8 Billion Reflecting the Imago Dei

"At the sound of the tone, the global population will be seven billion."

I was driving to the campus of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary to teach a class when I heard these words on the radio. The year was 2010.

The world reached another record this week--8 billion people. By 2060, the number is expected to reach 10 billion, peaking at 10.4 billion in 2080.

But for now, we are at 8 billion.

8 billion individuals reflecting the imago Dei.

4.7 billion filling the earth and not glorifying the Creator. Of which, 273 million have no evangelical church planting strategy being executed to reach them.

How should the apostolic imagination influence our prayers, thoughts, finances, strategies, and other Kingdom labors in view of this new number? Eight billion is more than a milestone, a threshold crossed in time, a tone from the car's speaker.