Go Tell It on The Mountain

A twenty-seven-hour flight delay, a short 90-minute flight, a two-hour layover, a fourteen-hour flight, a thirteen-hour layover (another flight cancellation), and finally, a 90-minute flight. This was the 60-hour journey my wife and I endured this past summer to reach Lilongwe, Malawi, from Raleigh, North Carolina.

Later in our trip, our team traveled from Lilongwe to Bwanje Baptist Church, led by Pastor Billy Banda, in the southern region of Malawi. Bwanje Baptist had planted a church in a remote village, so we navigated treacherous roads by van and hiked five kilometers up a small mountain to reach Nkwaso. There, we prayed around a thatched building (shown above)—the only church in the area. As a former missionary kid (MK), this was as remote I’ve ever been in Malawi.

Why am I sharing this with you?

There is tremendous need. Many places around the world still have little to no access to the gospel.

Why do these places remain unreached?

As highlighted above, they’re difficult to access. Travel to such locations can take days, requiring various forms of transportation. Even in areas considered "reached," some believers still lack a church within a reasonable distance.

In this season of giving, I challenge you to give sacrificially to your local church. My church, part of the Southern Baptist Convention, partners with thousands of other churches to support local, state, North American, and international missions. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering funds the International Mission Board (IMB), where my family served in Malawi from 2008-2010. The IMB continues to do incredible work worldwide. You can also support church planting efforts in Malawi directly through Every Village A Church. Please pray and consider how you can impact the nations this Christmas season.

But more importantly, go—tell it on the mountain! While it’s true that God’s mission is “over the hills” and across the oceans, it’s also “everywhere.” So, go tell it—everywhere! Share the message of Christ before your workplace gift exchange. Tell it before your kids rip open their gifts. The greatest gift this Christmas—and for all eternity—is Jesus.

There are people who need the gospel in Malawi, across the globe, at your workplace, in your home, and at your next Christmas gathering. The earthly gifts we give will likely be forgotten in the years to come, maybe even by next Christmas. But the gift God sent to Bethlehem—Jesus, His Son—lasts forever. He brings salvation and eternal life to all who believe.

This Christmas, you don’t need to endure long flights, travel delays, or hike mountains to Go Tell It on The Mountain. You can support missions, pray, and share the gospel right where you are.