Mission-Minded Children

We are blessed by our four young adult daughters who are all thoroughly mission-minded individuals.  Recently, I asked them, “If you were to encourage other parents, what were some of the things mom and I did that impacted you most in this area?”

Our Oldest Begins

“The first thing that comes to mind is reading the missionary biographies after dinner, I remember that we would SO look forward to those!  At times I would have rather read one of those then have dessert.  And I remember that we all wanted to be missionaries to different parts of the world based on these.  This is how I gained most of the knowledge about historical missionaries, because if we didn't read them I would know nothing about Mary Slessor (my favorite), George Mueller, Gladys Aylward, Amy Carmichael, or any others.”

In their excitement, our children would occasionally ask their friends about their own favorite missionary; but often others had no idea what a missionary even was.  I guess it is tough being a pastor’s kid at times.  

Experience Counts

All types of experiences prove valuable, from going, to sending, to supporting and to praying.  There are so many opportunities before us! Here are some more responses from the girls.

• Encouraging us to go on an evangelistic mission trip ourselves. “After the mission trip I was more mission-minded than before.”

• Hosting different missionaries in our home and hearing from them was cool too! We loved hearing stories and meeting people that do missions in different countries. 

• “Just reminding us to pray for the church when they were on mission trips, helped me think about missions a lot.” Especially, taking us to the World Christian Prayer Meetings at church, and telling us we had to pick one thing to pray for out loud.

• Supporting people financially and in other ways that go on trips was helpful. And it encouraged us to support our own endeavors, whether volunteer experiences, spiritual growth areas, or whatever.

Dad & Mom Both Push Mission

We pushed mission from the very beginning as part our our vision for our family.  As soon as we started receiving missionary newsletters as young parents we would put them in binders and use them in our times of family devotions during our prayer times. We even included mission readings as part of school, and they loved it.

Dad and mom need to go.  One daughter mentioned that we modeled for her how it all fits together--the strategy, fundraising, team dynamics, prayer, etc.  She remembered vividly that we shared stories with them and in front of the whole church with others who had gone.  These were stories about “PERSONAL experience,” and included pictures of those we met and who accepted Christ.

She went on to point out our “trusting and bold attitude towards missions.”  She went on to observe, “It's interesting because some people I have met at college get scared when I talk about going to India or a mission trip and because both you and mom are not afraid to let us go, then in turn I'm not afraid to step out into the world--God says to evangelize to the world and not just in our comfort zones!!”  Amen, to that!

More to Do and Learn

Children are a blessing; we received more information than expected.  It is always interesting what children remember and count as significant.  Certainly, there is a whole lot more we as parents can do to impart passion for the Mission of God in Christ to our children. 

You may have found many other creative and powerful ideas.  I would love to read your comments!  We still have two teenage boys at home and are considering what more to do to capture their hearts with the heart of God!

May God bless all you parenting efforts!

The Scary, The Draining, The Needy

What to do with difficult people?

Who is responsible for dealing with the difficult people in a church?  The Apostle Paul instructs the new congregation in Thessalonica that everyone has a responsibility toward everyone else.  He urges all of them to deal with the “difficult people” together; it is not just the responsibility of the leaders.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”

The Scary

They all are to “admonish the idle.”  Other translations include the ideas of being undisciplined in living, being disorderly or unruly, even just plain lazy.  Such people can be scary to be around because of how they live, and what challenging things they might say, especially in the church.  Our tendency is to stay away from scary people so we don’t get hurt or get in trouble with them, hoping someone in the church with more courage will confront them.

The Draining

They all are to “encourage the fainthearted.”  A number of people are given to discouragement and depression.  These are people who often are given to worrying and giving up.  Sometimes faintheartedness is limited to a particularly challenging time in one’s life.  Such people can be draining to be around because our energy gets sapped, and their pessimism rains on our happiness.  Our tendency is to look past draining people, hoping someone in the church with more insight and stamina will counsel them.

The Needy

They all are to “help the weak.”  This category of people could be quite broad, including those of lower social status, or those who yield to persecutions or temptations, or those who are weak in faith in general.  Such people often have a lot of needs that make us uncomfortable and make it hard for us to embrace them.  Our tendency is to inform others about their neediness, hoping someone in the church with more resources will help them.

The Meaning of Patience

The final urging upon everyone is to “be patient” with these three types of people, and certainly all other difficult types they will encounter.  Being patient means not being irritated or annoyed with them as difficult people.  And it means being patient with them in their typically slow progress.  It is very important that they make progress of course, but be prepared that it likely will be very slow.

Our world is impatient with one another and doesn’t care well for those who are different.  So here is an opportunity for each and every Christian community to exhibit the values of the Gospel of the Kingdom.  Churches that admonish, encourage and help difficult people move forward in Christian discipleship and for betterment in life will be blessed and overflow with blessing far beyond just a few difficult people.

Help Your Leaders

Church leaders cannot carry the load by themselves in dealing with all the difficult people.  Often the church leaders have just as hard a time as everyone else does with the scary, the draining, the needy, and all the others.  Don’t let your leaders get worn down and worn out by having to deal with the difficult people all by themselves.  

The Thessalonian letter ends with the encouragement to “greet all the brothers” whenever we gather together.  We are to greet the difficult people, as well, not leaving anyone out, avoiding them or handing them off.  We need to push ourselves past our discomfort.  We each have a responsibility and a role to play in one another’s lives.  

All churches have difficult people needing counsel tailored specifically to them.  And each congregation itself is equipped for this task in its membership, as the Apostle wrote the churches in Rome, “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14)  

Will you help?

Finding Your Church's Place In The World

The world is a big place, with lots of people and in great variety!  Churches often ask how to find a place in the world to engage in mission.  In prayerfully processing God’s will for your church in His Mission, here are ten considerations to talk about as a mission leadership team.

1.  Religious background



Do you have a preference one way or the other in working among people from a Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Animist or Atheist background? If so, this will narrow down the possibilities quickly.


2.  Urban to tribal continuum



Think about what size of society sounds interesting, exciting or strategic to you. Do you see your church working in a tribal setting, or in villages and towns, or moderate to large size cities, or perhaps in a complex urban center?


3.  Climate comfort



Will you be most comfortable with sunshine or rain, clouds or open sky? Do you have an aversion to intense heat or cold? Such personal considerations matter when considering bringing in teams repeatedly.


4.  Culture basics



Look a little closer at the potential cultures you might engage. Do you like what you see? Are you going to find yourselves too frustrated or annoyed? Or, maybe it sounds like great fun!


5.  Easy to hard ministry continuum



Results are important. Results are guaranteed because this is what God does. But, what do you want to see happen and how fast? Some are most interested in working where conversions are common and churches get started easily. Others prefer more challenging ministry environments.


6.  Political situation



Persecution scares some people while it inspires others. Simply put, would you like to work out in the open or in secret? What level of freedom do you want? How do you envision your relationship with future national partners, and other missionaries?


7.  Level of Christian presence and development



Take your pick: pioneer, develop or partner. Is your congregation wired and gifted to go it alone? Or, to come alongside an emerging work? Or, to partner with established works? It is all significant and rewarding work, so just be honest about your preference.


8.  Type of ministry activity



What do you want to do? Do you want to evangelize, teach, train, provide relief, meet social needs, establish programs, assist medically, or plant churches, for example? Will you be most interested in locality or in regional ministry?


9.  Travel accessibility



How many teams will your church be sending and how many times a year? Can you get to the location and do significant ministry within your volunteer’s available 
time and resources? And to meet the needs demanded by the field?


10.  Commitment length



Can you make lasting impact within the attention span of your church and its leadership? Will you be there at least five years? Consider how long it would take your church to accomplish Kingdom purposes in a certain location.


As you talk together, more and more creative thinking will start taking place.  It will propel some people into further research; and many more to deeper prayer.  Eventually, it will lead to a high quality vision trip.

There is a whole lot more to consider, and things unique to each congregation.  But, hopefully these ten conversation topics will help narrow the field and get your church started on this life changing faith adventure with God!

Jesus Christ In Eight Wonders

The opening paragraph of the Book of Hebrews tells us how we are to think about Jesus Christ by means of eight clauses.

Hebrews 1:2–4 ESV “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”

The Heir of All Things

This Son is the One whom the Father appointed as Heir of all things.  God has declared His pleasure in Him.  He will yet receive all things with a new dignity as the Son who has both revealed God to us and redeemed us from our sins.

The Son has already been enthroned on high, yet awaits the consummation of all things.  He will take possession of all things permanently, forever.  This is the fulfillment of Psalms 2 and 110 which speak of the Kingship of Christ.  To be the Heir of the universe is His destiny.  

The Creator of the World

He is the One through whom God the Father created all things.  Jesus Christ is the eternally pre-existent and co-existent Son of the Father.  The Son is co-Creator with the Father.  

He is the rightful Heir of all things by virtue of His being appointed to it, as the Son who pleases the Father in redemption.  Also, He is the rightful Heir simply by virtue being its Creator.

The Reflector of God’s Glory

He is the “radiator” or “reflector” of God’s glory, shining forth the fullness of His glory.  As the radiator of the glory of God, He Himself must be God.  He must be essentially glorious as the Father Himself is.  

This speaks to His oneness with the Father in eternal glory.  We recall the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain with His Apostles Peter, James, and John. 

The Same God but Different Person

He is the “exact imprint/representation” of God’s nature or being.  He is the exact correspondence of the essence of the Father.  He is fully God Himself, yet necessarily distinct from Him.  They are two persons, and yet the same God.  

This statement about His being the “exact imprint” is parallel to the previous one about His being the “radiance of the glory of God,” yet they do relate two different points.  Passing over centuries of doctrinal development, today we commonly refer to the Son and the Father being “equal in essence and glory, yet distinct in person and office.” 

The Sustainer of the Universe

He also upholds all things by His powerful word, carrying all creation along to its goal.  His constant word enables creation to continue to exist.  

More than that, He uses all creation for the accomplishment of all His purposes.  This work of Sustainer also shows Him to be our omnipotent God. 

The Purifier

He made purification for sins by self-sacrifice on the Cross, having become man, one of us, body and soul.  Sin is the big problem, our big problem--its unpardonable guilt, unending shame and unbreakable power.  He removed all of this and the stain of sin upon our souls as the Pure One.  

This phrase is the key phrase for introducing the Book of Hebrews.  This theme of purification is thoroughly developed, and the work of Christ explored and applied to our lives both now and for eternity.

The Reigning King

He sat down at the honorable and powerful position of the right hand of the Father, the Majesty on High.  Jesus Christ is ruling and directing all things every day to serve His saving purposes among humanity and to benefit His Church.

In this phrase and the previous one the eternal Priesthood of Christ and eternal Kingship of Christ are brought together.  We are reminded of the prophecy in Psalm 110 concerning these two roles being united in the Messiah. 

The Most Excellent One

He has always been above the angels since He created them.  However, during His ministry upon earth as a man He was subject to their service and care of Him.  But now, after accomplishing redemption as the Son of God Incarnate His status has been renewed in a newly exalted way!

Upon His ascension into heaven, Jesus inherited the most excellent Name above all names.  It is the name of “Lord” with many new facets now referencing the totality of His being and work openly revealed!  

The first two chapters of the Book of Hebrews describe this most astounding event of Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Coronation in heaven--read on!

A new age was inaugurated when the Son of God appeared from glory and has now returned to glory.  It is the age of final revelation and full salvation!  And so it is the time of Mission.  It is our age.  Ponder in prayer these eight astounding clauses, and then go tell all the world about this Jesus, how to consider Him and to consider their relationship to Him!

Leaders Go First

Some time ago I was asking a question from a biblical and theological conviction, but with little idea where it would lead.  

I asked the simple question of my mission expert friend, “How do we plant churches in our community and at the end of the world?”  And then, “Where do we start, here or there?”  My main concern was that people really do evangelism and that church multiplication is intentional.

His quick answer was to tell me to start overseas.  “Why?”  Because there is better transferability in this direction.  Also, the unreached are a higher priority.  The results will be more immediate and observable, which is most inspiring for vision building.  

Besides he said, “where you start, and what you start doing, is where and what you will end up with.”  In other words, if we started here first we might never get overseas.  And if we started by doing service projects we might never get to evangelism and church planting.  So, we followed his advice and started with evangelism and church planting overseas.

Wanting to Do What Paul Did

Acts 14:21–23 ESV “When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”

Romans 15:20–21 ESV “and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.””

The Moment of Decision 

It was not a normal Elders meeting.  We knew God had not taught us all about His Mission for nothing.  We had spent over a year studying the Pauline missionary journeys in the Book of Acts, reading a few books on missions, consulting with mission leaders, and exploring options God was putting before us as a congregation.

Also, we been enjoying doctrines of grace, feasting on Scripture, not yet seeing Mission implications.  It dawned on us that if we are true Calvinists then we have nothing to fear, and God’ glory and success are guaranteed, so we said, “Calvinists especially should be doing crazy things like Missions.”

We had a decision to make to go forward on a church planting mission expedition and just get started.  As David Livingstone once said, “I don’t care which way we go let’s just go forward!”

A Faith Adventure with God 

So, we picked the most adventuresome place available to us at the time.  We announced the plan to the congregation and a few others joined us.  This was a big step of faith into the unknown for us with key people and a lot of money!

We committed to go first as leaders, because this is what leaders do--they lead courageously and decisively.  By going first not only were we able to set an example, but we were able to think strategically about our future mission involvement from a shared experience.  We were able to tell stories and share a new vision with passion and one voice.

We learned how important it is to ask the big questions, the visionary ones, the ones we know are good biblically and theologically, even though we can’t see how they could be accomplished practically . . . at least not yet.

God supplied and made the path plain as we moved forward.  We learned that we could only figure out God’s plan for us in His Mission in the actual doing of it, over there.  We must go, count the cost and spend money.  

That is how we got started as a small local church in God’s big mission in the world.  We learned that living be faith can be a lot of fun, especially as we observe His faithfulness to His own glory through us.