How Will They Know?

We had come to fondly call ourselves the Scripture Sisters. We were a random group of about a dozen women, from about half as many denominations, that would gather every week for Bible study. We had discovered that our love for Jesus outweighed the differences in our denominational stances, and we came to cherish this sisterhood that challenged us to grow even deeper in our knowledge of the Word and our love for each other. We were currently between studies and had decided to have a movie night before we jumped into our next one. The End of the Spear was recommended and having just finished it, I could see why. What a powerful testament to the hope of the gospel! Evangelism at its best. Based on a true story that took place in the 1950s, it shares how a group of missionary families set out to bring the good news to tribal people who practiced cannibalism. Not an easy assignment, to say the least.

The Greatest Sacrifice

One of the missionaries was a pilot, so the plan was to fly over and drop baskets filled with good things—peace offerings, tokens of hospitality. The tribesmen came to associate the whir of the plane engines with these delightful gifts and soon would run to the beach with Pavlovian anticipation. Eventually, they decided it was time. They would land the planes on the beach and make their first attempt at personal contact—nothing to take lightly when working with cannibals.

Sorry for the spoiler, but the meeting did not end well. All five men were killed. But the most amazing part of this true story is how a couple of the women—one who had lost her brother and one who had lost her husband—returned to the tribe, ultimately bringing them to faith in Jesus Christ!

It was a great movie and there were so many good lessons, but a couple of parts really stood out to me. I remember the pilot’s son asking, “If [they] attack, will you defend yourself? Will you use your guns?” His father responded, “Son, we can't shoot [them]. They're not ready for heaven . . . we are.” Wow! Talk about unconditional love and selfless, sacrificial faith!

The other memorable part was in an interview with that same son after he was grown, played during the credits at the end of the movie. He commented that people often asked him how he could come to love the very people who had killed his father. Had it all been worth it—having lost his father and all? I can’t recall his exact response, but what stuck with me was, in essence, a paraphrase of Romans 10:14, “How will they know unless they hear?” That same passage goes on to say, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news” (Romans 10:15 NIV)! He knew firsthand how important—and how costly—it was to bring the good news to those who don’t yet know it. But it was worth it.

A Voice From Behind

As I was driving home, the phrase that kept running through my head was, “How will they know unless they hear?” “How will they know unless they hear?” At HorsePower, we were just getting started with the Christian mentoring program and we were in a bit of a debate about the best way to run things. Should we pray together as a group every time the kids come? Or should we pray with them individually as we develop relationships and as they seem more receptive to it? Should we talk about Jesus right away, or just be kind and loving? There was much discussion about how many people had been hurt by the organized church and had been left feeling judged or ostracized, that some would never come to a program that bore the label Christian, that we should demonstrate love first and, if we got that far, bring up Jesus later. Some went as far as to say that we didn’t even need to mention his name—our actions would speak for themselves.

So, that phrase, “How will they know unless they hear?” just kept running through my head. Conviction was settling in, and tears began to stream down my face. After all, how would they know unless they heard? The good news! They needed to hear the truth—that we are all sinners in need of a savior, but that Christ came to die for our sins. He is the way, the truth, and the life.

I think the conviction came because, like the many young volunteers who left their churches disillusioned by a tendency towards truth without love, I stood on the precipice of leaning towards love without truth. Both are just as dangerous. I was coming to realize there were lots of “nice” people out there, many of whom had no faith in God. These kids didn’t need nice—they needed Jesus. And yet I was also learning they needed love just as much as they needed truth. If we are to have a kingdom impact, the two are inseparable! They needed to hear the good news—the truth—shared with them in love. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news” (Romans 10:15 NIV)! I wanted beautiful feet in the eyes of God! My resolve to share the gospel and the name of Jesus was strengthened. We would pray in his name. We would call on his name. We would tell these kids about Jesus . . . and what he had done for us. I seemed to need the reminder: we weren’t there to fix them; we were there to share him.

“This is the Way; Walk in It”

I got home to find the stack of mail on the kitchen counter as it always was, right where my husband put it. As always, I went over to rifle through it to see if there was anything of importance or urgency. The top piece of mail was from the Union Gospel Mission. Likely sharing testimonies and seeking funding, we received many such pieces of mail. This time, however, my hand froze in mid-air, holding that envelope. In big, bold, blue letters stamped across the front, it read, “HOW WILL THEY KNOW, UNLESS THEY HEAR?” The tears began anew. This is the way; walk in it. Jesus was whispering encouragement to me. Don’t leave me out! Shout it from the mountains!

It seemed that my lessons would often come in threes. So, without wanting to test him, I couldn’t help but wonder if this same verse might not show up again. It was only a day or so later that I was driving home from work. I was talking to my mom on the phone and sharing with her the amazing way that God had shown up, affirming that I was to share the good news boldly. I told her that I was waiting on my trifecta, wondering if the verse would come up again. After hanging up, I turned on the radio to listen to the teaching on the Christian talk radio station that had become my favorite. Even as I did, I found myself wondering if it would be in this message. The message seemed completely unrelated, so I just began to listen as I drove when—there it was! The speaker said, “How will they know unless they hear?” Of all the hours of programming, of all the programs, of all the verses, there it was again. If I hadn’t gotten the message the first time, or the second . . . I got it now! Lord, bless my feet as I go! I will do more than be nice. I will share the good news!

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?

And how can they believe in the one of whom they have

not heard? And how can they hear without someone

preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless

they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are

the feet of those who bring good news!’”

Romans 10:14–15 NIV

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of

God that brings salvation to everyone who believes:

first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

Romans 1:16 NIV

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear

a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

Isaiah 30:21 NIV

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:13 NIV