• Our hope-filled future is bound up in sharing the story of Jesus, in discipling others, in bringing those disciples together into communities of believers, and in developing and releasing those believers to create other communities... till Jesus the King comes again!

Being Mission-ALL is Four

Posted on March 25, 2011 by wtdavid

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!””

The apostle John, in two short verses, captures the vista of God’s activity in the world and His overarching purpose.  As the church universal gathers around the throne, we see that God’s “mission”, His ultimate objective is the salvation of those who would be entered into His worshipping community.  A fourth element that should characterize the community of believers is that it would be “mission-ALL”. 

To be “mission-ALL” means that the community has an identity and a role that is intimately connected with God’s greater desire or mission.  The community aligns all of itself, centers all of itself around God’s desire to reach out.  One writer states: “Mission belongs to our God.  Mission is not ours; mission is God’s.  Certainly, the mission of God is the prior reality out of which flows any mission that we get involved in.  Or, as has been nicely put, it is not so much the case that God has a mission for his church in the world but that God has a church for his mission in the world.  Mission was not made for the church; the church was made for mission – God’s mission.”

To be “mission-ALL” is not an activity that happens outside the context of the community; something that we do “out there” and that is somehow unrelated to who we are as a community. 

At the very least, to be “mission-ALL” means that the community acts, lives and works, at all times, both gathered and scattered, in ways which are an outflow of their identity and which demonstrate their active engagement in God’s work in this world.  So, what might that look like in the cultural context where you serve?

Filed under: Church, Community, Mission | Leave a comment »

“Inbetweeners”

Posted on March 18, 2011 by wtdavid

I ran across this quote today and thought it was worth posting in place of our ongoing discussion on what we mean by “church”.  I have used the word “workers” to replace the normal word used:

“All workers now have a new role of inbetweeners.  They are bridge-persons, culture brokers, who stand between worlds and help each to understand the other. They stand between the church and unreached people and between churches and missions in different lands.  This calls for a new understanding of the psychological, social, and cultural nature of the workers of the future.  They must truly be bicultural or transcultural people, living in different worlds but not fully at home in any of them.”

I am an “inbetweener” in my life as a believer as I experience the “already and the not yet”, seeking to bridge living in this world with the longing to be in the full presence of my Father.  But I am also an “inbetweener” in my work with others, seeking to build bridges of relationships whereby the message of the Father can be shared with many.

There’s a lot to consider in being an “inbetweener”.

Filed under: Contextualization, Crossing cultures, Mission | 2 Comments »

Are You a Lifer?

Posted on December 3, 2010 by wtdavid

Words are a tricky thing.  Different meanings can be attributed to the same word depending on the context, culture and generation.  For example, the French equivalent for the word “opportunity” is “l’opportunité”.  That is practically the same spelling.  However, the meaning of the word in each language is very different.  In American English, it means a chance or an occasion [to do something].  Whereas, in French, it means a one off opportunity that may not soon be repeated.  So, you can probably understand why French believers snickered one day when the American leading worship said: “I am grateful for this ‘opportunité’ to lead worship this morning.

We need to better understand our context and audience, and then adapt our language in order to communicate clearly.  That is a little of how I feel in our mobilization discussions.  Those of us from the earlier generations (that is, pre 80s) talk about short-term and long-term workers.  Those terms can have either a negative or a very different meaning for those from later generations (that is, post 80s).  Probably not the best word choice to be using in our discussions.

There is no question about the need for ‘longer term’ work.  There are many things that simply will not happen in cross cultural ministry if sufficient time is not given to that effort.  But how do we express a key principle in other words?

That’s why I’m starting to call myself now a ‘lifer’ (see Global Mission Handbook, 166).   A ‘lifer’ is a person who has simply chosen to give his/her life, to make his/her career to minister in cross cultural contexts.  Those who come out for short or midterm opportunities are a certainly a vital part of the larger ministry.  But, “it’s the [lifer] who, over time, builds relationships with the people, understands their culture and sensitively contextualizes the gospel within that vibrant reality.” (166)

We’re looking for ‘lifers’.

Filed under: Crossing cultures, Mission, Mobilization | Leave a comment »

Lessons Learned❷

Posted on November 4, 2010 by wtdavid

If the number❶ take-away was: Preach, proclaim, and share the Gospel fearlessly.  Then the number❷ take-away would have to be: Recognize that we are living in the 21st century.  Simply put, we have transitioned from the 20th century to a new era with a new context and new challenges.  We will need to adapt, shift, and yes even change some of our ministry methods and approaches.

In terms of technological advances, internet is a paradigm shifting media tool as was the printing press in its day.  Over one third of the population of a Gulf nation is on Facebook alone. We will need to harness its potential while resisting its alluring appeal to drive us farther away from God and face to face community.

In terms of social changes, there is more slavery and human trafficking occurring today than during the time of William Wilberforce who worked tirelessly to have slavery abolished throughout the United Kingdom.  Not that we should shift our focus from establishing communities of believers, but those communities must engage the world around them.  As John Piper said, “For the sake of Christ, we Christians care about all suffering, especially eternal suffering.  If you feel a resistance to the second half of this statement, then you have a defective view of hell.  If you feel a resistance to the first half of this statement, then you have a defective heart.” 

In terms of changes in religious faiths, today over 1 billion people in the world call themselves M’s. Few are the resources that are being directed to reach out to this people.  Many M’s are in unengaged, unreached people groups with no known worker among them or being sent to reach them.  That reality must be taken into consideration as we seek to mobilize human, financial and prayer resources.

In terms of mission, it is becoming harder to mobilize workers to ministries.  “Support raising”, as traditionally understood, is taking longer.  We will need to find creative ways to “support” workers in ministries.  Workers are coming from everywhere wanting to be sent everywhere.  With this, come all the difficulties of communication in a multicultural team in a cross cultural context.

Recognizing that we are living in the 21st century should cause us to lean more dependently on God, listening to His voice as He enables us to adapt, change and serve him joyfully in a world in flux.

Filed under: Cape Town 2010, Mission, Mobilization, Partnership | 6 Comments »

Listening

Posted on October 24, 2010 by wtdavid

Today was the final day of the conference.  We heard about partnerships.  I “listened” about collaboration and partnerships.  “The world we once knew, no longer exists,” shared David Ruiz, from Guatemala.  “It is now from everywhere to everywhere.”   

It is about learning to humbly give and receive resources.  It is “multidirectional in nature”.   

And it is demonstrated not only in the Trinity, but in God’s many dealings with His people (for example, with Adam & Eve or with Abraham).

A question that often came up was: What assets and challenges do global church partnerships bring? 

We certainly need to think about an answer to that question, but we also desperately need to hear what others have to say.

Filed under: Cape Town 2010, Mission, Partnership | 2 Comments »

Just Listening More

Posted on October 23, 2010 by wtdavid

A few quotes from the day’s sessions to consider and reflect upon:

“”Walk in love” (Ephesians 5:2ff).  Notice how Paul immediately contrasts sacrificial love with its counterfeit in this text.  This is costly love.  And yet sacrifice seems to be the last word in our vocabulary these days.”   Calisto Odede

“Jesus Christ spent more time talking about the idolatries of the people of God than He did talking about how bad the world is.”  Chris Wright

“Whatever the cost may be, your cross will be my strength.”  Words from a song written by a member of the Micah Network specifically for this plenary session theme

”Whole Church taking the whole Gospel to the whole world.”  Theme of video clip about eradicating “Bible poverty”

“There is no biblical mission without biblical living.”  Chris Wright

Filed under: Cape Town 2010, Gospel, Mission | Leave a comment »

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