missions

I’m currently reading The Meeting of the Waters: 7 Global Currents that will Propel the Future Church. It’s a good book for those engaged in missions. It’s particularly a good book for those of us who have been in missions for many years and can benefit from seeing with another’s eyes.

I’ve read the chapters on mercy, mutuality and migration. I strongly agree with the author that mutuality is crucial to the meeting of the waters of traditional and current, of the north and the south, of what the Lord has done and what he is doing today. Read the author’s explanation of mutuality below…

Q: What are the seven trends that are having an impact on Christianity?

A: Mercy. Mutuality. Migration. Monoculture. Machines. Mediation. Memory.

Q: What is the single biggest shift in ministry that today’s churches are facing?

A: I’m not comfortable choosing just one, because various ones or others loom prominent in different countries or cities at different times. That is, after all, one of the most important lessons of The Meeting of the Waters-that Christians in all countries should become adept at recognizing how their country’s Body, and its witness, is being differently affected by global trends. But, since you asked, I will say that the most important Global Current is Mutuality, because it is the necessary foundation for all global ministry work. Mutuality means that believers from traditionally powerful countries (that means Americans and Europeans, for starters) must include and look to Christians from traditionally weaker countries. People from less-developed countries (think India and China) increasingly have education, technology, ability to travel, trained and plentiful workforces…and confidence. Those brothers and sisters also have spiritual experiences and depth that come from generations of suffering and wanting, and as an American I know I need to learn about that. Not only is Mutuality the right choice for Christians, it is increasingly the only choice in our flattening world. And the great news is that it is also fun, for I have found Mutuality to be one of the most thrilling and expanding journeys in my Christian life.

The blending of those who can offer the power of organization, funding, program management, a we-can-make-a-difference-perspective and the power of deep spiritual experience and lifestyle flowing from want and need and suffering and having little materially. Exciting stuff!

This picture is an email message called Loving Life, written in Arabic. It was sent to 41,605 followers of Jesus in a Middle Eastern country today.

I traveled to this area a few weeks ago and participated in a conference about becoming more effective in communicating the gospel and helping believers grow. As part of the conference, each communication team was asked to identify two or three specific things they would return home to implement.

One of the teams indicated that they wanted to improve their electronic mailings to followers of Jesus. I contacted N_____ and offered to help him learn to use our sophisticated Lyris mailing list manager system. He wrote me back:

I don’t know what to say! This was our prayer request for more than 1 year. Glory to our Father, He never ignores our requests. When we have the opportunity to check Lyris system we almost thought it is impossible for us to get it. It was out of our dreams! (budget wize I mean).

I am humbled at the thought that I might be a part of the answer to someone’s prayer.

Then today, I received this Arabic message. I knew that N_____ had succeeded in accomplishing his prayer. 41,605 people received information about how to love life through their relationship with Jesus.

Much of my leadership now involves casting vision, speaking at events, holding conferences, and planning global strategies. But every now and then, I get to personally help people like N_____ implement his heart’s desire to help 41,605 people know how to grow in their love relationship with Jesus.

And now I’ve offered to help M_____ do the same thing in another country in the region!

Whether it’s sharing Christ with the person in the seat next to me on an airline flight, or teaching N_____ to use an email list to disciple 41,605, or recording a Jesus film in a language spoken by 10 million, it’s so satisfying to be available and engaged in helping people come to know Jesus, to grow in their faith, and to engage in reaching out to others.