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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The New Recipe

I knew it was over when I quit reading my own blog. Seriously. Missions, Misunderstood was so theoretical, so boring, so tedious to read, that I actually quit reading what I was writing. Those of you who have stuck with it must be gluttons for punishment. Either that or you’re just too lazy to change [...]

Filed under:Blogging, Personal

To My Missionary Colleagues

Dear Missionary (or “Believer Actively Working Toward Building the Kingdom,” for those of you who don’t like or use the word, “missionary”), Although I like to think that my entire blog is written with you as its intended audience, I realize that my thoughts here can sometimes come across as talking about you rather than [...]

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The First-Century Megachurch?

In the comment thread of Ed Stetzer’s recent post introducing a series on megachurches, I wrote: “I would argue that megachurches are intrinsically unhealthy because of the exorbitant building costs, reliance on attractional church programs, and the fact that your pastor doesn’t know your name.” A couple of Ed’s readers responded to my comment with, [...]

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Filed under:Blogging, Church

Contexting

For six years my job was to connect with a culture that was not my own in order to influence it. My desire was walk people from wherever they may have been spiritually toward a relationship with the Most High God through Jesus. In the process, I learned a thing or two about the art [...]

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Filed under:Blogging, Culture

On Pause

I appreciate all the encouraging notes and comments I’ve received during my unplanned blog silence the last couple of weeks (months?). I’m sure I’ve lost some readers by not posting in a while; after all, who wants to keep up with a blog that is never updated? If you’re still watching this space, thank you. [...]

Filed under:Blogging, Missions