Al Michaels fought back tears to get these words out as the 1980 United States Olympics hockey team mounted an unbelievable comeback in the final period of play to defeat a powerful Soviet Union team 4-3. The U.S. went on to secure the gold, but it was much more than a hockey game. For decades, the two superpowers flexed their muscles in the Cold War, and now the scales were beginning to tip in the direction of the United States.
It’s hard to believe that the turning point of the Cold War may have begun that day on a frigid ice surface by a group of American young people. This was no small task. The Soviet Union was a four-time defending gold medalist, with professional players who had a great deal of experience. The U.S. team was composed of amateurs and had the youngest team in the tournament — with a little bit of grit and a will to believe they could shock the world. In less than a decade, the Berlin wall came down, and the Soviet Union collapsed.
Maybe what we are missing in our church today is a little bit of grit and a will to believe. We have all the tools and resources necessary to finish saturating our communities with the gospel, but the task is still far from being complete. We have all the communication technology in the world at our fingertips, yet there are still places that have not heard about Jesus.
However, there is a movement in the air that is palpable at times with the next generation. They are idealistic enough to believe that we can finish the task, and they have a desire to do great things. The International Mission Board has an initiative to send 3,000 college students to the last of the unreached people groups. The first one being sent is a female from South Carolina. Students are being sent by the Palmetto Collective and Baptist Collegiate Ministries all over the globe. More students are surrendering to full-time gospel ministry at our camps than ever before.
The IMPACT conference on Feb. 23, 2023, will be a day where leaders all across this state will encourage one another and be challenged to focus on the mission with grit, endure hardship, and finish the Great Commission, beginning in their community. I believe in miracles. Do you?