More often than not, “partnering in missions,” means small churches give what little money they think they can afford to a larger church or a missions sending agency that will handle mobilization, screening, indoctrination, training, sending, and maintenance of missionaries on the field. This is not “partnering,” it’s outsourcing.

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People

Posted March 18th, 2009 by Ernest

Most of the people who call themselves “missionaries” will tell you about their passion for the unreached people group they’re working with. Algerian Berbers. The Dong people of Nigeria. The Bondo Poroja of India. People you’ve never heard of. Dark-skinned people in funny hats, living in places you couldn’t find on a map. The missionaries have grown to love their adopted people groups- indeed many have been adopted by their people groups. But unless you’ve met people, spent time with them, eaten with them- shared life with them- it’s hard to relate. How can we connect with people whose paths will never naturally cross our own?

To most of us, they’re people groups, but not people.

Our strategic approach to missions has led us begin missions with taxonomy; we conduct extensive research to find, categorize, and then engage those people groups we deem “unreached.” The unintended result of such an approach is that we’re left with a long list of facts and statistics rather than a connection with people.

If you know you’re called to mission- not just in your neighborhood, but across cultures and around the world- don’t be intimidated by a long list of unpronounceable names and places. I’d encourage you to fast and pray about where God might use you. The truth is, he may not want an Westerner to show up on the scene. Your role may be indirect. The mission of the worldwide church is a domino effect- with people going out to where the Holy Spirit leads them and sharing life with those whom He has prepared.

The beauty of God’s global activity among the nations is that it doesn’t depend on you. You can miss out, but you can’t mess it up. So throw a dart at a map, draw a name out of a hat, spin the Google Earth globe. Just be sure that God is the one leading you. Because then, and only then, will people become more to you than an unreached people group. They’ll be friends. Family. Individuals whose lives are forever supernaturally entwined with yours. People, like you, who will love, hurt, teach, and know you.

I think that’s what missions is supposed to be.

 

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Filed under:Missiology, Missions, People

2 Responses to “People”

  • Grady Bauer Says:
    March 18th, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    What I love is how we categorize some PGs are more important than others. It may not be intentional but it happens. For example we seem to think more highly of someone if they’re going overseas to work with Muslims than we do someone going to work with the British in London. The truth is that a lost person in Iraq is just as lost as a lost person in Italy. But why do we classify and look differently based on their background and location?

  • George Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 12:48 am

    I am living overseas and I am a believer. I have been deemed a “missionary” and hate that word more and more everyday. Bottom line is the only difference between what I do now and what I did in the USA is location. Ya I know another language but so do a lot of people that doesn’t make me special, I wanted people in my USA community to follow Jesus just as much as I want my community here to, if you are sharing Jesus with people because it is your job than you are not sharing Jesus you are sharing religion and we have enough of that thanks.

    I believe to truly partner together BOTH “missionary” and USA church need to get over this 40′s view of a missionary “hero” who has some special gift that no one else has. I am a Follower of Jesus living overseas, I come from a USA church and I want so badly to have a mutual relationship with a church where we can flow in and out of each others communities freely, helping each other and enjoying the fellowship of that relationship.

    I have no more to offer you than a leader in your congregation and I don’t expect more than you would give him if he asked…sound good!

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