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Finishing the Task





Finishing the Task: How Indigenous Missionaries Are Reaching the Unreached in the 21st Century by Christian Aid Mission

There are many unreached people groups in the world that need to hear and see the love of Jesus Christ poured out to them.  Yet, often the best and most effective way of reaching these people groups is through indigenous missionaries reaching out.  In other words, indigenous missionaries are those that live in the area in which the unreached people group exists.  The people group is their people, they know the culture, customs, and thinking of the group.  In this excellent book entitled Finishing the Task, Christian Aid Mission has gathered up stories of these indigenous missionaries that bear witness to God’s work among unreached people groups.

The first chapter focuses on a man named Prem, who served in the Indian army, began to read the Scriptures in the army and converted to the Christian faith.  After being rejected by his family, Prem proclaimed the Gospel, even facing prison after baptizing new believers in the river where government officials could see.  Yet, this did not stop Prem from the gospel ministry.  Alongside in the same chapter, Bob Finley is introduced as helping begin Christian Aid Mission to support indigenous missionaries.  After seeing the mighty work God was doing through indigenous Chinese missionaries, Bob knew that supporting these ‘neighborhood’ workers was the best route to reach unreached peoples. 

Gabriel Barau’s work in Nigeria is mentioned in chapter 4.  His desire to see the Fulani come to know Jesus Christ was instrumental, alongside MCM and Christian Aid Mission’s help. After befriending a family and evangelizing to them, one local MCM missionary met Ardo whose cattle had destroyed his groups.  Rather than respond in anger and violence, the man befriended Ardo, shared the gospel with him and he became a believer.  His life was not easy, though, as those in his community called him to recant, and eventually poisoned three of his children.  The faith Ardo committed to was not one that was an easy option, but God has led him through even these great difficult times.

You get a glimpse of what God is doing in the work of indigenous missionaries here in Finishing the Task.  I heartily recommend this book to all those who want to find out what’s going on in the countries in the world and how God is reaching them through his people.


Thanks to Christian Aid Mission and WinePress Publishing for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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