Analyzing theStatement "I'm Here to Help Them - Not Do it For Them"

We should never be in the position of doing E3 evangelism when there is a significant E1 potential in the field because of a established church presence. However, as church planters we personally are to plant churches. We are to lead by example. In my work I had to do the church planting. I could not "help them" because it was a pioneer work in the beginning. There was no well established church with "ready grown" leaders to "help" and to train.

This this philosophy is prevalent today. "I'm not going to do it for them, but help them to do what they feel God wants them to do." That is a support staff mentality. Frankly, I'm not sure it is consistent with good mission thinking. Since most new missionaries are not pioneers, rather going to fields where there is already a significant history of national churches with trained leaders and national ministers, they forget pioneer missionaries do not have this partnership advantage. The often quoted statement mistakenly assumes and only applies to a place with "Ready Made Church & Leadership".

This mentality will do little assist us in refocusing on, or penetrating, the 10/40 window.

We planted the first churches by ourselves, there are few Christians or leaders in the area. We must train up the first leaders ourselves, but that happens later after the first few church plants. Even after we had 5-6 churches, not all church plants were the result of the existing churches or leaders input.

If, they were in the planing stages of something or not, I was personally responsible as a pioneer church planting missionary, to be out in the villages planting new churches with or without their help. My church planting was not hinged on the the local leaders vision or lack of. I feel strongly about this. If there is a national church, by all means encourage them to plant. Assist them and partner when we can. However, when they are not moving on church planting, don't sit around and wait for them, get out into the village and spend time doing studies, and developing cells, rubbing shoulders wit the people and plant a churches. Be an example to them.
We need to personally be busy planting & teaching new people ourselves, when the leaders are moving slow on some plan. This "I'm not here to do it for them!". I understand we are to train up leaders. However, we are not planting churches "for them" - but for God. How can a missionary be there saying "I'm not here to be in the village starting churches and leading studies myself. I'm to help the locals do it". This support staff mentality can be misguided. We are not there to simply teach them how. We are there to MODEL HOW! We have to be "doing" what we are are trying to support them in doing so they can see & experience the fruit.