe income to missions. Kingdom Builders funds will be split: 50% for global projects, 40% for local projects in Pottstown, and 10% for benevolence, with a $300,000 goal for 2025. Joe announces that the annual Christmas offering will be replaced by a November 'miracle offering' for Kingdom Builders. He encourages listeners to seek God about giving and to talk to long-time Christians about tithing. The episode concludes with a prayer for open hearts and generosity.
