Global Missions Workshop with Shane Bennett

Last night I got the opportunity to attend a workshop at GCC regarding Global Missions. It specifically discussed how we can respond to the state of the world with Jesus in mind, in order to understand where we fit in God's Plan. The Speaker, Shane Bennett, provided 5 solid tips, and below are the notes I took from his talk:

1. Look Out
Look at what is God getting out of you.
Story of Daniel in the pit with lions --> we use this story for personal comfort to show us that God is always with us, and this is absolutely true. But we forget what God got from this amazing feat, and that was that he established to many that he was the true and only God of the universe.
Look like Jesus
Look to the margins of life.
Set up patterns in life so that you die holy.
Look to the least
Reached World: True Christians, Nominal Christians, Non-Christians within reach.
Unreached World: Tribals (animists), Hindus (immense capacity for worship), Unreligious, Muslims, Buddhists.
Acronym: THUMB
Most effort goes toward the reached parts of the world. If your slate is clean, look the least.
Look at the last page
People of EVERY tribe, nation, and language will be together in the end.
Revelation brings a sense of hope for the future.

2. Fear Will Kill Us
Awareness
“Perfect love cast out all fear” –John
Perfect fear can cast out all love
The Muslim world is not to be feared. Stereotypes plague this people group and falsify who they are.
Dealing with Fear: Let’s God’s grace take care of it.
Fear leads to doubt in God, which leads to sin

3. The World Rocks
There is a lot to learn from the DIFFERENT people around the world. Every culture carries new stories and views on life.

4. Jesus’ Plans are Bigger than Ours
John 12:19 – The world is flocking towards Jesus
We can’t be alarmed by current numbers in the world saying Christianity is declining. God has a plan and he is still winning.
Colossians 1:19-20 – Jesus’ death on the cross has more impact than we realize.
Remember when Communism collapsed? Answer to many prayers
We can pray for the Muslim world to find life in Jesus
God strategically sends out his followers ALL over the world.

5. Your Gear Is Essential
Genesis 12:1-4, Motion Picture The Visitor
Most of us don’t live with purpose
God gives us a life that MATTERS
How has your life been blessed on an Abrahamic scale? Family, friends, etc.
God uses us according to the blessings he bestows on us. How can we be good stewards of these blessing?
G - gifts
E - experiences
A - abilities
R – resources
Zones:
Praying – turn the headlines of the news into prayers
Sending – God puts people in positions where they have the capacity to send
Welcoming – being warmly welcomed can positively change a prior perspective
Mobilizing – Find ways to pass on the vision
Going – someone has to do the work. Who you go with is just as important as where you go.

God’s Capacity is Not Limited

Community

Community is a concept we use to describe the body of people. Where do their values and intentions lie? What is their purpose? How do they live? The Bible gives us a solid indication of where communities lie before God enters and after he's made his mark.

In Acts 2, we see God stirring up the Jewish community living in Jerusalem, when the Holy Spirit comes upon the apostles as promised by Jesus. This is the installment of the first Christian church, and thus it is a new concept to the community of that area. The apostles begin speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit baptizes them, but the Jews assume these men are simply drunk. But when Peter explains to these people what has happened through Christ's death on the cross, movement is created and thousands begin to flock towards this new "community" of sorts. And the community continues to grow as God provides fuel for the fire, through the miraculous signs and loving fellowship the people feel. This is how the first Church was built. No building, just real people with real love, and a real God.

In Acts 17, we see Paul's attempts to build Christian community in other cities. The first stop they make in this chapter is in Thessalonica. They have little success here, causing a riot to start over their claims and eventually being thrown out of the town. They convert a few Jews and God-fearing Greeks, but are unsuccessful in building a firm community of believers because the Jews in this area are not willing to hear out Paul's beliefs.
However, as Paul and Silas move to Berea, they have great success. The Bereans receive the message and begin to study the scriptures daily. Paul is able to catalyze this community by teaching and training the indigenous people to build a solid body of believers, a church. The Thessalonians follow Paul to Berea, though, stirring up trouble amongst the new believers in hopes of thwarting their efforts.
Paul later moves to Athens, a city full of idols, and wild philosophies. The difference we see in this community is that, the people are not as hardened to Paul's news, but they are not accepting of them either. The people of Athens are deep thinkers, many involved in Epicurean and Stoic Philosphy. Some choose not to listen to Paul's news, but some are intrigued and inquire more about the concept.

In John 13, we see some significant actions taken by Christ. Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, something unheard of in this society. By Jesus humbling himself to someone of lower class, he shows how we must love one another and be humble in heart. Lessons like these from Jesus were alarming to many people because they defied social norms, but this was the community Jesus set out to create, a community of love.

These passages from Scripture show us lot about how community is developed among believers when Jesus is placed at the heart. Most of the original communities were shaken by the gospel, but in a way only God could produce. We see communities turning from idol worship, selfishness, deceit, and slander, to love, hope and faith.
This is true today as well. Our culture today is just as initially unaccepting of the Gospel as the people of Thessalonica and Athens once were, but have new reasons for why we don't believe, such as our technology, pop culture, or science.
That being said, the same idea of catalytic community building is also still true today. It takes bold people who move for Christ, but communities can still be built that radically change lifestyles and save the broken.

Times have changed but the patterns of man are consistent still. Communities are still cold towards the gospel, but when it finally does reach them, it starts an awesome movement.

Joshua Project

This website provides statistical information about the nations around the globe who are unreached by the evangelical church or have few followers. It provides background information on the actual region or country, as well as current statistics, photographs, maps, resources, and opportunities to help.
Basically, it is a guidebook for missionaries, and a resource for us to see where the world needs Jesus the most.
The most interesting things I think you'll find on this website are the maps and diagrams. They allow you to choose any country in the world and then zoom in to get all the facts behind them.
The site is a pretty neat resource and definitely something that can be referenced regularly.

National Community Church

Last Sunday the internship took us to Washington DC to check out National Community Church, located in a movie theater at the basement of Union Station. This field trip served several purposes, namely being that it gave us an opportunity to view a different expression of the church, and it helped us to be immersed into a church with first-hand experience of what movement truly is. This is a church that started with 50 people in a small DC Public school, and is now serving over 2,000 people in 4 different locations around the District. They also own a coffee house in DC which started as an abandoned crack-house, and has since been transformed into a clean, relaxing environment for members of the community to engage in fellowship, as well as enjoy one of the best cups of coffee in the whole city.
We initially met up with one of Tony's former bible study students, who is currently in charge of the "In-Service" Ministry at NCC. This is a group comprised of several volunteers who put together bag lunches on Saturday evenings and then distribute them to the homeless on Sunday mornings before the third service at NCC. However, the act of distributing the lunches is not the amazing piece about this service, its the relationships that have been developed because of it that is truly amazing. A sense of community has been built for the homeless people of this area because they know that every Sunday they can come to get a bag of lunch and a conversation, sometimes the conversation and smiles being the most important part to them. And real friendships have been developed because of this. It was unlike anything I had seen before, because it wasn't just a random act of kindness, it was an intentional and genuine act of kindness. It also illustrates the concept of indigenous leadership which has come out of some of the homeless people who are now stepping up and serving active roles within the church.
Later on, we got the opportunity to attend the service inside the theater. Mark Batterson, the lead pastor at NCC, said it best when telling us that we "picked a crazy Sunday to come out". The Sunday we chose was actually the last service being held at Union Station because it would be closing down completely. However, the craziness of this Sunday was immensely beneficial in our understanding of movement. Batterson pointed out in his sermon the idea that church doesn't simply exist within the walls of the building which we meet, it exists within the body that makes up the church. And through this idea, he went further to explain how the church must adapt to these hard changes and realize that God didn't "mess up". "We must stand still and be calm when faced with an Egyptian army and a Red Sea," is how he put it to be exact. He articulated well to the body the fact that he doesn't know God's reasoning, but he does know that God's doing what is best for them and the church will continue to keep its flame burning.
National Community Church is a place that I will remember for its innovation, adaptability, passion, and sheer movement. It didn't simply seek a Sunday morning boost, but rather a home for Monday through Saturday as well. It's a place that also transcends all social barriers, be it class, age, race, or gender; it got back to core values of what family truly means. This is the church.

John 15,16,17

John 15:15-17 "For everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, I chose you and appointed you to go bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other."

Jesus sets the stage for what his team of disciples will do to advance the Kingdom when he speaks to his group in John 15-17, the last time he would speak to all of them together until his resurrection. He assures them that he has taught them everything they need to know - they are equipped and ready to go, whether they realize it or not. He reminds them that they are his chosen people - he has taken special interest in them because they have chosen to be faithful to him every day and until they die - and because of this, they will make a difference in the world that won't simply fade away like it has by all men throughout history. He informs them that God will give them whatever they need when they ask in Jesus' name, because he wants them to carry out the work. Lastly, he commands to them to that they must love each other, because that is the only way they will be successful.

In a modernized notion, its as if Jesus is the manager of a company that he started himself from scratch. He has been in charge for awhile now, and it is time for him to finally retire. He has poured his heart and soul into this company, shed blood for this company, and will not just let it fizzle out. So he gathers his employees, the ones who have been with him the longest, and he reminds them of all he has shown them how to do. He assures them that they are the right people to keep the company running, because he hand-picked each of them to be his workers. They each have unique skills and features that are needed to keep the company alive. He promises that he will stay nearby, if they need anything, they can give him a call and he'll be there right away to help. But the most important piece of advice he lends to his trusted employees is to work together and take care of one another because that is the only way they will continue to find success.

Jesus is implying to his disciples that they are the catalysts that are to begin the Christian movement, the movement to SAVE LIVES. He wants them to remember his words, so that future generations will forever worship him as our Lord and Savior. And he wants this movement to work through multiplication, not simply addition, so it may form an everlasting chain reaction of Christ followers.

He inspires them: John 16:33 "I have told you these things that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
He gives them the encouragement they need to do work for him. He builds them up after hitting them with the toughest of responsibilities. And he prays for them: John 17:17-19 "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."

Jesus is a leader through all of this. In fact, the model of all leaders. He trains his disciples, and works them hard, expecting much out of them, but guiding the way the whole time so they can learn. He humbles himself before them, to teach them to never be boastful. For they are not here to conquer the world, but rather to serve the people of the world. He gives them advice, counsels them, and promises to always help them when they are in need. He encourages them when their spirits need to be lifted. And most importantly, he shows genuine love for all of them. That is truly leadership.

The Nations

When Jesus refers to the "nations" in the bible, he is clear in stating that he wants his Word to be sent out to all the nations. But when he says "nations" he doesn't simply mean a country, city, or state, he uses the Greek word ethne to refer to people groups based on ethnicity, language, or extended family that make up the earth.

In the Psalms, the concept of nations come up on several occasions to make reference to different groups of people. For example, in Psalm 2, David begins his Psalm by questioning why the nations conspire and plot against God. He points out the ills of man, among the various groups of people, whose kings gather against God. Then he speaks of God's wrath against such people explaining how God will rebuke and terrify those people with His wrath.

In Psalm 9, David speaks of God's wrath on the nations again, describing how he rebukes the nations when they plot against Him, sending them into the "pit they have dug" and getting their "feet caught in the net they have hidden." He ends the Psalm by pointing out that those who forget God will find death, and those who forget that they are mere men will be stricken with terror.

There are several other passages in the Psalms that speak of the nations as well, but it can be seen that a commonality in many of them is the fact that the nations always discredit God, though he is stronger than them and able to crush them with his wrath. Groups of people always find ways to discredit God for who he is, though he has almighty power over them.

Culture Shock

Culture comes in many ways, shapes, and forms. In particular, there are 4 areas analyzed when looking at sciological trends for the missional church. The first one is blocs, or groups, of people. These groups are sometimes identified according to evangelization status, using terms such as "reached" or "unreached". Then there are the ethnolinguistic identifiers of culture, which includes ethnic or racial group information, such as traditions, history, customs, and language. The third one is sociopeoples, which is small associations of people bonded by some common interest. Sociopeoples help us to note relationships among blocs or ethnolinguistic lines. Finally, there is unimax peoples, the maximum sized group that is unified in movement, and void of barriers that would divide their understanding or acceptance of the movement.

These pieces of culture all involve a sociological perspective on elements that are key to the evangelical christian church. Culture is immensely important to missionaries because the idea of being a global catalyst starts with engagement and immersion into culture. You can't simply make a group of people change their lifestyles and beliefs, for example, until you know the proper ways to comunicate to their people, bond their people, and eventually have their people take over the movement.

So what actions should we take in our personal lives to influence culture? Well, sometimes looking at culture from a global standpoint can be overwhelming, but if we implement some of these sociological strategies in our own communities, schools, or workplaces we can still make great impact. For example, you may identify the blocs of people in your neighborhood who have never even heard the Gospel compared to the people who have heard it and ignore it. You may look at the ethnolinguistic identifiers in your workplace that explain where peoples values, time management, and modes of work have stemmed from. You may look at sociopeoples in your school to identify the connections students have to other students with similar interests, such as in sports, music, art, etc. Unimax peoples will follow when you have unified people and torn down the walls separating them from one another. Then you have a movement, and consequently a catalytic reaction.