Mission Leader

One of my dearest friends is Hussain Andaryas, an articulate, gifted Muslim-trained follower of the One True God.  As a child growing up in Afghanistan, Hussain encountered a Westerner who placed in this 12 year old boy’s hands, a copy of Matthew and Luke’s Gospels. That event led to an eight year journey in which Hussain sought God as a student, as a jihadist tank driver, and as a religious zealot studying in Iran and Egypt’s leading Muslim seminaries.  Amazingly, God took that young boy on an 8 year journey of seeking, and eventually finding faith in Jesus Christ. And his life was never the same again. Torture and persecution, family rejection and personal sacrifice have been his along with the gift of life in Christ.  You can learn more about Hussain’s story at hesavedme.com.

Turn the clock forward to this past week in which Hussain and a team of Afghan believers engaged Iranians and Afghans who call in on a live TV show via satelite. During September 150 individuals from Muslim nations called into the live television broadcast to discuss faith in Jesus Christ. Here’s some of the conversations.

• I would like to commit my life to Jesus Christ. From a Muslim in Iran.
• I want to follow Jesus and be taught. A Muslim calling from Afghanistan.
• I’m an Iranian businessman helping Afghans follow Jesus.
• I’m an Afghan follower of Christ worshiping in a secret house church.
• I’m an Afghan believer in Afghanistan and my pastor has been arrested.
• I’m a Muslim in Afghanistan – please help me become a follower of Jesus.
• In the name of God I will kill you for this television broadcast.  This should be your last broadcast.

Over a half million hits have been recorded on the TV website www.afghantv.com.

So, is Jesus real?  Did he actually live and die and rise for us?

Afghans and Iranians and people from many different faith backgrounds bank their lives on Jesus’ authenticity.

So if Jesus is real, why do we merely flirt with faith in him?

If you are still thinking about Compassion vs. Conversion then it may not make sense to talk about mapping and missions. There are many things that I have heard with regard to mapping and the Great Commission. One is, “if you define the task with great specificity, you take God out of the picture.” Another is, “If you define the greatest needs and place them on a map, you are not looking at the places where God is really working.” Yet others have articulated that the showing the work God has done through churches and mission agencies on the map give glory to God for his working in our world.

When we look to Scripture and see the story of the one lost sheep, we see Christ’s compassion for those who have no Shepherd. The willingness to go to where there has been no witness and go to where people are lost shows the compassion of Christ. At the same time, across the globe are people in various stages of growth in their relationship with God. Staying attuned to the various needs of the varied people groups allow us to tailor our ministries and trainings to share and disciple.

Mapping the Great Commission has been the heart of the World Missions Atlas Project (www.worldmap.org). Knowing where the church is and where it is not allows us to develop different strategies of ministry based on their segment of society and their exposure to the Gospel. This includes understanding the level of Bible translation, the level of literacy and prevalence of orality within the culture, which people groups have been exposed to the gospel and which ones have had no church planting. Together with all this information Churches, missionaries, and agencies are better equipped to find the areas where their gifting match needs nearby them and around the world.

In many of our churches we need to examine our mission practices through the eyes and heart of Christ.  I have seen both sides of the compassion/conversion spectrum from the “all we need to do is be compassionate and help others” to the “if we do not have a large number of conversions it was a waste of time and money” mindsets.  Many churches battle with how compassion should work into a mission plan.

Compassion according to Wikipedia.com  is “a profound human emotion prompted by the pain of others”.  Throughout scriptures it mandates us to be compassionate to those around us.  It even draws out some specific groups that compassion should be focused on, such as the widows and orphans in the world.  Jesus was the perfect example of compassion through His walk and His talk.  He showed us compassion through the miracles of healing and interaction with those who were outcasts.  He also shared through parables like the Good Samaritan how we are to be compassionate.  Every one of us as individuals and as a church must seek out ways to show compassion in our communities and around the world.

But what about sharing the Gospel and converting people to Christ?  Shouldn’t that be a part of every mission outreach?  The answer is yes and no.  Which answer is correct depends on who you believe is doing the converting.  Many times we believe that we have the ability to convert people to Christ.  That it is our words and actions that are the final factor in that conversion.  That is not what I see in scripture.  God calls people to Himself through Christ, not us!!  We may plant seeds, water and sometimes even see the harvest, but  we should never think it was our feeble words and actions that gave the final results.  He has allowed us to be a part of what He is doing around the world.  So yes, God will handle the conversion and no, sometimes we do not need to go into the plan of salvation because God may be using others or other divine processes for that part.  I have heard of former Muslims who Christ came to them in dreams or visions to show them who He was.  Our words would never have that impact.

Now do not get me wrong, if God places it on your heart to share the Gospel, do it.  Be a part of His process wherever He may want you.  All I am saying is not every mission encounter must include it.

Once we acknowledge that God is the final converter it becomes easier to understand that we need to be a part of His process.  Compassion is part of that process and is not in competition with it.  We do not know the heart of the people we come in contact with on a daily basis in our daily life, and we certainly do not know about the hearts around the world, but God does.  Compassion by a follower of Christ might be the tenderizer that is needed to soften the heart for the seed to take hold.  Sometimes the Lord blesses us by allowing us to share the seed of the Good News and even allows us to be there when someone asks Christ to be their Lord.  Praise God when that happens but do not take credit for it.

So compassion is not versus conversion, it is an active step in God’s plan to allow all to see the glory of Christ’s heart in action.  God’s people need to show compassion as Christ showed it.

We must all be very careful not to fall into the mindset as a church on mission that we had X number of conversions on that trip or during the year.  We should not be announcing numbers of conversions since only God knows the true hearts of those we encounter.  Let’s just praise God for the opportunity to be a part of His process of salvation and leave the number counting to Him. 

Change, Change, Change, I know that most of us are sick of hearing about it.  Many of us hate change and some of us thrive on it.  In politics “change” has become the buzz word for both parties.  I am sure that all of us would agree that we would like to see some “good” changes in Washington, our communities and around the world.  Even though I have some very strong views, I will not be going down into the political hornet’s nest here.

But is it much different in our churches?  Change is a hot topic there also (and sometimes a hornets’ nest).  The battles between the “we always did it that way before” mindset and the “let’s try something new” group continue.  If you have not had these issues pop up in your church, just wait and look out.

Missions is one of those change topics that appear to be taboo to discuss.  In many churches I have seen missions pushed to the back of the priority list. The “programming” within the building and the building itself has become the primary focus of ministry.  Even when we send our money or a few people here or there in the name of missions, the church as a whole is not really behind it.  Change is needed in how we do mission work, but the real change is needed in the hearts of those in our churches.  The mindset must change from “this is what we do” to “this is who we are”!!!

That is one of the steps that Mission Leader, Inc.  has in their consulting framework.  Using the W.O.R.L.D. Christian acrostic, the process is to re-focus on the priorities that Jesus established in Acts 1:8.   The acrostic is:

Word – Focus on biblical principles for mission.

Objectives – Set biblical and church objectives.

Right practices – Establish God honoring processes and procedures.

Lasting Values – Moving from “this is what we do” to “this is who we are”.

Dreams – Seeing God’s heart and knowing we live and die for this.

It is time for the church, and each one of us, to get back to the basics of what we have been called to do. Jesus’ words in Act 1:8 was not a suggestion!

If you would like to learn more about the seminars, workshops and consulting available, go to Training tab on the top of this page.

Take a look at this letter from a friend from Perspectives regarding the Muslim holy day.  What are you doing to pray for your Muslim neighbors. Cindy and I made a visit to a Muslim home this week.  We did NOT accept their offer of tea and sweets because they were fasting and we did not want to be eating and drinking in front of them while they were fasting. There are also some prayer guides for Ramadan that churches and small groups can use.

T points us to a great site to guide our praying.

mm

Dear Friends,

As I write this, the date is September 4, 2001 AD.  But in the Muslim world this date is also 4 Ramadan, 1429 AH.

For Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a very special month – the month of fasting.  From sunrise until sunset, devout Muslims don’t eat, drink, smoke, or engage in sexual relations.  From sunset until sunrise, Ramadan is a month of feasting.  Muslims eat MORE during Ramadan than during any other month – and they eat richer, more delectable foods during the “fast”.  Think of Thanksgiving dinner every night for an entire month.  The Islamic Center of Nashville generally posts items on their web site asking members to watch their calories during this month!

Since the Islamic calendar contains 12 lunar months, the year is about 354 days long.  This causes Ramadan to occur about 11 days earlier on the Gregorian calendar each year.  It also causes Muslims to gain an extra year in age about every 33 years.  A friend of mine is either 45 or 46 years old depending on the calendar used!

So – what is so special about Ramadan anyway.  According the the Qur’an, Mohammed had the first of the 114 revelations that would later become the Qur’an during Ramadan.  No one is quite sure on which day this occurred but the Lailatul-Qadr (Night of Power),  is the most likely candidate.  It falls on September 26 this year.  Many Muslims believe that God will do something very special that night (whichever night it is).  Many stay up all night during the latter part of the month so they won’t miss out.

For the last several years, millions of Christians have prayed that God will indeed do something special for Muslims during the month of Ramadan, specifically that he will reveal Himself to them personally.  This may be through the witness of a follower of Jesus, or it may be through a dream or vision.  Up to 80% of Muslim Background believers report having a dream or vision as part of their path to Jesus – many of them occurring during Ramadan.  Please join us in this global prayer outreach.

The web site www.30daysfire.net is a great daily resource to use as you pray.

Pray for Muslim leaders to see Jesus.  Could you imagine the impact a converted, spirit filled Usama bin Laden would have on the world.  If you don’t believe that God can redeem him, remember that Saul of Tarsus was the bin Laden of his day.  If God could transform the Usama bin Laden of the first century into Paul, why can’t  we be so bold as to believe He can turn Usama bin Laden into the Paul of the 21st century.  Please join me in praying for Usama and other Islamic leaders.

Blessings in the Name of Jesus,

T

T.N.
US Center for World Mission

I just completed my reading of Charles Fielding’s new book, Preach and Heal, which advocates a unique bent on holistic cross-cultural ministry.

First of all – this book is NOT just for doctors, faith healers, and preachers. For that reason, I wish it had a different title so that more people would be drawn to the book.

Regardless of the title, if you want to gain a better understanding of the nuts and bolts of how 12 disciples became Jesus’ instruments in the advance of the Gospel – read this one. If you want to understand the most basic principles of cross-cultural ministry, read it. If you live in North America and you think you understand international missions, you need to read this book before you speak another word about missions, preach another sermon on missions, or plan another mission trip.

Bear in mind that Charles’ experience in implementing this biblical missional model has primarily been tested among unreached people groups in some of the most restricted access areas of the world. Don’t think that this is primarily North American.

Having lived and worked in some of the areas where Dr. Fielding tested his principles, I would especially encourage volunteers and Christian workers heading to those missional hard places, to read this one before you plan your local-church-based mission endeavors! By the way, don’t be turned off by the fact that it’s 256 pages. I’ll give you a hint about how to use this book.

Read Appendix E, then Parts One and Two. Then read chapters 9 & 10 of Part Three and scan through the remaining chapters of Part Three (chapters 11-22.) You will find those chapters that most interest you and you will come back to the other chapters when you need them. But definitely look carefully at the appendices, especially Appendix E. I think Appendix E should be brought to the front of the book because it is central to the author’s model of cross-cultural communication of the Gospel message. I’ve heard Dr. Fielding teach this in person and – I’m disappointed that it’s tucked away at the back of the book. Don’t miss Appendix E!

Mission volunteers should read and study this book, even though the title is Preach and Heal.

The title doesn’t say, “Mission Trip Training Guide” so you may not realize that it could serve that purpose. Why is this particular book special? For the same reason that Purpose Driven Life is a great book. In both cases (PDL and Preach & Heal) the author took truths as well as Truth and simplified them – bringing the cookies down to the bottom shelf for all to reach.

Charles took proven missional truths, practices, and principles and he boiled them down into simple statements, lists, and charts. He also took a simple chronological storying approach and “taught it” in Appendix E. The book is also worth buying just to flip through and find the charts (simple lists) which serve as the outline for each section.

Who really needs to read this book, perhaps more than others?

Anyone who primarily has a bent toward ONLY preaching the Gospel, as well as those who have a nearly exclusive preference toward humanitarian work: medical, social, community development, wells, and orphanages. Those are two different groups, so what do they have in common? Each can not seem to understand international missions from the other’s perspective. Both groups are right and both are wrong. Charles reasons with both, particularly in Part One where he deals with this very debate.

Breaking It Down

Part One (Chapters 1-4) builds a case for holistic gospel ministry that blends preaching, ministry to the entire person, and multiplicative church planting. If you find those three parts of what I call The Entire Gospel Ministry demarcated or truncated in your church’s overseas work, then you need to read this. Part one builds the case for Charles’ cross-cultural missional model.

Part Two (Chapters 5-8), in my opinion, is the unique part of this book. This is the part that should be extracted and reprinted in little booklets that are used in training folks going to restricted access countries. I say that not because this material is original, but because it is simplified and easily transferable. Some of the foundation comes from David Garrison’s Church Planting Movements. Other lessons come from the experiences of many missionaries in numerous countries around the world. The Truth of all this comes from Scripture.

For example, Dr. Fielding takes Garrison’s goodies and makes them more accessible. The ten elements found in church planting movements come straight from Garrison; but Charles breaks those ten points down into three parts: ingredients (what we add), methods (how we add it), and products (the results of ingredients and methods). He then builds the section around those three major headings.

The other great little list that Charles uses is what he calls Paul’s Church Planting Strategy.

1. Enter the community.

2. Make disciples.

3. Empower the Church.

I won’t give away any more of that.

He also puts forth his own A, B, C’s on the subject, a great simplification of some proven cross-cultural practices.

A word of caution – American church planters will struggle in trying to implement everything in this book in a US cultural setting. Charles’s approach is apostolic (read the book to understand this) and is totally a house church, church-planting-movement model. It’s the most basic and the most transferable, cross-cultural form of church planting. The model can work around the globe.

But if you are going to try to rigorously implement this type of church planting in Atlanta, you have got to totally unlearn much of what you’ve learned all of your life about what church looks and feels like. So, be forewarned.

Part Three is what I would call an abridged resource for all kinds of health and humanitarian strategies. Having seen and tested a number of strategies on the field, Charles demonstrates in this section that health ministries (and actually any kind of ministry) can be implemented in such a way as to ensure the maximum impact for multiplicative church planting. But beyond that he breaks it down into chapters on HIV/Aids, Hospice, Community Development, Clinical, Home Health Care, etc., etc. Whether you are a doctor or church missions leader, dog-ear Part Three and go there anytime you are considering involvement an any kind of ministry around the world. Short chapters on each type of ministry give simple hints on getting the maximum impact. Other books go deeper in each of those types of ministry, but this one gives you a bird’s eye view and some hints at getting the greatest possible result.

In my opinion this is a very helpful book. The forward is by Jerry Rankin, President of the International Mission Board. It comes recommended by Franklin Graham, Rick Warren, David Garrison and David Stevens, MD and CEO of Christian Medical and Dental Association.

So….I guess I don’t mind adding my obscure name to the list.

If you want to understand effective ministry that results in church planting movements around the world – read Preach and Heal!

How about some radical giving?!

As many of you know my wife, Cindy has been in a year long battle with Multiple Myeloma. Read more about that journey below. We spent a big part of the last 12 months traveling back and forth between Memphis and Nashville in order to undergo an autologous stem cell transplant at . Unlike many patients, Cindy was extremely blessed to be eligible to donate her own stem cells for cleanup and later re-infusion back into her own body. This process was grueling, extremely risky, but has prolonged and improved Cindy’s life. There will be more treatment for Cindy and possibly another transplant.

Through this journey, we met some of our fellow patients who were unable to use their own marrow or stem cells for treatment. Some have waited for years for a match, their condition deteriorating slowly in the process. Others never find a match and succumb to their disease. Seeing the dramatic impact on Cindy’s well being, I made an easy decision. Without hesitation, I committed myself to become a bone marrow or stem cell donor. I contacted the bone marrow donor society and began filling out the required survey to donate. I was very, very disappointed to learn that my particular back problem disqualifies me from being a donor. I’m not giving up though. I’m going to keep pursuing it to see if there is some way I can donate.

We’re living in a time of increased willingness of young adults to make personal sacrifice for a higher cause. Young christians are making a difference in our world through radical expressions of brotherly love. The Green Revolution leads us to recycle, turn off the lights, down-size our vehicles, and donate funds to produce clean water around the world. We know that every good citizen donates blood regularly. On and on grows the list of sacrifices we make for saving our planet, helping our fellow man, and serving the common good.

Here’s what I’d like you to consider.

I’m not asking you to give up an organ or limb. I’m asking you to pray about offering up a few million of the youngest cells in your body in order to save a life or two. It does involve some sacrifice. Adult stem cell donations require seven days of getting an injection to cause your stem cells to rapidly reproduce. Yes that’s a pain. When you are “ripe” you will begin to have some back pain which will tell you “it’s time.” The stem cells are drawn from your blood during a 4 hour process of being hooked up to a machine that extracts the stem cells. It’s the easiest way you’ll ever save a life.

Take the first painless step by going to the international donor site. Complete the online questionnaire to see if you are eligible. If you find that you are eligible, pray about what’s next.

I saw my wife’s life extended and improved by her stem cells. I desperately want to do the same for someone else, but I’m not eligible.

It’s a great way to give about a gazillion pieces of yourself, in the form of stem cells. This small sacrifice could save a life.

Pray about it.

*Do me a favor – if you complete the donor survey, come back to this article and leave your comment. You might encourage someone else to do the same.

You may be wondering what I think about The Shack. By the way in Josh Davis’ interview with the author we learned that he goes by Paul not William P. Young. Josh’s interview opened my eyes to the nature of the author, not for an audience of three million, but for his children.  Later friends convinced him to self-publish 10,000 copies and to put up a web site. With ZERO marketing budget – its a best seller. Paul called it a God thing. He’s a very humble man.

So here’s what I think about the book.

First of all – it’s fiction, and then some. In fact, it is superbly written fiction. Man! Paul has an uncanny ability to string together fantastic images that illuminate the beauty, power, and majesty of the One True God. This fiction kept me glued to the book and drew me personally into God.

The edgy imagery, which has raised questions in Christendom, accomplished its purpose. I’m reminded of my favorite worship leader, Miller Cunningham. He’s a gifted worship leader not only because of his musical ability, but because God uses Miller to lead people humbly, deeply, personally, repentantly, and delightfully to the throne of Grace.

When I finished the book, I found myself drawn to my Savior sitting and talking to God for an hour or more – just enjoying my relationship with Him. So I guess you might call Paul, author of The Shack, a very effective worship leader, at least for me.

Finally – yep, I only needed a “first” and a “final” here- Paul used trinitarian dialog (among the persons of the trinity) to make some profound theological statements.

Here’s some favorites:

We (the trinity) are already fully fulfilled within ourself. You are designed to be in community as well, made as you are in our very image.

Judgment is not about destruction, but about setting things right.

In a discussion between Jesus and Mack on Jesus’ passion for his bride, the church, Jesus (in The Shack) said the following, Mack, that’s because you’re only seeing the institution (of the church), a man-made system. That’s not what I came to build. What I see are people and their lives, a living breathing community of all those who love me, not buildings and programs…My church is all about people and life is all about relationships. You can’t build it. It’s my job and I’m actually pretty good at it.

God the Father speaking on the central role of Jesus and his nature – being fully God and Man and fully one with the Trinity – Like I said, everything is about him. Creation and history are all about Jesus. He is the very center of our purpose and in him we are now fully human, so our purpose and your destiny are forever linked. You might say that we have put all our eggs in the One (Jesus) human basket. There is no plan B.

I couldn’t help but make notes one some of the more outstanding dialog on the following topics:

God is Spirit, neither male nor female- p.93

Green living – p.132,144

Evil – p.136,137

Personal Rights?, p.137

Fear -p.142

Submission – p.145,149

Spirit Empowerment & Relationships – p.148-149

Purpose of Judgment – p.169

Church as The Bride – p.177-178

Trust – p.180

Anti-pluralism – p.182

Grace & Suffering – p.185

Jesus – p.192

Perceptions & Assumptions – p. 197

The Self-fulfilled Nature of God – p.201

The Old Law – p. 202

Freedom in Christ – p.203

God is a verb! – p.204

Forgiveness – p.225-227

So, I guess you could conclude that I really like this book because it drew me into the nature and the person of God who is a verb. To quote The Shack, God says,

I am a verb. I am that I am. I will be who I will be. I am a verb! I am alive, dynamic, ever active, and moving. I am a being verb.

So what do you think about the NY TImes best seller, The Shack, by William P. Young?

The book is a craze among students. They are swarming it like ants to a church picnic.

However, many our concerned that the theology falls short.

Many are aghast at the author’s presentation of God in the form of a woman. The storyline makes it clear that God presents himself in such a form to the main character because Mack grew up under a father figure who was an abusive, alcoholic who beat his 13 year old son for two days straight. Ultimately Mack ran away from home after nearly being beaten to death by his father. With that background, how could Mack be receptive to a male representation of the Eternal Father?

If you can get over that issue, there are a few more hurdles.

Another issue discussed among Christians is the fact that the author presents an absolutely equal state of each person of the Trinity. The Trinity is therefore, completely non-hierarchical.

Still others are concerned that the teachings put forth in the book are contradictory on the sovereignty of God.

The list of concerns goes on and on, but others retort:

“This is fiction and it is harmless. Besides, it is markedly Christian and the book holds great potential to draw non-believers into a conversation that could lead to redemptive faith.”

Regardless of what we may think, students and non-students are reading this book like crazy.

If you and I are familiar with the most popular book among students, maybe you and I can speak into their pursuit of the One True God?! Besides, don’t stats show us that of all age groups, young people are the most receptive to the Gospel? Shouldn’t we be ready to speak to them about what they are reading rather than simply condemning the book and closing the door to any conversation?

So, my wife finished the book yesterday and immediately started reading it. I read 100 pages last night and plan on finishing it by Thursday. Why am I pushing to read it by Thursday?

Because I want to understand the craze and I want to be able to speak into the conversation students are having about God. But that’s just one reason.

The other reason I’m pushing to finish it by Thursday is because a friend of mine, Josh Davis has scheduled a 45 minute radio interview with the author at noon Central Time here in Memphis on Kwam 990. Josh’s show is called “The Josh Davis Show: Shining The Light of Truth on our Culture” and it airs just prior to The Dave Ramsey Show. For those not in Memphis you can Listen Live on line at 12pm Central Time on Thursday.

Better yet, if you have questions about the book, send them to Josh tomorrow. I’ve heard him tactfully ask some tough ones so write Josh and he’ll try to work them into the 45 minute interview.

So, if you have an opinion or concern or question about The Shack, don’t ask me, ask the author on Thursday.

Dreams do come true! Several weeks ago it was unclear as to whether my dream of some family fun on the beach would be possible. Well, we’ve just returned from a great time together in Florida. At one point, Betsy pulled us aside for a family photo; to be honest, we were not all “happy campers.” Her request meant that we had to drag ourselves out of the water or out from under the comfortable umbrella for a hot, sandy walk to a certain deck. BUT…at the second of the snap, Betsy set the camera timer, ran from her tripod and jumped in the middle of us with a beautiful, BIG grin to announce: “One, Two, Three…everybody say BETSY’S PREGNANT!” The shocked excitement was captured on film–“Very clever, Betsy!” We are so delighted. John recently returned to Iraq from an 18-day “R & R.” It was so wonderful to see him. Ask God to grant focus to John’s platoon and patience and health in the 130 degree, grueling heat! Back in Clarksville, Please remember Betsy and the health of the baby, as she starts up a kindergarden job soon. Thank you.

Best News: Jesus

Thank you for praying that the “aroma of Christ” spread even though the situation regarding our friend who is missing in Afghanistan is still unresolved. May God’s fame extend all over that nation, as the Holy Spirit directs and empowers His people.

We regret that we won’t be attending the Concerned Christians for Afghanistan gathering in Ohio at the end of July. Pray for those will be there. Please remember Afghans and so many across the globe suffering under severe famine/drought/economic woe.

Will you also please pray for Steve Moses and interns Ashley, David, Katie, Elise, Pace, Ryan, Heather, and Alex who have spent the summer in missional training? They are concluding their summer right now with a ministry trip among the least reached.

Personally, Mark and I have started studying the book of Hebrews. There is nothing better to adjust one’s perspective like a fresh reminder of the person of Jesus:

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3)

May we daily acknowledge the perfect Character of Christ and by so doing know afresh of His agape love for us, a love we pray will overflow to those near and even those a far—all for His pleasure.

With you on the journey,

Cindy and Mark