In 1956 Jim Elliot along with four other friends were martyred in South America as they tried to introduce Christianity to the Auca Indians. But that terrible tragedy had a positive outcome. Later, Jim Elliot’s wife went back and led several Aucas to accept Christ. When Jesus went to Nazareth, his hometown, people rejected him because He insisted God is not biased in the way He shows favor. During the days of Elijah, God chose to ignore faithless Israel and instead showed favor to Gentiles. When Jesus told his hometown people this, they were furious they tried to murder him. We read in Matthew chapter 4 that after escaping this death, Jesus went to Capernaum where many pagan Gentiles lived. In going there, he fulfilled God’s promise that those who sit in darkness would one day see a great light. In Galilee, Jesus announced that with Him, God’s Kingdom had finally arrived. That powerful truth from Jesus caught fire in Galilee and since He died and rose again, that same truth is spreading worldwide. It invites people to repent and accept God’s Son as their Savior to receive the forgiveness of sins and life eternal. Today that same invitation is still being extended.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
