History tells us that great mission breakthroughs tend to occur during times of personal, national or global crises. The Pharaoh of Egypt acknowledged the sovereign God who foretold him about the upcoming national and global economic crises through dreams and Joseph\u2019s interpretation of his dreams (Gen. 41). King Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian Empire came to know the sovereign God after witnessing God\u2019s deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the blazing furnace (Dan. 3:13-30). General Naaman of Syria confessed that \u201cthere is no God in all the world except in Israel\u201d after he was healed from leprosy (2 Kings 5).
God often shakes up individuals and people through crises of life so that they may be humbled and turn to the Lord. Currently, it seems that God is shaking up the whole world through the COVID-19 pandemic, which has become a global crisis. As of June 14, 2020, 7,854,365 are infected with this virus and 431,680 are dead throughout the world. And the numbers continue to increase dramatically. We are experiencing life like we never have. We are in a crisis, but this crisis may also become an opportunity for us. Life and work will never be the same as before. Missionary work also will not be the same. We need new mission strategies applicable in our changed world.
The theme of the 68th issue of Asian Missions Advance is \u2018Mission in Times of Crisis.\u2019 Most of the article contributors to this issue talk about mission during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Hwang Sungjoo of Korea World Mission Association (KWMA) calls for major shifts in doing mission for the upcoming new era in his article \u201cA Revolutionary Transformation Is Under Way In The History of Human Civilization.\u201d He says that, indeed, a golden opportunity for world evangelization and the completion of God\u2019s kingdom is underway and that we must all take advantage of this situation to use it as an opportunity to fix our eyes on God. Dr. John Edmiston in his article \u201cCorona Virus, Urban Slums, and Prayer\u201d calls for our attention on the importance of prayer and work for the suffering people in urban slums. Brother Thir Koirala in his article \u201cThe COVID-19 and Its Effect in God\u2019s Mission in Nepal\u201d shares with us what the Nepalian Christian leaders are doing during the coronavirus pandemic. On the other hand, Dr. James Langteau with Dr. Somboon Payakom gave us a tour of what is happening in Myanmar, a troubled nation in need of Christ! And Dr. Jonghun Joo shared the troubles he witnessed in Africa!
May God speak to us through these writers, as to what to do during this COVID-19 pandemic and afterwards. Let us pray and see what the sovereign God will do, and let us participate in God\u2019s mission as the Holy Spirit guides us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Timothy K. Park, Editor<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t