In Matthew 28 Jesus tells his disciples, “Go to all the nations.” This has often meant traveling long distances to far off lands to share the good news. Today the nations are also coming to us. While there is still an important need to send missionaries to distant countries, mission efforts are not just across an ocean. Jesus said go to all nations, and for many of our families and our churches, the nations are right next door.
There are numerous opportunities to love our neighbors from around the world and to share the good news with the nations next door. The number of residents born outside the United States in Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina have grown 30 times larger in recent years. Many cities are a second home for nations throughout the world. For example, 1 in 5 Floridians is an immigrant, and in 2017 Dallas-Ft. Worth grew by 146,000 new residents. That’s 400 people per day, and among those new residents 70% were born outside the United States.
The largest Kurdish population in the United States? Nashville, Tennessee.
The largest Bosnian community in the U.S.? St. Louis, Missouri.
The largest Somali community? Minneapolis, Minnesota. And the second largest is Columbus, Ohio.
The largest Thai population outside of Asia is in Los Angeles, California.
This is an amazing opportunity to share good news with the nations next door. Jesus said, “Go to all nations,” and now the nations are coming to us. Pray for the Nations Next Door.