God’s Power in the Impossible
As Great Commission Media Ministries marks 50 years of ministry, we are reminded that the Great Commission has never depended on human strength alone. From the first disciples to believers serving around the world today, God continues to call ordinary people to an extraordinary mission—and gives them the power to carry it out.
The Great Commission calls us to “go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved...” (Mark 16:15–16).
It was an enormous assignment.
And it raises an important question: Who exactly was Jesus sending into all the world to proclaim the Gospel?
The events of Easter were still fresh in the disciples’ minds. They had been rejected, regarded with suspicion, and even seen as a threat. And yet these were the very people Jesus chose to carry His message to the world.
So who were the members of this unlikely “task force”?
The Case of Judas
Originally, this close-knit group consisted of twelve men. One of them, Judas, had already deserted the group by Maundy Thursday.
Judas had apparently concluded that following Jesus was doomed to fail. The nation’s leaders hated Jesus, and His death seemed increasingly certain. Perhaps Judas decided that while there was still something to gain, he might as well take the opportunity.
And what he had to sell was Jesus Himself.
Thomas
Another of the twelve was Thomas.
He had a reputation for doubting. His approach was simple:
“I need to see before I can believe.”
Could Jesus really accomplish His mission with a group like this?
They had already shown what they were capable of. Yet Jesus was entrusting this very group with a mission far greater than anything they could accomplish on their own.
Philip, the Financial Guru
And then there was Philip.
He seemed to have a good head for numbers. When Jesus asked how they could feed a crowd of 5,000 men, Philip quickly calculated the enormous cost.
So where would the resources come from to evangelize the whole world? Would they have enough?
The disciples may have had many other questions that were never recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The mission Jesus gave them was as vast as the world itself. It would require the rest of their lives and everything they had.
“Repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47)
Power for the Mission
But Jesus told them that this mission would be accompanied by supernatural power—a power that did not come from within themselves.
They were to wait for it.
It would be given to them from above.
The same is true today. What seems impossible becomes possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The disciples faced a choice: return to their fishing nets, their fields, customs posts and former occupations, or step forward and carry out the task their Master had entrusted to them.
Soon afterward, they would see and experience for themselves what Jesus had meant.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, this same unlikely group set out to carry the Gospel into the world. For them, there was no turning back to their former lives.
God’s Dreams
The calling God places before us reflects His purposes and His vision. And it can only be accomplished through His power at work in and through us.
Along the way, we will encounter challenges and obstacles that are beyond our own ability to overcome.
They were never meant to be faced in our own strength, but with God.
The Case of Gideon
At first, Gideon had no intention of going to war.
Israel was living through one of the darkest periods in its history, and Gideon resisted the mission he was being asked to undertake:
“If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all His wonders that our ancestors told us about?” (Judges 6:13)
But as God spoke to him, Gideon’s response changed.
He accepted the mission, trusted God, and stepped forward in faith.
Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that God “rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
That is why Scripture also tells us:
“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” (Hebrews 10:35)
By Faith
Through faith, the heroes described in Hebrews 11 conquered kingdoms, administered justice, saw God’s promises fulfilled, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of flames, escaped the edge of the sword, found strength in weakness, and became mighty in battle.
Gideon’s name is among those heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11:32.
We, too, must not throw away our confidence.
Faith has a way of becoming sight.
Faith is a firm confidence in what we hope for and an assurance concerning what we do not yet see.
“Remain in Me”
You may ask: How is this possible?
Jesus said:
“I am the true vine... Whoever remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:1,5)
A branch cannot bear fruit by itself. It must remain connected to the vine.
In the same way, when the Spirit of God is free to work through us and the Word of Christ dwells richly within us (Colossians 3:16), we remain connected to the Vine.
Then, like Gideon and the other heroes of faith, we too can witness God’s glory and His mighty works.
The Mission Continues
As GCMM marks 50 years of ministry, this calling remains before us.
Today, ministry continues in many parts of the world, including Mongolia, Moldova, Egypt, Israel, Ukraine and Ethiopia, alongside satellite television broadcasts reaching into Iran and continued media outreach among Russian-speaking audiences.
Our evangelistic programs on YouTube and social media are also reaching millions of viewers across Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, the Baltic countries and other parts of Europe.
The methods available to us have changed dramatically over the years. The mission has not.
We are still called to proclaim Jesus Christ.
And just as the first disciples discovered, the task is greater than anything we could accomplish in our own strength. Our confidence is not ultimately in our resources, strategies or abilities, but in the God who calls us and gives us power for the mission.
Thank you for remembering Great Commission Media Ministries in your prayers. We are also deeply grateful for your generous financial support and for the many ways you stand with this ministry.
As we continue into the next chapter, may we remain faithful to Christ, confident in His promises, and ready to follow wherever He leads.
With prayers for God’s abundant blessings,
Hannu Haukka
Founder and CEO
Great Commission Media Ministries