There is a decided increase in
interest in mission in the WCG compared to the past.
By Randal Dick
Superintendent of Missions
There is a decided increase in
interest in mission in the WCG compared to the past.
This is a healthy trend, as it indicates a return to the core of Christ's command that his people go into all the world and make disciples.
We receive letters from people asking how they can get involved in fulfilling the Great Commission. In response, I will try to provide a framework for us to view the Great Commission, 1998 and beyond.
The first and possibly most important principle is, forget what you thought you knew about mission.
Let's start by defining what we mean by mission. Mission is not about missionaries, and it does not have a human origin. It is a shorthand term for what we used to call the plan of God. The only mission that will succeed is Christ's stated mission that he came that all flesh might be saved.
When we talk about mission, we are saying, how can my life be used by Christ to further his stated mission?
Another defining principle is that mission is not about institutions, it is about response. The unbeliever is the object of Christ's attention. Mission takes its shape by us responding to the needs of the unbelievers Christ has targeted for salvation. Every Christian is in the most real sense of the word, a part of mission.
Mission has no boundaries. Mission at home is just as important as mission abroad. In fact, our cities are becoming such cultural melting pots that most sizeable cities are in need of cross-cultural mission.
We live in a time unparalleled in the history of the Great Commission. It is estimated that of all the people who have been saved, 70 percent have been converted since 1900.
Of those, about 70 percent have been saved since World War II. Of those, more than 70 percent have been brought to Christ in the last 10 years.
This illustrates fast-paced developments in world mission. This also helps us see why we have to forget most of what we thought we knew about mission.
There are many different approaches to mission. Entire books are devoted to providing a catalog of the thousands of mission agencies in the world today.
Some are large, some small. Some are denominational in nature, others are ministries that seek the support of Christianity as a whole.
Some are Western based, others are homegrown in various parts of the world. Some are effective, some are to be pitied. More importantly, some mission efforts benefit the unbeliever, and some are really there to benefit the missionary.
How can one make sense of all the confusion? Is there an approach that surpasses the others? I believe there is a better way, and that Christ is escorting the WCG on a journey that includes learning this "better way."
Can we as a fellowship think in terms of significance? This is not easy.
One church growth researcher estimates that 70 percent of U.S. churches think in terms of survival, how they can exist and pay the bills.
Twenty to 25 percent think in the success mode. How do we pay for the new building? How do we reach our goals? Only 5 to 10 percent are in the significance mode, thinking how their church can make a difference, not only for themselves but for Christ's global purposes.
I think we have learned to pray that God's will be done in our lives. Can we pray, "Lord, how do you want to influence this generation, and what part would you like us to play"?
Mr. Tkach and I were inspired by the way our little fellowship in Medicine Hat, Alberta, thinks.
I'll share a portion of their letter:
"We are a home fellowship group that meets every Wednesday night in Medicine Hat. Although Medicine Hat is around 65,000, we are only four in number.... For two of us who cannot travel, our fellowship group is the only church we get.
"Our membership is composed of three ladies and me, a 45-year-old single man. Our eldest member is a lively 74-year-old who has just had heart bypass surgery. Our host is a retired widow, a co-worker, who has never attended a WCG service.
"Our fourth member operates a small Greek restaurant with her husband. We are not blessed with a lot of time, money or abilities, but we make do with what we've got.
"We want to be faithful to the fellowship to which God has called us and to do our part for the gospel of Jesus Christ. We want not only to increase the size of our group, we want to reach people with the gospel. We examined what we might do."
We must all think and operate in the significance mode--like the folks in Medicine Hat--to appreciate the better way.
Not all approaches to fulfilling the Great Commission are equal. Certain approaches are more effective than others.
You may ask how one can determine which approach is better than others. The answer is, by their fruits. Jesus' No. 1 desire is reconciled people--he wants to save people and have them become active, mature Christians.
The approaches to mission that result in maximum numbers of saved people growing in Christian community, with the least amount of effort and expense, are the better way.
Mission leaders I talk to cannot believe the incredible opportunity that presents itself to the WCG. This is because we have such a scope of relationships worldwide.
Also, we have no baggage or infrastructure that ties us to an archaic and relatively ineffective approach to mission.
At the same time, world mission leaders are calling for the Christian community to reconsider the biblical model of mission.
This is not motivated from a desire to return to an old way. Rather, the principles undergirding the apostolic approach to mission are as valid now as ever.
Here are a few reasons to consider:
1. Paul could mentor multiple churches over great distances because he could get around easily. He did not have to establish an expensive base of operations at each location. The same is true today.
2. Paul's approach to mentoring develops local leadership in the best and fastest way possible. It involves teaching and equipping, followed by implementation and evaluation.
3. Traditionally, churches are formed and members are added. However, when using apostolic principles, leaders are developed and under them, churches multiply.
I will conclude Part I of our discussion of mission by citing an example.
Ten years ago, a missionary group went to Mexico City to plant a church. After eight years they were pleased to have a church of about 300 members. This would be considered an effective traditional church plant.
It required three U.S. missionary couples and about six to eight single missionaries, some part-time, to support the mission.
Consider the costs of such an undertaking. It is nearly impossible to maintain an expatriate family internationally for less than $50,000 a year.
Also about 10 years ago, a man named John Kelly also undertook to plant churches in Mexico City.
Like the apostle Paul, he sought for three individuals into whom he could pour everything he had learned over the years. He found his Silas, Luke and Timothy and spent time mentoring them. His costs were small compared to the group above.
At the end of eight years, about 680 churches had grown from the original three.
Several examples of this approach are working in our own fellowship. They are fledgling, but bearing good fruit. I'll tell you about them next time.
 NEWLY BAPTIZED MEMBERS--New members in Lubumbashi, Congo. |
 BANGLADESH--Mission participants use bicycles to preach gospel in villages. |
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1998