The Problem with modern missions

[Sularis]

1) a focus on social gospel - both at home and abroad

2) Thy complain too much of not enouhg funds and not enough workers - but they cause their own problems in that regard with their problem #3

3) An extreme lack of faith.

Far too often - a missions agency focuses on yje worldly and loses sight of the awesome power of God

There are more then enough of workers for the fields - There are more then enough funds out there - but the modern missions egency goes sorry yer not good enough for us - we dont want you because you will fail

Its so wonderful that God is unable to take failures and make them into something wonderful. Yep that John Mark - he was so perfect that first time out.

And of course after someone tells you that you arent good enough for them, but your money is - you are so likely to just keep on forking it over arent you?

I see missionaries stuck on the home field for the lack of funds to get them overseas

Arrrgh

 

[Ben W]

Agreed, I have heard testimony after testimony of people that have been reached just because someone has been there to give them a Bible. Remember the Holy Spirit Convicts and Transform Lives, we just get to be His vessels.

 

[gb93433]

The problem with modern missions is that so little is being done in our back yards.

 

[SaggyWoman]

The problem with modern missions is that so few are willing to go, whether it is to our own back yards, or to china, or to whereever.

 

[Jim1999]

Without a vision, the people perish.

If we lack this vision, is does not matter whether home or abroad, we will come up short. Missions was the backbone of the New Testament and Old. Without missionary vision, the pastoral ministry would not have been. This, of course, is not in total disregard for the sovereign will of God, and his design for the local church.

The late Dr. J. Oswald Smith, of the People's Church, Toronto tried many times to go to the foreign mission field. He was denied each time. His health was not the greatest.

Dr. Smith founded the People's Church and over the years has had more than 1000 foreign missionaries on its budget. Missions was first and foremost always in his mind and heart, and God continually blessed this man and his church.

He lived a long and fruitful life and influenced many a young person to enter upon service in the Lord.

Without a vision, the people perish. Where is the mission? It doesn't really matter. We must go where we are called, and if the church at home is on fire for God, the people will come and the youth will go. The local churches lack this vision.

The late Dr. John Wilmot of a London Baptist Church (England) asked a young woman to marry him. She, however, was commited to the mission field and off she went. Wilmot pastored the church his entire life. When she retired from the foreign field, they got married. Such dedication. Such devotion. They both served where they were called to serve, and both enjoyed each other in the twilight years.

This is what we need. Not finances, but dedication.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Sularis]

Alas - I see people willing to go

but being told - please pay us application fee
training fee - sorry yer not good enough for us - but we would like your financial support

I wish to serve - but Im told - oh pay this fee pay that fee - yer not good enough for long term - but you can do short term - and then they shorten the term - after setting necessary funds cost for a longer term

No wonder no one wants to go anymore - No one wants to take anyone

 

[SaggyWoman]

You sound bitter, Sularis.

But even that shouldn't keep one from going.

 

[Ben W]

Charging people to take part in Christian Ministry is looming as a bigger and bigger problem. Look at the local church for example, you may only be a Pastor if you have a degree that cost $5000.00 How can the average guy who gets saved later on in life quit work and go earn a degree so that he can go into ministry? This does rule many people out of ministry.

I once was a Telephone Counsellor for a Christian helpline, yet I had to pay them to do it, the basic certificate that I had to have to do the course cost over $300.

"The Fields are ready but the workers are few". Often because the workers are being held back by the system that we have to have to "do church".

 

[Jim1999]

I must be out of tune. Pastors in the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada are not required to have a degree or even a diploma. They are called by the local church and that is a final decision.

Maybe we just need to get back to biblical basics.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Comrade]

Speaking of Biblical basics maybe the problem is not the perople but the method. Most missionaries make one church and build off it and when they leave the field their former work dies because no one is there to take it over. Jesus' method was you win people to Christ make disiples and then you have leaders. from that we get the crowds of believers together then the building. so therefore the order is disiples leaders people then building. but the majority of missionaries is they do it building, people, and maybe disiples