Reaching the WORLD

DOES GOD HAVE A PLAN TO REACH EVERY NATION?

The open fields for evangelism and missions are getting smaller. More countries are saying "no American missionaries". Billions are behind closed doors when it comes to American missions. It is sad but too many Christians are assuming that this limits God's plan and they say we can't do missions there anymore.

I still believe that God has a plan that will allow every tongue and tribe and nation to hear the gospel. The question is; has He put people in your neighborhood that can be the messages to their own ethnic homeland. Maybe we don't need to go overseas to complete the job. Maybe each believer [you and me] should see themselves as a missionary to the immigrants who live near us. If you help them develop a spiritual passion for the lost they have ways whereby they can share the gospel with people of the same language group. Maybe a language group you never heard of.

Lift up your eyes to see the harvesters for the worldwide harvest.

Contact, Eldon Brock

eldon26@gmail.com

Can Two Cultures Work Together?

Key Point # 12: We should assist ethnic believers where it is necessary but always allow them to have ownership of their own passion and ministry.

Have you found a way for church members from two or more cultural backgrounds to serve in harmony? Let’s talk about it. Post your comments below.

Often we think we know best how people in another culture should serve Christ.

Has someone tried to help you when you didn’t need it? Sometimes a person tries to give help that doesn’t fit the need. I know I feel the most successful when someone assures me that I can find the answer and then he praises me for work well done.

I heard a two year old girl say, "I can do it myself if you help me." It is always a better partnership if we help when asked, especially when two or more cultures are involved. I found that my American ways did not always work when trying to help Asians. True, we need to teach the Scriptures but allow a person freedom to trust the Spirit of God to lead."

God’s plan is seen in 1Cor. 12:4 – 7, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

If I insist on my way, especially when I don’t understand all of the conditions, I will rob the other person of his ownership and blessing. This is really hard when I feel time and convenience is at stake.

Let’s take time to hear before expecting to be heard.

The work of God is best done when there is unity in the body of Christ and we proclaim the Word of God without prejudice toward one another or the people we seek to win.

God’s challenge to me is to assist American churches to win the millions of people from other nations. They now live next door. If we respect and encourage them I believe they could send or take the Gospel to their homeland.


Post a comment here.

Do We Need New Mission Agencies To Reach the Ethnic Mission Field Here In America?

Key Talking Point #5: Churches are organized and have potential workers. We don’t need professional missionaries to begin this type of program.

I believe we have the ORGANIZATIONS already in place and that they are sleeping giants? Organized mission agencies are needed to train and oversee evangelism and church planting in most areas of the world; in America too. However, the mission field has come to us; to our neighborhood.

We have thousands of LOCAL CHURCHES already located in the midst of multi ethnic mission fields of people who need Christ. They are representative of the Nations of the world. The exciting mission potential! If churches were to share the Joy of Salvation with these lost souls they could give this message in Nations closed to Americans.

Too many American believers are satisfied to attend church, give money and pray for the professional workers to give the Gospel to the LOST. It also seems that the word MISSIONS triggers the concept that the work is to be done in some foreign land where it will not disturb our comfort zone. Don’t change the foreign missions but don’t be content thinking that everything possible is being done.

Local churches are organized. They have leadership and purpose (even though the purpose needs to be expanded). Local churches have the potential missionaries (member) who live near or even next door to the Nations; the immigrates in our neighborhoods.

From experience I believe churches need an agency that can help them capture the vision and assist them to be the LOCAL MISSION AGENCY to “disciple all nations” without leaving home.

Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries, Inc can provide: 1.vision casting for a church to be the MISSION AGENCY locally, 2. Can offer training for leadership and members, 3. Can assist with strategic planning, and 4. Can help set policies and programs to increase the success rate.

What do you think? Can mono ethnic churches become multi ethnic? Post your opinions; list the challenges and opportunities in the small envelope below.

Next week; People need Hope and Freedom from Fear.

Immigration: Problem or Opportunity from God?

# 4 Key point for E-tem. God has moved people from most of the nations and people groups of the world to the USA.

Immigration (legal and illegal) is a hot topic. When asked, I say there are two sides to this. 1, there is a national and political issue we should be attentive to. BUT, 2, there is the spiritual issue or opportunity whereby we can assist in the spreading of the Gospel worldwide and to all people groups.

The facts indicate that God is moving the world to our neighborhood; within our reach. This is an important trend to watch because everyday, the challenges for American foreign missions increase. Countries are closing or restricting American missionaries including the increasing costs. It is as if we are being forced out of traditional mission methods.

Some report that people from 190 foreign countries now live here and that 650 languages are spoken within our borders.

CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES, www.cis.org/immigration, reports, “The
March CPS found 37.3 million immigrants in the country. Data collected in 2006
indicates that 613,000 immigrants live in group quarters, for a total foreign-born population of 37.9 million in March 2007”

“The figure shows that between March 1995 and March 2000, the foreign-born population grew by 5.7 million, or about 1.1 million a year. The figure also shows that between 2000 and 2007 the immigrant population grew 7.3 million, or 1.04 million a year. These two numbers are the same statistically.”

This means that one out of every eight people (1 out 8) living here were born in another country. In other words the mission field has come to us. Matt. 28 tells us we should “Disciple” in our going or as we go. This also means each one who is a “disciple of Christ” can be a “missionary” with out leaving home.

This #4 out of 13 Talking Points. In 3 weeks we will talk about the passion people have for their homeland so if they could experience the joy of salvation I believe they will find a way to send or take the Gospel to their friends.

Next week: To be part of this new opportunity we don’t have to have professional/full time missionaries . See you then. www.Ethnictoethnic.org

Will we face change as an opportunity?

Key point #3: We need to look for changes that will allow us to be a part of reaching the world.

The World Is Getting Smaller. In many ways the world is more accessible. But, have you noticed that many churches are so busy and so over loaded with what they are doing that it is difficult for them to stop and notice changes.

There is stress to change. In the last two months we made several changes in our office attached to our house. This brings improvement but it has introduced confusion of where to relocate things from the old desk to the new. Now I even wonder if I need to upgrade the computer; but that would mean another learning curve and more time. It is easier to keep doing the same but the issue is can I do more with change? Even committing to this Blog creates pressure but I can see it can be part of casting the vision for “reaching the world”.

Last week I mentioned several changes in the world. Many think of these as limitations but “with every problem there is an opportunity.” Can we do more if we make the right changes? Will we face the challenges/changes and adjust so we can do more?

Increased mobility
High tech-communication
International business connections
Language translations, even digitally automatic
Plus many others

The wonderful record of 200 years of world missions causes me to rejoice. Now I just want people to evaluate 1. The basic issues of the Great Commission, 2. The productive things you now do, 3. The great opportunities if we adjust/improve our methods and 4. The potential of allowing God’s Glory to be revealed to more people.

There is no one miracle method. We need find effective ways of sharing the Gospel with “all nations.” One of those is to minister cross culturally to the 100’s of people groups living in USA.

More next week on my Key Talking Points.

The World Has Changed; Are You Adjusting Or Maintaining?

God’s plan for redeeming man has not changed but many of the national, communication, economic, travel and language barriers have been revolutionized.

This is the second point of 13 “Key Talking Points” to present the Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries concept. First, the Great Commission Has Not Changed! [that was last week]

Therefore, have we and will we need to change methodology to more effectively help people understand the offer of forgiveness and hope in Jesus Christ?

National. The names of nations and political leaders seem to change each day. Not once have I heard that they are more inviting to the Biblical message. How do you share the Gospel where you are not wanted?

Communication. I am using communication systems that no one dreamed of when I was born and then there are new ones they offer every day which I can’t understand. Today, you don’t even have to sit in a classroom to study for a degree. Person to person is still needed but this means restrictions can be broken.

Economic. Our dollar has less value, international trade is changing, the cost of sending U S missionaries has increased almost like our national debt, and the cost of doing anything has gone up. Think of how dependent you are on Internet and this is a new cost in the last decade.

Travel. Here again we can go further but at the same time there are more security restrictions, especially in the last seven years.

Language. More people are bi-lingual and English is more universal. Computerized translations increase but even so there are still 16.000 people groups.

Conclusion: American’s have to accept that winning the world must be shared with believers who can identify with their homeland and use the new methods. Nearly all of these people groups reside next to or near you and your church. Will we and can we win them to Christ so they can send or take to Gospel to lands American’s can’t go?

More next week. Please respond and join me.

Great Commission, Is it for professional missionaries only?

Is the Great commission only for professional missionaries we send away from our church?

We have focused on the word “world” in Mk 16:15 so much that the word “nations” in Mt 28:19 means some distant land of another culture and language. Oh, I know that we say that every man in every place, including the USA, needs Christ to be saved, BUT do our actions show it? Just look at the “nations”, the people groups of the world who live in our land, in our local community.

Anglo churches commonly seek to win Anglo people. Generally we assume that other cultures need to win the people of that culture. Sometimes we help a language group establish a church so they can meet separately. We may even support someone to evangelize that “other ethnic group” in our local area for us so we can stay in our comfort zone.

Mt. 28:19 gives the command and direction for offering the way of salvation and hope to the distant lands but also to the neighbor next door.

Let’s apply it. Where ever you are in your going, teach (disciple so they become followers of Christ in belief and life) all nations (the people groups wherever they are). Then we should welcome them to be baptized into Christ (one united body of believers). Baptism into Father, Son and Holy Spirit (accents the unity of those being baptized in this new human relationship as a preview of the unity of ethnic groups in heaven).

The Great Commission is more than a proper tool to challenge people to go over seas and more than an appeal to churches to support “full time” missionaries.” It is also our commission to seek out the Ethnic America and include them in a multicultural church, reflecting the Glory of God as it will be in heaven for eternity.

Let me know what you think.