The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
Author: Patrick Hall
Date: 29.09.2010
Category: Unreached People Groups
Less statistics and more transformation.
I fear the way we focus our evaluation of success in missions primarily on the Quantitative model of Unreached People groups seems to be motivationaly deceiving and spiritually limited in scope. Do you really think that my generation is going to find excitement and motivation for mission in numbers and concepts that were developed by those who interpreted things as so black and white?
I believe it is vital as we look at what missions will become in this/my generation that a greater weight be put upon Qualitative aspects in regards to our success towards the fulfillment of the Great Commission. I know that this is a much more important motivator to my generation than numbers and statistics. I was hoping that this post could lead into a discussion that might breed some ideas towards developing a type of Qualitative model for Mission. Note I am not looking to attack the old model or even say we need to get rid of it but I am suggesting that a new directional shift in focus should be considered.
Specifically what I would like to get at is how do we pursue a motivation strategy that is more geared towards combating the primary issues of Discipleship vs. Nominalism in what we view as missional success.
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I realized my original post didn’t give a solid foundation for discussion. Here are some of the questions I think would be useful to talk about. Please feel free to post any questions of your own that you think we should be talking about as well.
Here are just a few questions that come to my mind when we begin to wrestle with our current strategic focus’ when it comes to the Great Commission.
a. What kind of disciples are we making? Christ-centered or Christ-pacified?
b. Is the message of 1 John 4:7-17 at the center of our call to discipleship? Have we communicated the importance of how our identity in Christ and commitment to Christ are not separate entities?
c. Are suffering, sacrifice, and servanthood at the forefront of the Kingdom message? Or do the leaders of the churches we are planting live in prestige, prosperity, and stagnancy?
d. Do holiness and righteous living play any role in how we currently measure our success? (eg. 1 John 4:6 and Exodus 19:6)
e. Do we actually expect not only our emotions but our actions to change as a result of salvation? (When I say this I mean it in the global sense even though obviously it’ll look a bit different in various cultural environments)
f. Have we allowed in many locations around the world a type of personally emotionally gratifying faith to spring up that isn’t rooted in living out the Lord’s justice and righteousness such as in Amos 4:23-24?
g. Are spiritual disciplines such as prayer, regular personal time with the Lord, training & discipling others, growing in knowledge and understanding of God’s Word, considered vital in our salvific proclamation? Also do you think they should be incorporated in our measurements of success or not?
Keywords: Unreached People Groups, Qualitative, Generation, Model
Views: 3390
Comments: 5
Recommendations: 0
Conversation Post Comment
United States
Good point. Your generation needs a new model. You need some pioneers (from your generation) if you really want to see new models. Many current models/theories started in 1970’s.
02.10.2010
United States
@ mission21:
Your comment actually hits at the heart of my post. My concern is that my generation falls into two main categories
1) those who have been trained by your generation to think the same ways
-or-
2) Those who haven’t been trained in the Ralph Winter, Bill Bright, Billy Graham way of thinking and meanwhile lack any sense of urgency. (though I would note that social justice does typically seem of relevancy to this group, which I think might be the springboard for my generation parred with a more missional way of thinking)
I actually shifted from pursuing my MBA to go to seminary for this purpose. But even here at TEDS it’s hard to find others who are either a) serious about Global Evangelism or b) think differently than the typical: we just need to go mentality.
02.10.2010
United States
@ TEDS-Patrick_Hall:
It seems that even so called "emerging" models are somewhat superficial - a little modification of existing/past models.
More of His wisdom and discernment to you. - as you search for new "mission/ministry models"...
11.10.2010
United States
@ mission21:
Actually I agree with you on this. We don’t really need another model more or less just a more missional approach to breeding vision.
I think we do need two things though
1) A re-vamping of a contextualized Vision for this generation.
My generation lacks the passion and vision for missions like the modern evangelical movement did although we are more global in our experiences.
2) An engaging mindset and dialogue between the older and younger generation as to retain the wisdom of the past but also to allow, direct, and encourage the passion of the present generation in regards to new ideas & ways of thinking about things.
I appreciate the comments.
11.10.2010
United States
You might have given the post title a different name. You aren’t re-thinking the model but the audience who is not motivated toward the model. But I am glad you named it as you did, I wouldn’t haven’t found it.
Looking inward, (at me in the mirror) is probably one of the main reasons we have not reached the unreached peoples. Unfortunately there is too much teaching on "me" and "my" interior. Christ has 100% taken care of me and my interior. And I will see those things become reality on this earth the more I keep my eyes (heart, faith) on Him AND His purposes.
Jesus didn’t say, come follow me and I will take you through years of inner healing and introspection and then you will be ready to go evangelize the world. The apostle Paul says, I care not if I am judged by anyone.. I do not even judge myself. 1 Corinthians 4:2-4 We need to stop looking in the mirror and lift our eyes to Christ. Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus..
If the future, present or past generations would lift their eyes to Christ and to the harvest they would be moved. It’s not a problem with your generation Patrick. The majority of the church around the world is not focused on "the ends of the earth" (unreached peoples) where the Gospel has not been preached, where no disciples are being made. Call unreached peoples what you will, the church is off track, that is not your fault nor your generations fault. It will be if you don’t change your generation though.
It is partly the older generations fault for not giving you the correct model. However, you too have the New Testament, look to the harvest, open your eyes, look to Jesus.
I think another thing that is needed is to get young people (any people) out into an unreached people for a few days. I was out in a few unreached groups last week doing field research. I’m 47 and I was moved. It’s like anything in our spiritual life, you have to keep washing your mind with the Water of the Word (truth).
If you don’t live near unreached peoples and are actively doing something about it, anyone will become apathetic. Living in the USA is hard on anyone’s spirituality. I can’t do it. Contact me and I will take you and a few of your friends into some really unreached areas. Blessings brother! DM
02.10.2010
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