Featured Missionary Speaker: Linda Spriegel
ACT: To learn more about Tabitha Ministry and to view photos of the ministry in action, visit www.tabithakenya.blogspot.com.
1. Globalization
Two small areas of globalization that affect missions are technological advances and a more active global Church. Joy shared the story of Adhanom and Helen Hidug, WGM's first international missionaries. Missions is no longer "the West to the rest." Instead, it is "everyone to everywhere."
ACT: Use the resources of the Internet to be more intentional in prayer and in learning about missions and people around the world.
2. Diaspora movement
This group includes those who are forced to leave their homes because of conflict and economic hardship, as well as those who emigrate voluntarily. Many have fled countries that are close to impossible for many missionaries to go to - and instead find themselves in American suburbs.
ACT: Open up your home to an international student or refugee family. Reach out to undocumented aliens.
3. Biblical worldview as it relates to personal brokenness
Our own personal brokenness can be hard to diagnose. Joy shared her own story of a realization of having a "God complex" in relation to fixing problems she saw around her in rural Kenya. She came to a place of understanding that she needed to approach the issues she saw with an attitude of humility and with an awareness of her own brokenness.
ACT: Read Discipling Nations, by Darrow Miller and Stan Guthrie. This book builds a powerful and convincing thesis that God's truth not only breaks the spiritual bonds of sin and death but can free whole societies from deception and poverty.
4. Helping without hurting
Missions often makes the harmful, albeit with good intentions, mistake of doing for people what they can do for themselves. The more loving and kind thing is to be "thoughtful helpers," giving the right help at the right time.
ACT: Ask these questions before embarking on a ministry or mission.
1. Does what I am doing honor God as the creator of this person?
2. Does this take away from their dignity?
3. Does this help people see God at work in this person's life?
Let's seek the Lord in how we can embrace our changing world, and get busy!
Main Speaker: Joy Phillips
Joy shared four paradigm shifts that have developed in missions.1. Globalization
Two small areas of globalization that affect missions are technological advances and a more active global Church. Joy shared the story of Adhanom and Helen Hidug, WGM's first international missionaries. Missions is no longer "the West to the rest." Instead, it is "everyone to everywhere."
ACT: Use the resources of the Internet to be more intentional in prayer and in learning about missions and people around the world.
2. Diaspora movement
This group includes those who are forced to leave their homes because of conflict and economic hardship, as well as those who emigrate voluntarily. Many have fled countries that are close to impossible for many missionaries to go to - and instead find themselves in American suburbs.
ACT: Open up your home to an international student or refugee family. Reach out to undocumented aliens.
3. Biblical worldview as it relates to personal brokenness
Our own personal brokenness can be hard to diagnose. Joy shared her own story of a realization of having a "God complex" in relation to fixing problems she saw around her in rural Kenya. She came to a place of understanding that she needed to approach the issues she saw with an attitude of humility and with an awareness of her own brokenness.
ACT: Read Discipling Nations, by Darrow Miller and Stan Guthrie. This book builds a powerful and convincing thesis that God's truth not only breaks the spiritual bonds of sin and death but can free whole societies from deception and poverty.
4. Helping without hurting
Missions often makes the harmful, albeit with good intentions, mistake of doing for people what they can do for themselves. The more loving and kind thing is to be "thoughtful helpers," giving the right help at the right time.
ACT: Ask these questions before embarking on a ministry or mission.
1. Does what I am doing honor God as the creator of this person?
2. Does this take away from their dignity?
3. Does this help people see God at work in this person's life?
Let's seek the Lord in how we can embrace our changing world, and get busy!
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