The Space Race and the Gospel

I remember that day in junior high PE class in 1957.  The USSR had just launched Sputnick into space.

I also remember that May day in 1961 when President John Kennedy said we would put a man on the moon—and bring him home--by the end of the decade.

And I will never forget July 20, 1969, huddled with a group of staff around a TV, watching the Apollo 11 mission send Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Eagle lunar lander to the moon.  The thrill of the words:  “The Eagle has landed.”  And then Neil Armstrong taking that first step on the moon: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Yesterday I was reminded of all these events as I visited Kennedy Space Center with 250 of our ministry’s global leaders—to learn about leadership, teamwork, impossible goals.

We learned that though three astronauts were on the Apollo 11 mission, and two walked on the moon, 400,000 people working for 10 years made it happen.  And everyone of them owned the mission as though they had taken a moon walk.President Kennedy’s challenge seemed impossible.  There were many failed efforts along the way.  Even loss of lives.  The technology available seems primitive by today’s standards.  New alloys were fashioned.  Engineers devised entirely new tools and equipment.  Novel food approaches were devised.   Two million individual parts/systems had to work together precisely.

For those of us committed to taking the love of Jesus to the world the comparisons were obvious.

We want everyone—7 billion people--to have a chance to know Jesus.  We want to see people become true followers of Christ, living out the love of God and discipling others who disciple still others.  Jesus sent us to the whole world.

An impossible commission.

Yet as we work together, each doing the part God has assigned to us, in humility, teamwork and power of the Holy Spirit, it becomes possible.  We can see that fulfillment of God’s Great Commission.

Personally, I am challenged to make sure I am doing what God has called me to do.  To work with the rest God’s family toward this great calling.  And to believe God for the impossible.

What about you?  What is your part in this great endeavor?

C2014 Judy Douglass