Christian Mission: The Age Of Mission Partnerships

Haiti Shantytown Kids

Haiti Shantytown Kids

Christian Mission And Social Justice
Christian mission as primarily Evangelism in its traditional understanding as solely winning souls is becoming a thing of the past. Today’s church is becoming more and more aware that Christian mission and evangelistic outreach cannot ignore social justice issues.

The understanding of Christian mission in relation to social justice varies within the Christian community. This is going to be the subject of our discussions as time goes by.

Christian Missions From The Other Side
We will look at missions from generally under-represented positions. We will share ideas from the perspective of the contexts that missionaries generally go to. We usually read or hear stories “about” the people of the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. We need to hear their voices tell their own stories too, such as is told from an Asian perspective on Christian mission in Asia.

We will also be presenting ideas from the perspective of women missionaries who are largely unmentioned, except for those stories that could not be ignored. Stories of women in mission like Lottie Moon from USA are mostly told by women among women groups. There are too many untold stories of women missioners.

Christian Mission As Partnership

Patronage as still being practiced by some mission agencies where they fund all aspects of the mission is on its last legs. It has led to a kind of dependency and underdevelopment of Christian stewardship in too many parts of the world to be ignored much longer. Questions are being raised as to whether this kind of missionary patronage really helps. It is a controversial issue and we will return to it repeatedly, as it is a recurring theme in many other issues we will discuss.

This is the age of mission partnerships. As the word partnership suggests, there is the understanding of mutuality in the mission arrangement. The missionary or missioner is not just the bearer of gifts. (S)he also receives something from the context (s)he serves.

Sometimes, the aspect of receiving is overshadowed by the giving. That is slowly but surely being corrected. Unfortunately though, the push for its correction is coming from the receiving context and not from the sending one. Earlier this year, I heard the head of a large US based mission agency in his address invite the group I was a part of to ‘please tell us what we can do for you and how we can help you’. The speech finished without a single hint or invitation to partnership or a sense of this agency receiving anything in return from the arrangement.

Caribbean Island

Destination - Adventure In Mission

Mission Trips or Holiday Tours
As the excitement and demand for Christian mission trips increase, the real purpose becomes blurred. I have met some hardworking committed Christians who are passionate about service. I have also met some individuals who take short-term mission trips as opportunities to visit an ‘exotic’ location. Would be youth missioners are often sold on the adventures in mission idea with the hope they’ll develop deeper Christian commitment. Does it work?

Culture Shock or Attack
How missioners engage or dismiss culture is another area fraught with controversies. Of course we will be diving right in. We will explore how Christian missioners either engage or attack local culture and how this impedes or advance mission.

Join us and share your thoughts.
Marvia

Comments

  1. Pastor Ezekiel says:

    Dear Saints of God,

    After going through your website and understand the work of Lord in your ministry, we are grateful for the wonderful things that God is doing you to do in the world.

    There, we the Abide Ministries Int’L (Kingdom Chapel) are convinced that commissioned us the local church to serve as a primary instrument to the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people of the world. Because God has commissioned the church the make disciples of the nations, I believe that we are the resources to this matter.

    In so doing, this is our

    Our Goal
    The goal of this ministry is to establish the rule of God throughout the world by the presence of God.

    Our Objective
    The objective of this ministry, is Deliverance (Col. 1:13), Transformation (Rom. 12:2) and Healing (Luke. 5:17).
    Besides these areas of the ministries, we also believe for God these other parts to be in function as soon as possible.
    Open a training program for laymen
    Open a Ministers’ and Ministrants center
    Open an operation blessing center (providing food and clothing services to the poor and needed.
    Open a center for missing, exploited and abused children (adolescent)
    Provide alcohol and drug rehabilitation services.
    Establish word-based churches in every county, village, district and town in Liberia and the world at large, to be a church home for all people, all races, creed and national origin.
    Build schools from primary to universities level. (Free schools system)
    Financially support other ministries.
    Have a TV and Radio station for the preaching of the Lord’ word (media center)
    Build clinics, hospitals and toilets provide safe drinking water for the people.
    To provide drinking water for God’s people and build a community toilets.

    These are the vision God has given His servant Pastor Ezekiel to see the people of God been set free after so many years of war in this nation Liberia, not only Liberia as many parts of the world the Lord has called us to go.
    As we engaged into church planting, evangelism and community development through the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will like for us to work as partner in sharing Jesus and winning more souls for Jesus Christ. It is our prayer and desire that everyone in Liberia, Africa and parts of the world be reconnected to god and enjoy the benefits for which he or she was created for.
    We as commissioned believe that we and your church can work together as partner in ministry and mission to see Liberia, Africa and the world been set free for Jesus Christ.
    We make ourselves available in all directions as God leads and to the glory of his will with all sincerity, discipline and whatever it takes to get the kingdom of God establish in the earth until He comes.
    Liberia needs the gospel, Africa and the world at large. Since the end of the 14 years of war, there many of my people in this nation are dying without Jesus Christ. It takes our prayers and partnering to make them know our lord Jesus Christ.

    Pastor Ezekiel V. Mardeh

  2. Michiel Matthee (Burtie) says:

    Good day

    I’m pastor Michiel Matthee from Worcester South Africa. My wifes name is Laurette and we have three children Eghardt (24), Ettiene (22) and our daughter Laurika (17). Our daughter is still attending school but she is also sold out to the Lord and accompany me on the outreaches.

    I’m involved with short term mission outreaches to Mozambique and Lesotho. Many people gave their lives to Christ but there are still so many more to be reached. The Lord called me and my wife to become full time missionaries but we don’t know where to start. We need covering and we need support. Our local church cannot support us financially. I’m a assistant pastor with a salary of R3000 (about $375) per month.

    You can get more information regarding our mission work on the following website http://fwmissions.yolasite.com .

    Our aim is to reach the unreached groups to the gospel.

    Please help us to spread the gospel. We need some guidance and assistance.

    Kind regards

    Pastor Michiel Matthee (Burtie)

    • Marvia says:

      Burtie,
      Thanks for leaving your note and sharing your story. I’ll soon be in touch with you via the contact information you have provided.
      May God continue to bless your service.
      Marvia

  3. Charles Randall says:

    I will be coming to the Philippines from the USA in November for six months. I’m looking for a Christian missionary who I can work with in any capacity. I am a committed Christian and want to work with Muslim people. I am 70 years of age and in good physical condition. I will send you my faith statement if you prefer. Are you open to my working with you in your Christian work? Thank you.
    Serving Him,
    Charlie Randall

Trackbacks

  1. [...] I couldn’t agree more with Tony Woodlief over at World On The Web. I have often wondered myself and even raised that concern in my earlier article Christian Mission: The Age Of Mission Partnerships. [...]

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