(864) 546-4540
Center for Global Opportunities
  • About
  • Outreach
    • CGO Screen Ads
    • Local
    • National
    • Global
    • Request Help
  • 2023 Trips
    • CGO Mission Teams
    • BJU Study Abroad & Study USA
  • Blog
    • Submissions
  • Internationals
    • International Student Organization
  • Events
    • MLK Day
    • GO Greenville
    • GO Week
    • Summer Ministry Conference
  • About
  • Outreach
    • CGO Screen Ads
    • Local
    • National
    • Global
    • Request Help
  • 2023 Trips
    • CGO Mission Teams
    • BJU Study Abroad & Study USA
  • Blog
    • Submissions
  • Internationals
    • International Student Organization
  • Events
    • MLK Day
    • GO Greenville
    • GO Week
    • Summer Ministry Conference

THE CGO BLOG

Missions Mistakes: Faulty Mindset

3/29/2018

1 Comment

 

By a Christian Worker on the Field

Picture
We have to make one thing clear. We all share a commitment for the advance of the Gospel. We are heart broken by the simple idea that many have not heard of the message of salvation. Yet, I wonder how are we going to reach the millions upon millions who reside in countries that are considered hard to reach? These countries are known as Restricted Access Nations (RAN) because of the challenges in place for church planting. In these countries it is not possible to have a religious visa. They make it illegal to share the gospel with others. There are anti-proselytizing laws in place. There are also internal socio-political factors that add to the challenge of advancing the Gospel.

A quick overview of the distribution of missionaries among conservative mission boards will reveal that these countries have been neglected far too long. When I have asked “Why?” I have heard many reasons that reflect an underlying philosophy that has prevented our churches, in our movement, from being obedient to the Gospel call. We do obey the call to go and make disciples, yet we fail in the “all nations” part. If we were to visit all nations, we would meet many brothers and sisters from European countries, Asian countries and even from the so called “Third World” countries. They are ministering in the RANs, yet we are not. Why? Let me submit three simple reasons.

Model. Our commitment to our models of ministry undercuts our ability to carry out the message of our ministry. Mission boards have by the very nature of their structures and policies cut themselves off from being able to service the next generation of servants who want to serve in RANs. We have been doing the same thing for decades and are failing to adjust to changing times. Ask mission boards how they are doing in their recruiting efforts and you will find that the numbers are discouraging. Yet, talking to members of the next generation you find that there is no lack of desire. The willingness of the servants of tomorrow is met by an unwilling desire to change by traditional mission boards of today. We are not going to reach RANs by doing the same thing over and over again.

Philosophy. There is embedded in the thinking of many that a missionary must be “full-time” dedicated to Gospel work. Young adults are wanting to use their skills and abilities to serve in the marketplace as a means of Gospel outreach. I have heard countless pastors and mission board administrators ask “How can a person be a missionary when they work 40-50 hours in a secular job?” In their mind there is dissonance. Interestingly, for young adults it makes perfect sense. Some mission boards have been talking about “Business as Missions” (BAM) and “marketplace ministry” yet the policies they keep in place are a deterrent if not a complete obstacle to BAM. There is a very practical disconnect between these policies and the necessary activities that come with Business as Missions and marketplace ministry. While many talk about this “trend in missions” they are not on board, if not directly opposed to making the necessary structural changes in order to honestly be involved in BAM and marketplace ministry.

Bias. Many still view a missionary as having a Bible college degree along with a Masters in theology, and a few years of experience in a local church. This profile fits what is considered to be a proper religious professional. These are the people who should be missionaries they say. If a young adult with an MBA and an entrepreneurial bent wants to serve in a RAN then there is an internal disposition that concludes this person does not fit the proper profile of what a religious professional should be. This bias is not often articulated yet clearly seen by the actions of many. Ironically, it is the young entrepreneur who is bringing value to his community that is given an open door in a RAN setting and the traditional religious professional finds himself frustrated by all the “closed doors to ministry” that they encounter.

If we don’t seriously think through our models of ministry, our philosophy of ministry, and our bias regarding ministry we will continue this trend of not participating in reaching the restricted access nations of our world. Yet, I can guarantee that our young adults will not wait for us to change. They will
go ahead and forge their own paths. Because of this, I am not hopeless about their future. They will find a way - with or without our involvement. The gospel will be preached in the hard-to-reach places of our world, and souls will be gloriously saved. Do you want to be part of it?
1 Comment
BBW Alabama link
4/4/2021 06:31:10 pm

Great blog you have here

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe

    RSS Feed

    *If RSS feed is not working for you, please add it to your app or software manually by adding this url:
    ​www.bjucgo.com/blog/feed

    The CGO Blog

    Written by the CGO staff, with guest posts from students and other faculty/staff at BJU to provide thought leadership for missions in a new millennium. 

    Categories

    All
    Alumni
    Ask A Missionary
    Atheism
    Bible Study
    Buddhism
    Catholicism
    Children's Ministry
    China
    Christmas
    Church Ministry
    Common Ground
    Contextualization
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Cross Cultural
    Culture Blocks
    Education
    Evangelism
    Field Reports
    Gratitude
    Great Commission
    Greenville SC
    Holism And Prioritism
    Inspiration
    International Students
    Islam
    Local Church
    Medical Missions
    Millennials In Missions
    Ministry Team
    Missionaries You Don't Know
    Missionary Kid
    Missions Gamechangers In 2018
    Missions Internship
    Missions Mistakes
    Missions Strategy
    Missions Trip
    Muhammad
    Multiculturalism
    Outreach
    Pastoral Ministry
    Persecution
    Prayer
    Preparing For Ministry
    Sanctification
    Study Abroad
    Testimony
    Thanksgiving
    Ukraine
    Uncomfortable Ministry
    Urban Ministry
    War
    Woman's Ministry
    Women In Missions

    Archives

    April 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016

Picture

                               © COPYRIGHT 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.​

#BJUCGO