Missiologists have divided the world into three easy to understand categories -- worlds A, B, and C.
World C is 5% plus evangelical Christian. It is reached. It does not mean there is no need for evangelism in world C, there is still a great need. But world C can be won to Christ if the existing Church is obedient to the great commission in taking the gospel, making disciples, and planting churches among its own people. There is no need for outside missionary involvement in world C. In fact, many believe it is poor stewardship of limited manpower resources to continue to send missionaries into world C. The U.S. is 29% evangelical Christian and is solidly in world C. Even its most “unreached” cities are in the mid-teens as a percentage of evangelical Christians. Canada, the Caribbean, most of Latin America, most of sub-Sahara Africa, Australia, and most of China are now world C.
World B is 2% to 5% evangelical Christian. It is underreached. It is the job of the national church in world B to take the gospel, make disciples, and plant churches among its own people. But there is still a place for missionary specialists assisting in support roles (not lead roles) partnering alongside the existing national church. Many believe we should stop sending most (not all) of the missionaries we are currently sending into world B, and let the national church do its job. Much of Europe is world B (sadly with Christianity on the decline, rather than growing).
World A is less than 2% evangelical Christian. 28% of the world’s population live in world A. 2 billion people. It is unreached. These are not people who have rejected the gospel message. These are people who have never heard. They are people groups with little or no access to the life-changing gospel message and a culturally relevant church. World A can only be reached with the involvement of outside missionaries. They lack the manpower to do the job themselves. World A should be the focus of most missions work today. It can be defined geographically. It is an area known as the 10-40 window (composed of north Africa, the Middle East, central/south/east Asia). It is where 97% of the world’s unreached peoples live. Places like India, Indonesia, Japan, and Pakistan.
Sadly only 2.5% of the world’s missionaries work in world A. 17.5% work in world B. A full 80% continue to focus on world C. Why? In part because of inaccurate or incomplete information about the world we live in and the status of missions in the world. But mostly because work among the unreached is hard, slow, and it can be dangerous. The easier work is already well underway.
Within world A is an important subgroup of unreached peoples called UUPGs (unengaged unreached people groups). These people should be the top priority of any church or missions sending organization seeking to be strategic in their great commission contribution. UUPGs have been defined as a people group where there is no church planting methodology consistent with evangelical faith and practice under way. Although these groups are also concentrated in the 10-40 window, immigrants and refugees from these people groups can be found around the world, including the U.S. God is bringing the nations, including the unreached and the unengaged to our doorstep. Next month, I will talk about opportunities to engage with UUPGs here in the U.S.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Sunday, June 2, 2013
from June 2, 2013 prayer update
I occasionally receive unsolicited feedback regarding my monthly prayer updates and my quarterly newsletters. I always appreciate that feedback. We sometimes believe that we know how others perceive things, but the reality is we don’t unless they tell us.
Proverbs 15:22 says “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”
My team always surveys participants immediately following our church partnership events. Sometimes clear themes emerge, positively or negatively, from the survey. That is what you hope for. It provides an objective basis for how to best move forward. Other times what was a strong positive for one person was a strong negative for another. It is tough to know what do with that feedback.
The unsolicited feedback I have received regarding my monthly prayer updates and my quarterly newsletters has sometimes been conflicting in nature. Nonetheless, I would like to solicit some additional feedback. Actually I am hoping for a lot of feedback.
I would love to hear from you! It doesn’t need to be lengthy or take much time. Although if you would like to wax eloquent, please do. What feedback do you have for me regarding my monthly prayer updates and quarterly newsletters? Positive or negative? Regarding whatever aspect(s) of these communications that you would choose to focus on -- frequency? length? look and feel? content included? content omitted? tone? writing style? prayer points? personal reflections? upcoming events? support update? or anything else that you believe is important? Please be honest. This is not an attempt at soliciting affirmation.
Thanks for taking a few minutes to serve me with this request. I hope to be able to return the favor by providing you with more helpful and relevant communication in the future. Rather than delaying, and perhaps forgetting, would you take a couple of minutes and respond right now? Thanks!
Please know how much you are valued and appreciated. The missions mobilization work I do with U.S. local churches through Pioneers, on behalf of the least reached globally, would not be possible apart from your partnership financially and through prayer. THANK YOU!
Proverbs 15:22 says “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”
My team always surveys participants immediately following our church partnership events. Sometimes clear themes emerge, positively or negatively, from the survey. That is what you hope for. It provides an objective basis for how to best move forward. Other times what was a strong positive for one person was a strong negative for another. It is tough to know what do with that feedback.
The unsolicited feedback I have received regarding my monthly prayer updates and my quarterly newsletters has sometimes been conflicting in nature. Nonetheless, I would like to solicit some additional feedback. Actually I am hoping for a lot of feedback.
I would love to hear from you! It doesn’t need to be lengthy or take much time. Although if you would like to wax eloquent, please do. What feedback do you have for me regarding my monthly prayer updates and quarterly newsletters? Positive or negative? Regarding whatever aspect(s) of these communications that you would choose to focus on -- frequency? length? look and feel? content included? content omitted? tone? writing style? prayer points? personal reflections? upcoming events? support update? or anything else that you believe is important? Please be honest. This is not an attempt at soliciting affirmation.
Thanks for taking a few minutes to serve me with this request. I hope to be able to return the favor by providing you with more helpful and relevant communication in the future. Rather than delaying, and perhaps forgetting, would you take a couple of minutes and respond right now? Thanks!
Please know how much you are valued and appreciated. The missions mobilization work I do with U.S. local churches through Pioneers, on behalf of the least reached globally, would not be possible apart from your partnership financially and through prayer. THANK YOU!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
from May 5, 2013 prayer update
On April 23-25 Pioneers hosted a forum at our U.S. mobilization base in Orlando for 30 church missions leaders from across the country titled “a closer look: disciple making and church planting in hard places”. We were joined by 14 key leaders within Pioneers USA and the 9 members of Pioneers church partnerships team. Jerry Trousdale, author of Miraculous Movements, a captivating book about church planting movements in Muslim Africa, was the primary speaker. Also contributing were Ted Esler (executive VP for Pioneers USA), Yinka Ojo (with Pioneers Africa), and L.D. Waterman (with Pioneers in Indonesia). Our six session topics included:
• Christ-centric foundations for engaging lostness
• Jesus’ counter intuitive disciple making strategies
• counterpoint: potential issues with CPM
• a field perspective: implementing the discovery approach to CPM
• practicing CPM principles in Africa
• principles and practices
The sessions were split between presentations by individual speakers and interactive Q&A sessions with panels. Included were times of worship and intercession for the nations. We shared all our meals together and had time within a busy schedule for formal and informal interaction with each other around what we were hearing.
We were treated to dozens of recent stories of CPM (church planting movements) initiated by unlikely leaders in Muslim contexts. CPM examples that were strikingly different from the programmatic evangelism, disciple making, and church planting undertaken by well trained professionals that is normative in the U.S. and in many other contexts globally. The forum was a welcomed reminder that God delights in using ordinary individuals to accomplish extraordinary things to advance His kingdom.
Below are a few comments from those participating in the forum.
• The openness to discuss CPM from all sides was very helpful. My questions & reservations were graciously addressed.
• Serious willingness to entertain/discuss criticism of the concepts. Bringing that out and letting it be openly discussed was very healthy and informative.
• Increased my respect for your ethos - VERY impressed by the winsome dialog including honest - not 'straw man' consideration of opposing views.
• The forum gave me a better understanding of church planting. I will be more equipped to talk strategy with our missionaries and encourage them.
• I am committing to pray more regularly for UPGs and CPMs and to invite those in my congregation to do the same. I also feel more equipped to engage with and support our own missionaries doing CPM work.
• Loved the networking and chance to chat with like-minded churchmen (and women). Case studies were great.
• The interaction with other church leaders was very encouraging and helpful. Likewise, the humility and openness of the speakers was a blessing.
• I have come to expect high levels of hospitality, spirited debate, and gracious openness from Pioneers. It was on display throughout this conference. Appreciate how PI relates to the local church!
• I was refreshed to have an organization of the size and caliber of Pioneers admit to the very churches that support them that they are working through things and are willing to listen.
• I already had a great amount of respect for Pioneers and this experience increased my respect and clarified my understanding of the organization’s commitments and values.
• I got to know Pioneers better and like them even more than before! The humility and servanthood of Pioneers staff was a beautiful reflection of Christ.
Pioneers readily admits that we are in the early stages of implementing CPM strategies in our work among the unreached. We are learners and experimenters, not experts. We are seeing limited success in some of the places where these strategies have been taught and implemented. And we are discovering the need to tweak and adapt strategies in many of the settings where we serve. But we see great potential for rapid kingdom expansion in hard places as we continue forward with these efforts.
If CPM among unreached peoples is a priority with the works and workers your church partners with, I would be delighted to interact with you or connect you with others within Pioneers. We would welcome discussing how Pioneers may be able to partner with you in your efforts.
• Christ-centric foundations for engaging lostness
• Jesus’ counter intuitive disciple making strategies
• counterpoint: potential issues with CPM
• a field perspective: implementing the discovery approach to CPM
• practicing CPM principles in Africa
• principles and practices
The sessions were split between presentations by individual speakers and interactive Q&A sessions with panels. Included were times of worship and intercession for the nations. We shared all our meals together and had time within a busy schedule for formal and informal interaction with each other around what we were hearing.
We were treated to dozens of recent stories of CPM (church planting movements) initiated by unlikely leaders in Muslim contexts. CPM examples that were strikingly different from the programmatic evangelism, disciple making, and church planting undertaken by well trained professionals that is normative in the U.S. and in many other contexts globally. The forum was a welcomed reminder that God delights in using ordinary individuals to accomplish extraordinary things to advance His kingdom.
Below are a few comments from those participating in the forum.
• The openness to discuss CPM from all sides was very helpful. My questions & reservations were graciously addressed.
• Serious willingness to entertain/discuss criticism of the concepts. Bringing that out and letting it be openly discussed was very healthy and informative.
• Increased my respect for your ethos - VERY impressed by the winsome dialog including honest - not 'straw man' consideration of opposing views.
• The forum gave me a better understanding of church planting. I will be more equipped to talk strategy with our missionaries and encourage them.
• I am committing to pray more regularly for UPGs and CPMs and to invite those in my congregation to do the same. I also feel more equipped to engage with and support our own missionaries doing CPM work.
• Loved the networking and chance to chat with like-minded churchmen (and women). Case studies were great.
• The interaction with other church leaders was very encouraging and helpful. Likewise, the humility and openness of the speakers was a blessing.
• I have come to expect high levels of hospitality, spirited debate, and gracious openness from Pioneers. It was on display throughout this conference. Appreciate how PI relates to the local church!
• I was refreshed to have an organization of the size and caliber of Pioneers admit to the very churches that support them that they are working through things and are willing to listen.
• I already had a great amount of respect for Pioneers and this experience increased my respect and clarified my understanding of the organization’s commitments and values.
• I got to know Pioneers better and like them even more than before! The humility and servanthood of Pioneers staff was a beautiful reflection of Christ.
Pioneers readily admits that we are in the early stages of implementing CPM strategies in our work among the unreached. We are learners and experimenters, not experts. We are seeing limited success in some of the places where these strategies have been taught and implemented. And we are discovering the need to tweak and adapt strategies in many of the settings where we serve. But we see great potential for rapid kingdom expansion in hard places as we continue forward with these efforts.
If CPM among unreached peoples is a priority with the works and workers your church partners with, I would be delighted to interact with you or connect you with others within Pioneers. We would welcome discussing how Pioneers may be able to partner with you in your efforts.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
from April 7, 2013 prayer update
Why Are North Americans Needed Overseas?
by Steve Richardson, Pioneers USA president
No part of the global church is exempt from the Great Commission. Christ’s last words on earth were given to all disciples. He did not say to richer churches, “Just send your money. Poorer churches can provide the labor.”
Each culture that follows the Lord Jesus has a unique contribution to make in God’s redemptive plan. Just as Paul, the premier missionary, told the Ephesian church to “do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do,” believers in every society before or since are included in that, complete with preordained tasks appropriate for their DNA.
Unique Contribution. So what unique purpose do North American missionaries have in today’s global gospel enterprise? We must pioneer! Blueprints are needed to establish infrastructure on which others can build. We are good at starting things; We are entrepreneurs who see new opportunities for Kingdom advancement.
Our physical presence also provides tremendous encouragement to emerging churches and isolated workers. They value being part of an international movement that includes North Americans.
We are networkers. Our connections and resources in many cases extend beyond those of our national partners. In order to transfer available funds to the people and places of need, we need those “on the ground” to establish relationships and make the transactions.
Westerners are also missiologists. We’re hardwired to research, think, study, document and articulate. While every culture processes data differently, our linear minds plan, strategize and think systematically. We envision the “long term” more than other cultures, especially tropical cultures that never have to prepare for winter. As a result, we tend to administrate well and contribute to the health of field ministries.
We also take the stewardship of God’s resources seriously. We identify needs and connect donors with projects over an extended period of time, encouraging them with regular reports of how their funds are contributing to the work. Ethical money management is important to us.
Westerners, in general, are technologically savvy. Communications, use of English, and the creation of entry platforms are our forte. We are also respected in business, education, and finance.
These characteristics enhance our access to much of the world. Canadians can go just about anywhere, but it is hard to get a Solomon Islander or a sub-Saharan African into Turkey, for example. Racism and discrimination are rife in non-Western societies: Arabs look down on Africans; Indonesians despise Papuans. Westerners are generally respected or at least tolerated wherever they go.
Promised Blessing. It’s not, however, just what God wants us to give to the nations, but what we, in turn, receive from obedience. Our going impacts local growth. Outward focus and investment will yield expansion in the hearts, minds, and even size of our fellowships. Kingdom perspective multiplies when we’re connected to worlds outside of our own. We come closer to the biblical mandate of praying (and ultimately living and giving) as though we were the ones suffering or without access to the gospel. Such identification and personal sacrifice bring intangible reward. We are in community with Christ-followers from around the world. Knowing we’re in the race together makes us stronger. Not to mention that hearing stories from those who’ve gone out from our own doors gives us greater appreciation for the challenges and opportunities in sharing the gospel with those who have not heard it yet.
Quite simply, any church that stops sending its sons and daughters to the nations will eventually stop sending their money as well. We care more intently and will thus contribute more consistently when our own are involved.
“We lack financial resources.” The truth is evangelicals just give two percent (or less) of their income. Of that, a mere fraction goes to missions, and only a sliver of that to work among unreached peoples. There is no lack of money in the West, only a lack of vision, awareness and motivation.
“Nationals are available to fill all necessary roles overseas.” There are actually very few local believers among hundreds of unreached people groups, even among neighboring cultures. While those who do cross international boundaries find uniquely tailored opportunities to contribute to mission efforts, they also can encounter challenges with visas, employment, platforms, language, racism and culture.
“Other nationalities are better at cross-cultural work than North Americans.” This is often the case, but not always. Koreans, Chinese and Japanese, for example, tend to encounter greater cross-cultural challenges than Westerners. We come from a multi-cultural society. Not all believers do.
“The unreached love and accept ‘near-by’ cultures more than distant, Western cultures.” On the contrary, Sunnis may not appreciate nearby Shiites; Bosnian Muslims may not accept Serbs; but they may extend open arms to a Christian from Australia.
“We are sending more workers than needed from the West.” The reality is, given the numbers of believers in the West and our financial capacity, we actually send very few workers. The post-World War II “great generation” is retiring in large numbers. Our piece in the global pie is shrinking. While this reflects positive developments in some respects, it should be cause for concern if our churches lose the desire to send missionaries before the race is over.
The Priority? Sending our “sons” and sending our money are both an essential part of the big picture for the church in the West. If one must take priority, I would choose the sending of our own flesh and blood, because the money will naturally flow if we are faithful in doing that. But we should not have to choose. Both are critical.
by Steve Richardson, Pioneers USA president
No part of the global church is exempt from the Great Commission. Christ’s last words on earth were given to all disciples. He did not say to richer churches, “Just send your money. Poorer churches can provide the labor.”
Each culture that follows the Lord Jesus has a unique contribution to make in God’s redemptive plan. Just as Paul, the premier missionary, told the Ephesian church to “do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do,” believers in every society before or since are included in that, complete with preordained tasks appropriate for their DNA.
Unique Contribution. So what unique purpose do North American missionaries have in today’s global gospel enterprise? We must pioneer! Blueprints are needed to establish infrastructure on which others can build. We are good at starting things; We are entrepreneurs who see new opportunities for Kingdom advancement.
Our physical presence also provides tremendous encouragement to emerging churches and isolated workers. They value being part of an international movement that includes North Americans.
We are networkers. Our connections and resources in many cases extend beyond those of our national partners. In order to transfer available funds to the people and places of need, we need those “on the ground” to establish relationships and make the transactions.
Westerners are also missiologists. We’re hardwired to research, think, study, document and articulate. While every culture processes data differently, our linear minds plan, strategize and think systematically. We envision the “long term” more than other cultures, especially tropical cultures that never have to prepare for winter. As a result, we tend to administrate well and contribute to the health of field ministries.
We also take the stewardship of God’s resources seriously. We identify needs and connect donors with projects over an extended period of time, encouraging them with regular reports of how their funds are contributing to the work. Ethical money management is important to us.
Westerners, in general, are technologically savvy. Communications, use of English, and the creation of entry platforms are our forte. We are also respected in business, education, and finance.
These characteristics enhance our access to much of the world. Canadians can go just about anywhere, but it is hard to get a Solomon Islander or a sub-Saharan African into Turkey, for example. Racism and discrimination are rife in non-Western societies: Arabs look down on Africans; Indonesians despise Papuans. Westerners are generally respected or at least tolerated wherever they go.
Promised Blessing. It’s not, however, just what God wants us to give to the nations, but what we, in turn, receive from obedience. Our going impacts local growth. Outward focus and investment will yield expansion in the hearts, minds, and even size of our fellowships. Kingdom perspective multiplies when we’re connected to worlds outside of our own. We come closer to the biblical mandate of praying (and ultimately living and giving) as though we were the ones suffering or without access to the gospel. Such identification and personal sacrifice bring intangible reward. We are in community with Christ-followers from around the world. Knowing we’re in the race together makes us stronger. Not to mention that hearing stories from those who’ve gone out from our own doors gives us greater appreciation for the challenges and opportunities in sharing the gospel with those who have not heard it yet.
Quite simply, any church that stops sending its sons and daughters to the nations will eventually stop sending their money as well. We care more intently and will thus contribute more consistently when our own are involved.
“We lack financial resources.” The truth is evangelicals just give two percent (or less) of their income. Of that, a mere fraction goes to missions, and only a sliver of that to work among unreached peoples. There is no lack of money in the West, only a lack of vision, awareness and motivation.
“Nationals are available to fill all necessary roles overseas.” There are actually very few local believers among hundreds of unreached people groups, even among neighboring cultures. While those who do cross international boundaries find uniquely tailored opportunities to contribute to mission efforts, they also can encounter challenges with visas, employment, platforms, language, racism and culture.
“Other nationalities are better at cross-cultural work than North Americans.” This is often the case, but not always. Koreans, Chinese and Japanese, for example, tend to encounter greater cross-cultural challenges than Westerners. We come from a multi-cultural society. Not all believers do.
“The unreached love and accept ‘near-by’ cultures more than distant, Western cultures.” On the contrary, Sunnis may not appreciate nearby Shiites; Bosnian Muslims may not accept Serbs; but they may extend open arms to a Christian from Australia.
“We are sending more workers than needed from the West.” The reality is, given the numbers of believers in the West and our financial capacity, we actually send very few workers. The post-World War II “great generation” is retiring in large numbers. Our piece in the global pie is shrinking. While this reflects positive developments in some respects, it should be cause for concern if our churches lose the desire to send missionaries before the race is over.
The Priority? Sending our “sons” and sending our money are both an essential part of the big picture for the church in the West. If one must take priority, I would choose the sending of our own flesh and blood, because the money will naturally flow if we are faithful in doing that. But we should not have to choose. Both are critical.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
from March 3, 2013 prayer update
What is the Great Commission? I have heard it described as the marching orders of the Church. It, coupled with the Great Commandment, is the mission of the Church in the world. And it incorporates two of the core functions of the Church -- evangelism and disciple making.
There are five New Testament Great Commission passages. Each providing a different window into understanding God’s mission in the world and the mission of the Church (which are one and the same). In John 20:21-22 the emphasis is placed on living as sent out ones. Sent out to live in the same way and to pursue the same purposes that Jesus did. In Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-49, and Acts 1:8 the emphasis is on evangelism. Demonstrating and proclaiming Christ, both locally and among the least reached globally. In Matthew 28:18-20 the emphasis is on making disciples. With an emphasis on teaching obedience, again both locally and among the least reached globally.
This past week I participated for a third time in the Verge conference. It is an Austin based conference designed for missional community leaders. I am not a missional community leader, but for the past year I have been an active part of a missional community. 12 of us who are building relationships with, serving, and taking Christ to Muslim international students and refugees living in Austin.
The emphasis at Verge this year was on disciple making. This emphasis is nothing new for me. I was weaned on disciple making as a new believer 40 years ago through The Navigator ministry at The University of Texas. A ministry that God in His kindness connected me with just a few months after a very radical conversion from death to life. I trace many of my spiritual roots back to my seven years with this wonderful and often stretching ministry.
Sadly even when truths and practices are engrained early on and become part of our DNA, we can drift from them. We need to be regularly reminded about those things that are core. The apostle Paul said in Romans 15:15a “But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder”. I know that I need regular reminders.
I have found myself more than once over the past four decades slowly drifting from core principles that I have dedicated my life to live around. I need to be regularly reminded of the centrality of these truths and practices. And I need to be closely connected with other individuals that passionately embrace and live out these truths.
The parable of the sower (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8) speaks about four kinds of soil. Three are undesirable soil, only one is good soil. I am convinced that most Christians in the Western world represent the soil described in Matthew 13:22. “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and it proves unfruitful.” We are a distracted and unfruitful people.
Distracted principally by the world and the cheap, shiny trinkets she seeks to capture our hearts with. But more subtly, distracted also by things within the four walls of the church building. Bad things like consumerism and religiosity. But also good things like high profile service and leadership roles, looking out for the needs of my family, and opportunities to use my spiritual gifts. These good things often lead to over-involvement in church programs and infrastructure. Which leads to a lack of margin. Which leads to an inability to personally engage in the Great Commission. The good becomes the enemy of the best.
The conference was a good reminder for me of the core nature of making disciples. I am extremely grateful that someone discipled me well as a young believer at UT in the 1970s. And that I have engaged in disciple making pretty consistently for most of the past four decades, but not always with equal passion and resolve. And if I am honest, in recent years with declining passion and resolve.
I need to repent (change directions), and I purpose to do so. I will take some things off my plate so that I can put first things first. I will realign some of my ministry commitments so that disciple making is not an inconsequential side activity, but more of a central focus. And I will start to spend more time with others who are doing the same, so I can keep this emphasis continually before me.
How about you? Be a disciple! Make disciples!
There are five New Testament Great Commission passages. Each providing a different window into understanding God’s mission in the world and the mission of the Church (which are one and the same). In John 20:21-22 the emphasis is placed on living as sent out ones. Sent out to live in the same way and to pursue the same purposes that Jesus did. In Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-49, and Acts 1:8 the emphasis is on evangelism. Demonstrating and proclaiming Christ, both locally and among the least reached globally. In Matthew 28:18-20 the emphasis is on making disciples. With an emphasis on teaching obedience, again both locally and among the least reached globally.
This past week I participated for a third time in the Verge conference. It is an Austin based conference designed for missional community leaders. I am not a missional community leader, but for the past year I have been an active part of a missional community. 12 of us who are building relationships with, serving, and taking Christ to Muslim international students and refugees living in Austin.
The emphasis at Verge this year was on disciple making. This emphasis is nothing new for me. I was weaned on disciple making as a new believer 40 years ago through The Navigator ministry at The University of Texas. A ministry that God in His kindness connected me with just a few months after a very radical conversion from death to life. I trace many of my spiritual roots back to my seven years with this wonderful and often stretching ministry.
Sadly even when truths and practices are engrained early on and become part of our DNA, we can drift from them. We need to be regularly reminded about those things that are core. The apostle Paul said in Romans 15:15a “But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder”. I know that I need regular reminders.
I have found myself more than once over the past four decades slowly drifting from core principles that I have dedicated my life to live around. I need to be regularly reminded of the centrality of these truths and practices. And I need to be closely connected with other individuals that passionately embrace and live out these truths.
The parable of the sower (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8) speaks about four kinds of soil. Three are undesirable soil, only one is good soil. I am convinced that most Christians in the Western world represent the soil described in Matthew 13:22. “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and it proves unfruitful.” We are a distracted and unfruitful people.
Distracted principally by the world and the cheap, shiny trinkets she seeks to capture our hearts with. But more subtly, distracted also by things within the four walls of the church building. Bad things like consumerism and religiosity. But also good things like high profile service and leadership roles, looking out for the needs of my family, and opportunities to use my spiritual gifts. These good things often lead to over-involvement in church programs and infrastructure. Which leads to a lack of margin. Which leads to an inability to personally engage in the Great Commission. The good becomes the enemy of the best.
The conference was a good reminder for me of the core nature of making disciples. I am extremely grateful that someone discipled me well as a young believer at UT in the 1970s. And that I have engaged in disciple making pretty consistently for most of the past four decades, but not always with equal passion and resolve. And if I am honest, in recent years with declining passion and resolve.
I need to repent (change directions), and I purpose to do so. I will take some things off my plate so that I can put first things first. I will realign some of my ministry commitments so that disciple making is not an inconsequential side activity, but more of a central focus. And I will start to spend more time with others who are doing the same, so I can keep this emphasis continually before me.
How about you? Be a disciple! Make disciples!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
from February 3, 2013 prayer update
I have heard more than one prominent and well intentioned Christian leader make the following statement: “The U.S. is the third largest mission field in the world.” Is this an accurate statement? My response is an emphatic, NO.
The thing the prompts a statement like this is falsely equating the concepts of lost and unreached. These terms are not synonyms. Lost means that you don’t know Christ personally. Unreached means that you have little or no access to the gospel.
The U.S. is 28% evangelical Christian, meaning that 72% of the U.S. is lost – 229 million people. It is accurate that the U.S. contains the third largest number of lost people for a single country in the world. But few of these people are unreached. Most have heard the gospel multiple times and have chosen to reject it. Just as Jesus said most would in Matthew 7:13-14.
China is 10% evangelical Christian, meaning that 90% or 1.17 billion people are lost. The largest number of lost people for a single country in the world.
Missiologists divide the world into three groups. World A is unreached (2% evangelical Christian or less). World B is underreached (2-5% evangelical Christian). World C is reached (5% evangelical Christian or more). In World C the Church of Jesus Christ has the resources to complete the task of evangelizing the rest of its people group without outside missionary involvement. In World A that is not the case. And in World B, some outside help may be needed.
Is the U.S. unreached? NO. Even cities that have a well deserved reputation for being resistant to Christianity and with an abundance of unchurched residents find themselves at 3 times the level of entry into World C. Is China unreached? NO. For the same reason.
Are there lots of lost people in these two countries? YES. Do they have access to the gospel? Well, that is a more complex question.
The question can’t be appropriately considered on a national level. It must be considered at the level of what the Bible calls a “nation”. Not one of the 238 countries recognized by the United Nations, rather the term would be better translated “people groups” (ethno-linguistic groups). See Matthew’s version of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 and Jesus’ prophetic statement about the timing of His return in Matthew 24:14.
The U.S. has 94 people groups according to Joshua Project that are classified as unreached. Most of them are native American groups in Alaska, Arizona, and New Mexico, or recent refugee pockets in major urban centers.
92% of China’s population is a single people group, Han Chinese. This people group is reached. In fact, workers from the Han Chinese have now surpassed the U.S. as the largest missionary sending entity in the world. But China also has 419 people groups among the 8% that are not Han Chinese that are considered unreached according to Joshua Project.
A second statement that I have heard from a number of prominent and well meaning Christian leaders: “We are all missionaries.” Is this an accurate statement. Again my response is an emphatic, NO.
The confusion is based on equating two words that are not synonyms – “evangelist” and “missionary”. It is true that every follower of Jesus is commissioned to be an evangelist. Not all very good or conscientious ones, but we are all evangelists nonetheless. Every follower of Jesus is also called to be on mission with God. Although many neglect that calling. But we are not all missionaries.
A missionary is an evangelist with two caveats. First, they are reaching out cross-culturally. Reaching out to people that are different than they are – dealing with the challenge of barriers related to language and/or culture. Not simply reaching out to folks very much like themselves. Second, they are reaching out to folks with little or no access to the gospel (World A). And in some cases, in specialized roles, to support the work of the national church among the underreached (World B).
Two questions. One, does the Church of Jesus Christ have a responsibility to evangelize every man, woman, and child in their people group? My response, emphatically, YES. Two, is there a special priority that the Scriptures assign to the Church of Jesus Christ to evangelize and plant churches among those with little or no access to the gospel (World A). Again, an emphatic, YES.
Sadly many of the churches that wholeheartedly affirm their response to the first question, lack that same enthusiasm in their response to the second question. They place a far higher priority on providing individuals in their community with easy access to the gospel from multiple sources, with literally dozens of opportunities to hear and respond, while doing little or nothing to advance the gospel among the unreached. This unequal response is the primary reason why we are still a good ways off from seeing the Great Commission completed globally.
The thing the prompts a statement like this is falsely equating the concepts of lost and unreached. These terms are not synonyms. Lost means that you don’t know Christ personally. Unreached means that you have little or no access to the gospel.
The U.S. is 28% evangelical Christian, meaning that 72% of the U.S. is lost – 229 million people. It is accurate that the U.S. contains the third largest number of lost people for a single country in the world. But few of these people are unreached. Most have heard the gospel multiple times and have chosen to reject it. Just as Jesus said most would in Matthew 7:13-14.
China is 10% evangelical Christian, meaning that 90% or 1.17 billion people are lost. The largest number of lost people for a single country in the world.
Missiologists divide the world into three groups. World A is unreached (2% evangelical Christian or less). World B is underreached (2-5% evangelical Christian). World C is reached (5% evangelical Christian or more). In World C the Church of Jesus Christ has the resources to complete the task of evangelizing the rest of its people group without outside missionary involvement. In World A that is not the case. And in World B, some outside help may be needed.
Is the U.S. unreached? NO. Even cities that have a well deserved reputation for being resistant to Christianity and with an abundance of unchurched residents find themselves at 3 times the level of entry into World C. Is China unreached? NO. For the same reason.
Are there lots of lost people in these two countries? YES. Do they have access to the gospel? Well, that is a more complex question.
The question can’t be appropriately considered on a national level. It must be considered at the level of what the Bible calls a “nation”. Not one of the 238 countries recognized by the United Nations, rather the term would be better translated “people groups” (ethno-linguistic groups). See Matthew’s version of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 and Jesus’ prophetic statement about the timing of His return in Matthew 24:14.
The U.S. has 94 people groups according to Joshua Project that are classified as unreached. Most of them are native American groups in Alaska, Arizona, and New Mexico, or recent refugee pockets in major urban centers.
92% of China’s population is a single people group, Han Chinese. This people group is reached. In fact, workers from the Han Chinese have now surpassed the U.S. as the largest missionary sending entity in the world. But China also has 419 people groups among the 8% that are not Han Chinese that are considered unreached according to Joshua Project.
A second statement that I have heard from a number of prominent and well meaning Christian leaders: “We are all missionaries.” Is this an accurate statement. Again my response is an emphatic, NO.
The confusion is based on equating two words that are not synonyms – “evangelist” and “missionary”. It is true that every follower of Jesus is commissioned to be an evangelist. Not all very good or conscientious ones, but we are all evangelists nonetheless. Every follower of Jesus is also called to be on mission with God. Although many neglect that calling. But we are not all missionaries.
A missionary is an evangelist with two caveats. First, they are reaching out cross-culturally. Reaching out to people that are different than they are – dealing with the challenge of barriers related to language and/or culture. Not simply reaching out to folks very much like themselves. Second, they are reaching out to folks with little or no access to the gospel (World A). And in some cases, in specialized roles, to support the work of the national church among the underreached (World B).
Two questions. One, does the Church of Jesus Christ have a responsibility to evangelize every man, woman, and child in their people group? My response, emphatically, YES. Two, is there a special priority that the Scriptures assign to the Church of Jesus Christ to evangelize and plant churches among those with little or no access to the gospel (World A). Again, an emphatic, YES.
Sadly many of the churches that wholeheartedly affirm their response to the first question, lack that same enthusiasm in their response to the second question. They place a far higher priority on providing individuals in their community with easy access to the gospel from multiple sources, with literally dozens of opportunities to hear and respond, while doing little or nothing to advance the gospel among the unreached. This unequal response is the primary reason why we are still a good ways off from seeing the Great Commission completed globally.
Monday, January 7, 2013
from January 6, 2013 prayer update
A key personal goal for me in 2013 is significant growth in the area of prayer. I am asking God for consistency and fervency, to extensively claim Biblical promises, and to meaningfully connect with Him. Prayer for myself, my family, and for the nations.
“(Prayer) lays its hand on Almighty God and moves Him to do what He would not otherwise do if prayer was not offered. It bring things to pass which would never otherwise occur. … Prayer is a wonderful power placed by Almighty God in the hands of His saints, which may be used to accomplish great purposes and to achieve unusual results. … The only limits on prayer are the promises of God and His ability to fulfill those promises. … Prayer moves the hand that moves the world.”
E.M. Bounds
Below are some of my favorite passages and promises about prayer that I am claiming and looking to God to make real in and through my life.
“Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” -- Psalm 2:8
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” -- Psalm 37:4
“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.” -- Jeremiah 19:12-13
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seek finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” -- Matthew 7:7-8
“Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” -- Matthew 9:37-38
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” -- John 14:13-14
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. … If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” -- John 15:5, 7
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you.” -- John 15:16
“At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison” -- Colossians 4:3-4
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -- I Thessalonians 5:16-18
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all the people” -- I Timothy 2:1
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” -- James 4:3
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” -- James 5:16
“(Prayer) lays its hand on Almighty God and moves Him to do what He would not otherwise do if prayer was not offered. It bring things to pass which would never otherwise occur. … Prayer is a wonderful power placed by Almighty God in the hands of His saints, which may be used to accomplish great purposes and to achieve unusual results. … The only limits on prayer are the promises of God and His ability to fulfill those promises. … Prayer moves the hand that moves the world.”
E.M. Bounds
Below are some of my favorite passages and promises about prayer that I am claiming and looking to God to make real in and through my life.
“Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” -- Psalm 2:8
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” -- Psalm 37:4
“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.” -- Jeremiah 19:12-13
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seek finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” -- Matthew 7:7-8
“Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” -- Matthew 9:37-38
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” -- John 14:13-14
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. … If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” -- John 15:5, 7
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you.” -- John 15:16
“At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison” -- Colossians 4:3-4
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -- I Thessalonians 5:16-18
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all the people” -- I Timothy 2:1
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” -- James 4:3
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” -- James 5:16
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