Christ commanded the apostles, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world" (Matt. 28:19-20). As we search the Scriptures, we find the apostles obeying their Lord by taking the gospel to the lost of the world. It was not long until many others like Stephen, Philip, Timothy, and Titus were also preaching the gospel. Then we find Aquila and. Priscilla teaching Apollos, working for Christ (Acts 18:24-28; Rom. 16:3). The churches also were taking the gospel to the world so it could be said, "The gospel was preached to every creature under heaven" (Col. 1:23).

Today, we are to do the same as the Christians of the first century. There is a willingness of many over the world to take the gospel and many are doing so at their own expense. There are those in the church who are not showing the same kind of faithfulness to their Lord as those of the first century. Many churches have no desire or intent to teach anyone who is not in the assembly. When approached about this very serious matter, all kinds of excuses are offered that indicate a lack of faith.

There are many in the world who will not let you come to their house and teach them. If you try to go door to door, they sometimes will treat you like you are one of the sects that do the same. Our society is rapidly changing so that it is getting more difficult to make contact with the lost of the world. There are many areas in which you are not allowed to contact anyone living there unless you have their approval. If you do not know them, you have no way reaching them.

There is a "postcard" that you can buy (a hundred for $2) at the Bible bookstore that advertizes a Bible correspondence course. You can put your address on the front, and "give or send it to a friend anywhere." In every correspondence course we mail out, we enclose a "postcard" with a note attached saying "give or send to a friend." Many of our students have passed them on to people we do not know or have no way of making contact with them.

Another way you can use the "postcard" is to always put it in every letter you send in the mail. Also, every bill you pay by mail, put a "postcard" in it. You can also carry a few postcards with you and leave them in offices you may go to.

You will be amazed where these cards come from and one cannot describe the joy of making contact with a lost soul somewhere you did not previously know. Brethren, let's take the "gospel" into all the world!

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 4, pp. 100, 119
February 15, 1990