BY DAVE RUDOLPH, MANAGING DIRECTOR BIBLICAL MINISTRIES WORLDWIDE SOUTH AFRICA
Matthew 9:35–38
If you’ve lived in Africa for any length of time, you already know how vast and varied our continent is. Together with its island archipelagos, Africa stretches across five major regions and comprises 54 nations. It is home to roughly 1.4 billion people. Nigeria is by far the largest country by population, with more than 232 million people, while the Seychelles is the smallest, with just 130,000. Algeria, on the northern edge, is the largest by land area.
Africa also has the youngest population in the world, with a median age of just 19. Yet it is also, painfully, the poorest continent. And spiritually, the need is staggering.
Missiologists estimate there are approximately 974 unreached people groups across Africa. That means one in three Africans—nearly half a billion people—have never heard that Jesus loves them and died for them.
Let that sink in. Our continent has been gifted to us by God, and yet so much land remains unreached with the Gospel. Our work is far from done.
Africa in the 10/40 Window
For the last two decades, global missions have focused heavily on the so-called 10/40 Window—a rectangular band stretching from 10° to 40° north latitude, across North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. This area is often called the “Resistant Belt”, home to the majority of the world’s Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. Over 3.4 billion people, representing more than 6,000 unreached people groups, live in this window.
On our own continent, the northern half of Africa sits squarely in this window. Over 400 million Muslims live here—in nations that are among the hardest to access on earth. These are people created by God, deeply loved by Him, but spiritually trapped.
As Bible-believing Christians, we cannot shrug off this reality. Reaching souls in these difficult places requires unique, creative, and bold strategies. It is a daunting task—but it is our calling.
Since the birth of the church, God has always resourced His people to take the Gospel into the hard places. The task before South Africans and our churches is enormous, yet unfinished. And I believe God WILL mobilize His people for this work—and perhaps He is already burdening your heart today.
Where Does the Missionary Call on a Christian’s Life Begin?
It begins with understanding the deep compassion of God for lost people, demonstrated supremely when He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, for the sins of mankind. There is nothing more compelling than the self-sacrificing love of Jesus. Let’s look at how Jesus responded to the needs around Him.
Christ’s Heart of Compassion
(Matthew 9:35–36)
Jesus went everywhere—cities, villages, synagogues, streets, homes—teaching, preaching, and healing every disease and affliction. He taught Scripture faithfully, proclaimed the Gospel boldly, and tenderly touched hurting people. This was His method.
A Model for the Church to Come
Everywhere Jesus went He proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom, encouraging everyone to believe. The preaching ministry of Jesus was the evangelistic part of what he came to do—preaching the kingdom of God, preaching the good news of salvation, making clear that it was available to anyone who would believe.
By doing this He established the pattern, and set the example that the church, which He came to establish, would someday follow. And the pattern He showed was for the church to gather regularly, just as you do each week your church, for teaching and instruction. While at the same time He was setting the example for the church to scatter during the week—to go out as salt and light, proclaiming the good news to your community.
Gathering and scattering is the model He established for the church.
It is a stunningly simple strategy. There’s nothing complicated about it. And the message is clear— this salvation is in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone. There is no other way to Heaven except through Him.
But why did He do it? Matthew tells us:
“When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (v. 36)
The Greek word for “compassion” is powerful. It refers to the inward parts—the heart, lungs, stomach, liver, and kidneys. The Greeks described this as the seat of human affections—the place where we feel everything. In modern language, we might describe this as feeling something in our gut. This seems to be where Jesus Himself felt the punch of desperation He saw in the hopeless spiritual condition of the multitudes. His compassion was palpable, it was genuine. He demonstrated over and over His divine compassion towards the spiritual lostness of the souls He came to die for.
Jesus felt punched in the gut when He looked at lost people.
Not annoyed.
Not indifferent.
He felt gut-wrenching, visceral compassion.
This wasn’t sentimental. It moved Him. It directed Him. It strained His innermost being as He saw souls wandering without a Shepherd. And as followers of Jesus, this must move us too.
We are called to teach, yes. To preach, yes. And we are also called to embody the kindness and mercy of God, touching lives in practical, sacrificial ways. You are placed—right here, right now—to be a channel of God’s love. He strategically locates His people.
Jesus’ compassion wasn’t theoretical—it was actionable. Ours must be too.
Christ’s Vision for the Harvest
(Matthew 9:37–38)
Jesus looked at the crowds and said:
“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.”
There are two harvests in Scripture:
- The harvest of salvation happening now
- The final harvest at the end of the age, when the wheat and the weeds will be separated
Here in Matthew 9, Jesus speaks of the first—the urgent harvest happening now. Paul speaks of this urgency in 2 Corinthians 6:1–2:
“Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favourable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favourable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Scripture consistently shows the urgency of responding to the gospel:
- Whoever believes… (John 3:16)
- No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)
- Repent…that your sins may be wiped out. (Acts 3:19)
- The gift of God is eternal life. (Rom. 6:23)
- Believe…and you will be saved. (Rom. 10:9)
The harvest is now.
Who does God plan to use to accomplish the urgent task of reaping the harvest of souls for salvation? You already know the answer to that question! He has chosen to use YOU, and ME. in fact, He wants to use every Christian as His ambassador to proclaim the good news to every creature.
He includes us, His modern-day disciples, in Matthew 9 when He gives the command to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest.” And He gave this command to His disciples right before He ascended into Heaven:
Matthew 28:19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
He commands his disciples—He commands us—He commands YOU—TO GO and make disciples. These are the marching orders for His church, that we are to take the gospel message to every nation. There is a time to pray, and a time to go.
Responding to Jesus’ Call to the Harvest
Jesus’ life and ministry gives us the clearest example of how to respond to the spiritual needs in the world around us. From our passage in Matthew, we learn how to see, feel, and act in the harvest fields God places before us.
- Salvation is Urgent
If you have not yet trusted Christ, now is the time to surrender your life to Him.
- He is the Great Shepherd who offers forgiveness, peace, and eternal life.
- Do not wait—the harvest is happening now, and your soul’s satisfaction is found in Jesus.
- If You are Already a Believer, Follow Jesus’ Example of Compassion
Jesus looked at the crowds and was moved with gut-wrenching compassion because they were “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
He didn’t feel annoyed, indifferent, or inconvenienced. He felt it in His gut, deeply moved by their need. As His followers, we are called to do the same. We are to see people as He sees them—sheep in need of a Shepherd—and to show practical, sacrificial love to the hurting around us.
- Pray and Engage
Jesus tells His disciples:
“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37–38).
- Pray for labourers: Ask God to raise up workers for the harvest.
- Be a labourer yourself: If you are already a Christian, you may be called to share the gospel with your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbours.
Prayer is the first step—but action is often the next!
- Recognize God’s Call on Your Life
Sometimes the Holy Spirit will stir in your heart a restlessness to do more for the Lord.
- This may be a nudge to expand your ministry, beyond your immediate circles.
- For some, it could even be a call to full-time ministry as a pastor or missionary.
God begins with a burden and willingness, then leads to a calling. I’m not asking you to pack your bags tomorrow. I am asking you to pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest—and to be truly willing if He asks you to go.
In fact, allow me to present an opportunity to you…
A Mission Field Within Reach: The Comoros
Just off Africa’s east coast lies the Comoros, a beautiful, tropical, overwhelmingly unreached island nation.
- Population: 750,000
- Christians: 0.2%
- Known missionaries: 16
It is a Muslim-majority, restricted-access nation—but open to tourism. Tentmaking or business-as-mission strategies could open doors for the Gospel.
What if God raised up someone from your church to go? What if that someone is you?
Join Us in Prayer and Partnership
Will you pray with us? We are asking God to raise up a South African team to engage a region we’re calling the Central African Triangle:
- The Comoros
- Eastern Tanzania
- Southeastern Malawi
There is much work to do—but our God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or imagine!
The harvest is plentiful. The need is urgent. The call is clear. Now is the time!
We’d love it if you’d stay connected with our mission! You can follow Biblical Ministries Worldwide South Africa on Instagram and Facebook, or sign up for email updates here.
