11-06
A Biblical precedent for national missions can be found in the account recorded in John 4, where Jesus began to evangelize in Samaria. He and His disciples were returning to Galilee, north of Judea. Between those two provinces of Palestine were couched the Samaritans, who for historic reasons had been refused the gospel.
Jews had intermarried with non-Jews; therefore, they were deemed unworthy of the promises of Israel, and the ‘pure’ Jews would have nothing to do with them (John 4:9). In the language of the missiologist, they became a "Hidden People" -- hidden from the truth and in need of evangelism. To the north and south were those who could have reached them with the truth -- but who refused to do so. Jesus, aware of their need and the malignant neglect of His disciples to break from the traditional refusal of the Jewish people to "see the spiritual plight of the Samaritans in their midst," decided to set a good example. He and His disciples went to Samaria, where He evangelized the Samaritan woman who in turn brought her village to hear also (John 4:29-30).
Why is this national missions and not just evangelism? Although there was a witness in Judea and Galilee, Samaria was geographically removed from both testimonies. There was no reasonable way either would be able to carry out an effective witness in their midst. It would clearly call for a special ministry. Therefore, Jesus ordered it to be done in each of the gospel accounts: Matthew 28:19; Mark 1615; Luke 24:47-48; John 20:21. Finally, in Acts 1:8 it was spelled out geographically: Jerusalem, Judea, and SAMARIA.
There are numerous "Samaritans" in the United States -- those who, for whatever reason in the midst of Christian America, have been virtually unreached by the gospel witness of the churches. It is those "Samaritans" that this study primarily addresses.
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