Financial Support - Concerns To Be Cautious About:

"Seldom are foreign Christian leaders able to perceive the motives of those whom they support. Those supported may be articulate and communicative, especially when visitors are present, but not minister out of a deep conviction or God's call. They rather minister because the job provides an income that they would otherwise not have. For example, the executive director of a major Pentecostal group in Uganda said, "I would jump to another religious group if they paid me more. Currently I am not making enough to live on the level I desire. Many of the pastors under me feel the same". (Van Rheenen, 1976).

("Using Money in Missions. The Good The bad and The Ugly " EMQ January 2002, Gailyn Van Rheenen Professor fo missions Abilene Christian University Works among Kipsigis of Kenya Church of Christ non instrument)

Going Native?

" I know a missionary couple in West Africa who was approached by a delegation of village elders after they had lived there several months. The elders explained that the couple was the object of ridicule from other villages because the foreigners lived in a hut like the rest of the villagers. Rather "than bring more shame on the village they were asked to please build at "city" house." This creates a dilemma, for those seeking to follow the incarnational model. Do the missionaries assume they know better and ignore the request because they believe that someday the people will come to appreciate their identification and believe in Christ?

(Ken baker EMQ January 2002 The incarnational Model Perception of Deception, We aren't always seen the way we se ourselves.)

Who Makes It Rain? Awesome True Story!

In EMQ April 2002, there was a response to an earlier printed article called

'Who makes it Rain", by Kevin Cain, EMQ July 2001. In the article he is debating theologically who is in control of the rain. And the writer concludes that God is in control of the weather, not Satan, demons or evil spirits, as some missionaries were suggesting. This article was printed in EMQ 2002, Letter to Editor, in response to that article.

Chief Amene, God's General in Charge

The four helicopters rose and thundered off in formation. Above the runway and up into the sky they flew, carrying the bodies of nine government officials, dozens of soldiers and two rescue teams. I watched as the helicopters gained altitude and disappeared behind the mountains. I was in awe not so much with the helicopters in the majestic morning sky but in our God who controls the sky.

The drama had begun on Monday, when a military aircraft had gone missing over our island. All mission and government aircraft had been used to try to locate the crash. I had heard the missing military aircraft go over our house that morning. The plane had reached its destination and had taken off a few hours later. It had not been sighted again.

Monday night I was turning the radio dial and heard about the crash. I went to bed that night thinking that maybe the crash was on the South side of the mountain ranges and maybe in the Sabin area close to our valley. I had this hunch because the plane had flown over us that morning and I thought that maybe the pilot had tried to return the same way. I wondered if he might not have flown up the wrong valley? Late afternoon on Tuesday, three villagers came to my house asking to buy building supplies. I asked them where they were from. When they told me they had come from Sabin I asked them if they had heard an air- craft the day before. When they told me they had not only heard the plane but had seen it circle twice over their village, I was convinced it was the missing plane. They also mentioned that the plane was like a bird hit by a stone"-recklessly circling overhead. I called a colleague on my satellite phone who called the search and res-cue command center. Early Wednesday morning an MAF airplane flew to the Sabin valley and almost immediately located the crash.

Within an hour, our yard, house and airstrip were whirling with activity. The first team at the site con- firmed there were no survivors. Then the clouds blew in and we waited until the next day. The team on the mountain was located at almost 12,000 feet and shivered through most of the night. Some who were suffering from exposure were evacuated in the morning before the clouds blew in again. Their mission was to retrieve the nine bodies of the people killed in the crash as well as the valuables that were on board. Because of the freezing, rainy conditions, the need for bottled oxygen and the rugged terrain, speed was essential. The weather was the key factor.

An officer in charge of the operation asked if the tribe had any spiritual mediums or witch doctors that could move the clouds away. The offer was made to bring in pigs to sacrifice to the gods of the mountains as well. I told him that before the Gospel o had arrived, the people had relied on a appeasing the spirits with sacrifices. Now they only relied on God to move the clouds away. "Would I be willing to request God to give good weather," he asked? I gathered the villagers together and asked that chief Amene to pray.

Amene is an old war chief who t has led his tribe into battle many r times. His life has been changed and, now he walks with God. Amene led in f a powerful prayer requesting blue sky, in the name of "my older brother ~ Jesus and the Spirit that controls the J sky." I peeked during the prayer because the urge was so great. Next to me was the Colonel with his arms outstretched and his palms turned up. ! Next to him was the brigadier general in charge. He too was in a posture of prayer. The soldiers had put their guns down and the four helicopter crews stood respectfully at attention. My heart was warmed as I listened to chief Amene pray. He wore a tattered hat and shabby clothes. He wore no shoes. The old warrior is weak in body and he knows little of the out- side world but he knows a lot about the Spirit, his God, who controls the skies. Amene is God's general and that day he was in charge. He possessed more power and authority than any- one else assembled on the airstrip.

As the day dawned the next morning we eagerly waited. What had Amene's older brother decided to do with the clouds that day? As the night disappeared and was replaced with daylight we saw that the sky was clear of clouds. The sky was blue. Helicopters flew into action, and before 8 a.m. the work was over. Nine bodies had been plucked from the wreckage of the plane, search and rescue teams and soldiers had all been retrieved. Everyone was ecstatic, thrilled that their mission had been successful. After I had taken everyone's picture, someone asked if we might pray again. I noticed it was one of the helicopter pilots of another faith that I had befriended. I was honored, and in, my prayer thanked God for the good weather, safety for the pilots and com- fort for those who were grieving. When I had finished praying I noticed some wiping tears from their eyes. Many embraced me-the appreciation was sincere. With tears in his eyes

I the Colonel expressed his thanks and; the General put his arms around me.Having accomplished their mission, I they climbed into their helicopters and were soon lifting off. ~ I watched as the procession of helicopters flew off into the beautiful blue Silimo sky. The reverberating rotors of four helicopters echoed across the valley. One by one they disappeared.

When the last aircraft was out of sight, the valley was quiet. I turned around to see my old friend chief Amene. God's general in charge was grinning and pointing towards the sky and saying, "The God of the skies answered. Our older brother Jesus is here." I knew it, chief Amene knew it, and the military men flying home in the choppers knew it. Then he grasped his walking stick and shuffled, off in the direction of his village. I know who makes it not rain!

(Anonymous EMQ April 2002 Letter to the Editor)

No Answering Machines in Kenya

"Africa typically values people over machines. The message carries no weight if the person is not known, seen and heard: "How else does one explain the complete absence of answering machines in the modern city of Nairobi, Kenya?"

("The Taking Drums; What are they saying about you." Del Chinchen -Missionary in Africa 22 years Bible Department Daystar University Nairobi Kenya. EMQ Oct 2001)

What Do the Talking Drums Say About You Missionary?

The story is told of two single missionary women who served among the Kambu in Kenya. The local people, very curious about these two visitors, observed that each morning the two would sit out on their veranda and drink juice. The longer the two missionaries were there the more discouraged they became because they had not made one convert. Finally, after about a year, the two packed up and went home, convinced that this unreceptive community was resistant to the gospel. The married couple that was sent to replace them soon discovered why the two single missionaries had failed. Women, in that culture, drink juice in the morning after they have had a sexual relationship. The women in the community, thinking the two single missionaries were having affairs with their husbands, spread the word quickly and collectively agreed not to associate with such people.

("The Taking Drums; What are they saying about you." Del Chinchen -Missionary in Africa 22 years Bible Department Daystar University Nairobi Kenya. EMQ Oct 2001)

Time" Magazine (Int) Comments on Christianity in Africa

"But while African churches may attract new believers, the Christian establishment is not always so welcoming of the African churches. Few A.I.C.s (African Independent Churches) belong to the World Council of Churches, and many mainstream preachers question the quality of faith in the newly converted and the commitment of the churches to their flocks. Prosperity Theology may promise financial and spiritual riches, say its critics, but it often delivers neither. "Sure, Christianity may be growing quicker here than anywhere else, but the question remains as to the value of that faith," says Odero, an Anglican. "Spiritual destiny is not the main focus as it should be. The main focus is yourself and eliminating your problems."

Nigerian Bishop David Oyedepo, head of fast-growing Winners' Chapel, opened his new headquarters in Lagos recently, there was mumbled criticism that the money spent on the 50,000-seat Faith Tabernacle could have been better spent helping the city's many homeless people. "Tithes are a given, before the extras," says Odero. "Some preachers in Kenya charge $70 just to shake their hand. It's more if you want them to pray for you." A painting inside the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Kisumu asks, "Have You Paid Your Tithe? It is the Gateway to Abundant Blessings." "It's a challenge," says Pastor Ezebuike. "God commands his people to pay a tithe. It's a practice everyone should do."

(Time -International Feb 7, 2000. The Lords Buisness, Simon Robinson)

African Prosperity Theology in Ghana

African Prosperity Theology

"There's no commitment." Silvia Opoku-Manu, 25, a philosophy student in the Ghanaian capital Accra, says she used to attend an independent church but became disillusioned. "They promise you faith now. They promise your business will prosper now. Everything is instant," she says. "But God doesn't work this way. God is not a coffee machine."

(Time -International Feb 7, 2000. The Lords Buisness, Simon Robinson)

African Speaks Up About Dependancy!

"Bayo Famonure, WEF Missions Committee member and coordinator of MA2000, spoke strongly about the problem of financial support in the church and for missionary outreach. "We must not always depend on money from overseas," he warned. "Teach your people to give. I was a missionary myself and sometimes didn't have enough to feed myself. When friends told me I had a rich Father in Heaven, I replied that I needed his provision here on earth-through his people.

"I've come with a heavy heart for Africa. I cry when I see pictures of starving people. But we have a proverb: "If you want a helping hand, there is one at the end of your arm." We need to be self-supporting."

Not all delegates welcomed his plea. Some had difficulty paying their way to the conference and wanted AEA to help……."

(As quoted above by, Harold Fuller "Africa The Hopeless Continent, EMQ April 2001)

Syncretism In Africa

"Twenty-five years ago, Byang Kato pointed out that the greatest theological heresy of the church in Africa was syncretism. We as leaders need to repent. The church growth figures we give out are exaggerated. We claim that Africa is 45 percent Christian. Where do we see their influence on society? Let us assume only 10 percent of them are 'born again.' Sociologists tell us that as few as 2 percent of a population can bring about change in a nation. If we want to see an end to genocidal killings, bondage of women, the AIDS epidemic, and corruption, we must repent and ask God to heal our land."

(General Secretary Adeyemo AE, as quoted above by, Harold Fuller "Africa The Hopeless Continent, EMQ April 2001)

Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA)

The Hopeless Continent" screamed the cover story of The Economist on a news rack in London airport. An armed guerilla leered menacingly from an outline of Africa. I bought a copy-and so did the General Secretary of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA), Dr. Tokunboh Adeyemo.

We were on our way to an AEA- sponsored conference, Mission Africa, held in Grand Bassam, near Abidjan, the capital of Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa. Delegates from churches and missions across the continent met to review what has been done and consider what remains to be done to complete the task of evangelizing and discipling Africa. The previous week, over 100 delegates from French-speaking African countries had met to plan a specifically Francophone strategy for their area.....

In his opening address, Tokunboh Adeyemol held aloft The Economist with its disturbing cover story. Opening his Bible, he drew our attention to the story of the paralytic healed by Jesus (Mark 2:4). The man's condition was serious, and his helpers had to overcome "roadblocks" to bring him to Jesus-his only hope.

Adeyemo listed several obstacles facing the churches today: carnality, jealousy, rivalry , strife, pride, conflicting viewpoints on basics, and discrimination between tribes, social strata, and gender. "Roadblocks should be changed into potholes and filled in," he said. "The crowd itself stood in the paralytic's way. Crowds of nominal Christians and cults are barriers to people finding Jesus."

................Mission field becomes mission force. At the first session, I noticed the man sitting beside me was from Swaziland. "Did you know Aaron Gamede?" I asked. "Yes," he replied. "He was my uncle."

Aaron Gamede, who became swaziland's minister of education, was the man who initiated the formation of AEA, (Association of Evangelicals in Africa)at a consultation of evangelicals held in Kenya in 1966. Sixty or so of us from across Africa had discussed the progress of the Gospel in Africa. But Aaron had a vision. "We've enjoyed this fellowship," he said, standing to make a motion. "But before we leave, we need to form an association of evangelicals, to benefit from working together and reaching the continent for Christ." AEA was born.

Now , 34 years later, nearly all of Africa's 50-plus nations have an evangelical fellowship affiliated with AEA, which has a central office in Nairobi, Kenya. In the 60s, expatriates did most of the planning for conferences. In May 2000, Mission Africa (MA2000) was very much an African event.

"Rene Daidanso ma Djongwe, Associate General Secretary of AEA, reminded us of this in the first devotional session. " Africa has many problems, but God is working," he declared. "Due to the faithfulness of a missionary who came to Chad in 1920, the gospel has spread throughout our nation. There are many believers today." Daidanso had seen his world crumble in the 1970s, as the church passed through a time of great persecution. Many pastors and church members paid for their faithfulness with their lives; others succumbed to the tribulation and obeyed Chad's presidential decree to sacrifice to idols.

"One of our problems in Africa is that many church leaders are really pagans at heart," Daidanso warned, citing the problem of nominalism. "You can work for the church yet be rejected by the Lord at the judgment unless you've been born again. I'm not afraid to preach this to members, pastors, or bishops."

Harold Fuller "Africa The Hopeless Continent, EMQ April 2001 "

Be Sensitive the Terms We use ONLINE & on Mission Sites

Muslims Missions: Avoid Christian Military Terms when working with them.

Avoid using terms like target, conquer, claim the land, take over, infiltrate, penetrate, power encounters, subjugation. If Muslims read you letters or email or web page they will have a different idea.

"One of the aspiring elders of the church in a North African country, a Muslim back ground believer, was surfing the Internet. He found a Christian Web site that spoke about the great things that God was doing in his country. This ministry boasted of establishing "beach- heads" and believed the gospel would go forth with power. Soon the country would be conquered for Christ. The team leader of our work talked about the site with this aspiring elder, a university graduate, who understood it in literal military terms. From his perspective, this group was planning a military invasion of his country, a literal Christian jihad (holy war). If a mature Muslim background believer perceives these military metaphors as literal. truths, how much more the average Muslim? "

(Rick Love: Muslims and military metaphors EMQ Jan 2001)

Cast System & India Missions

"Because over 80 percent of the Christians of India are from the lower castes of society, many high caste Hindus will not sit with a Christian or listen to the Christian Gospel."

(Dick Baily: "Who's turning the mission field up side down, EMQ January 2001)

Churches In Afghanistan

Something to pray about:

"Afghans: Since Islam entered Afghanistan in the late 7th century that country has been almost totally closed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. From the very day (July 17, 1973) that the government bulldozed the only church building in the whole country, there has been continuous revolution and war. Out of 25 million Afghans, one million are dead, two million wounded, 7 million homeless, and more than three million are refugees living in other countries. God's good purpose is to draw Afghans to himself. He has raised up workers among them both in Afghanistan and among the refugees in at least two other countries. Some are now responding and turning to Christ, and the very first Afghan churches in history are now coming into being."

(Dick Baily: "Who's turning the mission field up side down, EMQ January 2001)

Unreached People In Our Own Cities!

"You have to "go" to another country to be a missionary. For many years we have made the distinction between "foreign missions" and "home missions." Some churches have even decided that they want all of their mission funds to go "overseas" rather than to be used here in North America (implying that this is not the real mission field).
.........A few years ago one missionary family had to leave an overseas ministry because of problems. The Lord opened a door to work among immigrants from the same ethnic people group in one of North America's large metropolitan areas. They had changed geography, but not people group. When one of their large supporting churches heard that they had come "home" they dropped their support, saying "Let us know if you ever go back to the field. " In the USA they were working within 50 miles of at least 100,000 people from the same ethnic group and were touching the lives of many of them. After a few years of effective ministry in spite of living under the stress of very inadequate support, they went overseas to a third country to target the same group again. The church immediately resumed their support, even though that third nation contained only 5,000 to 10,000 of those people.

(Dick Baily: "Who's turning the mission field up side down, EMQ January 2001)

Persecution Does Not Defeat The Church

Philippines

"In 1991, my colleague and close friend, John Speers, was visiting in Mindanao seeking to better learn a Muslim dialect. With him were his lovely, musically gifted wife and two children, ages 4 and 2. John was one of the most intelligent and spiritually sensitive missionaries I have ever known. At 5:15 p.m., as John was returning from a language learning walk about, a Muslim came up behind him and, using a home- made pistol, exploded a bullet inside John's brain. Entry into heaven was immediate. The story has been told and retold. If an American could so love Filipino Muslims that he would die for them, then how much greater is the responsibility of local believers to engage in a loving witness to the Sons of Ishmael. John's impact has been greater in death than even in life."

(Phil Parshall; Muslim Evangelism Mobilizing the national church EMQ Jan 2001)

Foolish Missionary Practices: Non contextualized

"Some years ago, a zealous American armed with tracts asked my Syrian friend, Yusuf" to accompany him to the Street Called Straight in Damascus standing under the wall where tradition says the apostle Paul was lowered in a basket, Sam urged Yusuf to accompany him down the mile long street as he distributed tracts and called upon people to repent for the kingdom of God is hand. Yusuf, with grace, declined the invitation and suggested he would wait for Sam's return in the shadows of St Paul's wall. Remarkably, Sam returned intact, effusively reporting the calling of God upon his life.

Such actions by foreign Christians are one of a number of deterrents that give Christian Nationals pause in initiating a witness to their Muslim countrymen. They are, for good reason, hesitant to be associated with a faith that has a fringe element that causes embarrassment and even danger to them. "

(Phil Parshall; Muslim Evangelism Mobilizing the national church EMQ Jan 2001)

3 rd World Missionaries Making our 100 Year old Mistakes!

Stan Guthrie writes about the growth in 3^rd world missions and quotes Paul Bothwick.

"Paul Borthwick of Development Associates International applauds the expanding global force, but he also notes some of its draw- backs. "Some non-Western missionaries have launched out with great zeal, but they are repeating the same mistakes as Western missionaries of 100 years ago, creating, in effect, a new generation of cultural imperialists," he says. "In addition, the romanticization of the non-Western missionary in the minds of the Western church has resulted in two dangerous trends- first, ...that our Great Commission responsibility is over with the exception of sending money, and, second, ...unhealthy dependency in the non- Western church."

(Global Report (EMQ) By Stan Guthrie "Past midnight" Jan 2000)

I can vouch for this. The Massive church planting potential of the hordes of Ghanaian nationals is amazing. However, my experience with them is that the vast majority see only one way to worship and evangelize. They are generally extreemly insensitive to Muslims or any other culture that is "less expressive". They see there flamboyant methodology of Loud speakers, yelling dramatic preaching, excitement, and dancing as the only way top evangelize effectively. For many it is the only way to evangelize in their estimation.

Is Persecution A Prelude to Revival?

Indonesia: Story

"At 2:00 one morning in Jakarta, Indonesia, a mob of approximately 400 Muslims surrounded the house church of one of our church planters. When he peered out the window and saw threatening sticks and stones, machetes and torches, he knew why the unwelcome company was there. He and his wife got on their knees and began to pray. The mob attempted to burn down the house, but the fire would not light. Frustrated, the crowd began to stone the house.

As the men rushed through the front door, the church planter jumped to his feet and was cut in the fore- head. Falling to his knees, and convinced that he would die that night, he continued to pray, "God, I am ready for you to take me home to- night, but I pray that where my blood falls here, you will establish a great church for your kingdom and glory! "

After he finished praying, neither he or his wife felt the blows, which began to bounce off of them. Again, growing frustrated, the mob proceeded to destroy everything in the house church and to pile it into a great heap in the living room to burn it. Again, the fire didn't light. Finally they threw the rubble into the street to destroy it, and it burned. This apparently satisfied the angry mob, and they left.

After this incident, the church planter lost half of his congregation. In the years that followed, persecution in Indonesia grew from isolated incidents, such as this, to mass attacks where, for example, all the churches in the town of Tasikmalaya, or 16 churches in the city of Situbondo, were ravaged by fire. Hundreds of churches have been burned in the last decade."

(Persecution Prelude to Revival, Kevin Humble EMQ april 2000)

Stats on China

Samuel Chiang says the number of Christians in China (the 80 million figure) are exaggerated.

"Many numbers have been reported. From the official number of around 10 million, to an indirectly acknowledged number of 24 million by Dr. George Carey, archbishop of Canterbury, when he visited China and commented that there are now enough Bibles for one in three believers (as reported in local newspapers, September 28, 1994), to furiously revised number of over 33 million by Tony Lambert ( OMF), to some estimates of 63 million and 83 million by Jonathan Chao (CCRC), to some numbers estimated by charismatic groups numbering from 80 to 90 million. My personal conviction is that there are probably, at most, only around 40- odd million evangelical believers."

"There exist tremendous pressures to "under-report" the numbers in the "official, or open, or registered, or Three-Self churches." There is a general fear that if actual growth was reported, the government will look at the local counties with disfavor. In fact, in one private discussion with one official, August 1994, he told this writer with embarrassment that he reported on only 15,000 believers, but in fact there were over 42,000 believers. Why? He indicated that the growth was just too fast from 9,000 (1990) to 42,000 (1994), so they had to inch up the numbers gradually."

(EMQ. "The China Challenge", by Samuel Chiang april 2000)

Poor Missionary Methods and Charismatic Foolishness!

"While many individuals and groups have entered China both covertly and blatantly open in converting flocks, their presence has often destroyed the natural order of an existing church or church network. Dangling of funds, promises of assistance, and sometimes force-feeding of theological positions have created a fragmented church.

Especially hurt are the house ( or the home) churches. Already lacking formal structure, this grouping of churches has become a victim of winds of doctrine. Not too long ago, a local pastor-leader in Yunnan2 was visited by Western missionaries. They wanted to lay hands on him so he could speak in tongues, thus demonstrating that he was saved. This pastor found the experience curious. He decided to go along. The Westerners prayed. The pastor knelt. After half and hour, he was checked to see if he could speak in tongues. He could not, but had peace that he was already saved and told the visitors so. The visitors left in a huff and told him he was not saved. This man is still engaged in evangelism, but he no longer pastors. His flock could not accept him after that experience."

(EMQ. "The China Challenge", by Samuel Chiang april 2000)

What Kenya Christians Are saying About To Much Western Money In Africa

(Professor Zablon Nthamburi, Presiding Bishop, Methodist Church In Kenya in The Church In Africa: Making Its Way From Dependency to Self Reliance)

"There is a need to build churches, clinics, and resource centers as well as to equip lay people for their role in the ministry. Unfortunately churches in Africa are made to believe that they must go to the churches in the West to beg for these resources in order to take advantage of the many emerging opportunities before them."…………………….. The Church in Africa must, more than ever before, begin to bear the imprint "made in Africa"………. The Christian faith must articulate African symbols and metaphors in order for it to be real. In the same vein, the African Church will not grow into maturity if it continues to be fed by western partners. It will ever remain an infant who has not learned to walk on his or her own feet. A child who depends on parental support even during teen-age years may never be able to walk with dignity. We must challenge the churches in Africa to be self-reliant as a way of proving that the Church has taken root and has developed an African character………..

Illustration:

"There are many examples showing how the church can be self-reliant. Some local believers told an incident of how their church was for a long time seeking support from overseas partners for a medical clinic. They had written many project proposals and only received about $2000 which could hardly build even a one-roomed clinic. It dawned upon them that, if they really wanted it, they had to do it themselves. The committee sat down, drew a program for fund raising and then taught the church members on the need to support this ministry. They asked people to bring things in kind such as chickens, farm produce, goats, cows etc. Within one single day they were able to raise the equivalent of US$20,000, enough to build and equip the clinic. What was more important, they discovered that they could do it. This convinced them of their own their strength on which they can now build to support other church ministries.

"I believe that the church in Africa is endowed with the resources to support its own ministry. The challenge is to realize this fact and to know how to tap these rich resources. The spiritual resource of the church should be able to propel it to realize many other opportunities in ministry. Let our friends and partners help us to realize our potential by letting us "walk on our own feet."

(Professor Zablon Nthamburi, Presiding Bishop, Methodist Church In Kenya in The Church In Africa: Making Its Way From Dependency to Self Reliance)

"Self- Supporting" Examples written by Glen Schwartz

"Several decades ago, Nicholas Bhengu, the leader of the Assemblies of God in South Africa, was in America seeking funds for his mainly poor, black denomination. His church, he said, was mainly women and children with very few men attending. While in the USA, the Lord gave him the following message: "Don't get the money for your church here. Go back home and get it from your own people. Teach them these four things: (1) how to care for their families, (2) how to bring their husbands to the Lord, (3) how to earn a living with their hands and (4) to give something back to God in thanksgiving--in other words, tithing."

Rev. Bhengu returned to South Africa to follow God's instructions. What happened? Two years ago, the church gathered for its annual assembly in Thaba Nchu. The collection that weekend came to 2 million South African Rand--more than US$700,000 at the time!

How did they give so much? Throughout the year, the women of the church are busy making things for Thaba Nchu. If they make ten grass mats, one is set aside for Thaba Nchu. If they weave twenty baskets, two are for the church. Thirty dresses? Three are for the work of the Lord. In other words the concept of stewardship is built into the earning process.

I have frequently met several people from this church. If you ask them if these things are true, their eyes light up with pride. "Yes," they say. "The story is true." That sparkle in the eye is priceless. One sees it among other churches, and Africa longs for and deserves to feel good about itself just like that.

(Glen Schwartz)

Example #2

"One church leader in South Africa had an ambitious goal of raising 100 million South African rand for a ministry that God laid on his heart. While on a visit to England he met business people whom he thought would help him to achieve the goal; but the Lord spoke to him saying, "All the funding you need is with business people in your community in South Africa."

Story

"Another South African leader visited North America and decided that he would seek to raise the funds he needed from nonwhite churches in the USA. However, every time he visited a congregation, the Lord told him, "Don't ask these people for any money. Instead, bless this congregation by putting something into their collection." He said he found himself putting in twenty dollars here and fifty dollars there from his own funds. He obeyed the Lord and eventually returned to South Africa to look for the funds he needed among his own people. He testified that God honored his obedience, and the resources needed to buy a large building were raised at home.

(Glen Schwartz)

"This happened in Irian Jaya among the Dani people where missionaries consciously and conscientiously applied sound indigenous principles when the church was started. So positive was the result that the Dani people began sending out their own missionaries at their own expense within a decade of hearing the Gospel. This inspiring story can be found in Torches of Joy written by John Dekker."

(Glen Schwartz)

"In another situation in Papua New Guinea (PNG) American missionaries started a church. On the twentieth anniversary of its founding, the church in PNG sent air tickets to the USA inviting the missionaries to attend the celebration. Obviously there was sound teaching when the church was started.

(Glen Schwartz)

Don't Chase Buffaloes

By Glenn Schwartz

(Reprinted with permission from the January 1994 issue of Evangelical Missions Quarterly, Box 794, Wheaton, Ill. 60189)

The following story was told to me following a 1992 seminar in Capetown, South Africa. It is an example of how one church leader allowed God to lead him to find local support for his congregation. The story is told in his own words:

"Several years ago, I was invited to minister in various churches in America. While there, I phoned home to check on my family. My wife was not there at the time, but my sister-in-law answered the phone. After telling me that everyone was well, she gave me this puzzling message. God had appeared to her in a dream and told her to tell me: 'When you are in America, don't chase buffaloes.' What that could mean I did not know; but after I hung up the phone, I asked God to make the message clear.

"One Sunday evening after preaching in a local church, I was given the offering in cash. They did not write out a check for the amount, but simply gave me what was given in the collection. As I counted the money, I came across an American five-cent piece with a buffalo on it -- a buffalo nickel.

"When I saw this, I immediately associated it with the message of my sister-in-law's dream. I knew that God was telling me that while in America I was not to pursue money. I accepted this from the Lord, but I did not realize how this would be tested in the next several days.

"The next morning I had breakfast with a wealthy businessman. I don't know how wealthy he was, but I later learned that he owned four airplanes. He told me that he appreciated my message the evening before and wanted to help with my ministry in South Africa. He was prepared to write a check for any amount! Remembering God's instructions, I replied, "Thank you very much, but the Lord takes care of me and my people in his own way." He gave me no money.

"Shortly thereafter, I was on my way home to South Africa. On the plane from London to Johannesburg a wealthy white South African businessman was seated beside me. When he learned that I was the pastor of a non-white church near Capetown, he offered to help me financially. He was not happy with his own church which supported apartheid at that time. He preferred to help me! This man, too, asked 'How much money do you want?' Again, remembering God's instructions, I told him, 'Thank you very much, but the Lord takes care of me and my people in his own way.' I got no money from that man either.

"I returned home to discover that the people in my congregation wanted to build their own church building. We have since built a new sanctuary completely from the funds of our own people, and we found that we did not need any "buffaloes" from America."

Sorry I forgot to note the where?? I'll track it down. Email me if you remember where this comes from.

Who is Supporting Missions

Sean Marston comments that even after this Short-term missions craze that

"The facts tell us that the majority of people praying and giving to overseas missions are people over fifty years old. The hope is that they younger people having done a short-term mission trip would have taken over the baton from this older generation; this has not happened."

(“Seeking that Missing Person” Sean Marston, EMQ . April 2007 Vol. 43, No.2 Page 240)

Short -Term Missions?

On Short Term Missions

“….After all, countless individuals were going on overseas mission trips through their organization. It made the organizations feel as though they were involved in a new movement toward overseas mission work. Yes, hundreds of thousands of people have gone overseas; yet, it has not resulted in a completely new movement.

This is not to say that things are not happening as a result of short- term mission work. There have been thousands of people who have be come either long-term missionaries or long-term mission supporters. Their short-term experiences created doors of opportunity. These trips changed and moulded their lives.

However, for many they have not. Like many things in our Christian faith, we have made short-term mission trips too easy. There are few complications, little responsibility and a lack of accountability. When involvement in overseas missions does not require much from people, little long-term fruit will result. These young people who we were so excited to sign up were searching for an outlet for their faith. Sadly, these same people left their short-term mission experience behind……

I am the first person to rave about the potential and impact of a short-term mission program. The problem is that we have not thought enough about the hows, whats and whys of what we are doing. There are tens of thousands of ex-short-term people who have done very little to build on their short-term mission experience

And mission agencies have let it happen. Much money, time, prayer and support has gone into getting individuals out there – and there has been so little practical return…

The facts tell us that the majority of people praying and giving to overseas missions are people over fifty years old. The hope is that they younger people having done a short-term mission trip would have taken over the baton from this older generation; this has not happened.....

Admittedly, I have helped to create this sad situation. When I was working in a church, I led many short-term mission teams overseas; to this day I am not sure what the long- term benefits have been. I had all the right intentions. I wanted young people to experience the spiritual and physical realities of the world. I wanted them to step out for God; I wanted them to be used by God. Indeed, we had some amazing times and God did work in us and through us. The problem was that I saw the short-term mission as an experience in itself; I did not consider how to build on this experience so that the people who had gone would have a long-term commitment to overseas missions. ….

We have not fully understood the emerging generations. We have made it easy for people to get into and out of their short-term mission experiences. Short-term missions builds on what is good and bad about the younger generation. It builds on their desire for adventure and spontaneity; at the same time it is instant, easy and includes little accountability……”

(“Seeking that Missing Person” Sean Marston, EMQ . April 2007 Vol. 43, No.2 Page 238-242)

Considering Supporting a National? Ask these Questions First!

Directly quoted fromtaken EMQ

"Issues and Questions to Address during an On-site Visit"

1. What methods of accountability are in use in that culture? Is there pressure to misuse or abuse funding?

2. What processes are in place to ensure that theft or fraud do not occur?

3. Do local churches and non-profit organizations utilize outside accounting firms to audit their financial transactions?

Are these external auditors reliable or can they be easily bribed to issue false reports? Are there any legal implications for funding projects in that country?

4. Are there regulations limiting the size of wire transfers?

5. Are banks reliable or do funds need to be sent another way?

6. Are there adequate internal controls or is it a “one man show?”

7. What types of checks and balances are present to ensure accountability?

8. Is the partner able to generate true financial statements?

9. Does the partner have to follow the funding organization’s re porting format, or is it possible to simplify the format to minimize overhead and stress for the fund recipient?

10. How often will reporting be required?

11. What will happen if reporting is not received?

12. How will conflict be addressed if expectations are not met on either side?

(“The Devil is in the Details: Avoiding Common Pitfalls when Funding New Partnership Endeavours”EMQ. April 2007 Vol. 43, No.2 Page 164)

I Would Personally Add to This list:

13. What to do if Local Churches or Other Leaders have complaints about this leaders conduct, mannerism, integrity or manner of service?

14. Will My sponsorship make it difficult for the Local church to Discipline if necessary?

New Converts who Fall Away (Muslim)

Commenting on Muslim Conversions (Apostasy issues)

“It would be safe to say that quite a few converts from Islam give up their new faith within the first two years of their initial decision. Given the reality of life conditions of Christians living in Islamic countries, we can not fully understand what that “giving up” refers to. In most cases, it is simply a decision to leave the local church and sever relationships with other Christians. Only a small segment of those who leave cite doctrinal issues or have rational reasons for leaving the church. Some return to Islam with greater zeal; some to a quiet life which includes holding their religious convictions to themselves." (pg 510)

Also some interesting comments that will serve very uncomfortable to our western theology. However, the vast majority of people converting form the Muslim faith say they had a dream or something that opened them to consider Jesus Christ.

The Author writes

“Most of the conversion stories include dreams, visitations or other mystical experiences.”

(“Conversion & Apostasy. Ziya Meral. EMQ. October 2006 Vol. 42, No. 4 Page 508, 512)

Importance of Family & Holiness in Arab Missions

“Confrontational approaches aimed at exposing the sins, failures and/or flaws in Arab character which are common American evangelistic strategies (e.g., the Four Spiritual Laws, Evangelism Explosion and the Sinner’s Prayer at the end of the Jesus film) must be deemed unwise and in some cases disastrous. This is because Arabs, who are compelled to conceal vulnerability will automatically try to defend their dignity “even in the face of facts to the contrary” They will be forced to hide shortcomings and failures in order to preserve appearances and save their self-respect. Another strategy must be sought…………. On a practical level this means that if the Christian faith is to become winsome to Arabs, American missionaries must excel in those areas which Arabs value and admire. Specifically, they must outshine their Arab friends in such things as marriage, raising and loving children, producing respectable males and modest females, honouring parents, respecting the elderly, showing hospitality, being generous, caring for the stranger and poor, working for justice, resolving conflict through mediation—in sum, being more honourable than Arabs themselves.”

(“A new Agenda: De-Americanization. Christopher Little. EMQ. October 2006 Vol. 42, No. Page 502-503)

Missions is Not to Impose “Westernism”

The president of the Evangelical Christians- Baptists in the Ukraine, Grigorie Komendant commented as many western missionaries flooded his country after the fall of communism. He said;

“The West needs to be more realistic in recognizing that Russia is not a Third World country. The Church has been here a long time, and we are not interested in the Americanization of our church”

("Evangelical Foreign Missionaries in Russia” International Bulletin of Missionary research 22 (2): page 57)

African Time & Missionaries Fitting In to their Pace of Doing things

“Africans are event -centered more than clock-centered………We tend to use time to accomplish tasks while Africans use it to build human relationships…. The way we use time makes us domineering and proactive; the was Africans use time allows things to develop naturally and slowly……….. “Fighting the current will only wear you out; relax and let it take you where it wants to go. Start to enjoy the beauty of the voyage instead of worrying about whether you will reach your destination on time. Think of the voyage, which represents the flow of African time, as the object of your trip rather than what you will accomplish or where you will arrive……….“Once you are relaxed it is easier to observe what is happening around you. Take in the beauty of the landscape; even more importantly, observe how Africans use time. As an observer it is easier for you to let the Africans remain in charge. Allow enough time to observe so that you resist the temptation to take over. Remember that the goal is to become more effective in Building relationships…..Observation leads to honest questions about how and why Africans use time the way they do.”

(“African Time”, Robert Reese. EMQ. October 2006 Vol. 42, No. Page 476-478)

African Time

“As I escorted groups to remote villages where we had helped plant churches, I found that our experiences were different in each village. Preparing for the most remote village, I mailed the village pastor a letter to let him know what day we expected to arrive. Because I knew the mail service was poor, I mailed the letter six months in advance. As we approached the village, the pastor (who was also an old friend of mine) was standing on the side of the main road waiting for us. On the basis of a letter mailed six months earlier, he had walked five miles from his home to meet us and was prepared to wait all day if necessary….”

(“African Time”, Robert Reese. EMQ. October 2006 Vol. 42, No. Page 474)

Personal Story. I sent a letter to one of our rural churches for hand to hand delivery via a bush taxi. Four weeks later I arrived in the isolated village to teach and speak for a few days. While the Leaders & I were eating dinner together after a worship service, a young man approached to hand delivered a letter to the leadership of the church. Turns out it was the letter I sent 4 week prior, announcing a leaders meeting they had missed earlier that week.

People-less Bibles. Bible Translation Issues!

“Those in the ministry of Bible Translation commonly talk of Bible-less peoples. Regrettably, it sometimes happens that there are also “People-less Bibles,” newly translated scriptures that is available but not used. In some instances the neglected Bibles may be the result of key church and mission leaders who were not involved in envisioning what was needed and how the need could best be met.”

(EMQ. October 2006 Vol. 42, No. 4 “Partnerships in Ministry” Todd Poulter, Page 455)

Warning on C1-C5 Contextualization Issues- Insider Movements

Letter to Editor

Insider Movements and Outsider Missiology

Thanks to Gary Corwin for his pro found commentary, “Insider Movements and Outsider Missiology” (January2006). He hits the nail on the head when he says that “a common phase in.. .conversion. . .is being made by many into an ultimate objective or strategy.. .called insider movements.” The fact that a person can be saved while holding faulty theology has been made a justification for encouraging individuals to remain in a state of weak theology and inadequate fellowship. An earnest desire for increased results has led many workers to abandon biblical perspectives and try out a Pandora’s box of compromises, with the rationale that the end (reaching as many “focus” people as possible) justifies the means.

Perhaps even more problematic than some of the experiments being tried on the field is the host of young workers heading to the field who have heard a good “insider movement” sales pitch, and thereby concluded that anyone not open to “C5” minis try is not in tune with the latest word in missiology. Rather than thinking biblically about the issues, they assume they have learned the key that is going to bring the glorious community movements that eluded their “stodgy” predecessors.

We are all in favor of Christ-followers continuing to live as much as biblically possible as “insiders” in their community. But when “insider” becomes a code word for encouraging entrenched compromise and doctrinal confusion, it is time to ask for clearer definitions and more biblical thinking. Thanks, Gary, for pointing us in that direction.

—A field worker in Southeast Asia

( EMQ. October 2006 Vol. 42, No. 4 Page 420 )

Africa Taxi Man - Do You Remember Me As I Remember You?

Earlier this year I was in Mali, west Africa, researching the Banka people.

After days of exhausting village research 600 Km east of Bamako, I made the long trek back to the capital city. With some time to kill I had an adventure in mind, so I quickly found a place to eat and began to set the adventure in motion. I waved to a dilapidated piece of junk that had fenders and door panels that flapped like wings- It's referred to as a taxi in West Africa. I was not sure whether I should get into this rust can. But the driver gave me a reserved smile.

I threw caution to the wind and said to the taxi man; “I will give you 5000 cfa ($11) to let me sit in the taxi with you as you pick up other clients. I would like to see every corner of the city”. He smiled and waved for me to get in. That was the first of many evening conversations with him smiling and nodding, but not really understanding much of what I said because of his sparse French ability. However, I did get to see every back corner of the City of Bamako, and crossed the famous Niger River 5-6 times.

Mali taxi man eventually took me to meet his son at the moto shop where he worked. Later, I was taken to meet his sister and her children. A few more clients picked up and dropped off in various alleyways around the city, and then a trip home to introduce me to his wife and kids. Twenty stops on the road to meet and greet his friends we happened to encounter, and conversations with everyone he picked up as well. I kind of felt a little like a freak show. But on the other hand it was just what I came to Mali for – the people. It was nice. I smiled and gave genuinely sincere greetings, and warm thanks to each person to whom I was “presented”. I was very touched.

This taxi man did not know this strange white guy, yet he saw fit to share his time and use his expensive gas to take me home to meet every person he loved and cherished most. This Malian taxi driver did not merely give me a ride, he gave me part of his life. I had received something significantly more precious than the gas money I gave him.

We separated, and there I was standing on the side of the road having graciously been given a mind full of memories, and a heart full of mixed emotions. I was genuinely touched by this mans gesture. A precious child of God, who's name I don't remember, so in my prayers I simply refer to him as "The Malian Taxi Man". How I would love to spend more time sharing life and faith with this Muslim man. But I wonder if this Malian taxi man even remembers me? Does he remember the day he took this unknown Canadian to those he loves? I remember him. I will never forget him the rest of my life.

I'm Haunted By An African Banana

I’m Haunted by a Banana. I am not joking. I am literally haunted by a Malian banana from West Africa. Let me share the story.

It was sun rise in Sikasso and I was glad to get on the bus heading back to Bamako, the capital city of Mali. I was ecstatic to have a front seat this time,(The story of the bus trip at night, stuck in the back seat comes later) and by now I had tunnel vision because I was officially beginning my long three day journey home to be with Lynn and the boys. As Dr Phil would say; “I needed a soft place to land”. By the end of my research in rural Mali (and 3.5 weeks in Ivory Coast before hand), I was certainly having difficulty processing more information.

The Scenery on the Savanah was nice, though vegetation and people were sparse compared to Ivory Coast. In each village the bus picked up a woman with a chicken under her arm here, a few men with sacks of manioc there. Each village stop also produced dozens of young women and children who filled the windows and bus aisle shouting loudly to drown out the competition so they could sell the most munchies to us ravenous travelers. Actually, it is a great service, the only way to eat on the journey. I bought a small sack of peanuts and four bananas from one smiling and pleased young lady.

As I prepared to eat, I broke off one of the bananas from the bunch, and the tip opened up to expose the tasty snack inside, but it slipped, and I dropped it on to the aisle floor. The very aisle where chickens were sitting; where there was goat and sheep droppings carried in on shoes from every village. The isle was red with dirt and this “other debris” and the red dirt illuminated my yellow banana quite well. I picked up my banana, and sure enough, the exposed tip was covered with a surprise candy coating, compliments of the aisle floor.

What do I do with this banana now I thought? The people of Mali are the poorest people in the world. I looked at the dirty flesh of the banana, looked around to see eight pairs of eyes watching for the resolution to the “White Man Banana Show”. Should I throw the banana out entirely as I wanted to, or just break the dirty part off? I could not bring myself to throw out the whole banana, so I broke the dirty tip off and tossed it out the window on to the road. I looked around at the sets of eyes and knew instantly I had made the right choice. I could see all eight sets of eyes diverting their gaze into the village outside, now distracted by something more interesting.

So I sat back and began to enjoy my bananas. As I ate, I stared off into the sights of the village. I noticed an older man weaving between mud huts in his long robe. He climbed up the side of the road and continued to walk by the bus, but he unexpectedly stopped in his tracks. He noticed something on the road and bent down, picked it up, looked it over, and then put it in his mouth, and disappeared into the village. My jaw dropped open……. The old man just picked up my dirty little lump of banana off the road and eaten it. In all my years of living and working in French West Africa, I have never seen anyone do that before.

Poor- We can’t process the word poor, because we are the top 4% of the world in income. Mali is the bottom 1%. I began my day craving a soft place to land; I have a soft place to land. However, soft is not a word I would use to describe the life of any Malian I know, because they do not have any soft place.

To this day, every time I see a banana I am haunted by the image of what happened to my banana on my journey to my soft place. Just when I thought it was impossible to ram one more memory into my congested brain, God arranged room for one more essential memory of a Malian man and a banana.

I wish I had thrown the whole banana out the window. No! I wish I had thrown out the whole bunch.

Thank you Lord for reminding me of why I am to love as Jesus loved. I’m afraid that this west African banana may continue to haunt me for the rest of my life, and it should.

Where Is The Glory In Mission Work? Loving Rural Africans.

It was a bit of a surprise to see just how sparse, grey, & brown the Malian landscape looked under the wings of the Air Senegal plane. I landed in Bamako three days earlier than expected so the room bookings were of no use to me. I tried to find another room for the night, finally settled on the idea of taking the nine hour bus ride west to Kadiolo instead.

I waited at the bus depot for hours. Extremely hungry, I began to peruse the street cooks and bought several tasteless things boiled in oil, but they would hold me over. As I ate I nodded “no” to the hundredth sales person carrying various items on their head, trying to scrounge a living.
Muslim prayer time came, so down on the mats for prayer first, and then loading began. I was positioned in the second last seat of the bus; on top of the sizzling hot motor, with all the sickening fumes. Though I desperately needed sleep, I could not sleep because every time my leg touched the steel wall of the bus it would get badly burned on the hot mettle, and my feet were cooking on the floor so I had to keep lifting them up to cool them down. It was as close to hell as I want to get. After eight hours of this I could not take any more, so I got out 100 km before Kadiolo, in the town of Sikasso.

It was 2:30 am in the morning. I spent the next hour trying to locate a man named Pierre Diara I was given his name on a piece of paper as a good information contact. No one seemed to know Mr Diara. I was about ready to give up and sleep on a table right there in the market. Around 3:30am I checked with another lady- no Luck. I thanked her and she turned back and asked in French; “Could that be Pierre JAR-A?”. I was so tired that I had forgotten that they pronounce D as JA. Forgive me for not remembering the intricacies of Bambara language. “Yes!” I said, “Peirre Jar-A (Diara)”

I knocked on his gate at 3:42 AM and this man, whom I never met, let me in and took me to a room and gave me a bucket of water to get cleaned up with. I thanked him, washed, and then just stood in the bucket of water to cool my baked feet. I fell exhausted into bed after a 26 hour sleepless journey from Agni to Banka Territory. But I was relieved to finally be in the region of the Banka people.

I fell into bed making a mental note that Bambara language was essential as French would not do here. I drifted off to sleep, thankful for the room - this is exactly the Africa I know and love. I had only four hours to sleep, and I would have to be up and going again. The Work was just beginning.

There are a few exciting adventures, and then there is the exhausting reality of daily living and working in Africa, and that is not very glorious. When you meet these rural people at the daily level in which they function, you will find no glory. No one ever sees what you do-some don't even care about what you do "out there". Others don't understand why you do it, and few understand how much it takes to be in these obscure places.

Sometimes missions means sleeping on a bug infested bamboo bed, sleeping on the ground, burning your legs on a hot motor, or miscommunication. Other times missions is laughter & joy.

However, missions is always allowing indigenous people to lead us to understand their life experiences, hopes and dreams, so that we can share authentically.

Missions is not always about telling; it’s very much about listening. Took me some time to figure that out. Indeed, there is no glory in listening and sharing with people in unknown places and I am OK with that. These people are worth much love; worth infinitely more love than I alone can give. Still, we receive so much love in return, and that alone is quite enough - Far more precious than vain glory.