The primary purpose of proclaiming the Gospel - the Good News of free salvation by faith in Jesus Christ - to all peoples is to fulfill God’s Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20). Yet even in this generation, many people, whether living at the extremes of immorality or of moral uprightness, remain unaware of the truth that every human heart experiences internal turmoil caused by the inherent root of sin and misery. Unknowingly, many find solace simply in doing good, whether through humanistic efforts or religious practices. However, the power of the Gospel is the only remedy for this problem, and all who already believe this truth are called first to surrender their lives to Jesus and then to embrace a lifestyle marked by responsibility and radical transformation - a lifestyle that creates a compulsion to share this message with others. This Gospel-driven propulsion has historically motivated missionaries to risk everything to reach those who have never heard the Good News.

This talk presents a case study of Charles Theophilus Ewald Rhenius (1790–1838), a German Lutheran missionary known as the “Apostle of Tirunelveli,” whose uncommon zeal transformed South Indian society. Over fifteen years, Rhenius planted approximately 370 congregations and established more than 200 schools, reshaping the educational landscape with Christ-centered love. His life challenges us to respond to life’s injustices not with resignation in the face of obstacles to sharing the Gospel, but with unwavering hope and prophetic action, echoing Isaiah and Micah: “Life is not fair; let us change it by the power of the Gospel in Jesus.” Finally, we will explore how modern missiology can be shaped by the methods and examples of such fiery witnesses of Jesus, who now cheer from heaven as this century’s disciples run the race of living and sharing the Good News with people near and far.

Dr. Prabhu is a researcher with over a decade of experience in studying neglected infectious diseases. He is currently pursuing research training in biophysics, focusing on the phase separation biology of infectious viral and neurodegenerative disease models, applying laser light scattering experiments at DESY (www.desy.de). He has been an elder at Shiloh Faith Point Church of Harvesters Outreach, India, for 15 years. Currently, he is a member of IBC, Hamburg, and assists in various Bible teaching ministries. He also served as a pharmacist with the medical missions team of Harvesters Outreach Network of churches. Additionally, he serves as a consultant for Seed of Hope Charity Trust, India, on their medical missions project. As a missionary, he engages with the intellectual community on the topic of Science, God, and Eastern mysticism. He believes in being a disciple of Jesus and the profound impact this can have on the meaning of life.