08
Perspective
Volume 6, Issue 2
ARE MISSIONS AGENCIES
www.afrigo.org
W
NECESSARY?
hilst attending a missionary training Upon graduating from missionary school, I served as the school in the 1990s, one of the most Botswana field coordinator of the African Christian Mission popular missionary biographies among and there I saw firsthand the many benefits of being sent by an the students was Bruchko, the compelling agency. I also witnessed the havoc some “independent” or “lone story of American missionary Bruce ranger” missionaries were causing on the fields because they Olson, who undertook an amazing pioneer missionary work lacked cross-cultural training, among other things. Lacking the among the Motilones in Columbia. He bought a one-way ticket needed support, they often didn’t last long. Member care is a to South America at the age of 19, significant benefit provided by a solid without any church or organisation mission agency, in addition to ongoing sending him. In a review of the book, training, financial services, visa and Sam K. John observed, “It needed work permit acquisition, accountability, tremendous faith in God on the part of teamwork and fellowship, prayer Olson to go into an unknown territory support, among many others. without the support of the family or Many people still contemplate the church or mission agency.” whether to go alone or to go with an Olson’s story sparked an interesting agency. Agencies can take the form of debate on campus about whether it was denominational sending structures or really necessary for every missionary to inter-denominational faith mission be sent by a church or mission agency organisations. Among both of these are since Olson had done seemingly very general missions as well as specialist Pastor Mensah baptising new converts whilst serving as a missionary in Botswana. well by himself. After lots of research missions, such as Mission Aviation and intriguing interactions, we concluded that, though there Fellowship or Wycliffe Bible Translators. All organisations are exceptions, it is best to be sent by a body. have their challenges, but the advantages of being sent by one One of the scriptures strongly used by many students to preponderate over any apparent disadvantages. support the need to be sent was Romans 10:13-15: (NIV) I currently serve as the Director of OneWay Africa, which For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will sends missionaries to the unreached. Our missionaries are be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have so excited and grateful to belong to a family that stands not believed in? And how can they believe in the one with them. Throughout this global pandemic, they have of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear continuously expressed their immense appreciation. without someone preaching to them? And how can Furthermore, serving with the Ghana Evangelical anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How Missions Association (GEMA), we have VISION 2040, a beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ nationwide vision to see 30,000 missionaries sent by the Certainly, missionaries and their sending agencies are neither year 2040. It also seeks to activate 30,000 churches to pray unnecessary nor a new phenomenon in the modern world. When and send missionaries. We have thus been challenging the early church was forming, the Holy Spirit identified elders churches and mission agencies in Ghana to strengthen their and teachers to lead newly forming groups of Christ-followers. sending capacity to be able to commission thousands of new But the Holy Spirit also called those such as Paul, Barnabas, missionaries whom the Lord will call. We also sound this Timothy and others, to be sent out by these local believers to the clarion call throughout Africa and the rest of the world. nations. These early apostolic teams were missionaries. https://www.onewayafrica.org/ However, the biblical role goes back even further. In the https://www.gemagh.org/ villages and towns of ancient Israel, priests led the people to worship in the temple and local synagogues. But the Lord Pastor Ray Mensah is the Director called another kind of person, the prophets, to travel near and of OneWay Africa and President far, prophesying from town to town, and often to the nations of the Ghana Evangelical Missions beyond Israel. It is in the tradition of the prophets and the Association (GEMA). Ray and wife apostolic teams that missionaries go out today. Cynthia served nine years in Botswana, A missions agency and missionaries are no more gaining field experience in leading a “unnecessary” to the local church today than the apostolic strong, disciple-making movement. teams in the first century were unnecessary to the early Ray is a passionate speaker, gifted church, or the prophets of ancient Israel were unnecessary to mobiliser, a fire brand missionary, and local priests. All are called and used of God. a lover of Jesus Christ.
