Facilitating the Mission

Pastor Jeff Jackson interviews missionary Ben Spector with a focus on the importance of language and culture acquisition for missionaries. They discuss the dilemma of feeling the need to speed the ministry along resulting in viewing culture and language as obstacles to get over instead of actual ministry. Ben makes the excellent analogy that culture and language are not a piece of the missionary pie, but they are the pie. Ben also said Jesus made Himself known to us in a foreign land in very relatable ways, including becoming flesh and learning the language to communicate the most important message ever given. 

Ben and Jeff both mention Paul Hierbert's classic mission book, Anthropological Insights for Missionaries. 

When asked for three points to help new missionaries, Ben recommended: 

Establish a home church relationship. 

Go in learning language and culture —and do research on how to learn language.

Be good steward by knowing why you are going to the mission field.

The missionary has done all the right things. He or she has taken all the security precautions. Paul, and and generations of missionaries through the ages, a crisis has developed and contingency plans must be enacted. 

In our series final, Tim Dabney helps us understand missionary contingency planning. The focus will be on developing a plan before the crisis comes.

Evacuations 

Go Packs, 

Trusted National Contacts

Shelter in Place

Rally Points 

Facilitating the Missions's Tim Dabney speaks on cyber security issues for missionaries.

What many may think is the largest threat to modern missions may surprise you. Tim Dabney helps us understand the threats missionaries face, which is the beginning of preparation.

What is the appropriate risk for the gospel? Can it be wrong to risk your life for the gospel? Tim Dabney explains a Christ centered view on handling risk for the glory of the one Who risked it all for us.

Because 90% of the world operates under a world view known as honor and shame, it is critical for missionaries and their home churches to gain an understanding of how they may be able to adapt for the sake of the gospel. 

Facilitating the Mission offers this introductory podcast on the topic, but we also mentioned these excellent resources because we hope you'll dig in deeper. 

The 3D Gospel: Ministry in Guilt, Shame, and Fear Cultures by Jayson Georges 

Honor and Shame Website

Jackson Wu on Patheos 

The Global Gospel: Achieving Missional Impact in Our Multicultural World 

by Werner Mischk 

 

While not necessarily missionary furlough examples, missionaries would do well to consider the purposefulness of communication from Paul when he was preparing to visit churches and individuals (Romans 15:24, 1 Corinthians 16:5 and Philemon 22). Upon examination, we see two spiritual gifts in tethers of connection between missionaries and those whom love and support them.

Administrations (1 Corinthians 12:28)

Questions pre-field missionaries and the home church to discuss:

Is it important to keep any children on an educational schedule?

Considering what goals are to be accomplished on furlough, then ask: how much time is needed to accomplish those goals?

Are there certain times of the year ministry patterns, or weather, make it better to travel?

Is vacation part of furlough, making it at least partially restful and refreshing?  The other option is furlough is part of the labor and getting away happens in the host country.

How much, if any, funds should be regularly set into a furlough account.

Three types and lengths of furlough:

Whirlough: this is typically two or three weeks every year. 

Short: many missionaries find six to eight weeks every two years to be about right.

Full: taking six to 12 months for furlough every three to five years is a tried and true pattern. 

Hospitality (3 John 1:5-8)

Stiring up the gifts within the home church and larger body of Christ to help God's global ambassadors and therefore serve His global endeavors. 

We'll offer a list of six reasons why missionaries take furloughs.

Reconnect

Renewal

Retrain

Raise 

Remind

Refocus 

Coming back to the States on a missionary furlough was always a strange experience. Yet it is needed. Here are five reasons:

Reconnect

Renewal

Retrain

Raise 

Remind

Refocus