What one Gospel tract did in Malawi

A few years ago in Malawi, Africa a man found a gospel tract from Kafulafuta Baptist Mission in Zambia. After reading it the man was born again. He took that one tract to the people in his village, and one by one they too were saved. Soon the entire village had accepted Christ as their savior. The tract instructed them to go to church each Sunday. Since they knew of no church at all, they began to meet every Sunday, to read their tract. This went on for about 8 months. The tract also instructed them to go and share their faith. So the entire village assembled, men, women, and children. They walked to a village nearby and told them what the tract said. Then the people in this village called on Christ. Soon this was repeated in yet another village. Before long over 100 people were gathering every Sunday at the first village – to hear the Bible verses read on that original tract. After many months of this they began to sell their goats and chickens to raise the money for a bus ticket so that the man who found the tract could find help for them in Zambia, where the tract originated. He showed up at the gate one day and told the missionaries that there were now many saved people who need a preacher and bibles in Malawi. Brian Kaoma went as a Zambian missionary to Malawi. He has started 5 churches, and is training 7 men to be pastors. He also has two preaching points that have yet to develop into a church. This has all been done in 18 months. When I tell this story people are thrilled. “What a great story!”, they will exclaim. But it is not a great story. Why are a group of baby Christians selling all that they have to get the gospel and to get a preacher? Is not the command given for the mature Christians? It illustrates the ultimate failure of missions: we are failing to reach those who are begging to be reached. Gospel literature can be produced cheaply in Africa, and any other part of the world. It enables those who cannot go to the mission field to have a part in the spreading of the Gospel. This story illustrates two important facts:

People are hungry for the word of God

Gospel tracts work

 

The use of Gospel literature to reach the world

It is estimated that there are 2.88 billion people in the world who have not yet heard nor have the ability to hear the Gospel even once. These are people who live in parts of the world with NO Gospel witness. Billions more live in areas with a Gospel witness but have yet to personally hear a clear Gospel presentation. If a missionary personally preached the Gospel to 50 people a day, and we immediately sent 250 missionaries into the world, it would still take 631 years just to tell the people who are unreached. This does not consider the over 4 billion people in regions classified as ‘reached’ who also have never heard the Gospel. If those same missionaries each started 10 churches in their lives and each church personally presented the Gospel to 1000 people a year – and all of this was in place TODAY – it would take 1152 years for those 2500 churches to reach 2.88 billion people. Even if those 2500 churches personally presented the Gospel to 10,000 people each year it would take over 115 years to reach 2.88 billion people. The use of Gospel literature is an effective solution to this problem. Not only can the gospel be propagated, but discipleship material and Bible study material can be printed. The need is so great – but more than that the hunger for the printed page is huge across much of the world.

The Printed Page is a Missionary

The gospel in print is a "missionary". It neither flinches nor shows cowardice. It is never tempted to compromise. It neither tires, nor grows discouraged. It travels cheaply and requires no hired hall. It works while others sleep. It never loses its temple. It continues to minister long after the present generation has passed on. The gospel in print is effective. It gains entrance to both the lowly hut and the lofty palace. It speaks to a man at the right time, only when he is reading it. It sticks to what it says and never answers back. It reaches those who otherwise might never be reached. It carries the only authoritative answers. It points the way to eternal life through Jesus Christ. The gospel in print is far-reaching.
Through reading a tract, Russell H. Conwell was led to Christ. A pamphlet . . . fell into the hands of John Bunyan, and by this means he was converted. Pilgrim's Progress came from his pen, and through that excellent work thousands were saved. This missionary - the gospel in print - should have the prayerful support of every Christian. Those who make it possible become Missionaries of the Printed Page.

- Author Unknown