Sometimes when we look at an issue or a problem, a lot of creative ideas come quickly to mind. And certainly, a number of those are good solutions to that issue that we should consider implementing.
However, that “quick response” reflex can sometimes keep us from looking deeper; from searching out other sources of that issue or problem.
In recent times, we have heard quite a bit about the decline of candidates from North America (and other places in the Western world); a decline in those who are considering serving in cross cultural church planting. A number of reasons are put forth: an antipathy toward raising funds; the unknown of what is church planting; the feeling that one can do ministry right here in North America where the world is coming to us; or the desire to find a job overseas (rather than raise funds) and simply help a church plant get started somewhere in the world.
In light o those concerns, we create viable solutions to address them: creative funding solutions; marketplace ministry; diaspora outreach; or front loading more and more CP training.
Please hear me well: all of these are worthwhile endeavors that we should pursue.
However, I would encourage us to look more deeply at these issues in missions today in light of a few thoughts I have recently read:
- In Mobilizing Gen Z, Jolene Erlacher and Katy White quote the Future of Missions study from Barna: “Only 35 percent of engaged Christian parents of young adults say they would definitely encourage their child to serve in missions, while 25 percent are not open to the idea at all.”
- “In the West, we have multiple churches in any given community, yet more than half of the world’s population has little or no access to the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
- A friend wrote recently: “The sacrifice of missions is real, it’s deep, it’s enduring.”
Maybe we should give time and energy to better understanding the hesitations of Christian parents, and how we might challenge them to pray for the future of their children from God’s perspective. Perhaps, we might re-build the vision of the incredible ride and journey cross cultural church planting is. And maybe, we just need to rehearse again and again Jesus’ call to disciple the nations – some of whom may not land on our shores.
Michael Griffiths wrote a short book many years ago called: Give Up Your Small Ambitions. Maybe that’s a word for us today: how do we share the wonder, joy, and sacrifice that is cross cultural church planting with those around us? What are your thoughts?
Filed under: Church planting, Coaching, Crossing cultures, Reflection | Leave a comment »
Thoughts Along The Journey 