Newbies?
Are we done sending to the mission field inexperienced recent
graduates of Bible Colleges and Seminaries?
In this manifesto and its questions “Are we done?” we will explore some of the reasons for the failure of missionary efforts. Here is one that applies to the selection process but also will be relevant for raising support and achieving objectives on the mission field.
It begins by repeating the question, “Is he called of God?” Follow that with, “Has he received the proper training; both discipleship and missions education?” Finally, one must ask, “Does he have any experience in ministry?”
Is it a good idea to immediately commission a young man or woman right after they finish their missions degree? They may be convinced that God has called. But, are they ready for the hardships of missionary life; the painful and prolonged separation from friends and family, the difficulties of harsh climates, the certainty that there will be governmental and religious enemies of the Gospel, the possibility of open demonic interference, the criticism of or by fellow Christian coworkers, the rejection by national unbelievers (and even national believers), the hazard of potential violence, the busyness of life back home leading to a sense that no one at home cares (out of sight, …), etc. What is required to give experience and backbone for the challenges ahead? How about some real life experience in a local church setting among the faithful (and sometimes hard to deal with) members of one’s potential sending church.
Please allow me to present a discipleship plan that I first learned from a pastor in northern Pennsylvania and modified with his permission. I have shared this plan in a number of countries with the hope that the right people will be sent to the mission field. Usually, I have not shared with my hearers the real reason for sharing the discipleship plan, waiting instead for the punchline at the end. But, let me be upfront with you; the real purpose is to challenge national churches to find their missionaries from among the spiritually mature leaders of their church!
Discipleship begins with a new believer. Utilizing available discipleship lessons, a mature saint is assigned to lead the new believer into a love for the Word, commitment to obedience to the Word, desire to be an active member of the local church, and ministering to the church family through his/her spiritual gifts. Along the way, there are three tests of submission to God that either move the process forward or delay the process until submission is attained. These tests are:
- Baptism – Baptism is the baby step of obedience; without baptism, how can you move forward to other steps of obedience.
- Church membership – If there is no commitment to the body of believers or no recourse for bad behavior, how can anyone be
allowed to minister in a local church? - Leadership – the goal of ministry ought to be leadership in one’s spiritual gift. According to I Corinthians 12, every believer has at least one spiritual gift. If you analyze the spiritual gifts given in Romans, Corinthians, and Ephesians; set aside those temporary gifts for the authentication of the church age prior to the completion of the New Testament; the remaining 14 gifts are really a summary of the Christian Life. All are Christian’s responsibility as believers. However, one or more has been gifted to each believer to develop and exercise in the local church. For the rest of us, it is a responsibility but for him/her, it is a gift. Those who have the gift should take the lead to help us to whom it is just another responsibility. Spiritual gifts should be part of the discipleship training, proven within the local church, and leadership recognized by the local church.
Those who have passed the three tests are well on their way to spiritual maturity. As leaders of their spiritual gifts, most will serve in the local church for a lifetime. However, it is from this pool of spiritually mature leaders that you discover those whom God has called to be missionaries.
In our mobile society, it is not possible for a local church to disciple all its members from a new believer through the basics and training in ministry (usage of spiritual gifts). But, without proven leadership within the local church, why should you stand up and cheer when you learn of his call, reach into your pocket for the money to get him there, and do everything possible to see your man of God reach his destination? Is it the lack of these three responses that leads to significant failure in the sending process?
The problem with newbies may not be the lack of call, but the lack of experience and fortitude to fulfill the requirements of leaving home and entering the battlefield of missions without having fought the good fight at home first.
