I returned Tuesday afternoon from dropping of one of our M’s at the airport, which was the official close of our Mission Conference on Sunday. Our first one that we have done during my pastorate, we did a simple all day Sunday meeting with lunch provided and breakout sessions. We were blessed to have Joe and Linda from Townsend, TN, who are resort M’s with NAMB, Tara Jonick and Cheryl Elkins both of whom minister in “inner city” areas of Atlanta, Pastor Jay Juan (and his family) from 1st Papago Baptist Church in Sells, AZ, Joe W who lives in Belarus and Jim Capaldo and Scott Gilbert from T–a.
Jim brought our message on Sunday AM, beginning by quoting the book of Titus. The then elaborated on holistic evangelism using Paul’s emphasis on “good works” throughout the book as a basis. It was exceptional. Our meal and afternoon breakout sessions were well attended and I’ve heard nothing but good things in response. A relatively new believer said to me this morning, “I’ve never really thought about the fact that there are people in the world who don’t even know who God is. I just took it for granted that everyone knew something about Him.”
Our adoption of the T—n people is moving forward and gaining speed. We now have two churches partnering with us and I am talking with another pastor in a couple of weeks. If you would like to discuss your church being a part of this network of churches, please let me know. Ten to fifteen churches partnering together will make a difference in this entire people group.
This sounds great, Marty. We have 3 other churches partnering with us in our work in Northern India so far, and we are going back in April. Maybe networks like these are the way to go in the future? I look forward to hearing more about emerging networks like this as more and more local churches take ownership over the global missions task instead of just turning it over to large denominational bureaucracies that do not seem to be especially responsive to said churches. But, I digress . . .
Comment by Alan Cross — November 14, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
Alan-
As some will argue, it is very helpful to have people on the ground in said lands and among UPG’s (whether nationals or other), but I do believe that church networks will be the driving force toward UPG engagement in the decades ahead.
I praise God for what you are doing in India. One thing that I didn’t mention was how easy it was to Skype in a video message from a European church as well as having an M do four sessions via Skype video. At some point, someone is going to realize just how effective that free techology can be.
I hope that we have teams into T–a 3-4 times next year, not counting college guys from various places during the summer months.
Comment by Marty Duren — November 14, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
I agree about having people on the ground. We were only originally connected with the folks that we are working with because I knew an IMB couple who invited us to come. So, it definitely is not an “either/or” type of thing. But, when you become a church that starts initiating these things and you start doing work in an area, it tends to change your relationship with the IMB and the global missions endeavor. In other words, it seems like much of the Lottie Moon/CP idea is set up so that we can support others to do it for us. The IMB is trying to change that, but it is still the prevailing perspective. Do they have room for churches in the U.S. to lead out in an area and still work with them? Technically, I think that they do, but practically, the door for true cooperation and collaboration seems to be closing.
The answer and the balance, I think, is to work through IMB or other Western missionaries to connect with indigenous believers and then take it from there. Shouldn’t we start thinking about coming alongside nationals to help them reach their countries or neighboring countries? Well, I think the answer is “yes.” Sorry for rambling. I am just thinking about this stuff a great deal and I have a lot flowing through my mind.
Comment by Alan Cross — November 15, 2007 @ 1:19 am
Alan-
Yes and yes. The long term answer is definitely indigenous believers. There is certainly nothing sanctifying about a western presence.
Comment by Marty Duren — November 17, 2007 @ 3:39 pm