Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I thank God and the church leadership for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Mikko Matikainen, and I serve as the Executive Director of Media Mission the Messengers, also known as Sansa, from Finland.
I am here in Taiwan because Sansa has partnered with Voice of Salvation from the very beginning—an ongoing partnership that has lasted for 50 years. Today, I want to share four practical perspectives and two key principles that can help us live as Christians in our daily lives and broaden our approach to missionary work.
These ideas come from Luke 10, where Jesus sends out 72 of His disciples in pairs to towns He would visit. Earlier, in chapter 9, Jesus had sent His 12 apostles with similar instructions. Some Bible teachers believe that in chapter 10, Jesus expands His teaching from the apostles to a larger group, showing us that His message is meant for all believers.
The first principle is that Jesus sent His disciples in pairs. This teaches us that we are not meant to walk through life or face our challenges alone. We all need trusted people with whom we can share our struggles and support one another. This is also true in media mission work—partnership is essential. We support one another through prayer, financial help, and sharing resources.
Jesus also determines where His disciples are sent. He has the big picture in mind and under control. In media mission work, Sansa understands that God gave the task of reaching Chinese-speaking people to Voice of Salvation, and we are proud to walk alongside them in this mission. My question for you today is: Where is Jesus sending you? Often, it’s right where you already are—your family, community, workplace, or hobbies. You might be the only follower of Jesus in these places, and He wants you to be His light and salt there.
Plentiful harvest, who shall go?
In Luke 10:2, Jesus says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Luke 10:2, NIV). Let’s pause here. Imagine looking in the mirror and hearing these words from Jesus. You are in these relationships and places for a reason. Jesus calls you to be a part of gathering His harvest.
In Isaiah chapter 6, the prophet Isaiah, overwhelmed by God’s holiness, says: “Woe to me!... For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5, NIV). But God cleanses Isaiah, and when He asks, “Whom shall I send?” Isaiah responds, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8, NIV). Like Isaiah, we don’t go in our own strength. We are called and cleansed by God through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and we are given the Holy Spirit to guide us. We are never alone.
Perspective 1: Bless and forgive.
Jesus teaches in verse 5, “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house’” (Luke 10:5, NIV). The word “peace” comes from the Hebrew word *shalom*, which means not only peace with God, but peace with others and peace within oneself. It’s a complete kind of peace, a sense of wholeness and well-being. As followers of Christ, we are called to carry and offer this peace wherever we go.
In Finland, and perhaps elsewhere, Christians are often a bit shy about sharing their faith. But we can practice what I call “secret blessing,” silently praying for God’s goodness upon the people we meet. Before entering a challenging situation, we can ask God to bless those present. I’ve seen how this can change the atmosphere, or at least change me.
Forgiveness is the other side of this coin. Jesus teaches us to forgive even those who have hurt us. When we receive forgiveness from God, we are called to forgive others. Unforgiveness holds us back, but with God’s grace, we can reach a place of forgiveness that sets us free. From my own experience, I know this isn’t always easy, but it is what we are called to do.
Perspective 2: Engage with people and bless your food.
Jesus says in verse 7, “Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you” (Luke 10:7, NIV). In Jesus’ time, sharing a meal was the most intimate way to show friendship. Today, one of the best ways to connect with others is through sharing a meal. When we eat with others, we should be genuinely interested in them. Listen, ask questions, and silently pray for them as they talk.
Blessing your food is another way to stay mindful of God’s goodness. When we thank God for our food, we are reminded that it is a gift from Him, through creation and through the work of many hands. Gratitude makes us more aware of God’s provision and opens our hearts to thankfulness. I think food even tastes better when we spice it with gratitude.
Perspective 3: Help where you can and offer to pray.
Jesus also told His disciples to “heal the sick” (Luke 10:9, NIV). We can’t heal all the sick. This means for me helping wherever we can. When we hear about someone’s needs, we can silently pray for them and consider how we might help practically. Sometimes we can’t do everything, but we can always help where we are able. Offering practical help makes a lasting impact and shows God’s love in action.
Offering to pray with someone can be a powerful moment of connection. When someone shares a struggle, I often ask God if this is the moment to pray with them. If I feel prompted, I’ll say something simple like, “What you’ve shared really touches me. Could we bring this to God in prayer?” Most people, especially in times of need, appreciate this offer. A simple prayer might be: “Lord Jesus, You know what we’ve discussed. Thank You for hearing our prayer. Please bring help, comfort, and hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
I have seen some healings when we have prayed, but that is too rare for me. One thing is certain. If we are not willing to pray in times of need, we are not going to see God’s work. I have noticed that people are grateful for the love and concern we show to them when we pray for them.
Perspective 4: Share your story about Jesus.
Jesus said in verse 9, “Tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you’” (Luke 10:9, NIV). Sharing our story is one way we can tell others about Jesus. I encourage people to share a three-minute story with three snapshots: where you were in a difficult moment, how you met Jesus or experienced His help, and how your life has changed since then. This is a simple and personal way to share the gospel with others.
In media mission when work common men are sharing their own stories and struggles in life. People listen. When they tell others how living God and his son have helped them people are listening even more intense way. Then they might start process their own lives and think if this is true and God is real, he can help me. Your story can have similar impact to people around you.
In summary, here are the four perspectives:
1. Bless and forgive.
2. Engage with people and bless your food.
3. Help where you can and offer to pray.
4. Share your story about Jesus in your own personal way.
And the two key principles:
1. Don’t be alone in your faith—share your challenges and joys with a trusted friend regularly.
2. Like the disciples, return to Jesus regularly and share what you’ve experienced. Luke 10:17 tells us the 72 disciples returned with joy after their mission, and Jesus reminded them that the most important thing was that their names were written in heaven (Luke 10:20, NIV).
Jesus reminds us not to rejoice in anything other than the fact that our names are written in heaven. Our names are there only because of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and his innocent blood shed for us. By accepting this truth for us and giving our lives to Him, we are saved. This incredible gift from God is something we receive without earning it. But the love we experience moves us to action.
We don’t do good works or follow Jesus’ teachings to earn salvation. We do it because we want to, because we want to help others meet Jesus, and because we want to live meaningful lives with Him. We’ve been given loved ones, and we are called to be Jesus’ salt and light to them. As a church and as the global body of Christ, we have the privilege of sharing the message of Jesus with all nations, as much as we are able.
In mission work, we live by these perspectives. We pray for our partners, offer help, and seek to forgive and maintain healthy relationships. We share meals and give thanks for all that God provides. Together, we share stories of how God’s Kingdom is drawing near.
In closing, I thank God for you and for the calling you’ve received to be a channel of God’s love to those around you and beyond. God loves you, and no one can take your place. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all as individuals and as congregations. Let’s pray together.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with grateful hearts, thanking You for Your love, grace, and guidance. Lord, we thank You for the 50 years, that Voice of Salvation has shared the gospel with Chinese-speaking people. We ask that You continue to bless partnerships and guide it as we work together to bring Your Kingdom closer to all who need to hear Your message.
Dear Jesus, help us remember that we are never alone. Just as you sent His disciples in pairs, remind us to seek out relationships where we can support one another in faith, through challenges and joys. We ask that You strengthen the bonds between us as brothers and sisters in Christ.
We pray for the courage to be Your light and salt in our families, communities, and workplaces. Help us to see the harvest You have placed before us and send us out as workers into the fields, ready to share Your love with those around us. Guide us to bless those we meet and help us to forgive as we have been forgiven.
Lord, we ask for Your wisdom and help in our relationships. Give us opportunities to connect with others, share meals, listen to their stories, and offer prayer when needed. May our actions reflect Your love, and may we be a source of comfort and healing to those who are hurting. Help us to speak of Your goodness, so that others may know the hope and peace found in Jesus Christ.
We rejoice that our names are written in heaven because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. May this incredible gift drive us to serve others with love and humility, always seeking to glorify Your name in all that we do. In Jesus’ precious name, we pray. Amen.
主內弟兄姊妹，我感謝神和教會領袖，讓我有機會來和各位分享信息，我的名字是Mikko，目前在芬蘭使者差會擔任執行長。
我之所以現在在台灣，是因為Sansa 跟救恩之聲在50年前就是合作夥伴。今天早晨我想要分享四個觀點，還有兩個主要原則，幫助大家每一天活出基督信仰的生活，並且用更多元的方式參與宣教行動。
這些思考來自於路加福音第十章，當時耶穌差派72位門徒，兩個兩個進城，更早一些在第九章，他用同樣的方式也差派了十二使徒，有些聖經學者相信，在第十章，耶穌又更加擴大他的教導，從使徒到更大的一群人，讓我們知道他所想要傳講的對象是所有的信徒。
第一個原則是耶穌派他的使徒們兩個兩個出去，這教導我們，我們不應該獨自生活或是面對生命中的挑戰。我們都需要能信任的人可以分享自己的掙扎，並且互相支持。這在媒體宣教也是如此夥伴關係非常重要，我們互相支持透過禱告、經費上的支援，還有資源共享。
耶穌也決定了，他的使徒要被派往何方。在腦中他有更大的圖像，並且掌控全局。在媒體宣教事工，Sansa了解神給救恩之聲的任務，是接觸到更多華人，我們非常驕傲陪伴他們參與在這樣的事工當中。那我今天對弟兄姊妹發出的問題是，耶穌要差派你到哪裡呢？很多時候就是你現在待的地方，那裡有你的家人、夥伴、工作、興趣，你可能是那裡唯一跟隨耶穌的人，而祂要你在這裡做祂的光和鹽。
在路加福音第10章第二節，耶穌就對他們說：「要收的莊稼多，做工的人少。所以，你們當求莊稼的主打發工人出去收他的莊稼。」 先讀到這裡。想像一下你看著鏡子，然後聽見耶穌對你說這些話。你擁有的關係和所在的地方都是有原因的，耶穌呼召你和祂一同來收割莊稼。
以賽亞書第六章，先知以賽亞因見到神的聖潔而說：「禍哉！我滅亡了！因為我是嘴唇不潔的人，又住在嘴唇不潔的民中」”以賽亞書6:5
神潔淨以賽亞，當神問：我可以差派誰呢？以賽亞回答：我在這裡，請差遣我。就像以賽亞，我們不靠自己的能力，我們被呼召和潔淨，是因為神透過耶穌基督在十字架上的犧牲，我們有聖靈引導我們前面的路，我們從來不是孤單的。
觀點ㄧ：祝福和饒恕
耶穌在第五節的教導是：無論進哪一家，先要說：『願這一家平安。』平安，是從希伯來文shalom 而來，這個平安不只是與神的平安，更是和別人，以及內在的平安。是完全的平安，有完整性和幸福感。身為基督的跟隨者不論到哪裡，我們蒙召要帶著並且提供這樣的平安給別人。
在芬蘭或是世界其他地方，基督徒常常對於要分享他們的信仰有點害羞。但我們可以練習，我成為秘密式的祝福，靜靜的向神禱告，求祂的美善能臨到那些我遇到的人。當進入比較有難度的環境時，我們也可以向神禱告祝福所有在場的人，我真的看見這樣子的禱告改變了整個氣氛，至少改變我自己。
饒恕是祝福的另一面。耶穌教導我們要饒恕，即便別人傷害我們。當我們從神那邊領受饒恕，我們蒙召也要饒恕別人。不饒恕讓我們無法前進，但靠著神的恩典，我們可以進到因著饒恕，我們得著自由。我自己的經驗，知道饒恕不簡單，但這正是我們被呼召要做的事。
觀點二：與人建立關係，並為食物獻上感恩
耶穌在第七節說：你們要住在那家，吃喝他們所供給的。在耶穌的時代，與人分享食物是一個比較親密的行為，象徵友誼。今天我們一個與人建立關係的方式也是吃喝。當我們與人一同用餐，應該自然會對對方有一些興趣，當他們說話的時候，我們聆聽、問問題，並安靜地為他們祝福禱告。
為食物祝福是另一個讓心靈充滿神美善的一個方式，當我們為著食物感謝神，就會被提醒這是神透過受造物和許多人的工作所賜的。感謝，讓我們更知道神的供應並打開我們的心獻上感恩。獻上感恩的食物我甚至覺得更加美味！
觀點三：盡可能的幫助並為對方禱告
耶穌對門徒說要醫治病人，我們無法醫治所有的人，這對我來說，是我們在所到之處做我們能做的。當我們聽到有人有需要，為他安靜的禱告，並試想我們有甚麼能實際幫到對方的。很多時候我們能力有限，但總可以幫我們能幫的。提供實際幫助會帶來長遠的影響，並透過行為展現神的愛。
為對方禱告能帶來強大的連結，當有人分享他的掙扎，我總會問神，這是不是合適與對方一起禱告？如果我內心有感動，我會簡單詢問：剛剛你所分享的真的很觸動我，是否能與你一起禱告帶到神面前？大部分的人，特別有需要的時候，會謝謝並接受你的邀請。簡單的禱告，譬如：親愛的耶穌，你聽見我們所分享的，謝謝你垂聽我們的禱告，懇求你賜下幫助安慰和盼望，奉耶穌聖名，阿門。
當我們禱告的時候，我曾看見醫治，雖然不是很頻繁，但有件事是確定的，如果有需要的時候沒有禱告，就看不見神的工作。人們對於禱告中展現的愛和關心，往往充滿感謝。
觀點四：分享你和耶穌的故事
耶穌在第九節說：神的國臨近你們了！和別人分享我們的故事，是一種告訴別人關於耶穌的方式之一。我常鼓勵大家分享三分鐘故事，包含三個重點：當你困難的時候、如何遇見耶穌並經歷祂的幫助、之後生命如何被改變？這是簡單也很個人能分享福音的方式。
在媒體事工中，有很多人分享他們的故事，還有掙扎，很多人聆聽。當他們說活的真神及祂的兒子如何幫助他們，人們聽得更專注了。聽眾可能會開始思考自己的生活，或神是不是真的存在而能幫助我們。你們的故事同樣也會為周遭的人帶來類似的影響。
四個主要觀點分別是：
1.祝福和饒恕
2.與人建立關係並為食物獻上感恩
3.盡可能的幫助並為對方禱告
4.分享你和耶穌的故事
兩個原則：
1. 信仰中不要孤單一人，定期與能信任的夥伴分享挑戰和喜悅
2. 就像門徒們一樣，經常回到耶穌面前，分享我們所經歷的。路加福音10章17節告訴我們說，當那七十個人歡歡喜喜地回來，耶穌提醒他們最重要的是：要因你們的名記錄在天上歡喜。
耶穌提醒我們不要因為其他事而歡喜，而是我們的名紀錄在天上！這個事實而高興。我們的名字被記錄不僅是因為耶穌基督在十字架上的犧牲，祂無罪的血為我們捨，藉著信靠這樣的真理，將我們的生命交給祂，我們得救，這完全就是神的恩典禮物，不是靠自己得到，當經歷這樣的愛讓我們願意行動。
我們不是靠著善行，或是跟隨耶穌的教導獲得救恩。我們這樣做，單純是因為我們想要這樣做，因為希望讓其他人也認識耶穌。我們想要活出一個有意義的生活。我們被教導要彼此相愛，我們被呼召也是要成為耶穌的光和鹽。身為一個普世性教會和基督的身體，我們擁有這樣的特權，要盡全力和世界上所有人分享耶穌的好消息。
在宣教的工作中，我們用這樣的觀點來生活，為夥伴禱告、提供幫助、尋求饒恕、維持健康的關係。我們分享食物並向神供應的一切獻上感恩。我們一起分享天國近了的故事。
最後我為你們獻上感恩，你們被呼召成為神的愛臨到你們周遭人的管道。神愛你，也沒有人能取代你。願基督耶穌的恩典，天父上帝的慈愛，聖靈的交通與你們每一位同在，讓我們一同禱告。
親愛的天父，我們來到祢的面前存著感恩的心，謝謝祢的愛、恩典和引導。我們為救恩之聲50年來向全球華人分享福音獻上感恩，我們禱告，祢持續賜福我們的夥伴關係，幫助我們一同服侍，將天國近了的福音帶到任何需要的人面前。
親愛的耶穌幫助我們記得我們永不孤單，就像祢差派使徒倆倆出去，提醒我們在信仰中能彼此互相支持，與人建立關係分享挑戰和喜悅，願祢堅固我們在基督耶穌裡弟兄姊妹們的關係。
我們也禱告求祢賜給我們勇氣，在家庭社區工作場所中成為祢的光和鹽，幫助我們看到周遭莊稼成熟並差派我們成為工人，向周遭的人分享祢的愛。引導我們祝福我們所遇見的，幫助我們能原諒因為祢早已饒恕我們。
在我們的關係中，神啊，懇求祢的智慧和幫助給我們機會與人連結、一同用餐，聆聽他們的故事。有需要的時候為他們禱告, 因為我們的行為展現出祢的愛，並且幫助我們成為受傷的人安慰的源頭，幫助我們傳講祢的美善，以致於別人能看到基督耶穌裡的盼望和平安。
因為耶穌基督在十字架上的犧牲，我們為我們的名字在天上而讚美！願這個奇妙的禮物能趨使我們更多用愛和謙卑服事他人，做任何事都為著榮耀神祢的名而做。奉耶穌基督的名禱告，阿門！