By Jordyn Cram
One of the most beautiful things about the gospel is that it is for all people, from all nations, as they come to believe in Jesus. During short-term mission trips, I have had the joy and privilege of witnessing firsthand the transforming power of the gospel in other nations.
Last November, I went to South Asia on a trip with a couple of friends. We visited people I know who run a tourism business. They told us they’ve shared the gospel repeatedly with local people they hire as tour guides or bring into their business. It was encouraging to see all the relationships they’ve established over the years of living and investing in their community.
For me, one of the most encouraging stories was that of a man who has been a tour guide for their company for several years, despite having been offered other jobs that likely would have paid him more. He valued how our friends care for their employees and treat them like family, highlighting the impact of loving people as Christ does, especially in long-term relational evangelism.
One friend who joined me on the trip mentioned how striking it was that people talked openly about religion and faith. She grew up in New Zealand, where people are generally more private about these things, and found it quite surprising that people were so open. My other friend was struck by the reminder that Jesus is alive today and eternally, in stark contrast to all the other religious figures whom people could only worship at their gravesites. What a beautiful reminder of the good news that the God we worship defeated death! And prayerfully, many of the new local friends we made on this trip will come to believe in Him, too.
A significant impact of this trip for me was seeing the long-term perseverance and relational nature of the ministry. This was my second trip to South Asia — the first was back in 2019 — and it was wonderful to see how much the tourism business has grown in that time, along with its impact on the Kingdom. Our friends told us how they’ve been reading the Bible with others and sharing about Jesus for years. Some of these people have come to faith and are sharing with family and friends. Others have grown in curiosity and openness to Jesus. It gives me so much hope for the people I long to see come to Jesus, and so much encouragement to keep persevering in sharing with them, too.