In this second of 3 introductory episodes we interview Paul, who along with his wife Linda, worked among the Ata people in Papua New Guinea (See the Ata Story at AccessTruth.com). We ask the question:
In ministry, particularly in church planting, how important is it to have a long-term view? What are some things we should be picturing?
Transcript:
Simon: Hello, and welcome to Lessons from
the Field. Lessons from the Field is a podcast about cross-cultural ministry.
Specifically, long-term. And specifically, amongst unreached people groups.
There are some small exceptions to that, that will come up one day I’m sure.
But, for the moment we’re-
Brad: Who knows what we’re going to
talk about.
Simon: Yeah, that’s right Brad. My name’s
Simon, this is Brad. Sorry we didn’t introduce ourselves then, but we are going
to be starting off these first few episodes of the podcasts laying a bit of a
foundation about our core values in missions. Last time we talked about
unreached people groups and the greatest resources needed in cross-cultural
ministry around the world. And we talked about how there are a couple of
billion people who have no access to the gospel. And how there’s a huge need
for work as for people to invest their lives in communities around the world
where there is no access to the gospel; and invest their lives to see a church
planted there.
Simon: Today, we’re going to be talking
about some strategies. Particularly, the long-term strategy. We’ve got Paul
back, who we interviewed last time. And Paul is going to answer the question
of: In ministry, particularly in church planting, how important is it to have a
long-term view and what are some things we should be picturing? What do you
think about that Brad?
Brad: It flies on from our last
conversation about when Paul was talking about people- when we’re talking about
reaching out to the unreached, it’s a certain type of person, someone willing
to commit long-term was I think the way Paul put it. And so we’re focusing a
little more on that right? This long-term, playing the long game, which is kind
of the counter culture to everything that kind of pushes us to get things done
quickly; to get the tasks completed and get some runs on the board, get a
result that we can show people quickly. And we’re going to push against that a
little today, maybe with some things we’ll talk about.
Simon: We’re talking about investing in
communities and the term investment has a bit of a connotation of long-term
work. So, let’s hear what Paul has to say about how important it is to have a
long-term view and what are some things we should be picturing.
Paul: In terms of what is really
important, what do people need to be picturing, what do they need to have in
mind before they head out and get involved in any ministry. But particularly,
if you’re talking about church planting and being involved in reaching the
neediest people groups and seeing a church planted; it’s absolutely paramount
that you have a picture in mind of what it is that, not what you as an
individual or perhaps a team or the agency, or what their goals are, but, what
are God’s goals? What’s God’s intention? What does He desire to see take place
in any given community? And to have, not the details, bec
