Missions Catalyst 2.23.11 – Practical Mobilization

In This Issue: The Seven Deadly Sins of a Mobilizer

• FEATURE: The Seven Deadly Sins of a Mobilizer
• SUBVERSIVE MOBILIZATION: The Power of a Sweet Introduction
• EVENTS: Additions to the Missions Catalyst Calendar

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!

Publisher’s Note

This month we welcome almost 200 new subscribers who signed up at events across the U.S. where Shane was speaking or teaching.

Are you a Shane Bennett fan (as I am)? Consider inviting Shane to preach at your church or teach at your church or mission conference. You won’t regret it!

FEATURE: The Seven Deadly Sins of a Mobilizer

By Shane Bennett

A bit of self-revelation: I admit I might be unusual in this regard, but it’s far easier for me to spot sin, inconsistencies, and shortcomings in others than in myself. And this is true even when it comes to seeing such things in my wife. That is amazing, because her ratio of “s-i-s” to mine is roughly the same as a popcorn ball to Pluto! (That’s the planet-y thing, not the Disney dog!)

So, even though it’s both intellectually challenging and emotionally painful, this month I turn our eyes on us – at potential problems in the world of mission mobilization. I want to look at our tribe and ask, “Where are we goofing up? Where are we missing the mark?”

Now pour yourself a cup of “honest introspection” and consider the Seven Deadly Sins of a Mobilizer. Or, in the event that I’m the only one guilty here, just skip ahead to some solid practical help in the Subversive Mobilization blurb below.

1. Arrogance.

We’re on God’s A-team. Fueled by a passion for orphans, the 10/40 Window, or justice for the oppressed, we know the real “heart of God.” We judge our audience for their lack of response and enthusiasm and imply that by following a different vision they are missing the best road. “You’ve spent the last 60 years teaching three generations of third-grade Sunday school? Yeah, that’s sweet and all, but you’re not going to make the cut!”

Paul says to me and to all of us, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” God, grant us repentance when we’ve arrogantly thought too highly of ourselves and our understanding.

2. I know God loves my stuff best.

Closely related to the MoSoA (Mobilizer’s Sin of Arrogance) is our tendency to communicate that the work we are doing – not the work someone else is doing – is what really needs to get done. Certainly, excitement about what we’re doing is a gift from God. But implying to others, or outright declaring that what we’re doing is really the main thing on God’s mind probably skates us out onto thin ice.

On the epic short-term teams of my youth we had one rule: We were not allowed to talk poorly of missionaries or the local church. (We couldn’t “date” on the team either. We coyly called that a limitation, not a rule. Same outcome, though.) I want to do all I can to promote my organization, but not at the expense of others. I’ve loved Frontiers long and hard and I believe we’re doing worthwhile work in some of the most challenging situations on the planet. But I don’t want to promote Frontiers by saying that Pioneers is not that cool. (I pick Pioneers because of the nice rhyme, the fact that they provide the organizational heft behind Missions Catalyst, and because they’re also doing worthwhile work in challenging places.)

Can I be blunt here? Outreach to Muslims, outreach to international students, outreach by national pastors, outreach by anyone not American – not one of these things is the end-all-and-be-all of God’s work on the planet. Paul goes on to say in Romans 12 that we’re all part of the same body; we don’t have the same function, but we do follow the same Jesus. As a result we should do what we do well. Promote your spleeniness for all your worth, but let’s not imply the left ear lobe isn’t doing some cool stuff as well.

3. Info-vomit.

God’s great gift of the Internet can also be a curse, fueling the 21st-century version of the never-ending missionary slide show. People who want to know stuff can know a whole lot of stuff. And they can misinterpret polite, but forced, attention by those who are not asleep as indicating interest. We’ve got to spend a little more time thinking about the people we talk and write to: What info will help? How much is enough? At what point will they beg to be chosen to work in the nursery – instead of listening to us? Case in point: This article started out as the “Seventeen Deadly Sins of a Mobilizer, Their Causes, and Possible Solutions.” I know, about now you’re thinking, “Seriously, dude, you probably could have done it in five.”

4. Look on the outside, miss the heart.

I admit it: One of the guilty pleasures of mobilization is that I’m looking to invite high-caliber, busy, productive people to focus their lives on God’s purposes. The risk here is that I’ll misjudge what that sharpness looks like. Mea culpa!

Years ago, I was at a Perspectives class looking for some bright people who might take up an exciting overseas assignment. I nearly missed a life-altering conversation with a one guy, because I was so focused on another guy I thought seemed sharper. I have no idea what happened to the first guy, but the second guy – the one I almost missed – currently lives with his family in North Africa and is doing his best, with love and respect, to invite Muslims to follow Jesus.

When Samuel went looking for the next king, God told him, “You look at the outside. I look at the heart.” When Jesus chose his twelve, he picked some major “work-in-progress” guys. I need to lean in and listen a little more intently to what the Shepherd is saying about his sheep.

Tune in next month for the final three Deadly Sins of Mobilizers:

5. Dishonor those who don’t go.
6. Prioritize ministry over family, and even God.
7. Talk about it, but don’t do it.

>> Please post comments, corrections, critiques, and additions to the list.

>> If you think this would be a good plenary address, or seminar, or workshop, or table group, or a nice one-on-one conversation at your next missions event, let me know.

SUBVERSIVE MOBILIZATION: The Power of a Sweet Introduction

As someone who advocates for God’s purposes in different cultures, you may have opportunity from time to time to introduce people. This is like the free chips at your favorite Mexican place: It’s not the main thing, but if you get it right, the whole experience is smilier.

Let’s be honest: Some of your audience, maybe most of them, aren’t expecting a lot from your groovy, cool missions speaker. Your intro, however, can make a huge difference in the level of love shared between pew and pulpit.

Can I give you two don’ts and a do for a great introduction?

1. Don’t introduce the speaker to the speaker! Look at the audience; you’re selling her to them. Know the facts so you’ll feel less inclined to quiz your speaker, “You have two kids and one wife or one kid and two wives?”

2. Don’t preach their sermon, teach their lesson, or say, “They’ll tell you more about this,” unless they’ve specifically asked you to.

3. Do tell your audience why you’re excited to hear the speaker. If your audience trusts you, a personal recommendation accomplishes far more than a list of abstract accomplishments and publications.

Got an introduction tip or horror story? Go to our website to read one of mine and post your own.

EVENTS: Additions to the Missions Catalyst Calendar

The latest editions to our Missions Catalyst events calendar are as follows:

Member Care:

April 11 to 14 – Missionary Family Camp (Trinity, TX, USA). Fun, rest, and healing for international missionary families home on furlough.

Learning Initiatives:

Come to a webinar! Our friends at The Mission Exchange will offer several interesting web-based learning initiatives in coming weeks:

February 24 – Connect. Share. Recruit? Social Media Best Practices, featuring Peter Slayton (Lutheran Bible Translators).

March 03 – Generation iY: What You Need to Know to Recruit and Coach Successful Missionaries, featuring Tim Elmore (Growing Leaders).

March 10 – Changing a Mission Leader’s Assignment: Maximizing Benefit/Minimizing Loss, featuring Dave Broucek (South America Mission).

March 17 – Key Practices for Sending Church-Based Teams, featuring Nathan J’Diim (Faith Church of the Valley).

March 24 – Seven Essential Questions of Change Management, featuring Steve Moore (The Mission Exchange).

April 7 – Cool Tools for Travel and Training: Low Budget Productivity in a Gadget World, featuring Doug Lucas (Team Expansion and Brigada Today).

April 14 – Resolving Conflict with Cross-Cultural Partners, featuring Mary Lederleitner (Wycliffe International).

April 28 – Foundations Stones for Local Church Missions Impact, featuring Doug Christgau (Valley Community Baptist Church).

Shane Bennett has served in missions mobilization since 1987, much of his energy going to recruiting, training, and sending short-term teams. He’s been on research teams in Bangkok, Bombay and Turkey. He coauthored Exploring the Land, a guide to researching unreached peoples, and has written numerous articles.

Shane now works as a public speaker for Frontiers and is part-time missions pastor at Union Chapel. He and his wife, Ann, have five school-aged children. They live and work in Indiana.