The opening evening of the FirstBible Team Meeting in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee began with a wonderful dinner in the meeting room of the hotel.

That night Dr. Mike Norris the President of FirstBible delivered a tremendous message from John 3:16 challenged us with a fresh view of God’s desire for the world. It also included our great opportunity and responsibility to give the world God’s Word in their own tongue.

It was good to see other FirstBible Representatives, Missionaries and Pastors who share the vision and burden of the ministry.

Friday was a time of instruction from Dr. Keen as to the nuts and bolts of the ministry along with hearing his heart for the “unreached” people of the world.

Dr. Norris again brought challenging messages but also shared his burden for this ministry.  We heard from many others, their testimonies of involvement and dreams for reaching the “unreached”.

Bro. Joel Powers the Assistant Director for FirstBible did a wonderful job in coordinating the meeting along with his wife, Jody.  Bro. Powers also shared his burden for the ministry and the impact this ministry has had on his life.

Linda and I were greatly encouraged by the many friends we made and renewed while also being challenged to continually share the vision and burden to other pastors and churches.

Psalm 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Ezekiel 38:23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Twenty-four times in the Book of Ezekiel God declares these words, “. . .and they shall know. . .”. As we look at this book of prophecy we learn that God is speaking of the coming judgment not only upon His people, Israel, but also upon other nations.

God has had as His ultimate goal since the beginning to bring a people unto Himself for His glory.  He has always wanted all people to know Him.  While Ezekiel is written concerning the “Wrath of God” that would cause people from every nation to know Him we should be busy getting the “Word of God” to every nation that they may know Him now.

How tragic that they must reach the place of God’s wrath in order that they might know Him when we have the Word of God and have failed to get it to them in their mother tongue.  They will know Him one day. Why should they have to wait?

In the words of Dr. Oswald J. Smith -

“Why should anyone hear the Gospel twice before everyone has heard it once.”