In This Issue: Readers Write, a New Question, and a Mobilizer of Merit
- A Message of Integrity: Readers Respond
- Strategic Engagement
- Talking Turkey with Kids
- What’s Most Worth Writing?
- Subversive Mobilization: Mobilizer of Merit
Missions Catalyst is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry. Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!
Practical Mobilization by Shane Bennett is published once a month.
A Message of Integrity: Readers Respond
By Shane Bennett
In a recent Practical Mobilization article I talked about how my new tribe Frontiers is attempting to shape our basic message so that it makes sense to three audiences: our constituents, Muslims, and the media, and about how we need to be people of integrity, bearing a message of integrity. Here are several reader responses:
1. The Role of Tentmaking
Luke (a Practical Mob reader, not the gospel writer) suggests that the integrity of our message might be one thing that is helped by a decline in the value of our sending-countries’ currency (which many friends are facing right now.) Read on:
“A strong currency in the sending country lends itself to bold spending, which in the receiving culture could be considered lavish spending. A strong currency [allows for] expedient funding and professional full-time staff. However, there is a risk of over-dependency and resentment of the rich foreigners.
“If the currency [becomes] weak, professional staff [might] give way to actual professionals in secular occupations earning money in the receiving-country currency. Resentment of the rich foreigner would give way to welcoming laborers for the economy, donors [would be] less stressed out, and a decentralized organization [would be] more difficult to resist. The age of the tentmaker may be upon us.”
2. The Stress on our Kids
Bob wrote about the importance of a single message as seen in the lives of workers’ children.
“I heard someone recently say that batches of missionaries from decades ago had to return home because it was just too hard for their family, [especially] younger kids, to keep up the appearance of a dual life. ‘We are Christians, but don’t tell any of your friends at school.’ ‘Daddy is here to start a church, but don’t tell any of your friends at school.’ ‘Don’t tell anyone what Daddy’s real job is.'”
“So now, many of our missionaries start out upfront about being Christians, or better yet, ‘followers of Jesus,’ and being there to help. They are willing to ‘just help’ for maybe years before any Bible studies start or anyone thinks about conversions.”
3. Terms of Deception?
Another reader, Doug, commented, “Even the terminology ‘creative access’ has deception woven into it.” Hmmm, good point, but what might replace that term?
Strategic Engagement
In response to my comments last month about Frontiers’ desire to focus efforts on a limited number of unengaged Muslim peoples, Paul, a proven mobilizer in Colorado, took an opportunity to commend the efforts of the Southern Baptist’s International Mission Board in Central and Eastern Europe.
Regarding recent experiences he has had with this ministry, Paul says,
“I can’t help but rejoice and wholeheartedly endorse them, even if I’m not fond of large sending organizations and all their red tape! What I saw really, really encouraged me: The strength of a large sending base, with excellent ‘member care,’ but with the freedom of a sodality to make field-based decisions – and very reasonable checks and balances.”
While we’re singing the praises of the IMB, let me add: The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering in 2006 raised just over US$150 million. Wow! The goal for 2007 is US$165 million. Amazing. Good for God, the IMB, and Southern Baptists in general.
Talking Turkey with Kids
If you’re not totally dopey from too much turkey (which is consumed in great volume by Americans on our Thanksgiving holiday) you may remember last month’s Subversive Mobilization challenge to draw all possible benefit from the homonym relationship between the turkey we eat and the 70+ million people God loves who live in Turkey.
Reader Mary Anne first helped me remember that whole world doesn’t necessarily operate on the American calendar, and then shared how she actually used that idea.
“Even though I live in Canada, and our Thanksgiving is l-o-n-g past, I used your idea last night. I am a missionary with Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc. in Ontario, Canada. This time of year I do lots of missions conferences for children while churches are holding their adult conferences.
- I was given 40 minutes to present missions to the children of grade 3-6.
- I set up an ‘airplane,’ with a cockpit, chairs, etc.
- I primed the kids by asking them questions about eating turkey at Christmas and Thanksgiving.
- They filled in the required information on the passports I printed for them.
- They went through security check, and boarded the plane.
- I showed the Caleb Project video on the Turks as the in-flight movie
- We served pieces of Turkish Delight chocolate bar as in-flight snack.
- I had a quiz on information from the movie.
- We prayed for the children of Turkey, and I gave them a personal missions challenge.
- We de-planed and made the flag of Turkey, glued on to a pencil (for the flag pole) with a sticker on the back reminding them to pray for the children of Turkey, especially when they eat turkey!”
What’s Most Worth Writing?
Isaac Asimov, famous science and science-fiction writer, reportedly said, “If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.” I like it! (I suppose my kind editor, Marti Smith, whose deadlines I habitually fail to meet, wishes I would type faster even without the terminal diagnosis.)
Asimov was famous not only for his killer sideburns, but also his amazingly prolific writing. He wrote or edited more than 500 books and 90,000 letters and postcards. Good for Isaac.
How about you? My question is at the other end of the scale: If you could write only one article this year, what would you write, and who would you write it for?
Three things to keep in mind:
- Writing is the electric drill in our mobilization toolbox: It has thousands of uses, and several of them that can only be done with this tool.
- If you send in an answer to this question, I’ll put it on the list, publish it next month, and invite all of our readers to ask God to give you success in your effort.
- There’s a risk someone will nick your idea. I won’t (without asking, at least!), and I doubt others will either. The heavy prayer-potential should outweigh the slight possibility your idea will be purloined.
To set the tone, I’ll offer up an idea knocking around in rock garden of my mind: I’d like to pitch a monthly column (Yes, I know that’s not a single article. We’re under grace, not law!), to Relevant Magazine called “Jesus Planet.” It would highlight one cool thing God is doing to grow His kingdom in cultures that are presently without it.
So, what do you say? If you could write only one piece, what would it be, and who would you want to publish it? Let me know here.
Subversive Mobilization: Mobilizer of Merit
Finally, the (newly instituted) 2007 Subversive “Mobilizer of Merit” Award goes to the folks behind the Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer effort. What is more subversive than praying for our enemies? (Or those who have been labeled enemies?) Jesus told us to do it, and this site is facilitating our obedience.
Dr. Thomas Bruce, spokesman for MyATFP says, “We hope to be fully operational for registering and tracking prayer commitments before this Christmas.”
Way to go, guys. Thanks for the challenge. May God give us his heart toward all people.
Questions? Problems? Submissions? Contact publisher/managing editor Marti Smith.