Thoughts Along The Journey

I recently read the following quote:

“Here, then, is the shape of mission for … the twenty-first century.  Here is the way ahead – a team of focused missionaries who have caught the vision of church multiplication, who have seen the larger picture, who understand that biblical multiplication of reproducing churches results through a determined equipping of local believers for the work of church planting.  It is a vision that calls for a new breed of missionary. One who finds fulfillment, not so much in gathering the harvest, but who by investing his or her own life and energy in the training of others, assures the multiplication of that harvest beyond anything they might have done alone.”

It seems to me that there are a lot of ‘strong’ words in this short quote: ‘the way ahead’; ‘focused missionaries’; ‘seen the larger picture’; ‘a determined equipping’; and ‘a new breed of missionary’.

However, it was the last line that set me back a bit on a first (and even second) read.  The writer argues that investing in others, training them, “assures the multiplication of that harvest beyond anything they might have done alone.”

Multiplication.  It is part of what we say we are all about as World Team workers.  Yet, it is a tricky concept to get our hands around and see how it should work it out in our day to day ministries. 

The author of this quote simply pushes us back to the importance of investing in others (spending the time and energy) to train them to carry out the ministry.  This is the exhortation that Paul gives to us in Ephesians 4:12 – “to equip the saints for the work of ministry”.

Investing in others for the purpose of multiplication bears fruit in the long term, not necessarily in the short term.  The investment is well worth the effort because what is left behind after we leave is a growing number of people carrying out the ministry, and multiplying themselves in others!

One question, though, came to mind and caused me to assess my commitment (or determination) to invest in others and “assure” that kind of ongoing multiplication: What do I prefer more: to do a ministry activity myself OR spend the time it takes to train another to carry out that activity (and as a result be recognized by others)?

Moving to more of this kind of investment and multiplication probably starts by addressing our own pride and desire to be recognized and valued by others.  We must constantly remind ourselves that ‘the God of all grace’ (1 Peter 5:10) is the One who loves us with an unfailing love and called us to be part of His family, His global spiritual community.

By the way, the quote above?  It was written by Joe Conley when he described the outcomes of the Caliraya conference (the launching of our united mission) in 1999 in the Philippines! Just put “WT in” in place of the 3 dots in the early part of the quote.

Filed under: Multiplication, WT Ministry Framework | 4 Comments »