The previous post had to do with the need for churches to engage UPGs. The discussion, which was very good, raised a thought: What are the questions we need to be asking about UPG engagement? We will never reach the answers we seek until we are asking the right questions, so what are they?
Here are some of mine: How do we connect the financial resources of the west with the peoples of the east without creating dependency?
How do we get churches to realize that there is no “or” in Acts 1:8?
How do we get pastors to realize that there is no “or” in Acts 1:8?
For what will American churches be held accountable regarding the mission dei and our role in it? (I can think of the English language, ease of travel and wealth for starters.)
What is the best way to affiliate churches into pods for engaging UPGs?
In the last comment section, Caleb said,
“Somewhere along the way, the churches handed that responsibility over to the parachurch professionals and allowed themselves to become â??volunteersâ? in the IMBâ??s program, deferring to the organizationâ??s strategy and missiology.”
How do we change this?
Ken said,
“I have spoken to pastors who see missions as a drain on their budgets instead of a call from God to work with Him in being glorified among all the peoples ( with an s) of the earth.”
How do we change this?
I have had the most success in sitting down with pastors who are already visionary and casting the vision of God’s mission worldwide. We have international partnerships currently that have involved three churches near us and another on board for T–a. This has just seemed better for me than going to the Monday morning “Pastors’ Conference,” talking to a bunch of bobbing heads and going home frustrated.
One possible answer might be that, when folks realize there’s no “or else?” in “choose you this day Whom you will serve…”, nor in “forsake not the assembling of yourselves together..”, maybe the Lord will move in enough hearts to answer the two “hows” in the questions about Acts 1:8.
Plan A is a package deal, and there’s no Plan B.
Comment by Bob Cleveland — October 10, 2007 @ 8:20 am
Great post Marty,
Let me try to partially answer the first question, but suggest that this is a situational thing that must be discerned by those believers who are either nationals or truly familiar with the culture of the UPG.
Personally, particularly in third world situations, I think the best idea is to not provide financial support directly to new national congregations. The best idea is to provide service(s) or fund those who are able to provide needed services to the national churches so as not to create dependency. We need to be asking what budding churches in UPGs truly need? In my opinion they need the scriptures, discipleship…and…??? We can assist them with questions that they come across and provide training, but ultimately we must allow the Holy Spirit to teach them and guide their congregation. We wouldn’t want an outside person leading our churches in the States, and in the same way we should allow these new congregations to lead themselves while providing assistance when needed.
If they need training then the church (and the church through partnerships) must find a way to provide the training instead of funding the young pastor(s) to go to seminary as we did in the past. Since seminaries are too far and few between in these areas, sending a pastor to seminary means severing the church from the person God has called to lead it for long periods…that’s not a good idea for young groups.
I think one really good idea is a program through NOBTS (although I don’t think it’s directly connected outside of the endorsement) that is providing two week training from seminary professors to pastors in extremely closed countries (currently Central Asia and the PacRim). The classes provide intense two week training in theology, church history, practical ministry, etc. Despite having the name of NOBTS attached to it, I believe it is currently completely supported by local churches and doctors who volunteer. That’s a great idea that provides a service instead of money and doesn’t create dependency.
Comment by Ranger — October 10, 2007 @ 8:49 am
In response to Caleb’s comment, I’m pretty sure that the two week training thing that I mentioned above was something that came together when the visionary pastor of a local church contacted the IMB and NOBTS about wanting to get involved in providing services overseas. Caleb was dead on…the church is the heart of the IMB and must become more involved.
Comment by Ranger — October 10, 2007 @ 8:57 am
I have been writing about this for some time and it just blows my mind that we sit around and talk about how great we are while sitting on so many unrealized resources. It defies Kingdom logic to think that God just desires for a small percentage of His followers to sit on their vast wealth and do nothing to reach the world outside the U.S. Even the poorest of churched Americans have vastly more than 75% of the world.
Now, having said that, a focus on the money issues will be the wrong focus. I think the point of saying that is to emphasize that we cannot use resources as an excuse not to go. Yet, many do. I can’t afford it, they say, to fly to Timbuktu. So, what they say in code is “Mammon, can I go?” They are asking the wrong god.
Your focus is a good one, Marty. God. Acts 1:8. We must go. If we are staying put, we should have a clear call to do so. Going is easier today than ever. Communications are possible nearly everywhere. You can get around the world in a day. Even getting money into strange places is generally possible.
Comment by Bryan Riley — October 10, 2007 @ 9:01 am
As for your question about dependency and wrongful use of resources… I am going to get spiritual on this one.
First, should it surprise us if godly people in a 3d world setting misuse or depend on an influx of funds? Of course not. This is a flesh problem. And we have it too here in the US, even with a great amount of resources. If we don’t believe we have a Mammon worship problem, then see how you feel when Jesus asks you, like He asked the Rich Young Ruler, to go, sell all you have, give it to the poor, and follow Him. He is asking…
So, how can you address that sort of spiritual problem? How can you deal with Mammon worship? I don’t think you can address it a unified, reasoned way. Every situation will be different. Each UPG will have different problems spiritually and economically.
I think you have to pray. It is too hard a problem for us to analyze. Ask God for wisdom and direction. He may have you not go in with a lot of money in one place, simply living among the culture at their economic level and working within it. Meanwhile, in another location He may have you pour out vast sums of money on infrastructure and food and the like. The important point is finding His solution, not your own. Leaning on Him, not your own understanding. We don’t have the answer to this problem, but He does and His Spirit can convict the local Christian of their bondage to Mammon better than we can.
Comment by Bryan Riley — October 10, 2007 @ 9:09 am
Part of the answer I believe is two-fold. First we need to take every opportunity to speak of the true nature of the church as being the “called and SENT people of God.” We need to speak of how the church is God’s sending instrument to participate in what He is doing in the world. So we talk constantly about being sent, both individually and corporately.
Second, we tap into the power of story. I think the best way to capture the imagination is through story. We need to tell story after story of how we and others are being sent, describing what it looks like, until others begin to see it.
Comment by brad brisco — October 10, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
Bryan-
I’m not sure why some of your comments wind up in moderation. Sorry about that.
Comment by Marty Duren — October 10, 2007 @ 10:13 pm