Comments on: Great Mission Conference http://iemissional.com/2007/11/14/great-mission-conference/ teaching. glocalizing. living. serving. repenting. incarnating. loving. repeating. Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:30:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Marty Duren http://iemissional.com/2007/11/14/great-mission-conference/#comment-411 Marty Duren Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:39:23 +0000 http://iemissional.com/2007/11/14/great-mission-conference/#comment-411 Alan- Yes and yes. The long term answer is definitely indigenous believers. There is certainly nothing sanctifying about a western presence. Alan-
Yes and yes. The long term answer is definitely indigenous believers. There is certainly nothing sanctifying about a western presence.

]]> By: Alan Cross http://iemissional.com/2007/11/14/great-mission-conference/#comment-404 Alan Cross Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:19:34 +0000 http://iemissional.com/2007/11/14/great-mission-conference/#comment-404 I agree about having people on the ground. We were only originally connected with the folks that we are working with because I knew an IMB couple who invited us to come. So, it definitely is not an "either/or" type of thing. But, when you become a church that starts initiating these things and you start doing work in an area, it tends to change your relationship with the IMB and the global missions endeavor. In other words, it seems like much of the Lottie Moon/CP idea is set up so that we can support others to do it for us. The IMB is trying to change that, but it is still the prevailing perspective. Do they have room for churches in the U.S. to lead out in an area and still work with them? Technically, I think that they do, but practically, the door for true cooperation and collaboration seems to be closing. The answer and the balance, I think, is to work through IMB or other Western missionaries to connect with indigenous believers and then take it from there. Shouldn't we start thinking about coming alongside nationals to help them reach their countries or neighboring countries? Well, I think the answer is "yes." Sorry for rambling. I am just thinking about this stuff a great deal and I have a lot flowing through my mind. I agree about having people on the ground. We were only originally connected with the folks that we are working with because I knew an IMB couple who invited us to come. So, it definitely is not an “either/or” type of thing. But, when you become a church that starts initiating these things and you start doing work in an area, it tends to change your relationship with the IMB and the global missions endeavor. In other words, it seems like much of the Lottie Moon/CP idea is set up so that we can support others to do it for us. The IMB is trying to change that, but it is still the prevailing perspective. Do they have room for churches in the U.S. to lead out in an area and still work with them? Technically, I think that they do, but practically, the door for true cooperation and collaboration seems to be closing.

The answer and the balance, I think, is to work through IMB or other Western missionaries to connect with indigenous believers and then take it from there. Shouldn’t we start thinking about coming alongside nationals to help them reach their countries or neighboring countries? Well, I think the answer is “yes.” Sorry for rambling. I am just thinking about this stuff a great deal and I have a lot flowing through my mind.

]]> By: Marty Duren http://iemissional.com/2007/11/14/great-mission-conference/#comment-403 Marty Duren Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:34:25 +0000 http://iemissional.com/2007/11/14/great-mission-conference/#comment-403 Alan- As some will argue, it is very helpful to have people on the ground in said lands and among UPG's (whether nationals or other), but I do believe that church networks will be the driving force toward UPG engagement in the decades ahead. I praise God for what you are doing in India. One thing that I didn't mention was how easy it was to Skype in a video message from a European church as well as having an M do four sessions via Skype video. At some point, someone is going to realize just how effective that free techology can be. I hope that we have teams into T--a 3-4 times next year, not counting college guys from various places during the summer months. Alan-
As some will argue, it is very helpful to have people on the ground in said lands and among UPG’s (whether nationals or other), but I do believe that church networks will be the driving force toward UPG engagement in the decades ahead.

I praise God for what you are doing in India. One thing that I didn’t mention was how easy it was to Skype in a video message from a European church as well as having an M do four sessions via Skype video. At some point, someone is going to realize just how effective that free techology can be.

I hope that we have teams into T–a 3-4 times next year, not counting college guys from various places during the summer months.

]]> By: Alan Cross http://iemissional.com/2007/11/14/great-mission-conference/#comment-402 Alan Cross Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:54:58 +0000 http://iemissional.com/2007/11/14/great-mission-conference/#comment-402 This sounds great, Marty. We have 3 other churches partnering with us in our work in Northern India so far, and we are going back in April. Maybe networks like these are the way to go in the future? I look forward to hearing more about emerging networks like this as more and more local churches take ownership over the global missions task instead of just turning it over to large denominational bureaucracies that do not seem to be especially responsive to said churches. But, I digress . . . This sounds great, Marty. We have 3 other churches partnering with us in our work in Northern India so far, and we are going back in April. Maybe networks like these are the way to go in the future? I look forward to hearing more about emerging networks like this as more and more local churches take ownership over the global missions task instead of just turning it over to large denominational bureaucracies that do not seem to be especially responsive to said churches. But, I digress . . .

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