Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Lesson 7 – Ryan Emis, Center for Mission Mobilization

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Lesson 7 – Ryan Emis, Center for Mission Mobilization

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Lesson 7 – Ryan Emis, Center for Mission Mobilization

Finishing …They order their steps with strategic simplicity, not hesitating nor hurrying, but tenaciously continuing to do whatever it takes to finish the task God has given them.

Reformation: Martin Luther 1517 AD

275 years 1792 1517

William Carey: “The Father of Modern Missions” ““Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:19-20

Three Eras of Modern Missions First Era “The Coastlands” 1910 Edinburgh Missions Conference 1792 Mainly European Sending Base Haystack Prayer Meeting ABCFM

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Is. 54:2-3 DISCUSSION QUESTION: Look carefully at the verse in Isaiah 54:2-3, then consider Carey’s adage “Expect great things (from God), attempt great things (for God).” Explain the connection there, and what this might mean for us today. Are there other scriptures that can support such a connection? DISCUSSION QUESTION: Given Carey’’s scope of ministry activities, how has the 21st century church in the west had a similar or different understanding of what the focus of mission activity should be?

Three Eras of Modern Missions First Era Second Era 1865 1910 Edinburgh Missions Conference

Hudson Taylor: Missionary to China “Kindly placing his hand on my shoulder, the minister replied ‘Ah, my boy, as you grow older you will get wiser than that. Such an idea would do well in the days when Christ Himself was on earth, but not now.’ I have grown older since then, but not wiser. I am more than ever convinced that if we were to take the direction of our Master and the assurances He gave to His first disciples more fully as our guide, we should find them to be just as suited to our times…” Hudson Taylor “The Call to Service

Hudson Taylor: Missionary to China

Three Eras of Modern Missions First Era Second Era Edinburgh Missions Conference 1865 1910 Period of Transition

Four Stages of Missions Activity Stage One: Pioneering Stage Missionary Church

Four Stages of Missions Activity Stage Two: Parenting Stage Missionary Church

Four Stages of Missions Activity Stage Three: Partnership Stage Missionary Church

Four Stages of Missions Activity Stage Four: Participation Stage Missionary Church

Three Eras of Modern Missions First Era Second Era Edinburgh Missions Conference Period of Transition 1865 1910 Pioneer - Parent - Partnership - Participation Pioneer - - - - -

The “E” Scale E-0: E-1: E-2 E-3 No cultural barriers, revival Perhaps the Church itself Church / Cross-cultural barrier Church / 2+ Cross-cultural barriers

“It is clear that Jesus is referring primarily neither to geography nor walls of prejudice when he lists Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth… It seems likely he is taking into account cultural distance as the primary factor.” - Ralph Winter - The New Macedonia

Three Eras of Modern Missions First Era Second Era “The Inlands” Edinburgh Missions Conference 1865 1910 Mainly North American Sending Base Student Volunteer Movement Prayer: Student and Women’s Mission Societies

DISCUSSION QUESTION: Concerning the 4 stages of mission activity, what are some of the difficulties or struggles the sending church in the west may have with this? In light of this, how strategic is (or what benefits may come from) short-term missions? DISCUSSION QUESTION: How might the E-scale help in determining the approach your church must make with regard to its part in completing the Great Commission?

Three Eras of Modern Missions Second Era Third Era 1934 Edinburgh Missions Conference II 1980

Cameron Townsend “There is no greater missionary than the Bible in the native tongue. It never needs a furlough and it is never considered foreign.”

Donald McGavran “The individual does not think of himself as a self-sufficient unit, but a part of the group. His business affairs, his children’s marriages, his personal problems, or the difficulties he has with his wife are properly settled by group thinking. Peoples become Christian as their group-mind is brought into the lifegiving relationship to Jesus as Lord.” - from Bridges of God.

Three Eras of Modern Missions Third Era Second Era “Unreached People Groups” Edinburgh Missions Conference II 1934 1980 Concerts of Prayer, College Campuses Non-western and Specialized Sending Base Campus Crusade for Christ, InterVarsity, etc

Concerts of Prayer, College Campuses Mission Frontiers Magazine www.missionfrontiers.org Jan/Feb 99: Winds of Renewal: Could this be another SVM? Mar/Apr 04: Real Fools for God: Young Adults and Missionary Prep.

DISCUSSION QUESTION: What might be some cultural factors that we share that can taint our approach to reaching internationals here or in our missions activity around the world?

Theological Education by Extension Ralph Winter - a 5th Man? Theological Education by Extension (TEE)