Ministries Today: January/February 2000 edition

Healthy Churches for a Sick World:
How You Can Become a Missions-Focused Church
By: Dr. Howard Foltz

Cancer. We don't want to hear that word from our doctors. It's a clear sign of danger in our bodies, but what about in our churches?

In his book Fearfully & Wonderfully Made, Dr. Paul Brand explains that cancer occurs when one cell ignores the needs of others. Each cancer cell, he writes, is "a healthy, functioning cell, but disloyal, no longer acting in regard for the rest of the body."

Brand notes a similar disloyalty within today's church. Admitting it's not just a Western problem, he nevertheless explains: "At Velore [in India] we treated leprosy patients for $3 per patient per year, yet we turned many away for lack of funds. Then we came to America where some churches were heatedly discussing their million-dollar gymnasiums and the cost of landscapting and fertilizer, and sponsoring seminars on tax shelters for members to conserve their accumulated wealth."

Noting that he is a surgeon and not a prophet, Brand said simply, "My only message is the caution of a doctor: remember, the body will have health only if each cell regards the needs of the whole body"(1). Local churches will be healthy as their leadership and laity demonstrate earnest care for people within the fellowship, within the community, in nearby places, and on the other side of the world.

Perceptive Portraits

Lessons from the Church of Jerusalem

The "First Church of Jerusalmen" was born at Pentecost and broke all church growth records. The Holy Spirit initiated a series of supernatural events and huge crowds came from all around to witness these unusual occurrences. A newly empowered Peter preached and his first sermon alone brough 3,000 conversions. As thousands continued to repent and be saved, a fellowship of believers was birthed that became the Jerusalem church, again initiated by the Holy Spirit with divinely imparted health. This was God's response to a diseased world - not an antiseptic response, but a creative one to bring healing at the very root of sickness.

Acts 2:47 notes that new beliers were added daily. I like to say the Jerusalem church enjoyed "every member mobilization." God's gifts empowered individuals to minister to Him, to each other adn to the world. We see that lived out in the healthy features characterizing this fellowship.

This church understood the value of prayer and intercession. Even before Pentecost, this was a praying fellowship. In fact, as the King James Version says, they "continued with one accord in prayer" (Acts 1:14). The word translated "continued" means to be constantly diligent or earnest, to persevere, even to give yourself to an activity.

This congregation enjoyed a unique spirit of unity. Acts 4:32 (NIV) says the believers were one in heart and mind, or heart and soul. The world translated "heart" is kardia. By implication it describes feelings or thoughts. The word translated "mind" or "soul" is psuche, comes from the Greek word from which we get our contemporary term "psyche." It is defined as spirit. And so, this group was united in feeling, intention, thought, and spirit. This showed in the believer's actions as they shared possessions to ensure that no member was needy.

These believers valued praise and worship. Their corporate expression included sacrament - Acts 2 mentions baptism and "the breaking of bread." These believers also met in the temple courts and in homes, praising God for His grace and provision.

Their obedience remained firm in the face of persecution. After the Sanhedrin threatened the apostles with death, these believers still determined to obey God rathern than men (Acts 5:29). The final result, of course, was the stoning of Stephen, who preferred to die rather than disobey God's calling

Rosy with Health?

The Jerusalem church gives every indication that it was a living, breathing body, actively involved in effective ministry within its community. Any pastor would be thrilled to stand at the helm of such a fellowship. But the events recorded in Acts show it was partially immobilized through misdirection. Shackled by Jewish identity and a traditional mentality, these believers never made it beyond "their own kind" despite a mandate to take the gospel throughout the world.

The missionary mandate is as old as the Old Testament. Genesis 12 records God's call to Abraham to travel to the place where God would lead him. Verses 2 and 3 note God's promise to the man whom the Jewish population saw as their father. Yet, within those verses, God clearly outlines His plan to bless the entire world through Israel's election. Paul referred to this in his writings: "The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.' So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith" (Gal. 3:8-9).

Consider also Solomon's remarkable prayer to dedicate the temple, which clearly indicates it was not for the Jewish population alone. It was built also for the "foreigner who...has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm." Solomon asked god to hear that foreigner's prayer, "so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel" (2 Chr. 6:32-33).

Psalm 67 calls for God's kingdom to be extended throughout the earth. And the prophets clearly saw the Messiah as Savior of all mankind. For example, Isaiah says God will enable people of all nations and dialects to see His glory. He adds, "I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those...to the nations...and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations." (Is. 66:19). Look aslo at Isaiah 49:6, "I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." Paul recognized this verse's true meaning, for he quoted it to a group of Jews in Antioch questioning his ministry (Acts 13:46-47).

Beyond the Old Testament foundation, this body of believers also had a mandate from Christ Himself. Acts 1:8 records Jesus' words just before He ascended into heaven: "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judia and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Christ demanded a proclamation to all nations. Yet, the Jerusalem church remained stuck in its own little enclave, allowing a few experimental evangelistic trips, but basically reluctant to minister beyond its own city.

It's clear that a spiritual cancer gnawed at the Jerusalem congregation. Yet doesn't this mirror the typical contemporary Western church?

Powerful Principles

The Contemporary Application

In the early 1980s, contemporary christian music pioneer Keith Green told us that 94 percent of the world's ordained preachers served 9 percent of the world's people in the English-speaking world: That broke down to an incredible imbalance, with the United States enjoying one full-time Christian worker for every 230 people, while those who had never heard the gospel had one full-time Christian worker for every 450,000 people! (2).

Admittedly, those are old statistics. Recent strategies have made some changes in these figures. But even if we have doubled or tripled the force of full-time Christian workers for the unevangelized and unreached, we still would see a huge discrepancy. Incredible as it may seem, statistics published within this decade indicate that, even still, about 94 percent of all full-time Christian workers minister in countries where at least 60 percent of the population already claims to be Christian (3). Of course, these "Christian" nations tend to be wealthy enough to support people in full-time service. Still, these statistics point to an incongruity that can be corrected only as christians cross cultural barriers. And that will happen only as local churches encourage that kind of sacrifice.

Sadly, Ralph Winter, of the U.S. Center for World Mission, has reported that, of those who make "missionary decisions," only 1 percent actually make it to the field. Winter attributes this low success rate to two factors: (1) Few parents, pastors, and friends encourage this type of commitment, and (2) few churches are eager to incur the additional financial burden of supporting a missionary. Just imagine, he says, if we could double the figure so that 2 percent of missionary decisions would result in actual service. It doesn't seem like too difficult of a task, yet it would make a tremendous difference in the world (4).

Personal Perspectives

We Share the Mandate

It's easy to point fingers at the Jerusalem church, yet we share the same mandate. The book of Acts holds an intrinsic warning for contemporary churches. If the Holy Spirit had not intervened, Jerusalem's believers could have lost God's plan very early in Christian history. But God stepped into the picture in a convincing way, using persecution to force these believers to obey His mandate.

Winter sees this scenario replayed throughout church history. A group of believers gets comfortable and misplaces God's command to take the gospel to the world. God allows them to encourter persecution, so they scatter to other regions, evangelizing as they go. Winter concludes: "If we in the West insist on keeping our blessings instead of sharing them, then we will, like other nations before us, have to lose our blessings for the remaining nations to receive them. God has not changed His plan in the last 4,000 years" (5).

Practical Proposals

Occupational Theology

Jesus told of a king who was preparing for a trip. He gave each of three servants a certain amount of money and told them, "Occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13, KJV). In the original language, the term actually means "to busy oneself with" or "to trade." In one translation, the king says, "Do business with this [money] until I come back" (NASB). In another he says, "Put this money to work until I come back" (NIV).

As the story progresses, we find that two servants invested wisely and returned to the king twice the amount he originally gave them. They were rewarded. The other servant hid the money, wanting to return the entire original amount to his master. He played it safe. He didn't take his master's command to heart. He didn't engage in the occupation his maser left for him to do. In the end, he lost even the little bit he had been given.

Charles Van Engen, assistant professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, sees a simlar attitude in Western churches. They often refuse to engage in the occupation Jesus left for his followers. They "relegate 'mission' to the leftover category," he says, "with the internal necessities of congregation and membership receiving higher priority. Mission calls us to radical re-examination. If mission is part of the essance of the church's nature...then it ought to be at the top of the list."

As Van Engen explains, "Contrary to some predictions of the 1960s, local congregations are here to stay. But their quality of life is in jeopardy. They will either limp along struggling to maintain what they have, or they will rise to new life because they catch a vision of their unique purpose and mission within their individual context" (6).

Missions is not only important in and of itself - it's crucial for the health of your other programs and your local congregation. the question, then, is not whether your church should be involved in missions. The question is, "How can my church be involved in missions?" The following 10 points are considerations for a healthy church that understands and fulfills its role as an "occupier."

1. The Importance of Leadership. My Regent University classes surveyed congregations nationwide to determine primary factors contributing to missions mobilization. Participants were given a list of "contributing factors" that they rated on a scale of 1 to 5 of importance. Every respondent rated "Missions-minded Senior Pastor as a "5" - extremely important. Senior pastors: you and your staff are crucial. You hold the keys to unlock the world for your congregation.

2. Building Strategic Churches. A traditional church consists of various departments, each claiming responsibility for a certain ministry area. These departments are like building blocks. One block may be youth ministry, another children's ministry, a third the choir, a fourth the Sunday school. These blocks are cemented together, but each also is a self contained unit serving its own people. This approach leads to fragmentation and even unhealthy rivalry, as departments compete for a larger piece of the budgetary pie.

In contrast, I believe God sees local churches as dyanmic organisms. He asks each department to set a goal of ministry to others. As a result, the departments are able to work together in simultaneous outreach to the neighbor next-door, but also to the earth's farthest regions. This is a "strategic church," for it locks in on God's goal, and in unified effort, it strategically moves to accomplish that goal.

3. Scriptural Teaching and Preaching. Biblically-based teaching and preaching is foundational at every level of church health, but in missions education, it is absolutely crucial. Pastors and teachers must provide a biblical missions theology that permeates the entire church ministry.

4. Missions Education is for All Age Levels. Don't assume your children are too young. I know a Virginia church that sponsored a short-term mission trip to Jamaica for children. While visiting a hospital, a 9-year-old girl noticed a woman with a tumor in her abdomen. That girl prayed a courageous request in complete faith that her all-powerful God had the ability to heal - and He did! The swelling disappeared while the group was standing there. You can imagine the impact - certainly on that woman, and even on those who saw or heard about it, but also on that girl and the other youngsters. While your missions education may take a more traditional format, keep in mind that most children thrive on exciting stories of spiritual victories in faraway lands. They openly accept God's miraculous activity. Today's lessons will lay a strong foundation for their futures, but also for your church's future.

Also, don't consider your senior citizens to be too old. Many white-haired saints would love to embark on this type of adventure. Missions education must impact all age groups. It should include, but not be limited to, an annual missions conference. According to Assemblies of God statistics, churches who host missions conferences see 120 percent more converts than churches who don't. They also enjoy 15 percent more total income. And they give from 118 percent to 294 percent more to world missions.

5. Knowing and Supporting Missionaries. Remember the survey my class conducted regarding missions in the local church? This particular factor, knowing your missionaries, ranked in the 98th percentile.

Relationships occur naturally as you invite missionaries to speak. But also encourage your fellowship to take a personal interest and develop relationships by mail or e-mail. For those who work in regions that are hostile to Christianity, this may involve some risk. But many missionaries would welcome this type of encouragement, which would also personalize cross-cultural ministry for your congregation.

Consider this passage from a letter written by Western missionaries serving in an African nation. They describe political instability and economic collapse. Displaced people whose home have been burned, or who have been violently forced to flee, have nowhere to go. "By the thousands they have gathered at the railroad stations in the mining cities...to await nonexistent trains to take them 'home.' With only cardboard or plastic between them and the torrential rains and the swarms of infected mosquitoes, the sever conditions are hastening their death from starvation..."

Such letters reveal the cry of those who live elsewhere in the world. They also reveal the challenges faced by missionary representatives. your congregations will feel they truly are part of that ministry. They will pray specifically for each situation and give financially - even sacrificially.

6. Develop an Active, Consistent and Systematic Ministry of Intercession and Spiritual Warfare for the World. This goes beyond praying for missionaries. It means praying specifically for the needs of nations, regions, and people groups. I encourage congregations to use a systematic intercession plan. Patrick Johnstone's Operation World is an excellent prayer guide. Arranged like a calendar, each day offers a brief description of a specific country and its particular needs. This type of guide will enable your congregation to pray their way around in the world, and in the process, they will touch millions of lives.

7. Encourage Cross-Cultural Ministry for your Pastoral Staff and also for your General Membership. Physical involved in cross-cultural efforts will move your leaders and laity beyond the level of vicarious experience, propelling them into the nuts and bolts of missions. Your church could initiate an outreach to international students. But I encourage you not to stop there. consider, for example, the value of inviting your staff and membership to participate in short-term missions trips. Try to involve 10 percent of your congregation in short-term experiences, at least once in their Christian lives. Those with no missions experience probably should go to a destination with an established work headed by seasoned missionaries. This will help ensure a successful trip. Adequate training also will protect participants from situations that may mar the experience. Cultures, after all, are diverse. Adequate training will prepare participants for cultural situations unique to the area they will visit.

8. Send Career Missionaries from your Congregation. Emphasizing missions in your church will lead your congregation to see cross-cultural ministry as one of God's priorities. As individuals internalize this knowledge, you will see people stepping forward, saying God is calling them to a full-time, lifetime career in some form of cross-cultural outreach. By all means, lend them your support and your church's support in finding where God would have them "plug in" to the world. I believe a missions-mobilized church should strive to see at least 2 percent of its fellowship engaged in this type of ministry, with half laboring as career missionaries and half as "tentmakers."

Of course, God is the only One Who can issue the call. You and your church cannot and should not do that. But you can pray for God to "send forth laborers" from your own group. You can create an atmosphere hat encourages this career choice as natural and healthy, rather than relegating it to "super-spiritual renegades." And you can commit yourselves and your resources to support these people at every level of preparation, training, commissioning, and ministry. You can become a "sending church."

9. Recognize the Importancee of Unreached and Unevangelized People Groups. If all the Christians in the world witnessed to everyone in their own cultural groups, we still would not fulfill the Great Commission. Nearly half of the world's people would not hear about Jesus, because they live in cultures with litle or no knowledge of the gospel. In 1992, according to the U.S. Center for World Mission, here were at least 600 local congregations for every unreached people group. If every evangelical congregation in the world dedicated itself to helping to evangelize one of those people groups, the task would shrink dramatically.

Research the need. You will find that 97 percent of these ethnic groups live in the "10/40 Window," a region between 10 degrees and 40 degrees north of the equator, crossing northern Africa, the Middle East and Asia. This area encompasses the majority of the world's Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. It is ravaged by poverty and disease. yet, despite the great spiritual and physical need, less than 10 percent of al lmissionaries work there. Local churches can help take back this area from Satan, one people group at a time. Ask God how he wants you to impact these groups. Ask Him to reveal your church's wealth and to demonstrate how it can impact a group of people on the other side of the world. Seek His wisdom in joining other churches and agencies to combine resources.

And don't forget the local angle. I visited a Midwestern congregation that adopted an unreached Asian country. As they continued in unified prayer, this church believed God wanted them to adopt a Muslim group of 8 million to 9 million people from that country. Soon they discovered that, of all the possible locations in the united Stated, the major institute of that Asian nation was right in their own city. Without leaving their own area, without spending a dime, they had access to abundant resources for cultural information. Even beyond that miracle, God opened the door for personal contact with individuals from that people group, through the international students at the institute.

Of course, they didn't stop there. Although this church of about 1,500 members was already giving $250,000 per year to missions, God planted an idea for further fund raising. Simply by asking their congregation to save loose change, they raised and additional $100,000 for this new outreach. They sent a team to that nation for research and prayer. they followed up with short-term teams for relief work. They supported a missionary couple working among that people group's refugees in a neighboring nation. They networked with other Christian organizations. All of this began when one church answered God's specific call to take His Good News to one specific group of people.

10. Seek to Mobilize Other Churches for Missions. A missions-mobilized church should seek to mobilize others for involvement in God's activity all around the world. How can you do that?

First, by your example. A church that moves into missions will experience God's blessing in radical, new and unexpected ways. This venture will impact every facet of your church's ministry and health. Other pastors and congregations can't help by notice.

Second, by your testimony. Announce God's activity in your midst and around the world. By your proclaimation, you will influence other fellowships. Don't hesitate to announce to others what God is doing in you and through you.

And third, by inviting them to join you. Ask other churches to help you influence the world. Mentor them. Impart to them some occupational theology. Challenge them to invest the King's resources in the business that He intended. Then, watch closely as God piles up the interest and the dividends.

Notes:

(1) Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1980, 1987, pp.58-61.

(2) Keith Green, "Why Schould You Go to the Mission Field?" 1982, 1984, Last Days Ministries, reprinted in OMS Outreach, July/Sept., 1996, pp. 4-5.

(3) John A. Stewart and John A. Kenyon (editors), The Mission Handbook 1993-1995, 15th Edition, MARC, Monrovia, Calif., 1993, p.11, citing statistics from AD2000 Global Monitor, April 1991, and Zwemer Institute of Muslim Studies.

(4) Ralph Winter, editorial, Mission Frontiers Bulletin, U.S. Center for World Mission, Jan./Feb. 1995, p. 4.

(5) Ralph Winter, "The Kingdom Strikes Back: The Teen Epochs of Redemptive History," in Perspectives of the World Christian Movement, Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, editors, The Institute of International Studies (William Carey Library), Pasadena, Calif., 1981, pp. 148,155.

(6) Charles Van Engen, God's Missionary People: Rethinking the Purpose of the Local Church, Baker, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1991, pp. 20, 80.

Resources and Bibliography:

Accelerating International Mission Strategies (AIMS), On the Cutting Edge: A Guide for Sharpening Your Church Missions Program, AIMS, 1994.

AIMS, Short-term Missions Training: The Ticket to Successful Ministry, 1989, 1992.

Coleman, Robert. The Master Plan of Evangelism, Revell, 1963, 1964, 1993.

Johnstone, Patrick. The Church is Bigger than You Think: The Unfinished Task of World Evangelisation, William Carey Library, 1998.

Lewis, Norm Ph.D. Faith promise: Why and How?, OM Lit, 1992.

Murray, Andrew. Key to the Missionary Problem, Christian Literature Crusade, 1979.

Pirolo, Neal. Serving as Senders, Emmaus Road International, 1991.

Van Engen, Charles. God's Missionary People: Rethinking the Purpose of the Local Church, Baker, 1991.

Winter, Ralph D. and Hawthorne, Steven C. (editors), Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, William Carrey Library, 1981, 1992.

For reprint information, please call the AIMS publication office at (757) 495-5850 or email the editor at aims@aims.org.

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