|
Sending Families or
Singles:
Which is Best?
Short-Term Missions:
Oxymoron or Essential?
Enduring for the Elect
One of Our Own:
Is that really possible?
Of Trucks and Planes: Cost
Effective
Toward Completing What Remains
What are you doing in
this ‘god-forsaken’ place
Work
and the Gospel
How will our calling
affect our children? What impact will missionary commitment have on our
family life?
Short-term Missions: Oxymoron or Essential?
Government worker,
jumbo shrimp, and short-term missions: are these concepts inherently
contradictory! Taxpayers, seafood admirers, and those who take the
fulfillment of the Great Commission seriously hope they are not. But
mission pastors and leaders are often conflicted about ‘short-term’
mission projects. Today’s e-ssential should help us begin to
clarify our thinking and help us train our mission committees and
congregations in picking the best kinds of involvement and avoiding the
things that are destructive to our mission objectives.
The article in the
Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions calls short-term missions a
“modern-day phenomena” that allows thousands of individuals the
opportunity to “experience, for a brief time, the world of missions”.
The article goes on to list the following benefits that short-term seeks to
provides:
-
a valuable respite for career missionaries
-
a fresh enthusiasm from the outside
-
the accomplishment of practical projects
-
enhanced prayer efforts and giving patterns
of sending churches
The downside of short-term
as presented by this article included the following:
-
questionable motives for going – the lack
of real commitment and endurance
-
distractions for career missionaries
-
unreliable results and little lasting fruit
-
financial costs that are too high and that
may take money away from career missionaries [click
here “for a cost-counting eye opener!” ]
Oxymoron? Yes, if seen as a substitute
for classical mission endeavors. One described his ‘weekend experience’ in
a tribal village as ‘living among the people’! A Czech pastor questioned
“Will we survive western missionaries?” His focus was on short-term
missionaries. “We were flooded by missionaries, in 1990-91, I had one visit
a day on average … some were jewels and came to serve, others came to do
their own thing and we had very bad experiences.” [see
“the rest of his testimony” ]
Essential?
Certainly, if done properly and when the projects are designed by the
receiving missionaries and local pastors. Short-term trips are very
important in developing the intimacy needed between local churches with the
missionaries they support on remote fields.
The Master’s Mission
has identified twelve common limitations and three pitfalls of
short-term efforts that when addressed will help equip your missions
committee to make wise ministry choices and monetary investments for
missions. [see
“Getting Short-Term Mission Right”] There you will also find seven
principles in doing appropriate short-term. Use this free downloadable
PowerPoint presentation at your next committee-training event or meeting.
Modern transportation makes short-term trips easy, embracing a biblical
philosophy of missions will make them more effective!
Enduring for the elect:
The doctrines of God’s grace and
sovereignty in salvation are feared by some as detriments to
evangelistic and missionary zeal. Properly understood God’s effectual
calling of His chosen ones is motivation enough not only to go but to
endure hardship and suffering. And indeed, Paul labored harder than the
rest because of grace (1 Cor. 15:10). Paul told Timothy that he
endured all things for the elect’s sake. He was willing to do so
even to chains because he knew “the Word of God was not bound.”
(2 Tim. 2:9-10) Knowing the Word accomplishes its work encourages us in
our responsibilities to proclaim it to the ends of the earth even if
that means hard work and endurance.
Endurance is a quality greatly needed
in missions today. Schedule setbacks, disease, language challenges, new
‘believers’ who defect – all these take their toll on missionary
resolve. Long-term service is now defined by many as six to eight
years! Barely two traditional terms. And just when things could
blossom, endurance seems to fade.
Without endurance missionaries aren’t
in place long enough to identify and train faithful men who can pass the
faith on to others. They might pass it on to some – we call that
personal and mass evangelism, two vital ministries of the church. But
making disciples, the very mission of the church, demands missionaries
that can overcome the obstacles that would keep them from identifying
and training those ‘faithful ones’ who with time and supervision will
prove themselves able to teach others also. While personal evangelism
has a vital role to play, it alone cannot fulfill the fundamental
mission of the church which is to raise up leaders able to establish
reproducing congregations. We must avoid confusing ministries of
evangelism with the mission of church planting. [request “Incarnational
Missions” for further discussion] Sometimes the inability to endure is
just a technical matter – simply a matter of lacking the abilities to
survive. Sometimes it is a matter of the heart – a decision to follow a
different method of missions.
Endurance will afford the time and
experiences to train these potential leaders. The most effective
training can’t be done in short sessions and weekend seminars. Modern
disciples need missionary mentors who provide the example Paul did for
Timothy. Paul’s doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith,
longsuffering, love, and the perseverance and afflictions
that he endured were observed. God’s provision, evident in
Paul’s life, became the basis of his exhortation to Timothy to
continue following in the things which he had learned, knowing from
whom he had learned them (2 Tim. 3:10-14).
God’s provision – our continuing.
His sovereignty – our responsibility.
That He calls His elect out of every nation, tribe, and tongue
is our hope and encouragement in going!
To endure what we must by His grace, that is our privilege and
responsibility!
One of our own.
Is that really possible?
We question, because we have followed agency
and denominational patterns for so long that we tend to forget that even
their missionaries came from some church, somewhere. We realize the
commission to reach our world has been given to the local church not the
parachurch mission agency or denomination. We also know that we alone are
not able to convince people to go. We have taken the steps to challenge
our people and educate them properly. Yet, most congregations have not
had the experience of sending one of their fellow members to the mission
field. Those of our membership, who have answered the call to
missions, are usually endorsed by us but then we usually rely on the
denomination or agency to get them to the field. Or perhaps we rely on
their personal fund raising efforts in deputation rather than supporting
them significantly ourselves. Rather than send “one of our own”, most of
us resign ourselves to supporting others that have been brought to our
attention. And while this is commendable, without sending ‘one of our
own’, we are not keeping pace with the opportunity or the blessing that
would be ours. At our best and with all of our efforts to personalize
missions, we have minimal relationships with most of the missionaries we
support. One of our own. We concede it would be exciting, perhaps
the best of all the possible ways we currently do missions. Is it really
possible? Join with The Master’s Mission for missions e-ssentials
and discover helps and resources for fulfilling the Great Commission!
Of Trucks and Planes: Cost Effective?
Trucks and planes, they are only
machines, but in the hands of elder qualified missionaries they can become
powerful tools in extending the Gospel to the hard to reach places.
Trucks, because of their large payloads, can bring in the supplies and
food necessary to build and survive. These essentials cannot be brought
in another way. Once a presence is established and an airstrip carved
out, planes become a real asset when time is of the essence and distances
are far or difficult to traverse. Both trucks and planes can be very
expensive. A bush modified and outfitted truck for a missionary family
can run as high as 50 to 60 thousand dollars; a bush plane twice as much.
And this is where some stumble when it comes to aircraft. To justify the
high cost, some aircraft and their pilots are pressed into more service in
an attempt to make them “cost effective.” Missionary pilots with the
desire to make disciples and establish churches have minimal time to do
the very thing for which they came. With dismay, many are reduced to
airborne taxi drivers. It does not have to be this way. Planes can be
kept and maintained to serve a higher purpose than cost efficiency. They
can be reserved for use at the discretion of a church-planting missionary
(who also happens to be a pilot!) when it will advance the proclamation or
benevolent aspects of the Gospel. Yes, different maintenance strategies
will need to be followed, but the missionary will fulfill his calling and
the plane will become a tool used to bless others, without the tail
wagging the dog.
When asked if he
is a church-planter, one TMM missionary answers, “I am in ‘church-fixing’
not ‘church-planting’.” Like Titus, who was left in Crete to set in order what
remained, by the church-planting Apostle Paul, this missionary and his family
are building on foundations others have laid. Their ministry involves working
in four communities strengthening what remains of other’s initial efforts.
Often they must correct the inadequate understandings and conclusions coming
from well-intentioned but ill-informed teachings of those who have been left
largely on their own to learn how to live out the principles of the Christian
life. Having graduated from The Master’s College both he and his wife
were trained for missions service at The
Master's Mission. The TMM curriculum focuses on three critical issues in
missions service: 1) the roles of the missionary family, 2) the technical
skills needed to get to and survive on the field, and 3) a philosophy of
missions ministry which grows out of a confidence in the sufficiency of
Scripture as adequate for both the content and methodology of proclaiming the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord is using the training at TMM to enable a new
generation of mission ministers to be faithful in their calling to develop
doctrinally sound churches.
“What are you doing in
this ‘god-forsaken’ place?”
The regions
around Lake Turkana were made famous by the archaeological discoveries and
speculations of the Richard Leakey family. On one occasion an associate
archeologist, exhausted from digging for fossils, asked missionary Paul
Teasdale, “What are you doing in this ‘god-forsaken’ place?” Paul was happy to
share that the place, while barren and physically inhospitable, was not forsaken
of God and used the opportunity to share the Lord with him. After some
discussion and upon learning that the archeologist was doing a study of
fossilized dinosaur dung, Paul responded to him, “At least we missionaries are
living in these difficult conditions while working with the living and doing
work that has eternal significance!” The Lamb is indeed worthy for He was slain
and has redeemed His people out of every kindred, and tongue, and
people, and nation – none are forsaken! When looking for fossils or faith some
places can look forsaken. Some go into such places looking for discoveries
leading to fame, others go in faithfulness to the commission to disciple all
nations, including the Samburu, Turkana , and El Molo of the deserts around Lake
Turkana. Join with The Master’s
Mission as they train others in the essentials of going!
Work and the Gospel
One of the
greatest benefits of the gospel is the change it makes in men’s lives. As
converted men are taught the Scriptures they begin to understand their
responsibility to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself
for it. They learn that godly leadership in the home is not despotic rule but
sacrificial love and provision as they begin to set the direction in which their
family will follow. In many cultures, men have dominated and abused their wives
and children and have abdicated their responsibilities to provide for their
families. They demand that their wives and children do all the work while they
idle away the day. When it comes time to eat, they take the lion’s share. When
things don’t please them, it is not uncommon for them to beat their spouse or
children. The Gospel liberates as it transforms hearts. This is why
missionaries must be able to model as well as preach the gospel message.
Although men providing for their families are out of step with their culture in
many places, missionaries, by their work on behalf of their families and others,
demonstrate the kind of lifestyle that pleases God. A missionary who refuses to
spend the majority of his time sitting under the trees and ‘chewing the fat’
with the village elders is accomplishing the groundwork for an important
lesson. He responds to their invitation to stay and ‘talk’ by explaining that
God commands him to work during the day to provide for his family and others.
He explains that he will talk with them when his work is done and on the Lord’s
Day. In this way he avoids the mistake of some who define ministry as only
talking. He avoids another common pitfall of many “talk-only” missionaries.
The inadvertent communication of a wrong testimony: his listeners assume his
lifestyle is the same as theirs, since he spends his days in the same way they
do. Just talking and speculating! While it may seem pragmatic to send in a
team to quickly build a mission base, important opportunities of testimony can
be lost. Methodologies that don’t take advantage of this principle can be
counter-productive. The timing in ministry is often as important as the content
of ministry when that means providing testimonies consistent with the message of
a gospel that can transform lives.
How will our calling
affect our children? What impact will missionary commitment have on our
family life?
The Biblical answers
found to these questions demonstrate that God has a plan for equipping
church leaders that strengthens their families in the process. One TMM
missionary explains, “We now understand that missions ministry begins by
establishing Christian homes. Without Christian families, there can be no
qualified elders, and therefore no church. As missionaries, who must teach
and model Christian living to those who haven’t heard, our qualifications
are the same as those of elders outlined in 1 Timothy 3, and Titus chapter
one. These qualities are first demonstrated in the home and are the very
behaviors that bless a family. God then uses these qualities, now
demonstrated, to bless the larger family of the church. Our lives must
match what we teach from the Word of God or we are not qualified to teach
and our teaching becomes just so many words. These realizations have impact
for each member of our family and our family relationships. Our year of
training has strengthened our family for what lies ahead.” Too many
ministry families have fallen apart. This is not because of ministry
pressures, which are many, but because we have misplaced ministry
priorities. If I allow those things that weaken my family, I will
weaken the ministry. The missionary continued, “Ministry is living life
normally, as God defines normal, and enjoying our lives as the Lord
intended. We live our lives before people, sanctifying Christ as Lord
in our hearts, while seeking to be always ready to share the gospel with
those who ask us for an explanation of the hope they see in us.” Joyful
families are a magnet to ministry. God’s methods of ministry will bless
missionary families as He uses them to bless others!
Sending Families or
Singles:
Which is Best?
It depends on what you want to
accomplish. Both families and singles play vital roles in missions
ministries. While some tasks are the same, there are advantages and
disadvantages associated with both based on the particular
circumstances they face and the goals they seek to fill. Families have
the advantage of modeling more facets of redeemed relationships. Why
is that important?
Redeemed relationships glorify God.
They help us grasp deep spiritual truths. The love of a husband and wife
should reflect the mystery of Christ’s love for the Church (Eph. 5:32).
On an even more practical plane, those who are faithfully following Christ
become models for us in how we are to please God in our walk with Him (I
Thes. 4:1).
Godly
parenting (not an unbiblical paternalism) is the pattern for godly
ministry (I Thes. 2:7-12). This recurring theme – our example and walk with God – is
emphasized in Scripture (cf. I Tim. 4:12; Eph. 4:1, 17; 5:1; I Thes. 1:6;
2:10-12; Gal. 5:16-25) and is the focus of a large part of the second half
of the Great Commission: the “teaching them to observe all I have
commanded you”.
God knows we learn best by example
-- He ordained that church leadership be ‘visual aids’ for the church
family in learning proper roles in family and ethical behaviors in all of
life’s relationships.
·
this explains the qualifications for church leaders being
family and reputation oriented
·
it also demonstrates the danger of having unqualified leaders
giving the wrong example
·
it also helps us understand the reluctance of some to confront the
wrong patterns (sins) of family and business. While these patterns may be
culturally acceptable, and very natural, emanating from the flesh, they
are contrary to God’s order and plan for mankind. To confront these
issues means becoming unpopular and risking your position of ministry.
This fear gives rise to a tendency to
artificially divide ministry – to divide evangelism and discipling/teaching
(ignoring the whole implication of the great commission). It leads to
preaching a weak, watered-down message that is the least offensive, thus
avoiding the controversial issues of life, such as proper roles and
behaviors in family and other interpersonal relationships. And while
these practitioners may boast of tremendous statistics, they have very few
real conversions and subsequently develop weak ‘churches’ that resemble
the pattern and walk (lifestyle) of the world.
Proper ministry involves nothing
short of seeking to restore the order that has been lost by sin through
the faithful preaching of the whole counsel of God and calling sinners to
repentance and faith in Christ. The minister and his wife and family are
‘Exhibit A’ showing the blessings of a changed life. God uses their
examples to adorn the message of the gospel. Only Christ
can change the heart – self-help and pop-psychology are inadequate for
lasting change.
·
Effective missions ministry emphasizes restoring the order
of family life.
·
This helps new converts, while at the same time demonstrates
the difference and blessing that Christ can bring to the lost person’s
life and family.
·
We see this pattern of ministry outlined in Ephesians as a
walk worthy of our calling and which includes exhortations in every aspect
of life and family.
·
We see the same pattern in Titus. Paul sent him to Crete to
set in order what remained: the appointing of elders, who fulfilled
family qualifications (chapter 1) and the teaching of sound doctrine which
emphasized family roles and relationships (chapter 2).
A new friend, taking me back to the
airport after attending the missions seminar I had just led,
commented,
“You’ve changed my mind.” He explained that he was questioning the
wisdom of spending the high cost of sending a family to the mission field
when a single person or various media could proclaim the message much
cheaper.
I asked him what made the difference. He said understanding afresh that
it takes both the proclamation of the gospel and a family
living out of its principles to establish the kind of churches that can
then pass on the faith. Yes, a redeemed family is essential to
effective missions strategy! The
Master’s Mission
is committed to assisting churches in training and sending their qualified
families and singles for God’s greater glory!
|
