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A 21st Century Strategy for Discipling the Nations
by David L. Meyer
Mark 16:15 may be one of the most quoted verses in the Bible. Simply put, Jesus says to …“go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (NIV). I am sure you’ve heard this scripture before…most Christians have. It is widely known as the Great Commission.
In this passage, God’s Word is very clear—He tells us exactly what to do. But the question is, how do we do it? How do we take the most precious message of all time and effectively communicate it to a world that needs it so desperately?
At Joyce Meyer Ministries, making disciples is the most important thing we do. From the very beginning, our calling as a ministry has been to disciple believers—helping them to grow up in Christ. So, over the years, we have searched for the best method to fulfill the Great Commission and, at the same time, make use of my mom’s strong teaching gift.
With God’s help, we believe we have established an effective strategy for reaching the most people with the time and resources we have been given. And although there is certainly still a lot of work to be done, I am so excited to see the fulfillment of Matthew 28:19 coming to pass before our very eyes: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… (NIV).
This month, as we focus on Joyce Meyer Ministries’ worldwide missions efforts, we want to share with you the practical steps we take as we move toward the discipleship of a nation.
Stage One: Dispatching the Air Force
I’ve found that one of the best ways to describe our missions strategy is to use a military analogy. With that in mind, I like to compare Joyce Meyer Ministries’ initial entry into a region to an air force.
When possible, we first air our Enjoying Everyday Life broadcasts—either our telecast, radio or both—throughout the region we are targeting.
Statistics tell us that 82 percent of the world that is yet to be reached with the Gospel are mostly oral learners. This means they will be reached primarily through media, storytelling or one-on-one ministry.
We have also learned from experience that TV and radio can reach so many places where no other person or outreach can penetrate. Al-Hayat is the perfect example.
Al-Hayat is Arabic for “The Life”—a Christian TV channel that is one of the most aggressive approaches to reaching the Islamic community for Christ in centuries. Al-Hayat telecasts Christian programming throughout the Middle East, North Africa and even Europe. Joyce’s Enjoying Everyday Life program is dubbed into Arabic and airs eight times a day.
Those who propagate the Gospel in the Middle East do so at the risk of severe persecution. So, although we can’t physically go and evangelize this entire region, our telecasts that air from an undisclosed location can reach nearly the entire population!
Feedback has been astounding. Each month, Al-Hayat programs receive over 5,000 responses. And even more amazing, the majority are from Arabic men.
One man writes, “I am a doctor in Iraq, and I received Jesus as my Savior while watching your program. Could you send me your booklets to strengthen my faith and completely set me free?”
Another viewer says, “I am an eleven-year-old girl living in Syria. My mother kept encouraging me to watch your program, and as a result, I got born again. Your program has caused great change to members of my family…I love you, Joyce!”
This widespread telecast has broken a lot of new ground, allowing us to help establish local churches and minister more personally. In recent years we have also distributed over 1.3 million copies of Joyce’s books in Arabic throughout the Middle East region.
And this is just one example. Because of Joyce’s transparent, down-to-earth style, we have been able to air her programs in places traditionally closed to religious programming. Ordinary people from all over the world—regardless of culture, race, gender or religion—relate to her message and life stories.
We find that after a period of time, people open their hearts to the deeper message of Christianity because inwardly they say, If Joyce can do it, then so can I! They begin to truly believe that if Jesus can and will reveal Himself to Joyce, then He will do the same for them.
As of today, 3 billion people all across the globe in areas like Australia, Africa, and the former Soviet Union, and many parts of Africa can potentially receive our Enjoying Everyday Life programs in more than thirty different foreign languages via radio, TV and the Internet.
Stage Two: A Worldwide Army
Broadcasting our programs internationally sets up stage two, which I like to refer to as our army or ground troops.
Joyce Meyer Ministries currently has sixteen offices worldwide that are staffed with committed, highly skilled believers. These offices enable us to help people take the next steps in their spiritual journey.
We answer people’s phone calls, respond to their letters and emails, and provide them with CDs, DVDs, books and other teaching materials to help them grow in their walk with Jesus Christ.
Our offices are strategically located so we can communicate with nearly anyone in the world in a timely manner. When they get finished watching or listening to our broadcasts, we want them to be able to pick up the phone and talk with a real person…someone who cares…someone who will help them find real answers for their needs.
These offices also become staging areas for our many worldwide outreaches such as our feeding programs, children’s homes, medical missions programs, disaster relief efforts, and my mom’s international ministry trips.
Through the strong presence of our ministry offices and the tremendous support of local churches, the Lord has positioned us to care for the overwhelming needs of the poor, forgotten and marginalized of society.
Perhaps the greatest example is our response to the tsunami in Southeast Asia. After it hit, Joyce Meyer Ministries initiated a large-scale relief effort from our Asia headquarters, immediately sending more than $250,000 worth of vital necessities to tsunami victims.
Within mere hours of the disaster—before news of the devastation ever reached your home—your support was already saving someone’s life.
Our ministry workers, along with 3,000 volunteers from local churches, met the immediate needs of these grief-stricken survivors, distributing food, water, medicine and shelter. And that was just the beginning.
To date, we have invested more than $3 million in tsunami relief, even rebuilding three entire villages and equipping them with electricity, running water, new roads, streetlights, drainage pipelines and modern sewage systems.
Our network of worldwide offices allows us to be there when people need us the most. With an army of troops positioned where we need them, when we need them, it helps us take the next step toward truly discipling the nations.
Stage Three: Our Special Forces
This leads us to the last set of troops that I call our special forces. These are the many other vital ministries that we partner with worldwide.
We have the privilege of joining with ministries like John Maxwell’s Equip, who are providing leadership training to thousands of Christians internationally.
We partner with Samaritan’s Purse for their “Operation Christmas Child Shoebox” distribution…we help support Nancy Alcorn and Mercy Ministries, who are literally saving the lives of troubled young women dealing with abuse, eating disorders and other issues…we are feeding and educating thousands of children worldwide through our own efforts and partnerships with other ministries.
We are teaming up with dozens of missionaries around the globe, whose names we can’t mention for safety reasons. They are working in dangerous countries, risking their lives for the sake of the Gospel.
Although God has not called Joyce Meyer Ministries to specifically minister in all of these different ways ourselves, He has given us the amazing opportunity to support these great efforts through partnership.
Do you realize that by joining forces with Pat Bradley and International Crisis Aid, we are able to help feed tens of thousands of people in Afghanistan alone?
At Joyce Meyer Ministries, our goal is simply to help as many people as we can. It’s not about seeing how much we can do on our own, but it’s about working together to reach our world for Jesus and meet as many needs as possible. And it all starts with you, our faithful friends and partners.
I want you to know that when you send your donations to Joyce Meyer Ministries, you are joining with thousands of our other friends and partners worldwide to form a powerful network…a powerful army for God. We then join resources and team up with other ministries who are also doing great things…and our effectiveness multiplies again!
At the bottom of every email I send, I attach the phrase, “Together we are better.” I don’t add that just because it sounds good or has a nice ring to it. God has given me a personal revelation on the power of partnership. I have seen firsthand what working together has accomplished—and I want others to know!
Marching Forward, Supported by Our Troops
Although our task is far from complete, we believe God is using this strategy to literally transform nations, and none of this could happen without our faithful friends and partners all around the world.
As with any army, air force or special forces unit, our mission requires more support staff than frontline soldiers. And I want to take this opportunity to encourage you that even though you may not be “on the frontlines,” you are playing an extremely important role.
First Corinthians 12 tells us that we are all members of one body. And although we each have a different part to play, the Bible clearly instructs us that every part is equally important…no part is greater than another.
Please know that when it comes to fulfilling our mission—reaching the unreached, caring for the poor and hungry, and discipling the nations—your value is immeasurable. The part you play is vital to the success of every single thing we do.
At Joyce Meyer Ministries, our pledge to you is that we will do our very best to be good stewards of the valuable resources you have entrusted to us. Following the same wise instructions that Paul gave to Timothy, we promise that we will always carefully …guard what has been entrusted to [our] care… (1 Timothy 6:20 NIV).
Friends and partners, together we are a part of the greatest, most glorious army the world has ever seen—the mighty army of God. And together, we will proclaim the greatest message the world has ever heard…one nation, one city, one person at a time.
On behalf of the entire Meyer family and more than 700 staff members worldwide, I say thank you so much for your love, prayers and generous support. God bless you! 
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I HAVE A NEW ZEAL FOR THE SOULS OF THE NATIONS!
Testimony: Rev. Betty D., Roanoke, VA
I’ve been a partner with your ministry for several years and was blessed to travel to India with you this year. I was so impressed with your staff members. They’re truly men and women of integrity who shine with the love of Christ.
I saw firsthand the tremendous work your ministry is doing there. I was humbled to be able to pray for the sick in Chandrakal. I saw and touched those who’d been ostracized by society and where you placed a hospital of hope so they could be ministered to both physically and spiritually.
I was also allowed to pray a prayer of dedication over a well your ministry dug in Yadagirigutta, as well as speak at the dedication of the Agape Children’s Home orphanage. The trip has given me a new zeal for the souls of the nations.
I watched the long hours you spent pouring out the love of Christ into the lives of people there, and I began praying more fervently for you and your ministry. To see you stand and minister to 1.2 million people and witness their responses—as over 435,000 souls received Christ—was life-changing for me.
I can only imagine the battles you fight against the powers of darkness, being on the front lines. I highly encourage those who are not yet partners to join with you in the fi ght to reclaim souls from the enemy. I love and appreciate you and all you do for the kingdom of God. Thank you for continually encouraging me to pursue God with joy in this life. I pray for God’s blessings on you and your family.
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