International Ministry Cooperation for the Fulfillment of God's Covenant

Joseph Cho

Member of the Asia Mior Studies Association

Genesis 22:16-18

 “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

God’s Covenant to Abraham

The covenant of Abraham after mankind’s dispersion from the Tower of Babel initated a plan that continues through our history even until today. God’s vision to bring to the world the greatest blessing of all – salvation through Jesus the Messiah – is still unfolding now through the obedience of the Church. This covenant that God himself initiated is the backbone on which our international ministry is built on. By the foundation of God’s covenant, we desire to cooperate for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. At the same time, it is the fullfilment of God’s covenant to which we are running vigilantly towards. We recognize that faithful obedience to the word of God is the engine to propelling His covenantal history forward in these times. Just as Abraham’s obedience in the test of sacrificing his only begotten son, Isaac, led to the continuation of God’s covenant through Isaac, Jacob, and so forth, so too will the obedience of the Global Church lead to the prophesied fulfillment of God’s covenant to bless all the nations of the earth with eternal life found only in Christ Jesus.

Revelations 7:9-10

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Global Kingdom Movement

At the heart of today’s mission movement is the collaborative effort of international ministry to realize the heavenly vision in which every nation, tribe, people, and language will join together in eternal worship of the Lord. Anchored in the Great Commission, our focus extends beyond merely evangelizing and discipling those in unreached frontier regions. We are dedicated to empowering, strengthening, and partnering with the Global Church to fulfill Christ’s final mandate to His disciples. We recognize the critical need for an international mission framework that honors the distinctiveness of each ethnic group and nation, while uniting around the shared essence and values of pioneering mission work. Striking a balance between diversity and unity, this global Kingdom movement and collaborative structure is essential for the ultimate fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Unity in Christ for Global Mission

In His prayer for His disciples and the Church, Jesus asked that they may be one, just as He and the Father are one (John 17:11). We acknowledge that the mission to reach every frontier with the gospel cannot be accomplished by a single church, denomination, or organization. It requires a united effort – diverse and distinct communities of believers, all cooperating and collaborating together, bound by the heart of God, to prepare the world for the return of Jesus Christ.

A Global Awakening for the Gospel

Today, Christianity looks vastly different than what it looked like previously. Many associate Christianity with Western or English-speaking countries. However, the trends shown through the rise in Christianity in non-Western countries demonstrate that English-speakers of the Christian faith are now the minority. The gospel, which historically spread primarily westward from Jerusalem, penetrated the European and Americas early on, but quickly spread to the East and the South. Now, more than 70% of all Christians live in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and this trend is projected to continue. This was mentioned over 30 years ago by Bavinck(1960) in his book entitled An Introduction to the Science of Missions where he states,

“Missions is no longer regarded as a special privilege of the “older” churches in the West… the missionary enterprise now became a common undertaking of “old” and “young” churches, a common task, performed in an ecumenical bond, a task in which both fulfill their responsibility to the command of Christ.”

No longer does the main responsibility of missions belong to the Western countries, but it is evident that God is stirring the hearts of His people in all nations, including those in regions where persecution and opposition to Christianity are most intense. By nurturing this global network of believers, spaces where cross-cultural mission movements can flourish should be established. We believe it is essential for local disciples to be trained, equipped, and potentially commissioned as missionaries, whether for short-term or long-term service in nations around the world.

Rather than viewing missions solely as the responsibility of the Western Church, we envision a broader platform where even disciples from unreached nations themselves are empowered to go and pioneer mission movements. We believe that the unique strengths and spiritual gifts of believers from every nation will be used by God to fulfill the Great Commission in ways only they can.

Enduring Faith and Spiritual Resilience in Darkening Times

As we draw closer to the fulfillment of the end-time prophecies, the Global Church must anchor itself in a spirituality that not only withstands but overcomes the trials and tribulations foretold in Scripture. In Matthew 24, Jesus warned of increasing lawlessness, persecution, and suffering, particularly for those who bear His name. This darkness, however, is not the end of the story; rather, it provides a backdrop against which a purified, radiant Church emerges, refined by adversity and sustained through steadfast devotion to Christ. For the enduring Global Church in such times, this kind of resilience is essential. As we witness the rise of tribulation, the global Church must cultivate an enduring faith that embraces the cost of discipleship, grounded in the power of God’s Word, fervent prayer, worship, and an unwavering commitment to obeying God’s commands.

Revelations 7:13-14

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The believers who emerge from the great tribulation clothed in white robes, which symbolize purity achieved through the blood of the Lamb, did not escape suffering; instead, they were transformed through it, coming forth victorious. Revelations 12:11 even reminds that victory in these days will come to the saints “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” This represents the kind of global leaders and disciples we must foster – a generation who can endure and triumph over the hardships of the end times, just like Jesus Christ himself exemplified for us. Through our ministry, we aim to equip believers to live with such conviction, empowered to overcome by holding fast to their testimony and the redeeming power of Christ’s sacrifice. Spiritual maturity in these times requires a perspective that sees beyond the temporary sufferings of this world and clings to the eternal promises of God. This is a faith that not only prepares disciples to survive the days ahead but also empowers them to shine as beacons of hope and truth in the darkest of times. As persecution intensifies and hostility against the faith increases, it is the deep-rooted devotion to Jesus and willingness to embrace suffering for His name that will enable the global Church to flourish, even under great opposition, and continue pushing forth the message of hope and salvation to the world until the day Jesus returns again.

The global awakening for the gospel must therefore be matched by a deepening of spiritual resilience, preparing believers to withstand trials without losing sight of their heavenly calling. As we foster cross-cultural mission partnerships, our prayer is that the Church in every nation will stand firm as a powerful testament to the gospel, boldly advancing the kingdom of God, whether in times of peace or persecution. Through this strengthening of faith, dependence on the word of God, and reliance on the Holy Spirit, we believe that the global Church will not only endure the coming tribulation but will rise victorious, ushering in a testimony to the faithfulness of God across all nations. With this spiritual endurance and maturity, we hope and pray that the international ministry opportunities that arise will pave a way for more and more nations to participate, cooperate, and partner together for the accomplishment of the Great Commission and the fulfillment of God’s covenantal promise. Echoing the cry of the early church, our steadfast confession resounds: Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! Reference Bavinck, J. H. (1960). An introduction to the science of missions. Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company.