A Global Mission

More than 8 billion souls live on this planet today. If you were to take 8 billion steps, you would circle the world 139 times. 1 That’s how big 8 billion is! The desire and prayer of The Exchange is to reach the world with the gospel. You might be thinking, “That’s a whopper of a goal!” or “Is that even reasonable?” Our answer would have to be, “Then where do we tame this ‘lofty’ goal…just America? Just 1 continent out of 7? Only English speakers? Only people who are like me?” I think you get the idea. The gospel is global! We aren’t embracing a little thing! What did Jesus tell those who accepted the call to be His followers? “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). This verse not only gives us God’s plan, it gives us an amazing promise. When the task of giving the gospel to all the nations is completed, Jesus Christ will return! Close your eyes and picture Revelation 7:9-10 “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Emphasis added)  

Allow me to share ways The Exchange is endeavoring to reach the world.  

I came face-to-face with our desire and prayer to reach the world in 2019 while doing an Exchange seminar in Huntsville, Alabama. In front of me were 126 believers. Jeff and I had been knocking on one proverbial door after another, searching for an app developer who had the ability to put our Bible studies in The Exchange Message App with a place for the reader to write in and save answers to the questions asked in the studies. Doors were shutting left and right because the technology had not been developed. As I got up to share an evangelism story this memorable night in Alabama, I was moved to, instead, share a request, “Would you please pray that we will find someone who can put Exchange Bible studies in our app?” As I sat down, the gentleman I had been seated beside all week leaned over (while Jeff was preaching) and began to ask questions – “What do you want this app to do?” “Are you trying to make more money?” That question prompted me to throw out my arms with these words, “No! We want to reach the world!” Little did I know, Bill Vaughn, the gentleman beside me, had worked for NASA and was currently working for a wizard of a software engineer, Bob Graves, who had also formerly worked for NASA. These men, along with the prayers and gifts of God’s people, developed The Exchange Message App into a tool that truly can reach the world! 

1.The Exchange Message App 

What makes The Exchange Message App so special? I’m glad you asked!  

• The contents can be translated into any language.  
• Outside North America, the Bible studies are a FREE download! Imagine how this is helping missionaries all over the world! So far, we have two English translations, Spanish and Chinese.  
• It has the capacity for as many languages as we have funding to translate and enter into the app. Just think about the global potential to get the gospel to the world. Check it out by searching “exchange message app” in your Apple or Google Play store. The app is free. You do have to purchase the Bible studies, but when you pay for one of any Exchange Bible study, you help make it possible to provide free app materials across the world. 

2. Mission Training & Materials 

Missions was at the front of our minds in 2010 when The Exchange ministry was born, and we dedicated ourselves to serve a large portion of our time on mission fields.  

• We partner with a mission organization that allows us to train their deputizing missionaries, and we would love to help more mission organizations.  
• God has opened doors for Exchange training in Singapore, the Philippines, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Kenya, the South Pacific, Zambia, and India.  
• In addition, Exchange materials are being used in Chile, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Russia, Indonesia, England, Ireland, Germany, France, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, and the Dominican Republic. Outside North America, full rights are granted to reproduce Exchange evangelism and discipleship materials. We share this to the glory of God! He’s a big God with a huge plan. We dream of training and providing materials in more and more countries. 

3. God’s plan must be ours! 

Three thoughts come to mind as we accept the call to reach the nations. Firstly, consider the magnitude of our God. John Piper expressed this so well, “When you believe the gospel, you believe in the God of the universe who has no serious rivals. Wherever you go, you won’t ever run into another religion…that can nullify the gospel.” 2 Our God is inconceivably big, and His plans emanate from His vastness. He has a plan to reach the world, and His plan is us. The title of Dwight Robertson’s book says it this way, “You are God’s Plan A: And There is No Plan B!”  

Secondly, God calls us to reach the nations. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Great Commission included all nations (Matthew 28:19). The Bible uses the words “everyone” and “everywhere.” How do we obey His call? We follow Him. He leads the way.  

Lastly, we are not alone. Not only does God’s Spirit reside in us with the promise to help us, fellow-believers all over the world share this same mission to reach the world. The Exchange is just one of many organizations with a goal of global outreach. The more we minister, the more we learn about like-minded ministries that use well drilling, dentistry, medical aid, disaster relief, etc. The means to the end may be different, but the end goal is the same. Our goal is to provide tools and training to as many people world-wide as possible.  

4. What can you do to reach the world? 

Pray! Pray for souls all over the world. Gather your family around a globe or an atlas and start praying. But as you see the names of countries, cities, villages and territories, don’t forget to pray Jesus’s prayer request! “Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38). The passion of The Exchange is for laborers. Pray through Romans 10:14-15. “And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?” This section closes with an unlikely statement! “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Feet? Somehow, beautiful and feet don’t seem to go together. I’ll close with a beautiful analogy our son, Josh, shared as he preached this passage in Romans. Picture your son whom you dearly love serving in a far-off war zone. Prayer, worry, and fear are your constant companions. Waiting for news is agonizing. Then…a messenger comes with news about your son. Your heart is beating out of your chest! Is it good news or bad news? The messenger shares precious news!  “Your son is doing well.” Relief floods your soul. But the best news is yet to come. “Not only is your son well, but he’s also coming home soon!” You drop to the ground and kiss the feet of the messenger who brought you good, good news! Friends, what can we do to reach the world, share the good news and enjoy the Father’s pronouncement, “Well-done!”? In my imagination He may even say to you, “My child, you have such beautiful feet!” 

The more you pray, the likelihood is pretty great that God will tap on your heart about your own role in sharing the gospel. Let’s be those messengers who share the good news of the gospel. Let’s be true followers of Jesus – ambassadors, messengers. One sole person cannot reach the world alone. But imagine the awakening that would occur across the globe if every believer in every part of the world chose to be obedient to God’s command – to say, “Here I am! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8). 

1How Big is 8 Billion? https://populationeducation.org How big is 8 billion? 

2 Has the Gospel Already Reached the World? Ask Pastor John Podcast  

Anna Musgrave is the Co-Founder of The Exchange and serves as an Exchange Trainer along with her husband, Jeff. Contact Anna at anna@exchangemessage.org