Mission: Possible
Introduction
Rather than Mission Impossible, I present Mission Possible.
I have too many things to share, but I will try to get to as many as possible in a short time.
The BIBLE FOUNDATIONS
- 1. How Jesus Christ trained the twelve (Matt 1-10): selection, association, consecration, impartation, demonstration, delegation (11ff), supervision, reproduction
- 2. The Gospel.
- Gospel does not depend on man for its integrity, but for its spread
- World is lost in sin
- Jer. 17:9
- Christ died for the whole world, Jn 3:16
- Rm. 1:16
- John 14:6
- Church is God's agency for the Great Commission
- The work of the church is the work of every individual Christian--all are priests
The CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGE OF OUR WORLD
Central America
Belize--250,000 population, Belize City 80,000, 10 small churches with 260 members
Guatemala--10 million+, 21 dialects, Spanish is the official language, 150 churches known, but believe there are many more, the official 5000 members is really more like 10K-15K Christians
El Salvador--10 Baxter grads, 27 preachers, 90 churches, 8K-9K Christians
Honduras--~200 churches, 157 reporting, 7K-10K members
Nicaragua--57 churches, 7K Christians; in 1989, 400 churches, 15K+ Christians
Costa Rica--Bynums, country of ~3 million; 25 churches, 1200-1500 Christians
Panama--134 churches, 5000 members
South America
URUGUAY--1950--Bro. Hadwin to Uruguay, Montevideo, 5 conversions. 1976 Jack Walker+ others, 3 congregations, 250 Xns.
ARGENTINA--early seeds sown by NA businessmen, approx. 20 cong, 500-600 Xns
BOLIVIA--8 churches, 350 Xns
CHILE--20 churches, 500 Xns
ECUADOR--Milestone work, did interpretive evaluation, increase in the % of ordinary Xns who became soul-winners, stable mission force, leader training in place, indigenous work possible. Check Ken Marcum, 1989 went to Quito, now has Bible Institute
VENEZUELA--Bob Brown
Brazil. Brazilian missions milestones. 121 churches, in 90 cities, 20 states, up to 450 member congregations. 75 churches with own building; 70 with full-time worker; 10 congregations with elders-deacons; 600 baptisms per year, youth training programs. We are faced with insurmountable opportunities. Gal. 6:10ff.
The Poor
Need worldwide to target urban poor, increasing in %, Lk. 13:31ff
Jesus had compassion, Lk. 4:15ff
Cities, poor, urban poor, lonely, hurting, sick, spiritual possessed, spiritually dispossessed, sinners, lost, outcasts.
Do we have passion or compassion?
North America
US = third most Spanish speaking people in the world.
Lou Seckler--Mexico missions. In 1990 registration, ~400 congregations with 25000 Xns. Mex--So far from God, so close to the US. Prchr schools, radio programs, TV program.
THE SPIRITUAL CHALLENGE FOR THE U.S. CHURCH
1. Self-sufficient attitude, Rev. 3:14-18, be careful lest we become self-sufficient
2. Selfish attitude, 1 Cor. 12:7ff, no body part is self-sufficient, self-supporting
3. Spiritual foundations. Be careful--church seems bent on involvement in a race (1) for greatness by man's standards, (2) to jettison heritage, (3) to change ID
4. Committed resources. How increase funding? How center on and focus on missions?
- 1. People of purpose, developing young emissaries
- 2. Frequent communication
- 3. Tenacity
- 4. More $, Foundation $ and estate $
- 5. Missions partnerships, large churches and small mission churches
Summary: with conservative numbers, in 11 SA countries, 180 congregations, 8000 Christians, still in infancy in Hispanic South America. What have we learned?
- 1. Latin America, Hispanic South America is ready for the gospel. See movement away from traditional religions. Will require strategic intervention, must be willing to reject the old if it is merely tradition, cast off the attitude that we can do nothing new, and avoid synchretized efforts that are unhealthy. Must recognize still that the marginalized, poor, lower classes are the most receptive.
- 2. Among churches of Christ, we have not reached our full potential. Especially in Latin America, often have wrong structures, forms, approaches. Must ask the right questions. Latin America was a conquered people--now 500 years later, conqueror and conquered. What has shaped this people? Must re-center Jesus Christ, not push religion to the margins. Heartfelt, visible, tangible religion is what is desired. Failure to integrate the classes and caste system, based in part on heritage, blood.
- 3. Strategy--only laid the foundations, only 8000, work in urban centers, but we have rural roots as a movement, are a rural movement. Difficult. How do we do urban evangelism with sophistication? Rethink importance of integration. Urban models must fit urban sophistication and life. No shortcuts. Necessary relationship between time, message, power.
- 4. Continuity of effort. Human and material resources. Invest! Over 50 years, 300-400 missionaries, in to 11 countries, little continuity.
- 5. Challenges
- a. Develop a mentality for local church. Develop leadership. We are not doing this, even at home.
- b. Make the ministry more holistic.
- c. Work for a spiritual storm or revolution.
- 6. Last lesson, have we succeeded at all? Why? Our God is able. Succeeding in spite of efforts, Rom. 1:16; 2 Cor. 4:6-7; What have we really learned, 2 Cor. 3:5; 2 Cor. 12:10.
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Things we must do--before we can step forward, may have to step backward.
Things the church as a whole needs to hear...
1. Believe in necessity of evangelism--now often think other activities are more important, but first priority is evangelism. When church believes evang. is necessary, we will evangelize. 2 Cor. 4:7-13. Do we believe it? Do we care?
2. Evangelism is a priority. In many churches, evang. is behind fellowship, felt needs, internal concerns. The brothers often feel "they need everything." Good works, but these are not always our best efforts.
3. Evangelism that produces results, seeks the proper end. Opposed to being only results conscious, but be enough results conscious that we use our resources well.
4. Evangelism that is efficient. Teamwork, cooperation.
Going to an established church and being a missionary are not necessarily different. Important thing is to do the work well. Established churches are more forgiving for laziness.
Think about "what is a missionary?" Someone who goes (to a foreign country?). Help the church think globally, not us and them, just "us."
Study of church, 8-9000 Christians in El Salvador, 14-15000 Christians in Nicaragua. How? People who took message to their own.
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Last updated March 20, 2005.