Jossy Chacko grew up in India before moving to Australia for college in the 1980’s. He remained there after college, marrying an Australian woman and having a successful career in business. He stayed in touch with many friends in India, including a northern Indian minister named Phillip. Phillip regularly wrote asking for Jossy to come and help him minister, an invite he repetitively declined. One day Phillip wrote a letter informing Jossy that there were entire villages in northern India where no one had ever even heard the name Jesus before. Having grown up in India Jossy highly doubted that was true, so he wrote Phillip that if he could take him to such a village he would consider partnering with him.
Phillip accepted this challenge, so while on a trip to India Jossy took several days to meet with Phillip. Sure enough, he was led to a village where not a single person had ever heard the name Jesus. Through a translator Jossy shared the gospel as the entire village listened intently. At the end of his message the entire village joyfully came to accept Christ as their savior! There was one man, however, who did not seem so joyful. When Jossy asked why he proclaimed “why hasn’t anyone come to tell us before? We’ve needed to hear this for generations!”
Those words really convicted me. While it is hard to imagine anyone in America who has not heard the name Jesus, there are millions who have never been lovingly told about him before. They’ve experienced judgement and rejection at the hands of Christians, seen Christians act hypocritically, and heard snippets about the Christian faith, but have they ever had anyone sit down and lovingly share the good news with them? They need to hear about what God has done not only for the world, but for them as well. And, they need to hear about how you’ve experienced God in your life. They need to hear your story, see your example, and to experience God’s love through you. I love how Peter explains this to us:
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15
Friends, we always need to be ready to share the Good News with everyone we encounter. There are people in your community right now that could proclaim: “why hasn’t anyone told me this before!” They are waiting for someone to let God’s Spirit move in them to share the gospel message to them. Let’s take the time to actually share the good news with them.
You can learn more about Jossy Chacko’s amazing life and ministry in his book Madness.
