Missions Blog for Churches

The first choice in any journey is determining the direction. When that decision is not a deliberate one, the journey is really more like a stroll: there is no clear destination. But when the goal is clear and the journey is underway, the group looks to the leaders to set the pace.

Similarly, a church’s mission ministry may or may not have a clear direction. If not, the articles in Laying the Foundation and Setting Your Sights will be helpful. Once churches have determined the direction for their missions ministry, they will want to mobilize their members towards that goal. However, many churches find that the number of members engaged in world missions is relatively few. Perhaps missions is seen as a distinct department, an annual event, or a ministry to be started in the future. The challenge facing these churches is inspiration. The articles in Setting the Pace are designed to help missions leaders engage their members in the Great Commission. While there are many ways to motivate members in missions, they will include efforts to educate, involve and focus your members.

The Great Commission is also a Gracious Commission. Some have incorrectly concluded that Reformed theology is a discouragement to missions, with its emphasis on God’s initiative. A proper understanding of Reformed theology, however, has had the opposite effect: countless numbers of Christians have committed their lives to missions, in response to the gracious love God has shown them and in the security they have that God is working in the lives of the people they serve. The article on Global Missions encourages Christians to stand on the theological foundations of the Great Commission.

Do not limit missions education to formal teaching, however. It has often been said that the gospel is more caught than taught. Thus, create opportunities for members to talk with missionaries, hear of the power of the gospel to change lives, and learn more about other cultures and what God is doing there. The article in Laying the Foundation on planning a missions conference may also be helpful.

PARTICIPATION
A critical element for missions mobilization is congregational participation. Church members cannot be allowed to drift into the error that missions is for a select few or a department of the church. Missions leadership must encourage every member to see missions as their personal responsibility, through praying, giving and going.

Praying: Help your members understand that through their prayers, they are sincerely and meaningfully engaging in world missions. The article on prayer will help you encourage prayer for missions throughout your church.
Giving: Your members should also be challenged to support missionaries financially. Giving through faith promise or other means will deeply connect your members to world missions.
Going: Short-term missions projects can have a transforming effect on your entire congregation, as participants return with stories of how God worked in and through their lives. Select projects in keeping with your overall vision, as the participants will develop a heart for the people and ministry. And in keeping with Acts 15:4, be sure to create ways for returning participants to tell the congregation how God worked in and through their lives.

FOCUS
Missions is all about relationship. And the more lasting the relationship, the more members will get behind efforts to develop those ministries. To that end, missions ministries have increasingly discovered the motivating power of selecting one or more sites for on-going emphasis and involvement. Many missions leaders desire a greater impact for their efforts and have found a long-term focus helps accomplish this goal. This direction can take many forms. For example, churches may choose to send members on short-term trips to the same site for several years. Missionaries and national leaders from these sites may be able to visit the church, increasing the direct relationship. Giving and education may be more concentrated. Finally, many churches are joining with other churches to coordinate and collaborate their efforts towards a shared vision. The articles on partnership will introduce your ministry to such initiatives.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Under the titles of the following articles, the “theme” refers to one of the essential elements of successful missions ministries listed in Window to the World. This list is included in the following pages. A fruitful exercise for your missions committee would be to evaluate your ministry according to each of the twenty themes and begin to strengthen undeveloped areas.

This article is available in PDF format for easier reading and printing by clicking here.

Creating synergy in a missions ministry comes by connecting the various components and ensuring they’re pulling in the same direction. When a ministry is aligned in this way, it will have far greater impact. Two ways to encourage integration follow. The first relates to internal integration, meaning that you are intentionally connecting the various components and values of your ministry. The second refers more to the people groups your ministry is reaching. This external integration links your ministry sites, particularly through developing a globalized approach to missions.

Internal Integration
Look over the “Essential Elements” list again. What would it look like to connect several elements? For example, integrating short-term, vision and church-planting could mean sending two-week project participants to sites that reflect your long-term vision for church planting. Connecting sacrificial giving and emphasis could mean increasing the level of support for missionaries going to your focus sites or directing a special offering towards that ministry. Integrating prayer, church leadership, national leadership and missions conference could mean inviting your church leaders to pray for their peers in another country during your missions conference. The more components you connect to others, the more impact your ministry will have.

In this exercise, circle three to five elements, review their summaries on the previous pages, and write out ways to integrate these components.

1. Missions Committee
2. Ecclesiology
3. Short Term
4. Prayer
5. Sustainability
6. Theology
7. Vision
8. Contextualization
9. Giving
10. Partnership
11. Word & Deed
12. Multiplication
13. Participation
14. Emphasis
15. Church Planting
16. Facilitation
17. Church Leadership
18. National Leadership
19. Education
20. Commission of Church

Another aspect of internal integration relates to connecting missions to other ministries of the church. There are philosophical and practical benefits for doing so. Philosophically, missions should not be seen as a separate department of the church, where only a few people are involved. Because the Great Commission is central in God’s heart, it should be central in the heart of all your members. No member is exempt from participating in God’s work of redemption. Or more positively, God wants to use every ordinary Christian—which is each one of us—in the most amazing story ever to be written.

Practically, integrating missions throughout your church’s ministries is the most effective way to involve your entire membership. While it may be possible to have a few missions events or initiatives throughout the year that include all your members, you will likely be disappointed if you expect such broad participation at every missions opportunity. Members’ schedules, gifts and calling all have to be considered. So, look for ways to integrate missions within existing commitments and schedules, thereby making missions more of a lifestyle.

For example, many missions ministries would like to mobilize their entire church for prayer. One way to do so is to schedule a few well-organized efforts, such as during a missions conference and on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. In addition, look for ways to encourage others to pray for missions. This could mean including a missions prayer in the worship service(s), encouraging families to pray for missionaries, having Bible studies adopt a church-supported missionary for prayer, and asking Sunday school classes, youth groups and children’s ministries to pray for missions. Preparing simple prayer guides related to your missions ministries’ involvement will be a welcome stimulus.

Other suggestions include developing a two-week missions project for your youth, giving a missions presentation to your session, sending your pastor to a key site, including missions material in a bookstore or table, or asking the women’s ministry to host a missionary. By integrating the Great Commission into the life of your church, you will be more effective leaders of the entire congregation.

In the space below, list key ministries of your church and ways to involve them in missions:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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External Integration
This aspect has more to do with the ministry focus beyond the walls of your church, or what is referred to as the “here/there” integration of missions. Connecting your involvement overseas to ministry in your own community can have a powerful effect. For example, your church may decide to focus on a particular people group overseas.

Integrating that work locally could mean determining whether members of that same or a related people group live in your area. Short-term project participants could prepare to go overseas in part by meeting these people and beginning to appreciate their culture. During the trip, participants likely will develop a heart for them and will now have ongoing opportunities to serve locally. Overseas missionaries could help equip church members for such ministry. Other strategic possibilities exist as well, as many members of ethnic communities in the U.S. retain close ties to their home country. Ministry can follow these relationships in both directions. Resources and materials can be shared between the two sites. In some cases, national leaders have been raised up in one location to serve in the other. The motivating effect on church members is often significant, as they see the impact of integrating local and global missions.

In this exercise, list people groups your missions ministry is focused on reaching:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Identify local communities of these same or related people groups:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

List possible ways to connect ministry among similar people groups:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

This article is available in .pdf format for easier reading and printing by clicking here.

by, Keith Bucklen

Frequently these days, people talk about prayer as if it were a tool, an instrument we use to shape God’s thinking, rather than our connectedness to Him. And so, you can hear people claim that “prayer works” or argue that “prayer doesn’t work.” But what does that really imply?

Does prayer work? Do you mean like some product or formula works to achieve a certain result? (For example, club soda removes food stains from neckties or ice gets chewing gum out of fabric.) Or, like the laws of nature work, such that a given action always produces the same effect? (As in gravity—things always fall down, never up.) Of course not! Prayer doesn’t work or not work. To suggest so would attempt to make God our personal genie. All we would have to do is stroke His bottle with prayer and POOF!—”my will be done.” (continue reading this article)

I met yesterday with a missions committee chairman from a PCA church that is probably average in size, maybe a little larger. It is by no means a mega church. Yet, when I asked about the missions vision for their body, I thought his response was a mega vision. Some time back they began praying that God would raise up from among their midst, at least one person each year who would go to the mission field. This is not for a 2-week trip, but actually pick up and move, raise support, go through assessment, the whole nine yards. As a result, they have seen a greater than average number of people go out from among them. In fact, the person who originally challenged them to begin praying like this is now a long term missionary with MTW.

And so I think this is worthwhile for leaders to ponder. How would God lead you to begin praying? What would happen if you consistently petitioned God to work in this way among your church? The fields are white unto harvest.

MTW has issued a minuteman appeal to assist the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. Today we hear from our national partner there (an RTS graduate), and expect him to be a key component in our response there. But much prayer is needed.  Pray not only for the survivors as they attempt to recover, but pray that the military-government will relax and let outside agencies in to assist. You can read the appeal online here and find out more about how you can help.

If you haven’t been keeping up with the happenings in Kenya, below is a good update by a writer who is living there (posted on WORLD magazine’s blog). We need to be fervent to pray for our brothers and sisters there, for God’s protection and for the spread of the Gospel. Remember especially our MTW national partners, Imbumi and Martha Makuku.

It has been two weeks since The Electoral Commission of Kenya announced the results of the 2007 presidential vote. While the most violent protests have been repressed, Kenya remains under a shroud of tension.

As the opposition party calls for mass action and rallies throughout the country, Kenyans worry… (click here to read more)

I was compelled to include this post from the Desiring God Blog today. In it, John Piper challenges us and gives specific suggestions on how to pray global prayers. It is worth the read and probably worth printing out and including in a church bulletin. Pastor John writes:

May I encourage you to build a global dimension into your daily prayers? “Grant that your name be hallowed. Grant that your kingdom would come. Grant that your will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.” These are global prayers—with personal implications. Both kinds of prayer are good: specific, local, personal prayers, and general, global, sweeping prayers for the church and the nations.

Here is the way I keep the world in my prayers… click here to read the rest of this post.

by Seth Wallace

“It has changed my life to know men who are really willing to die for Christ.” That statement was made to us recently during an office staff meeting, by one of our missionaries who has worked among Muslims for many years. I’ll call him “Carl.”

Carl made that statement in the context of talking about an increase in conflict and suffering among Christians in Muslim-dominant countries. And even though any of us could make a statement like that, it meant something coming from Carl. He’s authentic, the real deal. He has been working among Muslims since the 80’s. More than that, in the past year, three people he has known have died for their faith.

The increase in conflict and suffering actually stems from some very good things. Up until 10-15 years ago, little fruit was seen among missionaries to Muslims. Many would serve an entire career and see just a few, if any, conversions. It was a hard work.

Today the work is no less difficult, but the fruit is increasing. In one North African country, just 15 years ago there were possibly only 200 believers. Now the estimates are between 2,500 and 5,000. In a recent survey in the Middle East, it was found there were more Muslim background believers (MBB) than traditional historic Christians.

Historically, when a Muslim came to faith in Christ, he was not open about it and would often try to stay under the radar. This made discipleship very difficult. Now, these MBBs desire to be trained. They want to see churches planted and they want to do the work. They are more open and more bold. Thus comes the conflict and suffering. 200 secretive and quiet MBBs were not a threat. 5,000 bold MBBs who are being trained and planting churches are a threat. And their very lives are at stake for it.

Another country Carl mentioned was in West Africa. There they had seen only 2 new churches started after years of work. Then 7-8 years ago the tide turned. There are now 24 churches and more than 3,000 believers. Before, the MBBs there did not want to share the Gospel. Today they do. This desire to evangelize, to be trained, and to plant churches among MBBs was simply not present 10 years ago, according to Carl.

The complications are many, however. MBBs are not immediately welcomed by national Christians for fear that they too may be persecuted. MBBs do not have their own norms for worship and practice, only what they have adopted from other cultures. More MBBs means more resistance from Muslims in these regions. Persecution will increase. People will die for their faith in Christ.

The PCA can make a difference. Carl mentioned specifically that the PCA offers some of the best theological training. We need to continue to send trainers, make use of technology for training, and remain committed to this role. “They are hungry for it,” says Carl.

What we don’t have is an abundance of are people willing to go and “tough it out in the desert.” It is not an either/or conundrum. We need men to do theological training, but we also need people to go and serve, sometimes in creative roles. It isn’t a job for the weak, the comfortable, or the selfish. We need men and women who love Christ and want to see his fame spread to the ends of the earth. We need men and women who love Christ more than their A/C, their Honda, and their hi-def TV.

The result will be Muslims coming to faith, MBBs being trained, and church planting movements spreading throughout the Muslim world. Furthermore, MBBs will gain their own identity, something that Carl says is beginning to happen. They are starting to see their own theologians, missiologists, and other leaders emerge. These men will help to develop what it means to worship and live as a MBB. “The emerging MBB church is the front line movement for what will be the number one major conflict in years to come.  Whether you see that conflict as a conflict between Islam and the West or Islam and the Church, it is a conflict that is not going away and will only escalate.  The emerging MBB church brings covenant grace to the heart of the Muslim world and I think it will have the sort of impact that believers had in the fall of the communist block,” states Carl. He recounts one leader in our Muslim ministry saying, “we hear from historians and news reports how Reagan brought down the communist block but what is not heard is the impact that waves of workers and the Christians they saw raised up had in the days leading up to the fall.”

Seth Wallace is a Church Resourcing Representative for Mission to the World (MTW).

The following is from Rick Gray, MTW missionary and country director in Uganda. He and Wendy and their children are currently in the U.S. This outbreak, which began as early as August, was positively indentified as Ebola on November 29. Please note the blog at the end of this letter which is written by a couple (both doctors) who are teammates of Rick & Wendy’s.

Wednesday, 05 December 2007

Dear Prayer Warrior,

Last Thursday morning, 30 November, Wendy shocked me with terrible news.  The deadly Ebola virus has struck Uganda and the epicenter of the outbreak is in our Ugandan home — Bundibugyo!  The experts say it’s a previously unknown strain of Ebola.  Now six days later, close to 100 people have been identified as stricken with the virus.  Of that number, so far 22 have died.

Following confirmation of the first positive tests for Ebola, the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the Uganda Ministry of Health (MOH) all rushed specialized personnel into Bundibugyo so the lethal epidemic might be contained and curtailed as quickly as possible.  On Monday all but three members of our Bundibugyo missionary team were evacuated from the district.  Only Doctors Scott and Jennifer Myhre along with Physician’s Assistant Scott Will stayed behind in order to serve Bundibugyo’s non-Ebola sick.  Due to concerns over their own possible exposure to the virus, the trio plan to remain in the district until the virus’ incubation period of 2-21 days has concluded.  Additionally, the Myhres made the painful decision to send their children away rather than risk them contracting the virus.

As if all these alarming events were not enough, yesterday evening we were stunned to learn one of our dearest Ugandan friends, Dr. Jonah Kule, was killed by the virus.  He was infected through attending to numerous Ebola patients before their sickness was identified.  Last month on the morning of our farewell feast, Jonah came to our house to empathize with us over Chase’s medical concerns.  He came to bid us good-bye and to tell us that he would not attend our farewell.  It was simply too painful for him.  Jonah had just returned from investigating a mysterious illness that was killing people on the other side of our district.  Little did he or we know the gut-wrenching outcome of his care for those suffering from the undiagnosed disease.

Jonah was an incredibly treasured brother in Christ who sacrificially lived his faith.  After the Allied Democratic Force rebel attack upon Bundibugyo in 1997, he risked his life returning to the district to provide desperately needed medical care to many suffering with various maladies.  Through the encouragement and generous financial support of Scott and Jennifer Myhre, Jonah went on to study as a doctor, graduating from medical school in 2005.  Then last year he spurned considerably more lucrative medical posts to once again come back and serve his own people in impoverished Bundibugyo.

Dr. Kule courageously opposed corruption within Uganda’s medical system, rejecting the unethical but commonly accepted practice of charging additional fees to those in need of medical services.  We were hoping our beloved friend would be a significant force in the fight for justice on behalf of Bundibugyo’s poor for years to come.  But now those dreams lie shattered, to say nothing of the indescribable loss to Jonah’s pregnant wife, Melen, their five adorable little girls, the rest of his family, and everyone who knew him.

There are a million thoughts raging inside my head.  The unbelievable tragedy of Jonah’s death.  Deep concern for our dear missionary teammates’ health, Scott and Jennifer Myhre and Scott Will.  The displacement of our other teammates whom we love.  The separation of the Myhre children from their mother and father.  Anxiety over many other close Ugandan friends in Bundibugyo who have no way to get out and so must stay in the danger zone indefinitely.  And the gnawing questions: “Where is God in all this pain and suffering?”  “What is He doing?”  “Why doesn’t He intervene and put a stop to all the madness?”  “When and how will the outbreak finally end?”

So many things are happening these days in the lives of those we love, and in our own lives, that don’t seem to make any sense at all.  Right now answers are an awfully scarce commodity.  As always, even in times when I may think I have things figured out, there remains only One worthy of our trust.  My thoughts are drawn to a time in His life on earth when not much was making sense either.  The promised King of Israel, He who was supposed to deliver His people from their oppression, was on His way to Jerusalem not to conquer but to die.  How confusing was that on the prior side of the resurrection?

While heading toward the cross, Jesus then received the distressing news that His friend Lazarus was mortally ill.  Yet inexplicably the Savior delayed going to his fallen disciple’s side.  Instead Jesus did not move for two whole days, thereby denying Lazarus and the sisters His presence when it seemed most needed.  Surely they must have wondered, “Where is He?  Why does He delay?”  Yet when our omnipotent Friend saw the outpouring of grief and emotion erupting from Lazarus sisters and friends, his reaction was as comforting as it was confounding.  “Jesus wept,” the Bible says.  Our Savior cried, even though He knew in just a short while He would raise their brother and friend back to life.  So too in this dark hour I am persuaded divine tears must be mingled with ours.  And we resolutely cling to hope in Him who is “the Resurrection and the Life.”

The List

1. Pray for Jonah’s widowed wife, Melen, his children and many friends — as well as the family and friends of all those who have succumbed to Ebola.  Dr. Kule’s burial will take place tomorrow.  Ask that we might grieve well, but with the comfort of God and the hope of the resurrection.
2. Pray for Scott and Jennifer Myhre, for Scott Will, and for the other medical and family care givers who may have been exposed to those suffering with the dangerous virus.  As well pray for those already exhibiting Ebola symptoms and every citizen of Bundibugyo, that God in His great mercy might bless them all with health and life.
3. Pray for our missionary teammates who had to evacuate, that they would experience “the peace that passes understanding” — especially the Myhre children.
4. Pray for the WHO, CDC, MSF and MOH Ebola experts to have wisdom, diligence and success in ending the virus’ spread and destruction.
5. Pray for Him, who specializes in turning evil into good, to use this dreadful disease so that many will turn to and entrust their lives to the Great Physician and Lord of Life.

Surely, the Enemy of our Souls is behind this latest most vicious of attacks.  During a phone call with the Myhres this morning I learned the church in Bundibugyo gathered across denominations to pray and fast for most of the day that God’s purposes will thwart the Evil One’s intentions amidst this awful calmity.  Thank you SO VERY MUCH for joining them and us in covering the people of Bundibugyo and our missionary teammates with effectual prayers.

I have included photographs of Jonah Kule, the Myhres and Scott Will at the bottom of this message.  For more details and daily accounts of this ongoing ordeal please see the Myhres’ excellent blog at www.paradoxuganda.blogspot.com/.

Yours In the Good Fight,

Rick Gray

Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should. — Colossians 4:2-4

The Apostle Paul knew how much his ministry depended on the prayer of others. He actively enlisted the prayer support of as many people as possible, confident that unless God worked, his labors were in vain. His friends knew they were a meaningful and vital part of his ministry through their prayers. In the same way, our church members can “do the work of missions” without even leaving their home, by praying on behalf of missionaries.

The following suggestions for encouraging prayer will help your members become active
participants in world missions:

1. Model prayer. Others will see and follow your example of praying for missions as part of your regular life.
2. Create a prayer book or pamphlet listing all the missionaries your church supports. Include basic information about them and their ministry and general prayer goals. As you produce this material, be mindful of any security guidelines for missionaries serving in sensitive contexts.
3. Encourage regular prayer for missions and missionaries in the worship service. Provide worship leaders with information on the missionary and prayer requests.
4. Plan a church-wide prayer emphasis. These could include a month or a week of praying through a prepared guide, an all-night prayer meeting, or a 24-hour prayer time with members signing up for a 30 to 60 minute commitment.
5. Schedule special times of congregational prayer.
6. Participate in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. More information on this worldwide event can be found at www.idop.org.
7. Encourage existing groups to include prayer for missions. Such groups include Sunday school classes, men’s and women’s ministries, youth groups, and home Bible studies.
8. Teach people how to pray for missionaries. The topics on the following page will help
   people expand their prayers. Feel free to copy and distribute them.

PRAYING FOR MISSIONARIES

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. — 2 Thessalonians 1:11

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. — Matthew 9:37,38

• RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
  • Delight in God’s Word
  • Walk in repentance, faith, and obedience
  • Protection from flesh, world, and devil
  • Holy Spirit renewal
  • Greater dependence upon God in prayer
• FAMILY
  • Husband and wife relationship
  • Parents and children relationships
  • Children’s growth in grace
  • Contentment in singleness
• TEAM RELATIONSHIPS
  • Fellowship with other missionaries
  • Relationship with leaders
  • Humility and submission to one another
  • Spirit of peace and unity
  • Patience
  • Understanding in differences
  • God to raise up laborers
• CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING
  • Language learning
  • Cross-cultural insight
• NATIONAL PARTNERS
  • Growth of national church
  • Development of leaders
  • Relationship of church to community
  • Safety and protection
• RELATIONSHIPS WITH NONBELIEVERS
  • Depth of relationships
  • Boldness in evangelism
  • Words of truth and love
• PHYSICAL AND MATERIAL NEEDS
  • Safety in travel
  • Protection against illness
  • Financial support
• DAILY MINISTRY
  • Heart of love for all people
  • God-given insight into other’s needs
  • Wisdom and discernment
  • Open doors for discipleship
• COUNTRY OF SERVICE
  • Political stability
  • Currency exchange rate

For easier reading and printing, this article is available in .pdf format by clicking here.