Christian Standard | November 2020 by Christian Standard Media

fr o m th e pu bli sh er

10 Foundation Stones of the Church N o . 7: prayer

S INCE MAY, my publisher’s letter has focused

on the “foundation stones” that actually make the church . . . well, the church. We find them in Acts 2:41-47. This month we focus on the seventh one mentioned: prayer. Prayer is often considered a very personal experience, something connected to a private quiet time just between oneself and God. That’s not wrong. But in thinking about it that way, we can miss a very important aspect of prayer. The answer to the popular question “What Would Jesus Do?” typically is informed by what

Jesus actually did in Scripture. Likewise, our prayer examples are informed not just by how Jesus prayed, but by how his apostles prayed. Since Jesus’ followers “devoted themselves . . . to prayer” (Acts 2:42), we should look to the example they provided in the book of Acts. In looking at the prayer experiences in that book, something immediately jumps off the page— they often prayed together! Luke’s history offers evidence that literally everything that happened in the infancy of the church was soaked in prayer. And among the prayers highlighted

Christians met for prayer in designated places and at planned times. Early on, they met in the temple, and then in homes, and later in synagogues. If there was no normal place, they would designate one (see Acts 16:13, 16). The first Christians knew the great power of prayer. Prayer is the conduit that links us to unlimited power and comes from unlimited perfection. Prayers answered in the affirmative have come directly before almighty God and he has rendered his decision. The book of Acts includes 14 prayers that can be categorized in these four ways: intercession, discernment, requests, and commissioning. These prayer types are listed from least frequent to most frequent. Intercessions are selfless prayers for others. Acts 4:24-30 reflected an apostolic desire for boldness in the face of persecution, while Acts 7:60 is Stephen’s appeal for God to forgive his killers. These two requests had no perceived self-serving motive. These prayers remind us not only to intercede but to check our motives when we pray. Discernment prayers are designed to seek out and understand God’s will or direction. These prayers incorporate the group to be listening or watching together for God’s answer. In Acts 1:24-25, the apostles asked God for a wise choice to replace Judas Iscariot. Acts 10:9 was the only nongroup prayer recorded in Acts; in it, Peter simply was trying to keep his heart open for whatever God would do next. Acts 16:25 was a nonspecific prayer (as far as we know) of Paul and Silas, who were jailed together, but God moved in a powerful way both for those praying and those listening. We can be assured God will move in some incredible way . . . though perhaps not in the way we think or prescribe for him. Requests might be the most commonly understood of prayers. The four prayer requests in Acts

were for spiritual gifts (8:15), resurrection (9:40), deliverance (12:12), and sickness healing (28:8). These were specific requests God responded to favorably. While there is great joy in such victories, there is also truth in silence. I’m sure the same group that gathered for Peter had also prayed for James, who was martyred. Our prayers don’t discern the reasons for God’s answers, but that is no excuse not to keep the faith. It might cause us to question whether we are praying for God’s will. Commissioning prayers share a desire to walk in the will of God, not to get God to walk in our will. The five commissioning prayers—all group prayers—in Acts are for setting aside the seven (6:6), sending out Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary journey (13:3), appointing elders (14:23), Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders (20:36), and Paul’s farewell to the families of Tyre (21:5). Like the earliest followers of Jesus, we must devote ourselves to prayer in the church today, and we can learn from Acts the kinds of prayers we should be raising up to God. When we approach God in personal or group prayer, we come with hearts that are open only for him. In our minds and hearts we affirm: He comes first, I am spoken for, my calendar is set, my time is his, my dance card is full, my heart is open, my mind is ready, my worldly passions can wait, my friends and family can either wait for me or join me, my ambitions can sit in the back seat, and my preferences are checked at the door. When we pray, we call on God’s name, and we prepare ourselves for when God calls our name. Through prayer, God knows we’re present and accounted for. Ready, willing, and able.

Jerry Harris is publisher of Christian Standard Media and senior pastor of The Crossing, a multisite church located in three states across the Midwest. @_jerryharris /jerrydharris

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and written down for our benefit in Acts, almost all occurred in groups.

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In Every Issue 2-3 | from the publisher

e2:EFFECTIVE ELDERS Giving Honor to Whom Honor Is Due David Roadcup

8-9 |

6-7 | from the Editor

10-11 | POLISHED How to Find Real Peace Megan Rawlings

feature

PHOTO ESSAY: THE MISSION THAT BECAME A MOVEMENT Ziden L . Nutt

the pandemic and missions

THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS

36 40 44 48

JOB 1 IS STILL JOB 1

SHARING THE BREAD OF LIFE WITH A USED TABLE

THE FUTURE OF MISSIONS IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD

David Empson

Jeff Metzger

UNPRECEDENTED Kip Lines

SHORT-TERM SHUTDOWN Justin Horey

RAISING THE BAR ON KINGDOM IMPACT Dave Stewart

To m E l l s w o r t h

Ben Simms

in memorium

60 12-13 | HORIZONS Ministr y in Post- Christian England Laura McKillip Wood

14-15 | MINISTRYLIFE Bangladesh Math Courtney M. Brown

REMEMBERING RAVI Brett A . Seybold

16-18 | METRICS

94-95 | INTERACT

The Future of Evangelism, Missions, and the Church Kent E. Fillinger

71-91 | THE LOOKOUT

96 | THE FINAL WORD

f r o m th e edi to r

Missing: The Main Thing R ECEN TLY I WA S ON OUR W EBSITE read-

ing church job postings for ministers. (No, I’m not looking for a new job!) Many include the expected responsibilities of preaching on Sunday mornings and evenings, teaching on Wednesday nights, performing weddings and funerals, attending meetings, counseling, and visitation, to name a few. But something significant and urgent—and biblical—is often missing. Can you guess what it is? Paul said, “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers . . .” to do what? To preach and teach, marry and bury, and attend meetings? While those roles are significant, the true goal is “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:11-12, my emphasis). Discipling and developing others—passing the leadership baton to people who will pass it to

still others—is a fundamental role and priority for biblical leaders. The lack of leaders in the church today, both domestically and internationally, is troubling, and there’s an even greater shortage of leaders being prepared for the future. I addressed this problem in my August letter with a four-month call to pray, asking the Lord to send workers into his harvest fields. Prayer is our first response in addressing this issue, but it’s far from our only response. Jesus instructed his own disciples to ask the Lord for more workers even as he was equipping them as harvest workers. We should do the same. Christlike leaders prioritize reproducing themselves. I love how Leighton Ford put it in Transforming Leadership: “Long before modern managers, Jesus was busy preparing people for the future. He wasn’t aiming to pick a crown prince, but to create a successor generation. When the

Bible Studies to help promote the group multiplication process. Our weekly Discovery studies in The Lookout section are a hybrid of this study method.)

Leadership development occurs naturally in churches that have a discipleship environment in place. A failure in developing leaders is the sad consequence of a failure to truly disciple our people. The question is not how many sermons you’ve preached, how many people are in Sunday school classes or how many small groups you have. Success in Christ’s church is (or should be) based on how well we are making disciples who are going and making more disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey everything Christ has commanded. The real question is how well we’re doing at that—our main thing.

David Watson, author of Contagious Disciple Making, said the development of a Church Planting Movement requires several actions:

Yet only 17 percent of American churchgoers say they have heard of the Great Commission and know what it means (see Kent Fillinger’s Metrics article starting on page 16). For younger churchgoe rs (mille nnials), the numbe rs are e ve n worse. In what seems like good news, those who categorized themselves as evangelicals were much more aware of the Great Commission and its meaning (60 percent). I hate to be cynical, but that still means only 40 percent of those who identify themselves as believers of Christian teachings and the gospel can even identify and understand the mission Jesus gave his church. We haven’t truly discipled our people if they don’t know what the main thing is and if they are not obeying it. Compare this with Disciple-Making Movements around the world where disciples are being made and churches are being planted rapidly. In DMMs, groups of people who are following Jesus and are committed to obeying his commands together gather in small groups or house churches that multiply repeatedly. (DMMs, aka Church Planting Movements, are mentioned in Kip Lines’s article, “Unprecedented” [p. 40], and Dave Stewart’s article, “Raising the Bar on Kingdom Impact” [p. 48]. Also see “The Phenomenon of Disciple-Making Movements” by Doug Lucas in our October 2018 issue. DMMs use Discovery

• The equipping of leaders. Watson’s definition of leadership includes reproduction of leaders. A leader makes more leaders regularly. • The obedience-based discipleship of all people. His definition of a disciple includes obedience to Jesus and the reproduction of disciples. An obedient disciple makes more disciples regularly. • Bible study groups and churches that reproduce regularly. • Church members who are ministering to their communities, so that the kingdom of God is expanding from individual to individual, family to family, community to community, city to city, and nation to nation. Perhaps we can learn from Disciple-Making Movements, not simply to copy the methodology, but to restore the simple yet profound ways of Jesus: to make disciples who obediently make disciples. Let’s put that at the top of our job descriptions. @michaelcmack @michaelcmack @michaelcmack /authormichaelcmack

Join us in praying daily, through the end of November, asking the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest fields! Each day, Monday through Saturday, a Restoration Movement leader shares a prompt to help you pray for future leaders. Subscribe for free to our “Daily Reading with The Lookout” email at www.ChristianStandard.com/newsletter.

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time came for Him to leave, He did not put in place a crash program of leadership development—the curriculum had been taught for three years in a living classroom.”

e 2 : ef f ecti v e elder s

Giving Honor to Whom Honor Is Due BY DAVID ROADCUP

TH E

C H A I R M A N OF T H E E L DE R S of our church called to invite me to join the elder team of our congregation. At the time, I was vice president for student services at Cincinnati Christian University and an active member at Mason Church of Christ (now Christ’s Church) in Mason, Ohio. I wound up accepting his invitation, which started an interesting chapter in my journey during which I was able to see the work of an elder from an altogether different viewpoint.

victories, blessings, and joy, elders can also experience extreme grief and criticism. Being an elder is not a ministry for the faint of heart!

For the previous 13 years, I had been in leadership ministry in the church or teaching at one of our Bible colleges. Now, in addition to leading a Sunday class and a home Bible study, I would be serving on our elder team.

The typical elder . . .

Elders (and church staff) carry the primary load of responsibility for the life, ministry, culture, finances, and impact of their local congregations. They are the “points of the spear” when it comes to successfully managing the direction and operation of the church. A serving elder has said “yes” to God’s call in his life.

The six-year experience serving at Mason gave me valuable perspectives on the responsibilities and rewards of elder leadership.

The Responsibilities of elders Elders invest a large amount of time, effort, participation, and prayer into their ministries. It can be hard, emotionally taxing work. In addition to all of the

• will participate in many meetings during his tenure of service • prays daily for the congregation and the church’s leadership • leads by example

David Roadcup is cofounder and outreach director for e2: effective elders. He serves as professor of discipleship and global outreach representative with TCM International Institute. He is also on the board of directors of Christian Arabic Services.

/e2elders @e2elders

• prepares Bible lessons for classes and small groups and uses his other gifts to serve the church • participates in making decisions that require innovation, creativity, and understanding (take the impact of COVID-19 on the church, for example)

• contributes financially beyond what is expected • helps manage conflict, disagreements, contentious members, and church discipline when the need arises • assists in leading through capital campaigns and building programs • receives and bears criticism (sometimes scathing!) with a high level of self-control and a patient spirit • guards the church from “wolves” and false teaching so prevalent in our day • lives a life of integrity, honesty, and personal devotion to Christ • loves his wife and is faithful to her as together they raise their children to know the Lord • with his wife, opens their home and practices hospitality in the name of Christ • is persistent and remains in place like a rock, strong in spirit, and sees the church through great upheaval and stressful, difficult times And all of this from a volunteer who receives no payment!

The Rewards of elders

The good news is that elders will be rewarded for their ministry and service. Elders can anticipate a reward from the Lord in three ways. First, elders get to see people come to faith in Christ and find salvation due to their ministry. What a joy it is to witness baptisms that in large part are due to the leadership, management, and vision of the elder and staff team. Second, elders, through their involvement, strengthen their own faith. Paul instructed, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you

do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16, New American Standard Bible). When we are involved in serving others, this involvement can greatly stimulate our own spiritual health. Service can bring strength. Our elder work stimulates our love for Christ and stirs our own spiritual awareness. We are blessed and nurtured in our spirits through our service to Christ’s body. Third, elders will receive a wonderful reward when Jesus returns: “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4, NASB). From the Greek, we know that this “unfading crown of glory” is not the crown made from gold and jewels (diadem) worn by kings and potentates. But it is the beautiful laurel wreath (stephanos) woven from olive branches and flowers, given to the person who has won the marathon race! It will be given to the elder who enters the race, serves faithfully, perseveres, and finishes. Elders, this will be part of your reward. Your name will be called and a laurel crown of reward will be placed on your head, indicating your acceptable service to the bride of Christ! I truly believe that at that moment, all of the stresses, struggles, hassles, problems, and difficulties of church leadership will be worth it. Romans 13:7 says, “Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor” (NASB, emphasis mine). We take this opportunity to sincerely honor and thank every elder and church staff member who faithfully serves at the Lord’s call. We appreciate you. We thank you, deeply, with grateful hearts. John F. Kennedy said, “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” Brother elder, you have made a difference. You will be rewarded both here and now and around the throne of our Father. 

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• listens carefully and uses the Lord’s wisdom and discernment to guide his thinking and comments

Po li sh ed

How to Find Real Peace BY MEGAN RAWLINGS

I T ' S I RON IC I’m writing an article instruct-

ing others on how to find peace. I have recently struggled with anxiety—a deep restlessness in my soul that sleep could not satisfy. I have been so tired. And the pandemic hasn’t helped at all. I was worrying about minor things too often—stuff I couldn’t change. It’s not that I don’t know how to find peace, I was simply not practicing what I preach. But all that changed one Wednesday morning. Here is what I learned about finding true peace.

Step 1: Do not use Google to research health issues! It started one Saturday. I was sure I had COVID-19. I think I might have been imagining the symptoms, but I went to my family doctor just to be sure. I was diagnosed with a minor

bacterial infection that could easily be cured with antibiotics. I felt a sense of relief. Two days later, however, the hospital called to inform me I had a second infection that was resistant to antibiotics. I immediately thought, This is the end . . . I’m on my way to the nearest funeral home. So I immediately used Google to check out my symptoms. As I suspected, I found my prognosis was not good. I just knew my days were numbered! This was terrible news . . . so my anxiety intensified.

Megan Rawlings is the founder and CEO of The Bold Movement. She is an extrovert, pastor’s wife, and lover of the Scriptures. /tbmministry @tbm_ministry @tbm_ministry @theboldmovement theboldmovement.com

I finished the antibiotics and went back to the doctor for further testing. They told me this infe ction can be minor, and more than likely, my body would fight it off. That didn’t help. I was certain I would not live to see another day.

Step 2: Praise God because his existence isn’t based on how we feel “God, I don’t trust you.” The words left my lips and tears rolled down my face. Please understand, it wasn’t the minor inconvenience of being sick that led me to this place. It was months of “not knowing” and “not being in control.” The pandemic had reached America, and my anxiety increased as it crept closer to my state.

Scripture. At the time, I did not understand why this was necessary, but on that turbulent Wednesday, I learned just how crucial it was to have a full arsenal of God’s Word. One particular verse, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11, English Standard Version), clearly indicates that memorizing Scripture helps prevent us from sinning.

Step 4: Use these ingredients to live peacefully It’s not that I don’t know how to find peace,

Paul provided the recipe for enjoying the peace that surpasses all understanding. He wrote,

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your practicing reasonableness be known to everyone. what I preach. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in I knew I couldn’t control the everything by prayer health of my loved ones. I and supplication with couldn’t control the anger and thanksgiving let your requests be discord this type of situation brings out in peomade known to God. And the peace of ple. I didn’t know when it would end, if it would God, which surpasses all understandend, or whether things would ever feel normal ing, will guard your hearts and your again. The worst part? I wasn’t trusting God to minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4be himself. What a silly thing to admit. 7, ESV). My lack of trust was leading me to doubt God’s supremacy and omniscience. Suddenly, my Step 5: Implement these suggestions prayer shifted: “God, I need you to make yourwhen you feel anxious self real to me.” Within five minutes of my Finding peace, even in a pandemic, involves prayer, God clearly spoke to my heart. I tell more than just having these things in your women daily, “God is not a feeling.” It was like mind; we must also implement them. Failing he nudged me to practice what I preach. to do this would be like mixing ingredients for a cake but not baking it. Putting what you Step 3: Memorize Scripture to quote to know into practice is the most exceptional yourself when you need godly peace testimony of what God can do for you. It is a As a kid, my church leaders and my mothtestimony to others that he really makes a difer constantly encouraged me to memorize ference in your life. 

I was simply not

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But when Wednesday rolled around, I suddenly came up with an earth-shaking plan: I needed to pray. I mean really pray! To be honest, I had been praying since the day I started feeling bad, but on this particular day, my prayer was raw. I prayed more earnestly and sincerely than I had since onset of the infection.

horizons

Ministry in Post-Christian England BY LAURA MCKILLIP WOOD

L E SL I E

S AT I N T H E D OR M L OBBY on her Christian college campus thinking about the last question on the get-to-know-you survey she and the rest of the girls in her dorm were completing. Her sophomore year had just begun, and Leslie had been considering where God was leading her. The last question asked, “What is something you have dreamed of doing?” She scribbled her answer in the blank: “missions in Europe.” Leslie Hall had been learning about the decline of Christianity in Europe, and she wondered what God might be doing there. “I guess God paid attention to what I wrote,” she says. “I spent the next year in England on a study abroad/internship experience in youth ministry.” During that year abroad, Leslie experienced God in ways she had not before. She left with a passion to return and to see the kingdom of God flourish in England.

“Once I was in youth group, following Jesus was really the only thing I cared about.” She hung out with her friends from church and began leading small groups. “Serving and loving the church became the call that God began to plant in my heart,” she says. That naturally led her to attend a Christian college and prepare for ministry. A few years after graduation, Leslie returned to England, to the town just outside of Oxford where she had worked during her internship. She first served in a church-owned coffee shop designed to reach out to the community. In 2019, she moved to the London area, where she now lives. She works with Greater Europe Mission at a church called St. Albans Fulham.

Steps of Faith Leslie grew up in Ohio and attended a Catholic school. Her family identified as Christian, but the gospel had little impact on their daily lives. Leslie learned about Jesus and faith in school; the dedicated people she met there sparked an interest in Christianity. In middle school, Leslie began attending youth group with a friend, and eventually she made a decision to follow Christ. She did not know how that decision would change her life.

Laura McKillip Wood, former missionary to Ukraine, now lives in Papillion, Nebraska. She serves as an on-call chaplain at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha. She and her husband, Andrew, have three teenagers. /laura.wood2 @woodlaura30 @woodlaura30 lauramckillipwood.com lauramckillipwood@gmail.com

“I am passionate about se e ing people, especially my generation, grow as resilient apprentices of Jesus,” Leslie says. “My ministry is to see the church grow both deep and wide—to see more people come to know freedom in Christ and for followers of Jesus to be deeply shaped by doing what Jesus did, becoming like Jesus, and being with Jesus.” To that end, she structures her ministry practices around spiritual disciplines and spiritual formation. Le slie use s the te rm apprentice in her work because, “within the post-Christian context of the UK, apprenticeship is a common experience that many have in a working environment.” The term apprentice is easy to relate to and understand,

Faith in COVID-19 Times Leslie’s community experienced the impact of the coronavirus pandemic in deep ways. COVID-19 hit London hard, and the community took the lockdown seriously. Most people did not leave their homes for weeks, except to get food and essentials. Many people in the community where Leslie serves were sick with the virus. One person on her street died. “Our church community went into a wartime mentality to do everything we could to ensure we could serve and care for people in our community.” Leslie’s church moved services online, and they also collected donations of iPads and mobile devices to make sure everyone could stay connected. They delivered copies of sermon notes to those with no internet access. Many doctors, nurses, and other health care workers live in her community, so the church and Greater Europe Mission mobilized a twicedaily prayer initiative for health care workers and all the people of Europe. Additionally, London also participated in protests against systemic racism that coincided with the pandemic. St. Albans has begun working toward long-term goals to transform the community and heal the wounds caused by systemic racism.

Faith in a Post-Christian Context Many people in England consider themselves to be Christian while participating in a form of cultural Christianity, meaning they do not incorporate biblical teaching into their daily lives. They are not transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. They have a level of knowledge of Christian teachings but little to no commitment to a personal relationship with Jesus. Christianity flourished in England for generations, but no more, though occasionally people from former British colonies come to England and bring faith with them . . . back to a people who have let it fall to the wayside.

“Post-Christianity is a cultural context that desires the kingdom without the King,” Leslie says (quoting author Mark Sayers). The culture’s emphasis on justice, equality, and social activism has its roots in Christianity, but attempts to achieve those goals without involving Jesus in the work. Additionally, people who call themselves Christians have hurt many people in the past and have created unjust systems that have continued the pain. This created a reluctance to trust Christians and a desire to maintain the good parts of Christianity without adopting the submission to God. Leslie’s work in this post-Christian society involves bringing the healing and light of Jesus to people who have not experienced it in their interactions with Christianity in the past. One of the most rewarding aspects of Leslie’s work comes via encouragement from her small group of friends. Even though they come from different faith backgrounds and don’t yet follow Jesus, they are always open to asking hard questions about faith. “We have open and honest conversations” she says; Leslie values these talks. When COVID-19 hit and the lockdowns began, Leslie began sharing about the importance of creating new rhythms of life centered around spiritual disciplines. She wrote about these on her social media, and that opened doors for discussions about navigating difficult life circumstances, such as the pandemic. It even prompted one of her friends to read the book of Matthew out of a desire to know more about Jesus’ teachings and how faith can affect our everyday lives. “I’m constantly being challenged and encouraged that God is doing transformative work in God’s perfect pace and timing of things,” Leslie says, “I don’t need to worry myself with thoughts of ‘Am I doing enough in ministry?’ or ‘Why am I not seeing God move in people’s lives in the ways that I long to see?’ It’s a reminder that I am not the one who transforms the heart; [rather,] it is the Spirit of God moving and making all things new in the world. I am only called to be a witness to what God is doing.” 

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and it accurately describes the relationship between Jesus and his followers.

Mi n i stry Li f e

BANGLADESH MATH BY COURTNEY M. BROWN

G OING

TO BA NGL A DE SH was not my idea. As an expatriate living and working in South Korea, I already spent my days navigating cultural differences and chipping away at language barriers. But, since I had also recently become co-leader of the missions team at church, when it came time for our biannual trip to Bangladesh, I was informed it was “my turn.” And, just for good measure, I was “in charge.”

structure to form new families out of their losses. Our church in Korea sponsored all the children who lived there and sent teams twice a year to help construct new houses.

I admit, I didn’t welcome this news with unrestrained joy. Still, I supported the aims of the trip. Our destination in Bangladesh was a small, experimental community created for widows and orphans. It’s a place where small groups of children are matched with widows and provided with homes, space, and

Courtney Brown is an educator and freelance writer and editor who lives in Florida and is always on the lookout for her next adventure, mathematical or otherwise. @ courtneymebr @courtney27696 /courtney.brown.94

I didn’t exactly volunteer, but it wasn’t long before I was glad to be going, even if most of my time was spent considering the practicalities of the trip. This is, after all, the necessary lot of the group leader: be preoccupied with safety so everyone feels protected and cared for. Take care of the mundane so others can focus on forming and strengthening relationships. So I made lists and inventoried supplies, counted people, priced the plane ticke ts, organize d immunizations, and doublechecked everything. I confirmed

Two soccer balls (1 perpetually in the pond), 2 sky-blue swings (always in use). Fifty children (formerly orphans), 19 little ones (newly arrived), 9 mothers (protected and protecting).

For me, our trip was quantifiable, defined by the math, and I knew from the outset it was a numbers game.

I can’t pin down the moment the sums shifted, because the lists and counting never stopped. Maybe it occurred when—for just a moment— nothing required my immediate attention and I got a turn on a swing. Maybe it was when the local builder—who didn’t much care for women but respected hard work—gave me a nod. Maybe it’s the night I got a bit more sleep.

Thirteen team members, 3 different nationalities, 3 minors, 13 visas with 3 different fees, 2 trips to the embassy in Seoul. Thirteen bus tickets to the airport at 5 a.m., 12 checked bags (20 kilo maximum), 13 carryons, 25 orange luggage tags, 2 airlines, and one 5-hour layover in Hong Kong. Thirteen people waiting for bags in Dhaka, 3 vehicles (9 people in the van, 4 in truck one, and 25 bags in truck two), and 2 nights in Dhaka. (Count the exchanged money. Write it down. Double-check.) Too many hours on the road from Dhaka to the guesthouse, only 12 heads lining up outside the vans after lunch, 6 seconds of panic (and then I remember to count myself). Thirty-three meals over 11 days, 7 cups of tea per person per day, 2 tea shops (with cookies). Forty-five minutes from the guesthouse to the little gated village, 2 new houses under construction with 3 more planned. Four buckets for watering bricks, 2 pumps, hundreds of red, sandy bricks. Two shovels for scooping sand, 7 trays for carrying, 1 ragged and giggly bucket brigade dumping sand for a 2-foot high foundation.

One village, 1 church, and 1 Sunday-morning service with many singers.

But somewhere among the miles and headcounts and stacks of bricks, the numbers drew in a breath of unseasonably cool air, and the equation expanded enough to allow light between the pen strokes and iterations, enough to allow a rearrangement of vision. I couldn’t suddenly transfer all of my concerns or neglect the necessary tasks, but this exchange of center and margin reminded me that, while it was my job to keep track of the heads, someone greater was keeping track of the hairs . . . someone who didn’t want me to lose the touch of his hand in mine even if habit compelled me to count the fingers first. You see, it was a numbers game . . . but also a paradox. Because when I finally added it all up—the nationalities, the miles, the currencies, the minutes that ticked by, the many hands, many futures and possibilities, the bricks and the heartbeats—when I added it all up, it totaled just one. One heart. One bold hope. One perfect Savior. And one family. My family. 

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visa requirements, scheduled an embassy run, and added up fees. I provided group members with prayer concerns and suggested ways to prepare their hearts for our time in Bangladesh, even as I counted, doublechecked, and ran through the lists time after time.

metr i cs

The Future of Evangelism, Missions, and the Church BY KENT E. FILLINGER

TH E H E A DL I N E “51% of Churchgoers Don’t

Know of the Great Commission” from a Barna report in March 2018 caught my eye and caused me great concern. The report said that for 25 percent of churchgoers, the term “Great Commission” sounded familiar, but they could not remember the meaning of it. Only 17 percent of churchgoers said they had heard of the Great Commission and knew what it meant. Although not even half of any age group knew the term Great Commission well, the youngest adult generation was the least likely to recognize it. Only 10 percent of millennials (those born 1981 to 1997) had heard of or could remember the term.

On a positive note, evangelicals were the churchgoing group most likely to say they had heard of the Great Commission and remembered what it was (60 percent). And three-fourths of evangelicals (74 percent) were able to correctly select the Great Commission from a collection of five different Bible verses.

Kent E. Fillinger serves as president of 3:STRANDS Consulting, Indianapolis, Indiana, and regional vice president (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan) with Christian Financial Resources.

/3strandsconsulting 3strandsconsulting.com

What Has Caused the Great Commission to Go M.I.A.? Some of the lack of awareness of the Great Commission may be attributed to preachers not using the phrase in sermons these days. And some might be the result of preachers de-emphasizing the challenge and responsibility of the Great Commission in their weekend messages.

The term was coined by sociologists Christian Smith and Melissa Lundquist Denton in their 2005 book, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers. They summarize “moral therapeutic deism” in five points: • A God exists who created and orders the world and watches over human life on earth. • God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions. • The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself. • God does not need to be particularly involved in one’s life except when God is needed to resolve a problem. • Good people go to Heaven when they die. My conclusion is the shift toward moral therapeutic deism in preachers’ sermons and churchgoers’ personal beliefs has sadly created a scenario where the Great Commission is missing in action, forgotten, or unknown.

What About Missions and Evangelism? Additionally, this apparent theological shift has created a reality where almost half (47

percent) of millennials (ages 23-39) said they “agreed strongly” or “agreed somewhat” that “it is wrong to share one’s personal beliefs with someone of a different faith in hopes that they will one day share the same faith,” according to an August 2019 Barna study. Given this foundational belief of so many, it seems safe to conclude that many young adult Christians are unlikely to even attempt to make disciples of anyone adhering to another faith or having no faith at all. While it seems to conflict with the finding above, the same Barna report stated that 96 percent of those same millennials said they “agreed strongly” or “agreed somewhat” that “part of my faith means being a witness about Jesus.” But the report did not elaborate on what this meant for millennials in terms of practical application. With regard to missions, a majority (72 percent) of young adults ages 18-34 said missionary work is “very valuable,” according to a July 2020 Barna report. This may bode well for the future of missions support and recruiting young adults to serve on the mission field.

What Impact Are Online Services Having on the Church? In mid-March, when the pandemic struck, many churches were forced to cease on-site worship services and shift to online church. Initially, there seemed to be a positive response and many churches reported record attendance numbers for online worshippers. But it appears the allure of online church has worn off for many, according to a July research report by Barna. The study found that among practicing Christians—those

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Of the sermons I’ve heard by a host of preachers over the last couple of years, an increasing percentage sound to me more like trite, inspirational posters you’d find at Hobby Lobby than a call to be disciples and make disciples. It also seems that much preaching today is predicated on a foundation of “moral therapeutic deism.” This misguided theology also reflects what millennials have believed for years, based on research findings.

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who identify as Christian and agree strongly that faith is very important in their lives and attended church at least monthly prior to COVID-19—just over half (53 percent) said they had streamed their regular church online within the past four weeks. Another 34 percent said they had streamed a church service other than their own church. Finally, almost one-third of practicing Christians (32 percent) said they had not watched any online services during the previous month. Therefore, Barna concluded with confidence that this group of Christians had “dropped out” of church, at least for the time being. Among Christian millennials, half (50 percent) said they had not attended online church for at least the last four weeks. Just over one-third of gen X/busters (35 percent of those born from about 1965 to 1980) said they had stopped watching church, and a little more than one-fourth of boomers (26 percent of those born 1946 to 1964) said the same. The Barna study concluded that those churchgoers who stopped attending online services still seek support from a church community. Over half said they wanted “prayer and emotional support” from churches. Not surprisingly, those who have stopped attending online services reported higher levels of anxiety and stress compared with those Christians who continued worshipping online. Millennials have been called “digital natives” for years, meaning they were the first generation to grow up with technology. My concern is that if Christians in this group, many of whom are parents to younger children, are not watching online, then their children most likely are not

receiving any form of worship or Bible teaching. The long-ranging impact of these negative habits being formed now could impact the church for years to come.

What’s Next? Where does this leave the church moving forward? Whenever the pandemic is over and people feel safe to regather fully in larger groups, it’s going to be essential for the shepherds of the church (elders and ministers) to go on a search and rescue mission to find the “sheep” who have wandered off and disappeared. Do not assume they will come “home” on their own. In the interim, it is critical for church leaders to keep doing their best to connect with their flock regularly and repeatedly, to offer encouragement and hope, but also to challenge and call them to continued faithfulness and perseverance. The more this can be done in person, rather than online, the better. Rethinking how to do church online is also essential because so many previously active Christians have stopped logging on to watch. My suggestion is to make your online worship experience look different from your in-person worship venues and experience. Return to Bible-based messages rather than “pop psychology” ponderings. Reformat your sermons to be closer to the length of TED Talks (15 to 18 minutes). Reset your online services by starting with your Bible message and conclude with no more than 10 minutes of worship so that the whole online experience is less than 30 minutes. Recharge your church by including some surprises in your online worship experiences to keep people tuning in each week. 

by Ziden L. Nutt

photo essay

THE MISSION THAT BECAME A MOVEMENT One mission launched by J. Russell and Gertrude Morse nearly 100 years ago produced several global movements that have impacted millions. Today, third- and fourthgeneration members continue to serve as missionaries. Here's the storyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in words and picturesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;of those involved through the years.

All of this was no surprise to the mother watching the departing ship, for she had long prayed for this day. Ruth Morse married young and had four children, none of whom seemed interested in being a missionary. She wrote on February 4, 1898, “I wished I could be a missionary, but I couldn’t leave my family. So, I asked God to send me a child that would be a missionary. God heard my heart cry and sent me the sweetest baby boy—Justin Russell Morse.” Dr. Shelton had been on a furlough from Tibet when he stopped at Enid, Oklahoma, to visit his parents and speak at Phillips University. He made the appeal, “Have we in this audience a young husband and wife willing to work with me in the task of opening Tibet for Christ?” J. Russell glanced sideways at his young bride, Gertrude, who was already looking at him with a smile. They both knew instantly this was a call on their lives. This began a legacy of inspiration and faithfulness that has impacted millions around the world and that people continue to celebrate 100 years later. Many more became part of this great venture and legacy, including third- and fourth-generation members of the Morse family who today are still serving as missionaries. What began with this mission became a movement among local tribes that literally expanded around the world. Others had gone to the great mission field of China prior to them, including Dr. W. E. Macklin of Canada in 1886, E. T. Williams and F. E. Meigs in 1887, Dr. James Butchart in 1891, and Petrus Rijnhart the next year. They represented the Christ of the cross who “came not to be served but to serve.” Dr. Susie Carson Rijnhart and Dr. Albert Shelton went in 1904. The annals of mission history also point out the sacrificial service of Dr. Z. S. Loftis in 1909 and Dr. W. M. Hardy in 1910.

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The last trunk had been lowered into the hold of the ship. The gangplank was withdrawn. The engines throbbed and quivered. The Empress of Japan seemed to shudder as it swung away from the pier on August 13, 1921. Among those on board were Dr. and Mrs. Albert Shelton and J. Russell and Gertrude Morse with their 4-month old son, Eugene. They were “going for life” to proclaim the gospel of Christ to the peoples of China and Tibet (photo 1).

05 02

These early missionaries grappled with travel and tragedy (photo 3), troubles and trials, and they struggled against liberalism in the mission society they were under. The society had become controlling, while also slowly departing from the principles, doctrines, and authority of God’s Word. The Morse family took a stand and resigned from the society in 1926, as did Leslie and Carrie Wolfe in the Philippines, Sterling and Zoena Rothermel in India, and Milton and Maude Madden and William and Emily Cunningham in Japan. This began a global movement toward “direct-support missions” which was “independent” of any society. Such missionaries receive direct support from churches and individuals; this model continues today among hundreds serving across the Americas and around the world. This model follows Acts 13:2-3, where “after they [the church at Antioch] had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” Through the years, when direct-support missionaries take breaks from the grueling work in their fields of service, they return to the churches from which they “had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. And . . . they rehearsed all that God had done with them” (Acts 14:26-27, King James Version). The Yunnan-Tibetan Christian Mission was soon formed by the families who sacrificially served with their children in that great harvest field of the world (photo 4). Other courageous men and women became co-workers in a unified effort. Great were the sacrifices made by those who counted the cost and joined this mission. The love of Christ and for Christ burned deeply within them, and their passion for sharing that love led them to join this mission. Vernon and Mona Newland went in 1934. Harold and Ada Taylor and Isabel Maxey went in 1937. Edgar and Mabel Nichols, Gladys Schwake, and Melba Palmer arrived in 1938 (photo 5). By special arrangement, the U.S. Army flew nurse Dorothy Sterling in to join the mission in 1944.

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After four months of grueling travel, the Shelton and Morse families arrived in Batang on the China-Tibetan border on December 23, 1921. Unfortunately, only a short time after their arrival, Dr. Shelton was robbed and murdered by the very people he had gone to serve (photo 2). When Dr. Norton Bare and his wife, Lois, learned of Dr. Shelton’s death, they stepped up to serve, arriving in 1925.

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A Mission on the Move World War II caused dramatic changes that temporarily led some missionaries back to the United States and to other places, but God’s people were on the move. Isabel Maxey had briefly returned to the U.S., married Warren Dittemore, and returned to China in 1946. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Back arrived in 1947. David Rees, Jane Kinnett, William Rees, Imogene Williams, and Mel Byers went in 1948. J. Russell and Gertrude Morses’ two older sons and the sons’ wives—Eugene and Helen, Robert and Betty—returned as adult missionaries in 1948, while son LaVerne returned to China in 1949 (photo 6). C.W. and Lois Callaway and Laura Banks also went in 1949. Little did they know that their time of service in China was coming to an end. Communist troops soon would be coming through the area and forcing the evacuation of all mission workers. This resulted in the Yunnan-Tibetan Christian Mission truly becoming a global movement as missionaries who worked there “scattered” to other places around the world (photo 7). Their passion for sharing Christ took Jane Kinnett and the Taylors to Korea, Edgar Nichols and Phillip Ho across “The Hump” to India, and the Newlands to the Philippines only to be imprisoned for 37 months during the Japanese occupation. Byers, Williams, and the Callaways went to Thailand, Dittemore to Japan and Taiwan, Bill and Melba Rees to South Africa. Dorothy Sterling went to Burma (photo 8) and then on to Thailand, where she worked among the Lisu people until her death on November 4, 1972. Garland Bare, who was born in China, and his wife, Dorothy, went to Thailand as missionaries in 1951. These were exciting days of church expansion when thousands of tribal people found the joy of salvation in Christ. The same evangelistic passion that had brought these workers to this remote area of the China-Tibetan border had now driven them to reach out to peoples in regions beyond.

On December 7, 1949, J. Russell Morse sent Gertrude and Drema Esther to Hong Kong, away from impending danger while he remained behind in China. He was quickly put under house arrest, and on March 22, 1951, he was taken to prison. More than a year later, without explanation, the prison guards told J. Russell to get dressed. Communist guards escorted him by train and boat to the “bamboo curtain” where he was released on June 20, 1952. He was then told to cross over alone to the Hong Kong border. He made his way to a hotel and phoned Howard Phillips, who took him to an “answer-to-prayer” reunion with Gertrude and LaVerne. (Wife and son were on their way to the United States from Burma and had stopped in Hong Kong on their way.) Not knowing what had happened to J. Russell, the family had decided to relocate the mission base to the Putao area of north Burma in 1950. Thousands of Lisu refugees from China were moving into that area. Much work was done to help lay out villages and prepare fields for some 20,000 Lisu and Rawang people who moved from the mountainous regions to establish themselves in the Putao plains. J. Russell and Gertrude Morse—undeterred by previous hardships—returned to Burma in July 1953. After LaVerne Morse’s marriage to Lois Elliott on March 27, 1953, he returned with Lois to Burma in 1954. The gospel was shared with the Lisu and Rawang pe ople and churche s we re e stablishe d. Citrus groves were planted, a clinic was opened, and a fulltime Bible school was started. Gertrude traveled many miles to teach in mountain villages (photo 9). This movement of God among the people in the Putao plains led to 46 churches being established among the Lisu and 30 churches among the Rawang people. Over the years, the gospel was taken by local evangelists to other areas of Burma and India; a number of people groups were reached and more than 500 churches established.

These were exciting days of church expansion.

10 New Chapters, New Opportunities The name of the mission was officially changed to North Burma Christian Mission on February 1, 1954. LaVerne later established contacts with the Lisu in Thailand, India, and other parts of Asia, and formed his own mission, Asia Christian Services, to meet the needs in those areas (photo 10). Martyrdom, persecution, wars, imprisonment, and other factors led to unanticipated opportunities and outreach. It was much like the first century when “a great persecution broke out against the church,” and, as the Bible says, “those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went” (Acts 8:1-4). In hindsight, it is thrilling to see how God was orchestrating cooperative partnerships that brought glory and honor to his name among many nations. In 1965, the socialist government of Burma ordered all foreigners to leave. Unable to leave by air as planned, the Morse families silently slipped

away one night and traveled overland to the Indian border. The demarcations of the area were uncertain, but it became known as “the Hidden Valley,” where they remained for six and a half years, returning to the United States in August 1972. In June 1973, Eugene and Robert Morse, each accompanied by two of their sons, traveled to Thailand to start a new chapter of the North Burma Christian Mission work, focusing again on the Lisu tribe. Some of the missionaries from China and Tibet had formed mission groups and were already faithfully serving in Thailand. These included Mel Byers, the Callaways, David and Deloris Filbeck, Dorothy Uhlig, Imogene Williams, Dorothy Sterling, and others. At this same time, Jesse and Drema Yangmi, after forming Asia Christian Mission, also joined the intense efforts of outreach to the Lisu, Lahu, and Akha. Later, Alan and Janet Bemo (daughter of Warren and Isabel Dittemore) came to serve in Thailand, and then on to Laos.

Still Serving Now, a century after it started, third- and fourthgeneration members of the J. Russell and Gertrude Morse family are still serving in Thailand, as well as reaching back into Burma and other nations to help strengthen the churches there (photo 11). Those serving today include children and grandchildren of Eugene and Helen: David and Norma Morse, Tom and Debbie Morse, Ron and Patrizia Morse, Jeannette and Walter Ridgley, and Marilyn and Joel Khopang. Children of Robert and Betty still serving on the field include Jonathan and Nangsar Morse, and Bobby and Tassanee Morse. Of the fourth generation, Tom and Debbie’s daughter, Angela Morse, has recently begun working on the field in Thailand. Other family members are actively involved in various mission works from the U.S. Through the years, other faithful servants of God joined the team, including Tom and Gayle Silk-

wood, Dewayne and Jackie Liebrandt, Joel and Kelly Lillie, Derry and Angela Gambill, Jeff and Mary Silkwood, and others. The areas of ministry include evangelism and church planting, Bible translation, Christian literature production, Bible schools, audio-visual media, agriculture, children's hostels, and ministry to the deaf. All these areas of ministry have the shared goal of fulfilling the Great Commission to “disciple the nations.” North Burma Christian Mission and its partners continue to make a vital impact for the gospel of Christ. They are pleased to sponsor events celebrating a century since the beginning of a mission that became a movement. A celebration is planned in Thailand this fall and at the International Conference On Missions in Columbus, Ohio, in 2022. 

Ziden and Helen Nutt moved to Zimbabwe, Africa, in 1961 where they founded Chidamoyo Christian Mission and Good News Productions. In 1975, their family returned to the United States to expand GNP to an international ministry with nine global centers serving evangelistic efforts around the world.

The Pandemicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Impact on International Missions (and what we all can learn from it)

The church in America could learn much from how foreign missionaries persevered during the coronavirus while continuing to advance the cause of Christ. In early April, I received an email update from sisters Megan and Michelle Moss, missionaries serving in Tanzania. At the time, most Americans were still homebound and wrestling with internet issues, virtual meetings, and restaurant withdrawal. Mostly, we were wondering how long this pandemic would last. The Mosses wrote:

By David Empson

Wow, what compassion and class from these two young missionaries!

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Many times as missionaries, we really need you to be there for us. But right now, we're seeing how God has equipped us in many ways to be there for you. Living overseas we've experienced . . . - feelings of isolation - staying home because it was not safe to leave - needing to connect virtually with family and friends - stress from items not being available at the store and the difficulty of having to get creative in meals - constantly staying aware of [our] surroundings (. . . Is this a dangerous situation? Is this wise to do right now?) - holidays separated from those [we] love - feeling like decisions are being made for [us] and struggling with a loss of independence and freedoms (whether [we] like it or not!) - living under constant stress and uncertainty, which has a cumulative effect on [our] healthâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;emotionally, physically, socially, mentally, and spiritually Here is what we know: 1. Your frustrations and challenges are real, and it is hard! 2 . Your emotions as a result of stress and grief are valid! 3. You are not alone! We don't know your specific struggles or situation, but overall, we can relate to tough times, and we are willing to enter into [them] alongside you! With love and understanding, Megan and Michelle Moss

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The Effect on Missionaries Serving Abroad For additional perspective on the world impact of COVID-19 upon our missionaries, I contacted Greg Pruett, president of Pioneer Bible Translators, and Doug Lucas, president of Team Expansion. Combined, these two organizations have more than 700 missionaries serving. These leaders shared about how their worldwide teams are doing, and their words spoke volumes about the commitment of our missionaries serving abroad: • In the United States and around the world, the use of technology in dealing with various restrictions relative to COVID-19 was more effective than they ever imagined. They, too, had to learn new methods for overcoming adversity. With many people suffering from the virus worldwide, there was an even higher sense of collaboration and productivity than was ever thought possible. Pruett said Pioneer experienced greater productivity than it ever had before! • The pandemic was tough on morale. Lucas said the virus impacted Team Expansion workers in every way imaginable. • Both men said people serving in their agencies were flexible and willing to adapt to every situation. The support staffs of both organizations learned to work at home while the “shelter-in-place” phase dominated our country for weeks. • The teams of both missions have shown a growing dependence on God in prayer throughout the pandemic. • Team Expansion reported their supporters have remained faithful in giving, with no economic fall off.

The coronavirus has impacted the life and activity of short-term mission agencies, which are a large part of many church missions budgets, and which sponsor trips popular among students in high school and college, as well as adults. Some such agencies were forced to cancel all of their spring and summer mission trips, causing them to suffer big hits to their operating budgets, and meaning that those missions and the people who rely on them weren’t served. I know of a couple of ministries that lost more than 40 youth group trips each, comprising their entire summer schedules! Another group canceled 180 mission trips, causing the furlough of almost their entire staff, and leaving only administrative staff to keep the doors open while they tried to figure out how to stay afloat. Several mission agencies came up with interesting ideas to try to overcome the loss. Once again, technology was integral. One group held a virtual family camp in a neighboring country to try to help local nationals in need. Another group held a fundraiser to try to help foreign localities meet their needs. We repeatedly heard news of how the church rose to help missionaries and mission agencies during this time of need. Interestingly, ICOM surveyed hundreds of missionaries and learned 62 percent said they did not suffer a negative financial effect from COVID-19!

The Effect on Us and the Lessons We Must Learn Many of us have been on mission trips where the original plan needed to be scrapped and we ended up doing something totally unforeseen . . . at least by us. Likewise, as we have dealt with the fallout from the coronavirus, many have rightly commented that “God is still in control.” It is good to be reminded of this. God is our provider. “He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand” (Psalm 121:4-5).

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The Effect on Short-Term Missions

missionary stories Several missionaries shared stories of how God has provided and continued working throughout this pandemic.

“

We had to cancel trips for over 300 people; this has had a huge financial impact on us. We pivoted and moved to online reading sessions, which has over 150 workers and around 250 readers. So, people are meeting for one-on-one sessions all over the world from their living rooms. That has been a positive.”

“

Even though we work in a third world country, the Dominican Republic, all of our passionate pastors immediately learned how to continue preaching the Word using the internet. All of our church plants swiftly learned how to broadcast their Sunday services, weekly Bible studies, youth group activities, and even small group activities using the internet. I am so proud of our team for being proactive and finding a way to continue preaching the Word of God, no matter the obstacles.”

“

I’m doing a missionary apprenticeship and have the ability to extend my time by six months because of COVID; I’m really excited to put this language I’m learning to use! Also, during quarantine, missionaries from across our country came together during prayer via Zoom almost daily. We’ve never had that much communication and connection before, and it was great! Now that quarantine is over, we are staying connected and working together, and we’re seeing many positive things happen in our ministries because of this.”

“ “

We have had several villages requesting prayer that [were] not open to us before COVID-19.” During this pandemic, God not only enabled us to reach non-Christians, but [he] helped us mingle with anti-Christians who were inspired by our serving in times of desperate needs when many poor people needed food and medical supplies. Christians helped the community [immensely] during this time especially.”

—D.E.

1. The church needs to prepare national workers. There are certain times—such as times of civil unrest, health crises, and pandemics—when our missionaries might need to come home. National leaders in those countries must be nurtured and trained to carry on the work when a missionary must leave or return home on furlough. Missionaries already know this, but it’s important for the American church to know it. 2. Life in the U.S. had become comfortable—even extravagant. It is humbling—even embarrassing— to know how good we have it in the United States. The coronavirus made many of us stay home and eat with our family, around the table, together, in the same room. 3. Missionaries in the field truly are “at risk”; their commitment and faithfulness are to be commended. Most of us in the States had everything we needed during the pandemic, so life wasn’t really that difficult. However, we know of one missionary family that became separated during the outbreak— the wife was in the U.S. and the husband was in Central America. Each parent had one or two of their children. Can you imagine living through that? 4. Short-term mission trip providers suffered. My heart was broken that so many of our mission agencies lost so much money when trips were canceled. One idea I’ve heard is for mission agencies to require nonrefundable deposits upfront, perhaps 40 percent down, so that the mission can survive should a catastrophe such as this occur again. 5. We need to become more “missionary minded” in our everyday life. In a time when there seem to be fewer Christians and reduced Christian influence in our culture, it’s great to read and hear of more collaboration, prayer for one another, patience and flexibility, and more endurance and perseverance during tough times. Our missionaries continue to set an example for the rest of the church. 

David Empson serves as the executive director of The International Conference On Missions.

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With this in mind, here are five final points to ponder:

job 1 job 1 is still

By Jeff Metzger The international mission sending agency I lead had lots of crisis plans. We prepared for many emergencies. We had a plan for hurricanes. We had a plan for kidnappings and political unrest. We had a plan for emergency evacuation. We had a plan for sudden illness or death. But we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a plan for a global pandemic or its ongoing consequences. Now we do! Our plan continues to grow and evolve. By Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grace, we are a better community for it. What effect is COVID-19 having on New International (formerly known as New Mission Systems International)? Three areas stand out.

1. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Faced Increased Anxiety and Uncertainty When COVID-19 began to spread globally, the risk was obvious but, at the same time, unknown. Health agencies gave evolving, confusing, and sometimes contradictory advice. Infections were growing globally, and with it came stress, fear, and questions. How much risk are our missionaries facing? Should our affiliates relocate, come home, or stay in place? How can children and family members be protected? What happens if I get the virus? One question came to dominate our concern as leaders: How do we best protect the life and health of our missionaries? To answer that question, Jim Vogel, our chief international officer, and I activated our Global Crisis Response Team (GCRT). This team of two missionaries and two board members is led by missionary Adam Hunt, who has corporate training and experience in crisis response. The GCRT invested hundreds of hours planning and creating systems to assess reality and help reduce risk. Their work goes on. Every New International missionary has now completed a quantitative, numerical risk assessment. This includes a general assessment of personal and family health risk and a personal needs assessment. Every missionary has an emergency health care plan (in case of infection) and multiple emergency evacuation plans. Every missionary is in regular contact with their regional director for encouragement and support. Every missionary can ask their regional director and GCRT for counsel and advice. All of these efforts designed to reduce anxiety and uncertainty are working. Affiliates are in closer contact with the organization and are developing new relationships with one another. The encouragement factor is higher. Human resources is providing a mental health self-assessment to all our affiliates. Check-ins are higher. Prayer has increased by all and for all. People are being forced to learn new ways to do things, but they also are learning they can change and grow. Our missionaries are in a better place, but stressful situations continue. Phil Hudson, a veteran missionary and one of our regional directors, has reported several ongoing challenges in the regions he serves. Suffering people. Much of our work is in countries that have little in the way of social support structures. In many places, the people we are working with are deeply suffering and the economy is struggling. Too often there is no food. Missionaries see people around them in pain and can do little to help. The psychological impact is real. Hearts are broken.

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Being stuck at home. At NI, we are committed to obeying laws in the countries where we work. Some countries still have strict quarantine rules. We can continue ministry in more developed countries, but opportunities are limited in less developed places. Missionaries who are stuck at home can’t carry out their normal ministry plans. No international travel. This is by far the most common ongoing frustration. We have missionaries living in 33 nations and working regularly in 43 countries among 640 different people groups. That requires travel, but countries are closed. That’s tough when International is part of your name! We have fully funded missionaries ready to deploy who cannot leave the United States. Others had to evacuate to the U.S. to reunite with family members. They can’t return to their place of service. Others on the field have delayed furloughs because they have no guarantee of being able to return. Hard choices are being made and plans are massively changed. Our Youth Hope team normally travels 100-plus days a year to train leaders for global youth ministry. As I write this, they have no idea when they will be able to resume that part of their work. Our mobilization team has canceled all internships and short-term trips. Jayson Simonson, our chief resource officer, is frustrated our child sponsor team can’t engage with local churches as desired. Economic uncertainty. COVID-19 is clearly having a negative impact on the global economy. Our missionaries live by faith and the generous gifts of their partners. Will partners be able to continue their support? Will ministry funds be available? How do we engage and find new donors/ partners? Some missionaries operate businesses for mission that are generating no income. But local laws require that staff and government fees still be paid. How long can this be sustained? Recruitment uncertainty. How do we engage and recruit new missionaries? Amazingly, we’ve affiliated 24 new missionaries at New International since March, but the pipeline of future recruits is pretty empty. How do we will fill it up? In spite of this pandemic-related adversity, New International is strong and healthy.

We’ve Become a Better Organization Mark Michael, our chief people officer, leads the teams that take care of human resources and recruiting. He says New International is better now than it was prior to the pandemic. Under stress, we’ve discovered and addressed some hidden weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

We are taking better care of people. We are even more willing to listen to and empower our missionaries. The Global Crisis Response Team is not just theoretical in nature; rather, it is functioning, guiding, blessing, and helping to protect all of our affiliates. We are better prepared for the future. Increased networking is happening. Missionaries are networking widely with other missionaries. They are sharpening spiritual skills, reading, and praying together. They are learning new skills in disciplines like strategic planning, business development, and leadership.

Our missionaries are engaged. “COVID-19 has affected everyone in different ways,” writes Rachael Pillard, who serves in media and communications. “As a global organization, we especially have seen how that is true.” Abigail Alter, director of our media team, says creative engagement is producing positive results. For example: • Our video team began doing Facebook Live interviews with several of our missionaries. • Our Ends of the Earth Cycling team produces biking events to disciple riders and raise money for youth ministries around the world. When one of their tours was shut down by the virus, they hosted their first virtual tour. Participation tripled!

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Innovation is increasing. Trying new things to carry out the mission of Jesus is part of who we are. New is part of our name. In response to the pandemic, I see missionaries around the world becoming even more innovative, flexible, and creative.

• To help increase food security, some missionaries shifted focus to provide food to families facing extreme hunger. • Some have shifted to digital disciple-making activities, doubling their groups and impact. • One of our teams in Asia began delivering “sunshine boxes” to local students. The boxes were filled with fun yellow things including snacks, necessities, and a devotional booklet. • Advancement and media are providing new tools to our missionaries to help them stay connected and communicate with their partners/donors. This partial list of innovations demonstrates our missionaries are engaged and God is still at work. You can check out more encouraging stories on our website at newinternational.org and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NewInternational.org/videos/. All these things are happening for the sake of the gospel. How do we keep the gospel moving?

We Are Staying on Mission Susan Caple, our chief financial officer, understands our missionaries. She counsels that this is the time for perseverance . . . don’t lose faith in the call . . . seize the moment . . . find the silver lining. Jesus clearly has an agenda for this world. What does Jesus consider Job 1 for those who follow him? Disciple-making! Jesus clearly wants disciple-making to live foremost in the heart of every one of us in the Lord’s church. Disciple-making is the goal, the purpose, the reason, the why, the No. 1 job of our stewardship. Much has changed for us, but this will never change. At New International, we are staying on mission. We won’t stop until Jesus returns. We continue to proclaim Christ and make disciples globally. At New International, that is always Job 1. The unique advantage of our organization is our diversity of approach and unity of purpose. Our commitment is clear. We will always make disciples who make disciples who make disciples.  Jeff Metzger serves as lead pastor at River Hills Christian Church in Loveland, Ohio, and as CEO/president of New International, a community of global missionaries based in Fort Myers, Florida, and working in 43 countries.

unprece People use the term “unprecedented” to describe the COVID-19 global pandemic. But in the grand story of God’s mission in the world, we are not living in unprecedented times. There have been pandemics before. There have been times God’s people could not gather, and yet the church has persevered and grown. Even during the last 100 years, the Restoration Movement has dealt with uncertainty and challenges. In fact, after the first few North American Christian Conventions were held from 1927 to 1929, the Great Depression and World War II dictated that the gathering would happen only seven more times during the 1930s and 1940s. After that, however, there began a recovery and an extended period of kingdom growth. After these cataclysmic events, American Christians, having acquired a much better understanding of the needs of the world, acted on a renewed sense of calling to participate in God’s mission. In 1949, during this extraordinary time, CMF was founded.

CMF International has come a long way since then; we now have 250 personnel serving in 25 countries around the world. We’ve seen steady growth in CMF ministries and partnerships for the better part of seven decades. We could be greatly discouraged by the ways 2020 has limited our growth, ministry objectives, and funding goals. But instead, our missionaries and partners are focused on adjusting their ministries; as an organization, we are focused on building the structure needed for the exponential, God-sized growth we are expecting when the pandemic is finished.

adjusting through the pandemic CMF’s ministry partner in Kenya, Missions of Hope International (MOHI), has adjusted from the already extraordinary challenge of educating 20,000 kids to the necessity of emergency food relief for the families of all those kids, including the distribution of recommended cleaning supplies and required masks.

dented BY KIP LINES

When the Kenyan government required everyone to stay at home, the situation became dire in large communities where people rely on daily payment for their day labor for their family’s survival. MOHI leadership quickly organized their staff together with the CMF missionary team to assess and meet the need. Thousands of partners in the United States stepped up in May and June to successfully raise more than $500,000 needed for the ongoing relief effort. MOHI continued to adjust as the rest of the 2020 school year was canceled. While still meeting the ongoing needs of the families, MOHI has found ways to continue to educate and disciple the kids while working hard to meet the necessary requirements to open the school buildings again in January 2021. Most CMF missionaries remained at their ministry locations around the world during the pandemic. Many have needed to learn to use online tools to gather and provide ongoing discipleship. Steve and Kay Carpenter were planning to start a new church

alongside local leaders when the pandemic hit. They decided to move ahead with the new church plant as an online church, which is now meeting weekly. Our CMF Globalscope missionaries had to adjust their campus ministries multiple times; at first learning how to gather students together online only, and then as the fall semester began, learning how to have smaller and safer in-person gatherings. They’ve continued to reach out with the good news to students who otherwise might never be reached. The pandemic “pause” has also allowed time for God to call new workers to some of our ministries. We had planned for our new Marketplace Ministries business entrepreneur training program to start in Mexico City, but we had to delay the start of the program. During this delay, local businesswoman Mariana, who serves on the CMF board of directors, heard God’s call to serve as a CMF missionary the next two years alongside the new team. This provides the team with a much stronger immediate link to local businesspeople.

SIDEBAR

pandemics IN CHRISTIAN HISTORY

While the world is grappling with the first major global pandemic in our lifetime, Christians can look to our own history of responses to pandemics for both hope and conviction. Christians became known for doing good during the plagues that devastated the Roman Empire in the early centuries of Christianity. Historians often connect the spread of Christianity during this time with both the willingness of Christians to risk their lives in caring for the sick and in offering a theological model that demonstrated God’s love in a broken world. In the second century, the Antonine plague killed an estimated one-quarter of the Roman Empire. The better-known early plague in church history, however, occurred during the time of Cyprian in the third century. A disease similar to Ebola devastated the population, yet God’s kingdom saw exponential growth. Historians note that the pagan Emperor Julian would later grumble at the ways Christians willingly cared for the sick who were not Christians. In Cyprian’s writings, we find a plea not to overly grieve for those who died from the plague, but to increase the work of caring for the living. A fellow bishop, Dionysius, described how Christians, “heedless of danger . . . took charge of the sick, attending to their every need.” Some asserted that in cities where there were dynamic Christian communities, the death rate may have been half that of other cities. Fast-forward to a bubonic plague epidemic in the 16th century. This was a reemergence of the Black Death pandemic of the 14th century that killed an estimated one-third of the known world’s population. [The plague actually reoccurred at intervals from the 14th to the 17th centuries.] When the bubonic plague epidemic hit Wittenburg again in 1527, Martin Luther refused to leave the city to protect himself and his family. The university closed and students were sent home, but Luther stayed and adapted his ministry to care for the sick and dying. Luther’s daughter died of the plague during this intense time of ministry. Luther also wrote a letter, Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague, explaining his decision to stay. Luther made clear in the letter that we shouldn’t “tempt” God by being reckless and doing things that actually endanger others. He prayed and took the advice of doctors before working. He wrote, Therefore I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others. [Jesus’ followers] are bound to each other in such a way that no one may forsake the other in his distress but is obliged to assist and help him as he himself would like to be helped. Pandemics and plagues do not pause our participation in God’s mission. Instead they lead us into further obedience to Jesus’ sacrifice. —K.L.

recognizing real challenges We have made many adjustments so we can continue to minister during the pandemic. We continue to be thankful for the ways God has made this possible. But the challenges are real, and they are taking a toll on all of us at CMF. We had planned to have a first-ever gathering of all of our CMF missionaries in July; we were calling it One Summit. This was going to provide our missionaries an exceptional opportunity to learn from each other by discussing the value and application of various ministry models, considering ways we could participate in each other’s ministries through exchange of personnel, and being enriched by the depth of collective ministry knowledge and experience in CMF. We grieve that we could not have this summit. A record number of summer CMF REACH interns were set to head to the field in 2020. Our REACH internships provide opportunities for learning and discernment for those considering field service. We grieve with our interns that these internships could not happen this year. Nearly 50 folks in CMF have completed their affiliation process and are in different stages of supportraising. Some of them are stalled because of the pandemic, while others are ready to leave for the field but cannot travel to their ministry location. We grieve for those who are struggling to raise support in our current economy and also for those who patiently wait.

preparing for future growth While we grieve what we’ve been unable to do, we know God is working through this time and we are preparing for the growth that will follow. By 2030 we expect CMF will have nearly 300 missionaries, have teams in 40 countries, and will connect the American church with multiple new global partnerships. While the pandemic is forcing us to cut spending and be even wiser stewards of the resources our financial partners have provided for Christ-centered transformation around the world, we are investing in what will be needed to support larger numbers of recruits and missionaries in the years ahead. We are investing in caring for our missionaries as they serve. We continue to be focused on our mission of creating dynamic Christ-centered communities that transform the world. God is also preparing our partners to grow. During the pandemic, we’ve been working with MOHI to build the necessary infrastructure for their vision of reaching 100,000 of the most vulnerable children through their programs by 2030. Through our 15year partnership, we have been blessed to play a part in MOHI’s vision, even as we help them launch their own organization in the U.S. Is the pandemic unprecedented? Not in the grand story of God’s mission or in the ways Christians have responded throughout history. What could be unprecedented is the growth we will see in our commitment to God’s mission and the growth of the kingdom. There is so much work yet to do with one-third of the world’s population having never heard the good news of Jesus. There is so much our churches in America have yet to learn from our brothers and sisters around the world. CMF International is prepared to send the next wave of workers and continue to connect people with God’s mission in this unprecedented time.  Kip Lines serves as executive director of CMF International, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. CMFI.org

@cmfmissions

/cmfmissions

@cmfmissions

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Disciple-Making Movements (DMM) and Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) are still ongoing during the pandemic, even if missionaries can’t participate in the places where they initiated them. That is the genius of our sustainable, multiplying, and easily reproducible ministry models on many of our fields that have been the most fruitful in recent years. Even in locations where it made the most sense for missionaries to leave, local followers of Jesus are continuing the work, and they are staying connected with and continuing to be encouraged by missionaries through the use of technology.

HORT TER shutdown

by justin horey

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serving on the local mission field

Just weeks into the new year, Riley Weaver sensed that 2020 might be an

unprecedented year for his ministry. He didn’t have a premonition about the pandemic—quite the contrary. Early in the year, Weaver thought 2020 could be the first year on record that he didn’t have to cancel, postpone, or reschedule a single short-term mission trip. It was an exciting thought for Weaver, the global and local impact minister at Plainfield (Indiana) Christian Church. Plainfield had planned to take almost a dozen short-term mission trips to a variety of international destinations this year. But when President Trump declared the COVID-19 pandemic to be a national emergency, the church canceled those plans, including a “vision trip” to India and a trip to Ukraine. In fact, Plainfield Christian canceled all of its short-term mission trips through the summer of 2021. Weaver hasn’t ruled out all mission-related travel, but Plainfield has no current plans to conduct any group trips. “I might travel to visit missionaries before the end of the year,” he said, “but that’s a big if.” Plainfield Christian Church isn’t alone. Churches across the United States have canceled, postponed, or rescheduled untold numbers of traditional short-term mission trips due to COVID-19. While the pandemic put an end to the familiar rhythm of small groups raising financial support and traveling to foreign countries to serve alongside established missionaries for times ranging from a few days to a few months, three alternatives have emerged: local benevolence, deeper involvement and communication with missionaries, and virtual mission trips.

With short-term mission trips suspended indefinitely, Weaver and the team at Plainfield Christian Church quickly shifted their attention to serving their immediate neighbors who had been affected by the pandemic. The church started a COVID-19 relief fund by encouraging the congregation to give above and beyond normal tithes and offerings. The relief fund quickly raised more than $50,000, which the church put to use helping dozens of local families and small businesses. Plainfield’s COVID-19 relief program has offered help in both big and small ways. Weaver said the church paid rent for residents unable to meet their monthly obligations, and it also distributed thousands of dollars’ worth of Walmart gift cards for families in need of food, prescriptions, and gasoline. Plainfield even provided a few grants to small businesses in town. At its peak last spring, PCC’S COVID-19 relief fund was helping 10 to 12 families per week. The church’s program has been so effective that the city of Plainfield asked the church to provide assistance to some residents who had requested support. The number and frequency of the inquiries have slowed, but Weaver expects the church to receive more appeals when local landlords begin attempting to evict delinquent tenants and when utility providers resume the practice of disconnecting customers for unpaid bills.

building better connections with missionaries

conducting virtual mission trips

Like many other congregations, Connection Pointe Christian Church of Brownsburg, Indiana, canceled its upcoming short-term trips when the first COVID-19 shutdown orders were issued. Ironically, Teddy Haubner, Connection Pointe’s global impact pastor, reported that communication between Connection Pointe and the church’s global partners improved almost immediately when those trips were abandoned. Once the possibility of international travel was eliminated, Haubner and his team began speaking with the church’s missionaries more often. Haubner is now, for the first time, connecting weekly with all of Connection Pointe’s global partners, and those conversations have become even more significant.

In addition to serving locally and increasing communication with global partners, Weaver and Haubner have both explored ways to use technology to conduct “virtual mission trips.”

Under normal circumstances, most calls with missionaries are primarily informational—preparing for trips, working out logistics—but Haubner said the lack of travel planning has allowed him to have deeper conversations with the church’s global partners. Because of this improved communication, the Connection Pointe team knows more about their missionaries’ immediate needs, both practically and spiritually. “We feel more connected than ever to our global partners and missionaries,” Haubner said. Haubner and the other pastors at Connection Pointe are not the only ones forging deeper connections with the church’s missionaries. Every missionary that Connection Pointe supports is assigned a “care team” of volunteers from within the congregation who assist missionaries with schooling and other practical needs. Those care teams were already in place prior to the pandemic, but Haubner believes they were underutilized prior to 2020. “We didn’t truly understand how important our care teams were until this happened,” he said. Now Connection Pointe is actively recruiting more people to serve with those teams. Connection Pointe has not just increased its connections with missionaries and global partners in a relational sense. The church has also increased its giving to missionaries during the pandemic, demonstrating its commitment to supporting missions in any way possible. The church has begun using videoconferencing tools like Zoom or WhatsApp to chat with overseas partners and it has provided cell phones to some missionaries in Africa who didn’t already have them. “Right now, our missionaries have become more important than ever,” Haubner said.

Connection Pointe investigated the possibility of hosting such digital trips so the congregation can see and hear directly from people on the mission field. Haubner is hoping to schedule virtual worship gatherings and virtual prayer nights involving participants from Indiana and partners from overseas. Earlier this year, in lieu of a previously scheduled trip to Austria, Plainfield Christian Church hosted a Zoom call with church members and the team on the ground overseas. The videoconference allowed Plainfield attendees to “meet” the staff serving in Austria, even though an in-person trip was not possible. Weaver sensed it was mutually beneficial. “These circumstances actually provide a great opportunity for missionaries to meet with supporters in the U.S.,” he said. Plainfield also has explored virtual mission trips through Lifeline Christian Mission—an international mission organization that serves communities around the world. Lifeline, which is one of Plainfield’s partner organizations, began developing virtual mission trips in February, just before the first stay-at-home orders were issued. “God’s timing was certainly in that,” said Keith Dimbath, Lifeline’s vice president of global mobilization.

Dimbath said virtual trips appeal to people who have been on short-term trips in the past as well as those who have never participated in one. Supporters who have previously traveled appreciate the opportunity to stay connected to overseas missionaries they care about. First-timers are able to see and hear directly from mission teams overseas through emails, videos, and videoconferences; these serve to introduce many participants to the realities of life on the mission field. On a seven-day virtual mission trip, participants receive daily emails that include photos, videos, devotions related to the country, prayer requests from the field, and more. Each week also includes at least one videoconference with overseas missionaries, plus Lifeline employees from the United States. American church members are grateful for the opportunity to participate in these virtual trips, and Dimbath has also received positive feedback from missionaries in the field. “They miss being able to host short-term teams,” he said. “It’s meant a great deal to them to know that people want to stay connected with them.” Missionaries work alongside Lifeline staff to develop the program for each virtual mission trip. “They ask themselves: If short-term teams were here in person, what would they like to see?” Dimbath said. Anyone can sign up to attend one of Lifeline’s virtual trips. Registration is available for groups or individuals. And unlike traditional short-term trips, there is no limit to the number of people who can attend a virtual mission trip in a given week. Lifeline has been running virtual trips every month since March, and there is no end in sight. Because of the value they offer to Americans and overseas missionaries alike, “I anticipate we’ll continue our virtual mission trips in some fashion even after we’re able to travel again,” Dimbath said.

benefitting from new approaches Despite the positive results churches and missionaries alike are observing from local benevolence, improved communication with missionaries, and virtual mission trips, make no mistake—church leaders are eager to begin taking teams on short-term mission trips again. “As soon as we can resume short-term mission trips, we will,” said Teddy Haubner of Connection Pointe. “[But] what will short-term mission trips look like?” asked Riley Weaver of Connection Pointe. However and whenever that question is answered, churches, missionaries, and international organizations agree that missions work is benefiting in many ways from the creative approaches introduced this year. “One thing that excites me,” said Weaver, “I think this is a great time for churches and partner ministries overseas to rethink their global missions.”  Justin Horey is a writer, musician, and the founder of Livingstone Marketing. He lives in Southern California.

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Lifeline’s first virtual mission trips were developed for Haiti because the organization’s leaders determined it was not safe for short-term mission teams to travel there because of political unrest. Now Lifeline is offering multiple virtual mission trips each month to Haiti and Honduras, with more locations coming soon.

WE WILL’

‘AS SOON AS WE CAN,

RAISING THE BAR ON

KINGDOM IMPACT

How the Pandemic Helped Our Church Find Clarity and Conviction for Global Involvement

by Dave Stewart

There are a lot of uns we could use to describe this past year. Unproductive is not one of them. At Compassion Christian Church in Savannah, Georgia, God showed up in a very Romans 8:28 way, but it certainly wasn’t in a form we expected or predicted. Yes, we scrambled like most to get some of our workers home, to equip others who remained on the field, and to resource our partnerships in areas hardest hit by the pandemic. And we worked diligently to provide member care where needed— everyone was struggling in some way or another. Caring for our people has always been a high priority, but it looked very different now. We also canceled the majority of our international short-term teams, prompting a season of upheaval for the more than 400 folks who were committed to go. Quite honestly, this gave us a season to examine our infrastructure and processes. Our outreach strategy team had been praying, fasting, and pursuing a more clearly defined calling for global impact through our church. We weren’t starting from scratch. Author Neal Pirolo describes how it sometimes seems as though there are only two squads on the missionary team in the local church . . . those who go and those who say, “Goodbye!” This wasn’t us. We’ve worked hard to help our people embrace their calling as senders—we had followed a structured plan for many years—but it was time to revisit our purpose. Where and how could we make the biggest impact in making Jesus known to the nations? Should we focus our efforts and resources on sending out more members of our church . . . or on further developing several strategic, national-led ministries we’ve partnered with for years? We came to clarity. This is probably a good time to acknowledge that sharing our experience of this past season comes with the risk that some who read this won’t like or agree with our convictions. That’s OK. These are our convictions, not theirs.

Discovering God’s Direction (and Reconsidering Our Role) Compassion Outreach, as a ministry of Compassion Christian Church, embraces the biblical mandate of Romans 10:14-15 to raise up, send out, and care for those from our church body whom the Holy Spirit sets apart for missionary service. We believe the local church should be proactive in discovering God’s direction for our global involvement and equipping workers for the harvest promised by Jesus. Our team also believes the issue of sent Americans vs. national leaders has never been an either-or choice. While we watched the church growing in many locations where national evangelists were making disciples who effectively made disciples, we also know there are still many places in the world where frontier mission workers are needed to launch or equip a national-led disciple-making movement. So, we determined to emphatically build on our long-trusted relationships with key national leaders while at the same time raising the bar significantly in the areas of preparation and demonstrated proficiency within our own people. We know God always equips the sent, but our goal was clear. If we were going to set apart members of our body to the work for which the Holy Spirit called them (Acts 13:2), if we were going to send them to tough places with all the extra crosscultural challenges American workers face (i.e., cultural acclimation, language acquisition, partnership development, finances, etc.), then we needed to commit to the best possible process of identifying, encouraging, equipping, and celebrating those who were committed to this calling. Rather than simply conceding that sending Americans is just messy, expensive, and highly unpredictable, we needed to reconsider our role in this process.

Rising to the Challenge There’s an old story from back in the day when military recruiters were brought into local high schools to make pitches to the senior students. (I’m old enough to remember this.)

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Unexpected. Unpredictable. Unsettling.

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“It’s Not Just a Job, It’s an Adventure,” “Be All You Can Be,” “See the World” . . . all slogans designed to coax the teens toward a military commitment in service to their country. The recruiters were always good at what they did. The story goes that after the others had finished their pitches, the U.S. Marine Corps recruiter came forward in his dress blues, sharp as a knife, with a no-nonsense look on his face. “I’ve been watching while these other gentlemen have shared why you should join their branch of the service. And as I look around, I don’t think there are two of you in this entire place who have what it takes to be a United States Marine!”

Or many times the sequence is reversed: “Hey church leaders, my spouse and I are working with ABC organization and we’re preparing to go to Timbuktu in three months. We would love for you to send us out.” Then the church scrambles to understand the family, the target country, and ABC organization, all while encouraging and celebrating the calling of the potential missionaries. It ultimately proves exhausting, and quite frankly, the church’s actions can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy—“sending Americans is just too much work.”

With that, he sat down.

Discipling Others to Reproduce

Guess which recruiter had the biggest crowd at his table after the presentation?

Consequently, our focus for the majority of 2020 has been on creating a funnel, a much more organized process, and preparation for our sent workers to the global field.

The moral of the story is people will often rise to extreme challenges and vision when cajoling or recruiting isn’t getting it done. For years we had tried to communicate a message that “normal” people are called to do this; missionaries aren’t super saints, they are just regular people obedient to a call on their lives. But sometimes it felt like we were pitching, “It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure!” (I write this with no intention of offending any U.S. Navy friends or my father who served honorably for 28 years . . . thanks Dad!) People would come forward to serve and we would excitedly incorporate them into the process, only to find out a few months down the road that they weren’t really, really committed to the “whatever it takes in trusting God” journey. Not bad people, just not 100 percent committed to mission work. Far too often, it seems, the local church has chosen a role of being cheerleaders . . . when people within the body determine missions is their calling, their friends and mentors celebrate, uplift, and then pass them off to a sending agency.

In having a strategic impact for his kingdom in our world, the ministry focus for sent missionaries must align with the direction the Lord is calling our church. Therefore, decisions regarding field placement must be made in partnership with the Compassion Outreach team and not unilaterally. More specifically, we have prayerfully identified three priorities. We are committed to: • equipping national leaders for Disciple-Making Movements (DMM) and church planting • using cross-cultural workers for DMM and church-planting among unreached/least reached people groups, defining measurable goals and exit strategies to be implemented as soon as a reproducing, nationally led church is established • building healthy, Church-Based Teams (CBT) whenever possible How is this different than in the past? If someone desires to join a well-rounded team with significant national leadership already in place, there must be a very specific purpose in discipling. And that will require a demonstrated proficiency while still in the U.S. We are raising the bar not only

If our commitment was to be “all-in” on every sent worker, then it was clear the distinction had to be on the front side—establishing clear expectations, identifying direction, and raising the bar on preparation.

This renewed emphasis requires a commitment on our part to equipping our people with the tools and confidence to lead. In addition to their regular ministry responsibilities, every pastor and significant leader on our staff is required to direct at least 10 percent of their time to intentionally discipling others to reproduce.

So, we developed a detailed process for commissioning and sending workers that includes four stages: exploration (up to 9 months), assessment (up to 9 months), equipping (up to 6 months), and deployment (up to 18 months).

Clarifying Our Calling Another significant factor in this intentionality is that our church works with only a few sending organizations, those that not only have shared values but also know our church, and with leaders who have consistent lines of communication established to ensure the best stewardship of this cooperative partnership.

Our process in no way conflicts with the immense value of working with an established missions sending agency. In fact, collaborating with familiar agencies allows us to integrate with their preparation models, avoiding confusion and duplication . . . with the end goal of a As we elevate the three-way partnership, mutual expectations in approval, and a whole lot of celour church, we no ebration!

longer ask,

‘Would you please consider . . .’

Obviously, not every church will be led in the same strategic direction. We would never discount the work others are doing to make the global church healthy, whole, and capable of relevantly reaching the next generations for Jesus.

but instead ask, While I pray we would never discourage a member from exploring ‘Will you rise to the the calling and conviction of being opportunity?' sent out as a missionary by our church, it is every bit as important to clarify our calling and convicOur desire is simply to be found tion as a body of believers that desires to glorify God obedient to Luke 16:10: “Whoever can be trusted as effectively as possible with our blessings and rewith very little can also be trusted with much . . .” sources. And this requires saying no to some things. While we know all authority in heaven and on earth One important note is necessary here to underhas been given to Jesus, we want to work diligently stand our logic. to be found worthy of the influence we have been given for his purposes. At first it seemed possible to differentiate between those strategically sent and others who invited us in As we elevate the expectations in our church, we no well after their plans were defined. We could cerlonger ask, “Would you please consider . . .” but intainly accomplish this through our level of financial stead ask, “Will you rise to the opportunity?” commitment. I pray that, much like the Marine Corps recruiter, we will find workers in this generation who can proBut we realized our calling was to the highest level claim, “By the power of the Holy Spirit, I have what of member care for all sent workers, period. The it takes!”  church at Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas, but they also cared for them while away and when they returned. Therefore, we work hard to love our people Dave Stewart serves as executive pastor of outreach with Compassion Christian Church, Savannah, Georgia. and undergird them in tangible ways.

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on a commitment to preparation for the field but also in intentional multiplication at home; that is, being disciples who can in turn make disciples who can make disciples, before being sent.

Sharing the Bread of Life with a Used Table

HOW OUR CHURCH IS MAKING A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE WITH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

BY TOM ELLSWORTH

At the time, my dear friend Carthell Everett—part of the Sherwood Oaks Christian Church family—worked with international students in his role at IU. Carthell, the Yoon family’s main university contact, truly ministered to them. Sadly, it took a tragedy to wake me to the needs of international students in our own backyard. After Won-Joon’s funeral, Carthell and I began discussing what we could do to minister to these students who are so far from home.

COFFEE AND BUTTERBALLS

At that time, South Koreans comprised the largest group of international students at Indiana University. That has changed as the international population has increased. Today, students from China and India dominate the international student population, but it also includes scholars from scores of other countries. And most, I have discovered, are gracious and grateful toward their southern Indiana home away from home. In due time, we started an International Coffee Hour that provided guests a casual class setting where lessons and faith discussions were openly shared. As our international friends became more acquainted with the congregation, many

of them started volunteering in the life of the church. Whether participating on worship teams or working behind the scenes, these students have made a lasting impression on our congregation. Families at Sherwood Oaks “adopt” many of these students annually and regularly host them in their homes. For several years at Thanksgiving, the church hosted hundreds of international students for a traditional holiday meal. As a truly American holiday, it exposed our guests to this nation’s heritage as well as the importance of expressing thanks to God. By the way, baking all those Butterballs was no small achievement!

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The bursts rang out on that sultry, July 4 Sunday morning in 1999. They weren’t firecrackers, but gunshots . . . fired at attendees gathered in front of the Korean United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Indiana. Won-Joon Yoon, a Korean student at Indiana University, was gunned down on his way into worship. The cowardly white supremacist had fired randomly into the crowd and taken an innocent life. The city was stunned.

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FURNITURE GIVE-AWAY

However, for the last 16 years, the crown jewel of this ministry has been the International Furniture Give-Away. Elan Rajamani, director of the Bloomington branch of International Friendship Ministries and currently a Sherwood Oaks elder, has been the inspiration and organizer from the beginning. That said, Elan would quickly admit that such a job requires 400 to 500 volunteers per year. Why this ministry? Many, if not most, international students arrive in Bloomington with only their suitcases. They move into empty apartments that are likely to remain that way. Providing furniture was a need the church could help fill and doing so was a profound way of welcoming our guests to the community. Here’s how the Furniture Give-Away—FGA for short—works. Throughout the year, folks from the congregation and community donate used furniture and household items that are in good condition. The FGA team works tirelessly to collect, clean, and organize the donations for the August event. In the past, students were transported to the church facilities where they were treated to refreshments,

an orientation on the church, the city of Bloomington, and the FGA program, followed by the opportunity to select furniture and household goods which were then delivered to their apartments. This year, with the COVID-19 restrictions, much of the event was accomplished virtually, but the furniture was still delivered in a safe and socially distanced manner. I’ve learned you can still see evidence of smiles and grateful hearts from behind masks! In visiting with these students while they waited to select furniture, I have picked up a common response—mystified gratitude. Each person was very grateful for the help, but they were mystified at why a church would do something like this. Such perplexity has opened the door for many spiritual conversations, some of them life changing. Over the years I’ve watched students from 90 different countries finish their degrees and head back home. Before leaving, however, many have returned the furniture they received from us so that new incoming internationals could be blessed. To date, more than 15,000 pieces of furniture have been given away and the household items are too numerous to count. That’s recycling at its finest!

FGA INSIGHTS

Testimonies and stories from volunteers and students offer real insight into the power and significance of the FGA. “My first impression of the FGA was one of amazement,” said Shaun, an attorney from London. “The effort and logistics . . . were impressive, [but] what really blew me away was the impact it had on the people receiving [help]. As someone who has moved more times than I can count, I know the impact it has when you create your new home. I firmly believe the furniture giveaway is one of the most effective and impactful ways I’ve ever seen of the church showing God’s love in a practical way.”

“I’ve had the opportunity to visit with students from very restrictive cultures,” said staff member Tim Thompson. “There is no other setting quite like the FGA, where a Caucasian male could have a conversation with three burka-clad, college coeds about the church and Christianity. They saw the church in a new light through a dresser, a couple desks, and a box full of home furnishings.” Rhonda Raad, a minister’s daughter, grew up with visions of serving on the mission field. That didn’t happen, but she never gave up the dream of working with internationals—and for many years now she has done so in her “backyard.” She quickly realized

Amal (not his real name) journeyed from his Muslim homeland in the Middle East to study at IU. He arrived alone; his family would follow at a later date. His loneliness those first couple of weeks nearly drove him to return home, but then he saw an FGA poster. He came. The event was more than he could grasp. Who would do such a thing? He started asking questions, and he eventually began studying privately with Elan. Amal ultimately gave his life to Christ and was baptized. He serves today as a physician in his home nation and is sharing the gospel with his people.

A Tanzanian said one of his biggest worries upon moving to the United States was “how was I going to get furniture and some basic house stuff. . . . FGA helped me unconditionally. . . . That made my transition to the U.S. smooth and easy. God bless you for your giving heart!” “Sherwood Oaks and their volunteers have been very helpful from the start,” a female undergraduate student from Malaysia wrote. “The first year I was here, they were the ones picking me up from the airport. [They] gave us furniture and brought us to the mall to buy some winter wear. I’m so thankful. . . .” “I came for the sole purpose of getting free furniture,” a young man from Ghana wrote, “but then I realized that . . . I can benefit by joining the church. They have helped me to stay closer to God and involved in spiritual activities that guided me to not stray from my faith.”

OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES

International students have changed our congregation, and we are better people because of them. They have broadened our horizons on what constitutes a mission outreach. They have lifted our hearts with their stories, inspired us with their service, and humbled us with their gratitude. I’ve had the privilege of baptizing several of these students; I know they will return home—some to hostile environments—as ambassadors for Jesus Christ.

Ryosuke Koyama of Japan arrived in Bloomington with nothing but a suitcase. When FGA team members visited his apartment, there was nothing but a mattress on his floor. When we delivered a few pieces of free furniture to Ryosuke, who was not a Christian, he was overwhelmed. His curiosity brought him to church on Sunday. He started attending regularly, got involved with the International Coffee Hour, asked tons of questions, and in time surrendered his life to Jesus.

You may not live in a university community where the world comes to your doorstep, but I suspect your community is much more “international” than it was in the past. I grew up in a small southern Indiana community where I never saw anyone who didn’t look like me. Today, that area has benefitted from a large influx of Latino immigrants. What a great opportunity for a new kind of outreach! Look around you. Who needs you to be the image of Christ to them?

Upon returning to Japan, Ryosuke immediately started sharing his faith. Sadly, in his early thirties, Ryosuke was diagnosed with an incurable brain disease, which only intensified his evangelism efforts until his death. God alone knows the influence of Ryosuke’s faith in the “Land of the Rising Sun.” I look forward to seeing Ryosuke again someday in the “Land of the Risen Son.” Just think, Ryosuke is now at home with the Lord because someone gave him some used furniture in the name of Jesus! 

Tom Ellsworth has served as pastor of Sherwood Oaks Christian Church in Bloomington, Indiana, for nearly 40 years. He has seen the church grow from an attendance of about 80 people to more than 3,000 on two campuses. His retirement, originally slated for April, was postponed until the church resumes in-person services.

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international students would not be hampered by cultural or language barriers in their own homeland, so if they returned with a newfound faith in Christ, they would make the best missionaries possible. And many of these students return to their homelands as leaders and influencers. For over 17 years, Rhonda has worked tirelessly and sacrificially to influence these influencers for Jesus Christ.

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the future of missions IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD

by ben simms

hat impact will COVID-19 have on the future of missions? This is an important question to ponder, no matter your church role. The pandemic will impact how we allocate church resources. It already has affected the deployment of church members for mission activities. It no doubt will alter mission programming for years to come. What will stay the same and what will need to change? What has already changed? We all are grappling with the impact of COVID-19 on the future of the Great Commission. As we wrestle with these questions, I would propose three key reflections: First, the church and its mission will endure. We’ve heard phrases like “there’s no going back” and “life will never be the same.” Do we presume we will never gather together or travel again? God created us as social beings who crave interaction with others . . . beyond a Zoom video call! We can have confidence that mission activities are continuing today and there will be missions in the future! We will gather and we will travel. It’s our methods that will undergo transformation. Second, the pace of change and trends in missions have accelerated. Many trends we see happening now were already apparent, they just weren’t as prevalent because we were focused on “normal” missions. Third, greater innovation in missions will lead to kingdom growth. The mission to reach the world for Christ will still happen. New tools will allow for new opportunities to accelerate sharing the message of Christ. Let’s dive deeper into each of these thoughts.

Pandemics and plagues are not new; they’re just new to us. Some of them have been far worse than this one. These calamities have shaken economies around the world. In the past, churches in the United States on occasion have been ordered to stop gathering for services. During the 1918 flu pandemic, many churches were banned from meeting. So, did the church curl into a ball and stop sharing the good news in 1918? Of course not! During that outbreak, the church innovated to continue with services. Some churches shared Scripture lessons, prayer prompts, sermons, and hymn listings in newspapers—effectively taking the Sunday morning service into individual houses. On account of the ban laid upon congregational assemblies there will be no public services of the churches until after October 20. During this period of time there should be no cessation in Bible study or worship. The home is still fundamental and the basis of all good government. . . . Let the home then be true to its highest privilege and around the family altar keep the home fires burning adding even a brighter glow while the churches are closed. —Excerpt from a letter by A.F. Mitchell of the Richmond, Indiana, ministerial association, published in the Palladium Item on October 12, 1918 One inventive pastor even coordinated with the local phone company to conduct a phone-in church service! (That sounds a bit like a modern-day Zoom call.)

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Missions Will Endure

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The church survived the 1918 flu pandemic, which killed at least 50 million people worldwide, including about 675,000 Americans, and it will survive the coronavirus. The choice is ours in how we choose to respond to this new obstacle. This Scripture should instill confidence: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18). Hindsight will show how this pandemic ultimately impacted missions. But missions surely will continue, and perhaps even be strengthened. Missionaries will continue to share Jesus. Churches will continue to bring people to Christ and disciple them. Mission organizations will continue to physically meet needs, and share Christ, and empower those suffering economic hardship. While post-pandemic mission trips may look different, we will almost certainly travel again. In The Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain shared his reasoning for this: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrowmindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” We need to learn from others as we explore God’s kingdom. We need to visit and encourage and share Christ with our brothers and sisters around the world, just like Paul. In his Great Commission, Jesus told us to “go and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” He then offered this reassurance: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus is with us! Missions will go on.

Trends in Missions Will Speed Up Several trends in global missions will speed up after the pandemic. The global church will lead missions into the future. The Joshua Project, in its summary of global mission trends from 2018, observed that 77 percent of all Christians now live in Latin America, Africa, and Asia—up from 10 percent in 1900. The global church will become the leader in global missions to an even larger extent. A greater need for mission partnership between the West and Global South needs to be emphasized . . . “not a passing of the baton, but a cooperative equal partnership.” The article stated the benefits of the “West providing expertise, training and innovation and [the] Global South providing manpower, culturalnearness and zeal.” Such a partnership would lead naturally to the emergence of international mission teams. North America will become an even more significant mission field. According to Barna Research, since 2000 the percentage of active practicing Christians in the United States has dropped from 45 percent of the population to 25 percent. Church leadership, mission pastors and teams will need to develop strategies to grapple with how to address this issue. Mission trips will transform from simply providing for others to developing relationships with them and

empowering them. Many mission teams have done great work around the globe for decades—building houses, churches, schools, and clinics, and drilling wells. But, in the process—as books like Toxic Charity have documented—harm has been done to the dignity of the very people served. Organizations must continue to refine their mission programming. Economic and food insecurity will grow. A June 2020 article by Reuters shared, “The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could plunge an extra 395 million people into extreme poverty and swell the total number of those living on less than $1.90 a day worldwide to more than 1 billion.” Additionally, the number of people in the world living on less than $5.50 a day could swell to over 3 billion. The pandemic could undo decades of progress. “The scale and depth of financial hardship among families threatens to roll back years of progress in reducing child poverty and to leave children deprived of essential services,” said UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore. “Without concerted action, families barely getting by could be pushed into poverty, and the poorest families could face levels of deprivation that have not been seen for decades.”

Innovation within missions will lead to a new wave of growth in the kingdom. Technology will provide greater opportunities. Already among Lifeline’s field country leaders, the use of Zoom video conferencing has led to advancements in discipleship. Training for missionaries is just one click away. Also, the use of video for missionaries and agencies in connecting with U.S. churches has advanced the connectivity that previously had to wait for newsletters or mission fairs or furloughs. Organizations like Lifeline will work to adapt to new methods of connecting the church to God’s greater mission through such innovations as virtual mission trips. It may surprise some that YouVersion—the online and mobile Bible platform—did not exist until 2008. Today, YouVersion’s website claims it has been downloaded on more than 400 million devices in every country in the world. The app offers more than 2,000 Bible versions in 1,372 languages for free! Just imagine the future innovations that will come. The Great Commission and Great Commandment, which have driven Christians for more than 2,000 years, do not include asterisks with this notation, “*not applicable during pandemics.” A pandemic won’t end missions; rather, this pandemic may very well help spread the gospel even more!

missions surely will continue, and perhaps even be strengthened

May every tribe, tongue, and nation come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior! “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9).  Ben Simms serves as president and CEO of Lifeline Christian Mission and Lifeline Christian Mission Society Canada. He also serves as a corporate officer for the International Conference on Missions.

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Missions Innovation Will Lead to Further Growth

zacharias

REMEMBERING RAVI (1946-2020)

BY BRETT A. SEYBOLD

Still, for others, his academic accolades were not prestigious enough. Some faulted his credentials, pointing out that honorary doctorates do not equate to actual PhDs. For most Christians, like myself, however, Zacharias built a traversable bridge between academia and simple piety—a viable threshold from the cerebral to the orthodox and traditional. Zacharias—who died in May of this year at age 74—began a movement that helped thinkers to believe while also challenging believers to think. For some, his use of logic—allegedly reducible to Western thought patterns—meant he had abandoned his Eastern roots. Yet Zacharias’s unique combination of heritage and thought invited the brightest of missiologists to reevaluate just how far the divide is between East and West when it comes to basic worldview questions. As a teen, my grades weren’t going to get me into an Ivy League school (regardless of my athletic prowess). When our football team failed to qualify for the playoffs my senior year and a nasty ankle sprain kept me out of the final game, I opted not to stand on the sidelines but, instead, to visit Ozark Christian College’s Ambassadors Rally. (I ended up attending Cincinnati Bible College & Seminary.) I had listened to evangelist and apologist Josh McDowell at a youth conference—I even got to meet him. However, it was Ravi Zacharias who impacted my education and ministry more than any other person, aside from Jesus Christ. I vividly recall listening regularly to Zacharias’s Sunday morning messages—Let My People Think—on the way to worship during my freshman and sophomore years of college. My friends and I would practically hang on every word amid his crisp emphasis.

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For many people, Ravi Zacharias’s use of lofty words and concepts could cause blisters on the brain. After all, how many Christians have actually delved into such disciplines as literature, philosophy, world religions, theology, and the history of human thought, let alone incorporated them into their messages and daily walk in such palpable ways as he did?

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HE EXEMPLIFIED

inescapable logic & genuine love Zacharias was a gifted orator, to say the least. His pitch dives and ascents meshed so eloquently with his energy and intelligence. Every so often, he would draw out the final “ssssss” of a word, tethering the previous sentence to your mind as if to leave a savory aftertaste. He had a way of drawing us into the practical inescapability of logic as he brought the Scriptures to life. His messages entered through our minds and grasped our hearts. Shortly after an eight-month internship in Germany midway through college, I purchased several of his books as well as his Deliver Us from Evil video series. I must have watched it a dozen times or more. I recall believing that if I could just articulate the faith in ways Zacharias did, if I could only master his skills, nonbelievers would have to accept the truth of the gospel as virtually undeniable. However, Zacharias grasped the human predicament much more profoundly than I did during my undergraduate days. For him, reaching the lost for Christ involved much more than mere cognitive dexterity. He loved the human heart and aimed to touch it amid every cerebral talk he offered. The more broken the heart, the greater his love for the person. Zacharias used logic to great effect. (Who can forget how he proved the inescapability of “either-or” logic to the “both-and” thinker by saying, “Are you saying that it’s either the Eastern ‘both-and’ system or nothing else?”) Yet Zacharias never lost sight of the value of reaching the human heart. It was blatantly clear to him that truth claims not geared to include the emotions of the human heart would likely fall short in their impact. Dr. Gary Habermas, professor of apologetics and philosophy, shared with me this reminiscence of Zacharias: “What I remember most about Ravi, one-on-one, was his exceptionally kind and friendly demeanor, taking an interest in each person as he spoke quietly. Professionally, I remember most his thoughts on Jesus Christ’s unique role among the religious leaders of world history.”

conversations that count

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HE ADDRESSED

a post—Christian worldview As I reflect on this task of weaving together the multiple avenues through which Zacharias’s writing and speaking affected me over the past three decades, I am prominently reminded of his book The Grand Weaver. I recall listening to the audiobook version with my former missions teammate Randy Smelser and several German youth on our way home from an Easter retreat while we were serving the church in Europe. We consumed every word. I’ll never forget my dear friend Jason Casey borrowing several of Zacharias’s messages I owned on CD, such as “Mind the Gap” and “The Loss of Truth and a Proposal for Its Recovery.” These CDs accompanied him and his family on their journey from Peine, Germany, to Ancona, Italy. Zacharias struck a chord within us as we and many others labored in Western Europe, which could be considered ground zero of the postChristian world. He addressed the interface of Christian theology and culture in ways that aided and equipped us to face our daily challenges as evangelists and disciple makers. And with the ever-increasing dominance of the post-Christian mind-set coming to rest upon North America, the call to raise up more voices such as Zacharias’s beckons loudly—especially in the wake of his recent passing. None compare to Jesus Christ and what he has done for me. Yet, as I reflect back on over two and a half decades of ministry and sojourning with the Lord, I find that Ravi Zacharias has impacted me tremendously as God has woven many beautiful strands into the tapestry of my life. I have read several of his books more than once because, in my opinion, they are simply that good! I also remember sharing the German version of Jesus Among Other Gods (Jesus, der einzig wahrere Gott?) with my scholar friend from Iran, with whom I continue to dialogue.

On April 29, 2014, I finally got to experience Zacharias live at Cincinnati Christian University (my first alma mater). I sat in the front row with my father- and mother-in-law (Greg and Kathy Comp) to my right, and another one of my favorite preachers and mentors, Dan Lang, to my left. Even in his later years, Zacharias could retrieve both Scripture and the thoughts of literary masters with ease. He would often close his eyes in deep concentration as if the script were engraved verbatim on the underside of his eyelids. As he spoke, it was as if all present understood and agreed to an expectation of silence—not because Zacharias would have ever been visibly perturbed had anyone interrupted, but rather because one of God’s most gifted servants was speaking and no one in the auditorium dared to miss a word. When Zacharias came to speak, the silence between his lines was more richly laden than most classic novels. After the well-deserved lengthy applause had simmered, I was torn between the opportunity to shake the hand of a man I had hoped to meet for more than two decades and the desire to avoid telling him what certainly half of those present that day told him—namely, that he had impacted them like no other. I never ended up meeting Zacharias in person, but he affected me tremendously. Often when describing my ministry—KAPOL, short for Kontakt Apologetics—I’ll say, somewhat sheepishly, “I hope to do what Ravi did, but on a smaller scale,” as not to give the impression of chasing after personal glory. In a way, Zacharias has become a standard I cite when attempting to explain my sense of calling as an evangelist, apologist, and theologian. Like Ravi Zacharias, we all can desire to have “conversations that count,” which become dialogues of difference and turn into relationships that redeem. Like Zacharias and his team at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, we should seek to help believers think and thinkers to believe. 

Brett Seybold earned a BA and MA from Cincinnati Christian University, an MA from Lincoln Christian University, and is in the dissertation phase of PhD studies in theology and apologetics at Liberty University. He and his wife, Heather, served with a church plant and campus outreach in Germany for a decade. He recently teamed up with Kontaktmission USA to found KAPOL (Kontakt Apologetics).

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HE SOUGHT

to 'help believers think and thinkers believe'

by Doug Crozier

A pastor recently shared with me that he never had a Bible college class that focused on ministering during a pandemic. I told him I never had a class in business school about how to cope with a pandemic, either. We are living in extraordinary times.

Some local churches have poured all of their resources into responding to COVID-19 locally, to the detriment of those on the mission field. So, just how has this pandemic impacted local and regional camps, parachurch ministries, Christian colleges, and various missionaries and agencies that focus on reaching the lost?

missions are an essential part of the church Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Great Commission instruction makes it clear that missions are an essential part of his church (Matthew 28:18-20). Missionary work will never be completed until every person on earth has heard the good news. The challenges to reaching the multitudes of lost people include insufficient funding and a lack of people to work in the mission field. Acts 1:8 describes the beginning of the challenge to reach all people around the world: â&#x20AC;&#x153;But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.â&#x20AC;? We must continue to support our missionaries, even (or especially) during difficult times. Churches are understandably concerned about potential loss of revenue and conserving their resources due to the considerable number of unknowns because of current events. Unfortunately, missions funding is typically one of the first cuts a church makes. As church leaders, we must remember two things: First, God is the great provider, so we need not worry; instead, we need to have faith and work hard at the tasks he has set before us. Second, the church should tithe to missions from the tithes and offerings they receive (see 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8).

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When crises arise, Americans usually get to work to find solutions. This is certainly true with our church leaders; I have seen them rise to the occasion many times. Churches across our nation have been affected differently by the coronavirus. Some church buildings still are closed, and some churches have remained open, but all have been affected in some form or fashion.

I’m writing this in early September as Julie and I are traveling in the Western portion of the United States. This trip, and our earlier trip throughout the Eastern U.S., have powerfully affected me. I feel connected in ways I never have before. My wife and I have had great quality time driving in the car together, eating all our meals together, and meeting with pastors and their wives. These trips have helped me connect with our country and its vast beauty . . . from sea to shining sea (as the song says). I’ve developed deeper connections with God as we seek to serve his church and help it continue to grow and reach the lost. I feel more connected to local churches and parachurch ministries as we have safely visited 85 of them during the last four months. I’ve seen remarkable and seemingly endless creativity during these travels. Churches, mission groups, families, and businesses are finding new ways to interact, raise support, serve their communities, and reach the lost. Here are a few examples:

Southeast Community Outreach in Parker, Colorado Five years ago, SECOR was a small ministry within Southeast Christian Church. They were doing exceptional work providing food to approximately 400 families each week. In 2015, SECOR moved into a 9,000-square-foot facility in The Solomon Centre and almost instantly grew to feeding almost 1,700 families weekly. In fact, the ministry actually outgrew their space. In a partnership with The Solomon Foundation, SECOR built a freestanding, 23,000-square-foot building at The Solomon Centre and again saw staggering growth. SECOR also received a major grant from Christian Brothers Automotive to build a mobile food truck to help distribute food. I believe God was preparing SECOR for what was coming. Since the coronavirus pandemic, SECOR has been feeding 3,000 families per week! And even more impressively, their contributions from donors and churches have quadrupled. SECOR was already serving a need in the community, and when the pandemic hit, they were prepared and able to expand their mission.

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ministries are finding creative solutions

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Christ in Youth CIY has been one of the main parachurch organizations serving our brotherhood and other churches for many decades. Their cutting-edge summer programming for junior and senior high students is the best in America, and CIY has actually been branching out into Europe. CIY books venues and sells their services to students and churches well in advance with the promise to hold a state-of-the-art event in arenas across the U.S. And then the coronavirus hit, and CIY was forced to cancel events across the country during the summer and fall. But the CIY staff, led by CEO Jayson French, did not throw in the towel. They creatively found ways to produce video materials to provide for junior high and senior high students online. They did not give up or shut their doors; instead, they adapted . . . as missionaries have done for centuries. CIY’s financial structure has undergone challenges, but I am confident they will find a way to make it work.

International Conference on Missions ICOM’s unique mission involves bringing our missionaries together once a year in the late fall here in the U.S. These gatherings are where missionaries connect with one another and where churches connect with the missionaries they support (and find new ones to support). I look forward to this get-together each year. ICOM’s team is now planning a hybrid event—largely virtual but with a limited in-person gathering—this month (November) in Indianapolis. ICOM knows they need to carry out their mission, and they are ready to do whatever it takes to make it happen.

Using a baseball analogy, these three particular missions have found a way to hit a curveball out of the park. Their resilience and faith are reasons my wife and I personally support all three. We are better together. I want to challenge you to support your missionaries . . . and to seek out, encourage, and support missions and parachurch ministries that are being creative. The local church and their congregants can team up with these organizations to continue to seek the lost, teach them about Jesus, and expand the kingdom of God! Doug Crozier serves as chief executive officer of The Solomon Foundation in Parker, Colorado.

how to use

Each week has a lesson aim, lesson text, and supplemental text.

Tabs indicate the week of each lesson.

Each week features three sections: Study, Application, and Discovery. Use the Discovery questions to study, discuss, and apply the Scripture passages in a group or class.

a s tu d y o n 2 t i m o t hy

ser ve CHRI ST

G I V E T H A N K S T H AT G O D F A I T H F U L LY H EL P S YO U TO S ER V E C H R I S T.

lesson text:

2 T i m o t hy 2 :1 1 - 1 3 ; 4 : 6 - 8 , 1 6 - 1 8 supplemental text:

1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 : 8 - 9 ; 1 0 :1 3 2 Thessalonians 3:3 2 T i m o t hy 1 :1 6 - 1 8

s t u dy

God Is Faithful by mark scott The United States Marine Corps was formed before the Declaration of Independence. Their origin goes back to November 10, 1775. In a few days they will be 245 years old. The Marines are actually a department of the United States Navy. Their motto is semper fidelis, which means, “always faithful.” That is what God is too. We should thank God for being so faithful, because his faithfulness inspires our service to him. Faithful Formula 2 Timothy 2:11-13 This lesson concludes our study of 2 Timothy, Paul’s last will and testament, written shortly before Paul was martyred—likely by beheading—near Rome. Our text began with the fifth and final “faithful saying” of the Pastoral Epistles. Was this something Paul created or adapted? Was it like an ancient hymn of sorts? Was it a baptismal formula? Scholars debate its origin and use. But the content is not in question—i.e., God is faithful. By implication then, we should be faithful as well. The faithful formula deals with our union with Christ, or reigning with Christ, and our possible apostasy from Christ. The death that is mentioned may well be the spiritual death portrayed in baptism (Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2:12; 3:3). When we believe in Christ and are baptized, we pass from death to life (John 5:24). In this world are many tribulations (Acts 14:22). So believers who are attempting to be faithful to a faithful God will have to endure (abide under) suffering. But they should not despair since those same people will reign with Christ both now (Ephesians 2:6) and into the future (1 Corinthians 6:3; Revelation 5:10; 21:4).

Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18 Paul wrote this Epistle in the shadow of his own death. There would be no physical or earthly rescue from that. But, previous to that entrance into glory,

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the Lord’s record of faithfulness was without question. Paul had been delivered from the lion’s mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). Paul was confident that if God wanted to deliver him, the Lord would do so again. But Paul also was ready to face the possibility that God might give him the ultimate rescue and bring him safely to his heavenly kingdom. Paul burst out in praise for God who had the power to rescue him. Faithful Finish 2 Timothy 4:6-8 Few words are as emotional as these. The tears drip from Paul’s pen. These words have inspired believers for more than 2,000 years. Drawing upon the imagery of the drink offerings of the Old Testament, military and nautical terminology, and athletics, Paul gave his sign-off and probably penned his own epitaph. A drink offering was always entirely used up (Numbers 28:4-7; Philippians 2:17). None was saved for a future occasion. The word departure came from military and nautical realms and referred to soldiers breaking camp or a ship departing port for the open seas. Paul was accustomed to using athletic imagery (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) and employed it here. The boxing ring and track and field became illustrations of winning the contest. To these images Paul added the clear claim, I have kept the faith. Paul’s confidence in the victory was based in the faithfulness of God. That confidence made him sure of the crown of righteousness (it could be the crown which is the righteousness or the crown/reward that comes from God’s righteousness). Paul was not only confident of his crown of righteousness, he was also confident of ours (but also to all who have longed for his appearing).

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Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Paul wrote this Epistle in the shadow of his own death. There would be no physical or earthly rescue from that. But, previous to that entrance into glory, the Lord had rescued Paul many times (Acts 14:19-20; 2 Corinthians 11:23-29), including many times in court (Acts 21–26). He referred to one such time as the Epistle ends. He referenced his first defense (preliminary hearing that would lead to an ultimate trial). Even though others deserted (left behind) Paul, the Lord stood by his side and strengthened him. But God did not do that solely for Paul’s sake. He did it so that the gospel that Paul preached to the Gentiles would go forth. Paul held no animosity against those who did not stand with him. His actions mirrored those of Jesus and Stephen, in that Paul did not wish them ill (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60). Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue Faithful Res2 Timothy 4:16-18

Lord’s record of faithfulness was without question. Paul had been delivered from the lion’s Paul was confident that if God wanted to deliver him, the Lord would do so again. But Paul also give him the ultimate rescue and bring him safely to his heavenly kingdom. Paul burst out in him. cue

Paul wrote this Epistle in the shadow of his own into glory, the Lord had rescued Paul many referred to one such time as the Epistle ends. though others deserted (left behind) Paul, the He did it so that the gospel that Paul preached him. His actions mirrored those of Jesus and

death. There would be no physical or earthly rescue from that. But, previous to that entrance times (Acts 14:19-20; 2 Corinthians 11:23-29), including many times in court (Acts 21–26). He He referenced his first defense (preliminary hearing that would lead to an ultimate trial). Even Lord stood by his side and strengthened him. But God did not do that solely for Paul’s sake. to the Gentiles would go forth. Paul held no animosity against those who did not stand with Stephen, in that Paul did not wish them ill (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60).

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

WEEK OF November 01

There is one thing God cannot be: unfaithful. His nature is the very definition of faithfulness (Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 25:10; 31:5; 33:4; Isaiah 25:1; 49:7; Jeremiah 3:2; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:3), and cannot be changed. If believers disown (deny or give up on) God, then God will be forced to disown them. But he cannot be unfaithful to himself since he is the epitome of faithfulness.

the Lord had rescued Paul many times (Acts 14:1920; 2 Corinthians 11:23-29), including many times in court (Acts 21–26). He referred to one such time as the Epistle ends. He referenced his first defense (preliminary hearing that would lead to an ultimate trial). Even though others deserted (left behind) Paul, the Lord stood by his side and strengthened him. But God did not do that solely for Paul’s sake. He did it so that the gospel that Paul preached to the Gentiles would go forth. Paul held no animosity against those who did not stand with him. His actions mirrored those of Jesus and Stephen, in that Paul did not wish them ill (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60).

A p p l i c at i o n

Trimming Around the Edges by David Faust

I learned a lot of practical lessons on the farm where I grew up. Dad was good at fixing things. I wasn’t. He didn’t have a college degree, but he deserved an honorary doctorate in the school of hard knocks. He knew how to weld metal, mend fences, install electrical wiring, fix leaky water pipes, help a cow give birth, and grow a flourishing garden. He knew his Bible well. Neighbors and church members respected his common sense and frequently sought his advice. My parents assigned chores to my brothers and me. Some tasks we did every morning before school, while others waited till evening. We fed hogs and calves, hoed weeds in the garden, gathered eggs in the chicken house, filled mangers with hay, and herded the cows into the barn so Dad could milk them. I drove a tractor long before I sat behind the steering wheel of a car. I still remember how proud I felt when Dad decided I was old enough to mow the grass like my older brothers did, walking back and forth across the yard behind our noisy old push mower. One time I hit a big rock, ruining the mower blade. Dad was good at fixing things; I was good at breaking them. Often before I mowed, Dad would trim around the edges of the lawn, clipping the weeds along the fence rows and mowing the hard parts around the trees and flower beds. Looking back, I realize he wanted to make sure everything looked neat and manicured when we finished the job. And by taking care of the harder parts himself, Dad made the lawn mowing a little easier for me and my brothers. He did that kind of thing a lot. How many times has my heavenly Father done the same for me? I complain about my difficulties, but

looking at those situations a different way, might my tasks be even harder if God hadn’t gone ahead and prepared the way? Because he has a vision for how things should look in the end, is it actually the Father who does the harder tasks, chopping down weeds and clearing out underbrush, removing the obstacles I’m not strong enough to lift? Under the Law of Moses, at harvest time farmers were supposed to leave some grain, olives, and grapes “for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow” (Deuteronomy 24:19-21) and leave some sheaves and fruit along the edges of their fields for the less fortunate to gather and consume (Leviticus 23:22). These laws provided the poor with food while also giving them the dignity of participating in the work. The farmers benefited, too, by practicing generosity rather than greed and sharing their harvest with others in need. Similarly, God’s providence and human responsibility intertwine in ways that transcend our understanding. Faithful and wise, God does what only he can do, but he gives us the dignity of choice, the responsibility of obedience, and the privilege of participating in his work. My adult son lives in a 110-year-old house in the inner-city, and his little home is surrounded by a modest-sized yard. We worked together in his lawn the other day, mowing grass and raking leaves. I told him, “I’ll trim around the edges.” Somehow it seemed like the right thing to do. Personal Challenge: Think about a time when God protected you, taught you a lesson, or solved a problem for you. Thank him for it. Then identify a way this week you can assist someone else who could use a helping hand.

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D i s c ove ry

by Michael C. Mack 1. What big challenge did you face last week? 2. With whom did you share your faith in and love for Christ since we last met? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read 2 Timothy 2:11-13; 4:6-8, 16-18 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the main themes and subject matters from these passages. 3.

What would you add to how the passages were summarized? • How would you characterize Paul’s objective for writing this?

4. Let’s dig more deeply into this passage. • How would you characterize the conditional (if-then) statements in 2 Timothy 2:11-13? • What were Paul’s life circumstances before and as he wrote this letter? • What was Paul’s mind-set in this stage of his life? • What did Paul believe about God? • How would you describe Paul’s faithfulness to and trust in God? 5. What does this passage teach you about humanity . . . with God as opposed to separated from him? 6. What do you learn about God from these passages? 7. What does it look like in practice for you (or how would you like for it to look) to keep the faith each day for the rest of your life?

9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .” 10. What new challenge will you face this week? For Next Week: Over the next week, read and reflect on Titus 1 as we begin a new unit on “church life.” You might also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

CHRISTIAN STANDARD - 75 - NOVEMBER 2020

WEEK OF November 01

8. One external function of Paul’s faith was that he proclaimed God’s message of good news, especially to the Gentiles, as God gave him strength and protected him. This week, how will you live by that same faith, so that through you “the message might be fully proclaimed”?

church life church life church life t i tu s // p h i l e m o n

consider the importance of godly leadership in the church. lesson text: T i tu s 1 : 5 -1 1 supplemental text: 1 T im o t hy 3 :1 -1 3 T i tu s 1 :1 2-1 6

s t u dy

Appoint Godly Leaders by mark scott

Traditionally, this past Tuesday has been the day Americans would go to the polls to vote for national and local leaders. By contrast, in churches where votes are cast for church leaders, Christians should understand their votes are simply their perception of the will of God. It is actually the Holy Spirit who confers leadership in the church (Acts 20:28). The task of believers in selecting their leaders is to choose (literally “look out,” Acts 6:3) from among themselves and find the leaders who match the descriptions that the Holy Spirit has given (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9). In that sense, Christians appoint the leaders. During the rest of November we will study two small books of the New Testament, Titus and Philemon. Both books are actually letters Paul sent that demand something of their recipients. Philemon was asked to receive back his former slave Onesimus, and Titus was asked to put the churches on the island of Crete in order (it could mean “to correct”) and appoint (to cause to stand and be recognized) godly leaders. Crete, an island (about 160 miles long and up to 35 miles wide) in the Mediterranean Sea, contained 100 cities. But it was not “Mr. Roger’s neighborhood.” The Cretans had a bad reputation that Paul acknowledged as true (Titus 1:12-13). No wonder Paul directed (a strong military word) Titus to appoint godly leaders. Godly Leaders Have an Exemplary Family Life Titus 1:6

To be blameless (unimpeachable) at home is a great compliment. This would include being faithful to his wife (not flirtatious or lustful; devoted; cf. Job. 31:1) and having children who are under the lordship of Christ. The kids believe (or at least are faithful) and are not wild (prodigal-like) and disobedient (insubordinate or disorderly). The reason for this is made clear in 1 Timothy 3:5 (i.e., if he can’t lead his family, how can he lead the church?).

Earlier, Paul called these leaders elders (v. 5). Now he refers to them (in various Bible translations) as overseers and stewards (one who manages). Paul used these terms interchangeably. In effect, a leader should be blameless (a key word that occurs a second time in our text); Paul used the word to contrast negative and positive qualities in the leader’s personal life (see vv. 7, 8). The leader is not to be overbearing (surly; the opposite of courteous) and not quick-tempered (prone to anger; cf. James 1:19-20). He is to be disciplined (moderate) in his use of alcohol and not violent (not a striker or fighter). More than one person who is not moderate in the use of alcohol has become violent. Finally, the leader cannot be a materialist (not pursuing dishonest gain). In fact, being a materialist is a characteristic of the false teachers (v. 11). On the positive side, the elder must love strangers (be hospitable), love goodness at every level, be self-controlled (discerning, sober, and temperate), be just (upright), unpolluted (holy), and disciplined (under control). In 1 Timothy, Paul mentioned 15 traits of godly leaders. Here he mentioned 17. The lists overlap some, but the ones mentioned here must be pertinent for Titus’s ministry context in Crete. Godly Leaders Are Capable Teachers Titus 1:9-11 Elders must be “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). This means knowledgeable of the gospel and capable of articulating it. Given Titus’s situation, this was fundamental for godly leaders. Elders must know the message (logos) that had been passed down through the apostolic tradition. The purpose of this knowledge is twofold: First, they should be able to encourage (come alongside of or uplift) the church by sound (healthy) doctrine. Elders should be some of the most “up” people in the church. Second, elders must be able to refute (convict) those who oppose this doctrine. This opposition is identified in the text (vv. 10-11). Those who oppose this doctrine are insubordinate (rebellious), given to meaningless talk and deception. Part of their false doctrine is rooted in being Judaizers (Acts 15; Galatians 2; Philippians 3). They needed to be muzzled (silenced) because they were causing havoc in homes and giving evidence of being money hungry. Elders must “be” the right kind of people so that they can feed, lead, and guard God’s people.

CHRISTIAN STANDARD - 77 - NOVEMBER 2020

Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

WEEK OF November 08

There is a line in a Little Rascals comedy, “You can fool some of the people some of the time . . . but you can’t fool Mom.” A leader’s public persona is one thing, but a leader’s family persona can be something else. When the two personas match, it can be called integrity. One of the best critiques of a leader’s life comes from his family. A church leader years ago was asked if a certain man was a Christian. The leader responded, “I don’t know. I would have to ask his wife.”

Godly Leaders Have a Devoted Personal Life Titus 1:7-8

A p p l i c at i o n

Blame the Leaders? by David Faust

In an episode of the TV comedy The Office, regional manager Michael Scott makes his priorities clear. He tells his boss from the Dunder Mifflin corporate office, “I want the credit without any of the blame.” Blameless appears twice in Paul’s description of godly elders (Titus 1:6-7). If being blameless requires moral perfection and flawless decision-making, no one qualifies except Jesus. Noah was “blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God,” yet he had some less-than-stellar moments (Genesis 6:9; 9:20-21). In part, “blameless” may refer to the way others inside and outside the church view the leaders. Are there any glaring flaws, character deficiencies, or doctrinal aberrations that disqualify them from leadership? Aspiring toward blamelessness requires self-awareness. Are potential elders able to recognize their weaknesses? Do they accept responsibility and apologize readily when they make mistakes, or do they habitually shift blame onto others? Blameless leaders aren’t blamers. They’re honest about their limitations. They’re still on the road to spiritual maturity, and they don’t pretend they have arrived at perfection. Lightning Rods Organizations need leaders like buildings need lightning rods. When lightning hits, strategically placed pieces of metal or wire take the strike and divert electrical charges harmlessly into the ground. Likewise, it’s an unpleasant part of the job for leaders to serve as lightning rods, taking hits to protect their followers. Ironically, elders are supposed to be blameless, but they get blamed for a lot—especially in a cultural environment where respect for leaders has slipped to a low ebb. If you don’t carry leadership responsibilities yourself, it’s easy to find fault. But can you imagine how it feels to be a lightning rod? Elders need to be well-grounded in Scripture and

prayer; they need to seek godly wisdom as they wrestle with complex issues. They must balance grace and truth, blend transparency with appropriate confidentiality, respect the past while embracing the future, and care for the hurting while challenging the complacent. If you think elders have an easy job, I guarantee you haven’t done it. High Regard Some spiritual leaders are false prophets, hypocrites, and frauds—wolves in sheep’s clothing. We should never follow them. But shepherds who are humble, hard-working, and faithful deserve honor, and they need encouragement. The Bible mentions practical ways to support them. • “Acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). • “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you” (Hebrews 13:17). If you want to do something countercultural, when you get up in the morning ask yourself, “Today, how can I bring joy to those who lead me?” Paul wrote, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure” (Philippians 2:14-15). Notice: “so that you may become blameless and pure.” God calls all of us—not just the elders—to grow in the direction of blamelessness. After all, setting a positive example ourselves is better than looking for someone else to blame. Personal Challenge: Instead of blaming your leaders, how could you bless them? This week write notes of appreciation and encouragement to two or three faithful Christian leaders you know.

CHRISTIAN STANDARD - 78 - NOVEMBER 2020

D i s c ove ry

by Michael C. Mack

1. What new challenge did you face last week? 2. In what specific ways did the Lord give you strength this past week so that through you his message could be proclaimed? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Titus 1:5-11 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize what this passage is about. 3.

If you were mentoring someone on how to be a good leader, what principle from this passage would you share with them?

4. Let’s dig more deeply into this passage. • What were some of Titus’s responsibilities? • What were the circumstances in Crete? • What were the reasons for Titus being commissioned to put things in order and appoint elders in Crete? • One at a time, examine each leadership qualification listed in these verses. How would you categorize each one? (e.g., relational, moral/ethical [involving character, integrity], reputational, spiritual, personal [knowledge, abilities], doctrinal, others) 5. What do you learn about God from this passage? 6. What do you learn about people? 7. When you look through the list of qualifications of church leaders, what area do you want to grow in or what do you need to obey (whether or not you consider yourself a leader)?

9. As a group, let’s show appreciation for some of our church leaders this week by each of us writing personal notes to them. Which leaders would you like to encourage? 10. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .” 11. What challenge do you anticipate this week? For Next Week: Over the next week, read and reflect on Titus 2. You might also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

CHRISTIAN STANDARD - 79 - NOVEMBER 2020

WEEK OF November 08

8. Who will you be hospitable to this week? How?

church life church life church life t i tu s // p h i l e m o n

commit to proper application of biblical teaching to ever y demographic in the church. lesson text: T i tu s 2 :1 -1 5 supplemental text: P s a lm 1 1 9 :1 0 5 -1 1 2 G a l at i a n s 5 :1 9 -2 6

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Teach What Is Appropriate by mark scott Seth Wilson said, “All of our efforts to control people show our failure to convert them.” Jesus is the one who has control in the church. The rest of us have responsibility and influence. And influence is probably best exercised through teaching. At the end of the day, our ability to persuade people through teaching is our best leverage in helping them grow in Christ. That is why teaching is of such huge importance in the church. Teaching is also a major concern in this chapter. A form of the word teach occurs several times throughout this chapter. Words like speak (in Greek), urge, encourage, and rebuke are also used. A new hurdle for teaching in the church today is that for the first time in history five generations are “going to church” together and being taught. In addition to racism and sexism, we now face ageism (see Haydn Shaw’s book Generational I.Q.). How was a young apostolate delegate like Titus to go about teaching the age and gender categories in the churches of the 100 cities in Crete? For Titus to teach (speak) what is appropriate to sound doctrine (v. 1) to every demographic in the church demanded patience, prayer, and Solomon-like wisdom. Teach the Old Titus 2:2-3 Yes, there were older first-generation Christians in the churches in Crete (Acts 2:11). Some of them were men. Titus was to help them to be temperate (soberminded), worthy of respect (dignified; one who does not repel but attracts), self-controlled (discreet and disciplined), and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Obviously, Titus—a young whippersnapper— needed accelerated maturity to get the older men to accept his instruction (see vv. 7-8).

Teach the Young Titus 2:4-8 In Western culture, we should not assume younger women automatically know how to be domestic. Learning how to love and be subject to their husbands is not easy. Loving children is a bit easier. The older women could help the younger women be

Titus was also to encourage the young men to be self-controlled. But the best way to teach peers is by example (model) by doing what is good. If Titus showed integrity (incorruptibility or purity), seriousness (decency and dignity), and soundness of speech the young men would follow, and the opposition’s accusations would come to nothing. Titus 2:1-8 greatly expanded on 1 Timothy 5:1-2. Teach the Slaves Titus 2:9-10 It is difficult for us to speak of slavery without thinking of captivity, deportation, and oppression. Slavery in the ancient world was different (see Scott Bartchy’s First-Century Slavery and the Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 7:21). But in Titus’s climate in Crete, it was best to teach Christian slaves to be subject to their masters, please them, not talk back to them, and not steal from them so they could earn their master’s trust. This would be their best witness so that the gospel would be attractive. In his Galatians & Ephesians commentary, Kenny Boles said, “Paul plants the seeds by which slavery would finally be destroyed.” Let Grace Teach Titus 2:11-15 The grace of God, of course, was a better teacher than either Paul or Titus. Grace (God’s love for us that we do not deserve) saves, equips, energizes, and teaches. Paul closed this section of his letter by considering the past, present, and future of grace. God’s grace appeared (theological longhand for “Jesus came”). And Jesus offered salvation for all. But grace also teaches (trains) believers to refuse ungodliness and worldly passions. And grace teaches believers to embrace self-control and live upright and godly lives now. Believers do this while they wait for ultimate grace (the blessed hope) to appear in the return of Christ to the earth. Paul wrapped this grace in the gospel. Jesus gave himself to redeem us so that we would be his people, eager to do what is good. Titus was to teach and teach and teach that again and again.

CHRISTIAN STANDARD - 81 - NOVEMBER 2020

Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

WEEK OF November 15

Some of the old were, of course, women. Titus was to teach them to be reverent (as in temple-sacred), not to be slanderers (devilish), or addicted (slaves) to much wine. In turn, Titus needed to convince the older women to invest in the younger women. For the sake of propriety, this arrangement always works best.

self-controlled and pure. They needed to be taught to be “keepers of the home” (busy at home) and kind. If the older women did not teach the young women these things, then God’s Word could be maligned (blasphemed). Our behavior is a step forward or step backward to someone else’s belief.

A p p l i c at i o n

How Do We Treat Those Student Drivers? by David Faust

My 16-year-old granddaughter is learning how to drive. On a recent Sunday afternoon, I tossed Kayla the car keys and sat next to her in the passenger seat while she drove around our church’s empty parking lot. She practiced parallel parking, inching the car between the painted lines. At one point she accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake pedal and we sped toward the curb. As we jerked to a stop she exclaimed, “I’m sorry, Papa!” My immediate impulse was to shout, “What in the world did you think you were doing?” Instead, by God’s grace and because I love my granddaughter so much, I heard myself saying calmly, “That’s why you need to keep practicing.” Soon we left the empty parking lot and drove back to my house. Kayla steered the car onto a busy four-lane street, carefully staying in her lane and observing the 40 mph speed limit. Other drivers, though, weren’t so patient. Cars whizzed past us, and one driver, frustrated by our slow speed, pulled close to our back bumper and leaned on his horn. I wondered, Would he have been more patient if my car bore a sign that said, “Student Driver”? Keychain Leadership In a relay race, runners pass the baton to their teammates who follow after them. They’ll lose the race if they fumble the handoff. Are we preparing the next generation for leadership? Ready or not, they will take on positions of responsibility in business, government, education, and public safety—and they will lead God’s church. Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin, authors of Growing Young: Six Essential Strategies to Help Young People Discover and Love Your Church (Baker Books, 2016), use the illustration

of “keychain leadership.” Keys symbolize access, influence, and responsibility. When you are old enough, you get a house key and eventually a key to your own office. The authors explain, “Keys provide access to physical rooms and spaces as well as strategic meetings, significant decisions and central roles or places of authority. The more power you have, the more keys you tend to possess. . . . If you are willing to entrust your keys to young people, they will trust you with their hearts, their energy, their creativity and even their friends.” Older adults have a choice to make about the leadership transfer. Will we clutch the keys as long as we can, refusing to let go? Will we sit on the sidelines and pout? Will we allow our frustrations to fester and become impatient tailgaters, honking our horns to express our displeasure while younger leaders find their way? Or will we sit in the passenger seat alongside them, letting them drive but offering our support? Reggie Joiner puts it bluntly: “You have only one of two choices: (1) You can desperately hold on to your job until someone inevitably replaces you. (2) You can prepare someone to do what you do and strategically replace yourself.” Paul came alongside a younger leader and told Titus, “Teach what is appropriate. . . . Encourage the young men to be self-controlled. . . . Set them an example by doing what is good. . . . In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech” (Titus 2:1-8). That’s good advice, because someday all of us will hand over the keys. Personal Challenge: Take a couple of younger leaders out to lunch. Don’t just talk and teach; listen and learn. Ask how you can help them, encourage them, and pray for them.

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D i s c ove ry

by Michael C. Mack

1. What challenge did you face over the past week? 2. In what ways were you hospitable to someone last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Titus 2 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the passage in 60 seconds or less. 3. What would you add to what our summarizer said? 4. Let’s dig more deeply into this passage. • What is the overall context for teaching different people in the church how to live godly lives? • Based on this passage, what situations in the church was Titus confronting? • How would you differentiate the approaches for teaching various people groups? • In what ways does God’s grace teach Christ followers? 5. What do you learn about God from this passage? 6. What do you learn about the needs of God’s people? 7. Pick one teaching group with whom you most identify (teacher, older men, older women, younger women, younger men, employees). Once you’ve identified your group, what do you most need to learn and obey?

9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .” 10. What encouragement do you need today as you think about this upcoming week? For Next Week: Over the next week, read and reflect on Titus 3. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

CHRISTIAN STANDARD - 83 - NOVEMBER 2020

WEEK OF November 15

8. Consider an environment in which you are regularly with non-Christians (e.g., a workplace, neighborhood, social grouping, family, etc.). What specifically can you do in that environment to “make the teaching about God our Savior attractive”?

church life church life church life t i tu s // p h i l e m o n

unders tand that we are saved to do good for others , not merely for personal benef it. lesson text: T i tu s 3 :1 -1 1 supplemental text: Ep h e s i a n s 2 : 8 -1 0

s t u dy

Be Devoted To Doing Good by mark scott Thanksgiving is not just a national holiday observed this coming Thursday. It’s an acknowledgment of the goodness of God and his call to believers to live out that goodness. Doing good is a strong emphasis in the Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy 2:10; 4:6; 5:10, 25; 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:21; 3:17; Titus 1:8; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 8, 14). Ancient and modern philosophers debated what constituted goodness. In a world without absolutes, how can it be defined? Is it knowable? Is it relegated only to aesthetics? In Scripture, goodness is rooted in the person of God (Mark 10:18). God can declare what is good (Genesis 1:10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31; 1 Timothy 2:3). Paul had to remind Titus that goodness had moral and ethical connotations since on Crete those connections had all but been jettisoned (Titus 1:12). The Call to Goodness Titus 3:1-2 Lots of learning is relearning. There are reasons the Epistles are filled with “reminders.” The best things in life are worth coming back to again and again. Paul told Titus to remind the people of the call to goodness. These two verses contain seven imperatives. The section near the middle is key: remind them to be ready to do whatever is good. People committed to goodness will leverage that for the best witness in their communities. This call to goodness will show up in submission to governmental and civic leaders. Even the phrase to be obedient means “to obey a person in authority.” This call to goodness will cause one to put away slander (blasphemy), to be peaceable (not disposed to fight) and considerate (fitting, appropriate, or suitable), and gentle (meek).

The goodness we are called to is not just do-goodism. It is certainly not goodness for goodness’ sake. It is rooted in God’s redemption of us in Christ and made possible through the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul set up one of the greatest salvific passages in the New Testament by reminding Titus of their prior state of depravity (v. 3). There were eight marks of this fallenness. We were foolish (literally “not knowing”), disobedient (unwilling to be persuaded), deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures (hedonistic). We lived in malice (strife) and envy (malignity at the sight of excellence), being hated and hating one another.

This newness was begun by the Holy Spirit, who was poured out on us generously. God did the providing, and believers do the partaking. This new birth demonstrates God’s justice (having been justified by his grace) and makes believers heirs having the hope of eternal life. The trustworthy saying could refer back to the salvific text just discussed or it could lean forward and refer to the call to goodness displayed by redeemed people. Regardless, goodness does not come about for the Christian by simply trying to be and do better. It results from the new birth and shows up in things that are excellent (beautiful) and profitable. The Derailing of Goodness Titus 3:9-11 Sometimes it doesn’t take much to derail what is perfectly good (Genesis 3:1-13). Christians can undo goodness by word games, majoring in the minors, battles, and divisiveness. Controversies result when there is an exchange of words rather than a search for truth. Genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law show a strong Jewish tendency to some of the word battles. These are unprofitable (serve no purpose) and useless. Divisive people derail goodness. These people are to be warned twice (Matthew 18:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15) and then “shunned.” They show themselves to be warped (to turn something out of its place or to pervert), sinful, and self-condemned. In his mercy, our good, redemptive God transforms us from what we were into a people who genuinely do good for others.

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Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

WEEK OF November 22

The Redemption Behind Goodness Titus 3:3-8

But in contrast to the ugliness of verse 3 is the beauty of verses 4-7. God’s kindness (usefulness or profitableness) showed up when Jesus came (the love of God our Savior appeared). Paul had in mind the historical event of the incarnation. [Notice that God and Jesus are both referred to as Savior in these verses.] When Jesus showed up, people were saved, but it wasn’t because of anything they had done to deserve saving. God worked his mercy (tender kindness) in them, and they participated by saying yes to his washing of rebirth (regeneration or restoration, which is typically an eschatological term; cf. Matthew 19:28; Acts 3:21) and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:2; John 3:5). This is new creation language (2 Corinthians 5:17).

A p p l i c at i o n

Good for You by David Faust

Three times in Titus 3, Paul emphasizes that believers ought to “do whatever is good” (vv. 1, 8, 14). What does goodness look like on a practical level? Goodness often has a hard edge. Something can be good even when it doesn’t feel good. A mother tells her children, “Eat your vegetables. They’re good for you.” A football coach makes his players run laps around the field when they’re already tired from a long practice session. “The extra conditioning will be good for you,” he says. Joseph was badly mistreated by his brothers, but in retrospect he told them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20). The psalmist said to God, “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees” (Psalm 119:71). Even in suffering, “God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). “God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10). Goodness doesn’t seek recognition. To illustrate the kingdom of God, Jesus mentioned things that make a difference quietly without grabbing attention. “You are the light of the world,” and light shines without making a sound. “You are the salt of the earth,” and salt flavors food without a lot of fuss. God’s kingdom is like a mustard seed—tiny but full of growth potential. It’s like yeast that quietly permeates a lump of dough and causes it to expand. The goal of our good deeds is to glorify the Father in heaven, not to call attention to ourselves (Matthew 5:16). The point isn’t, “What’s in it for me?” Love for God moves us to ask, “What’s good for you?” Good deeds aren’t limited to a religious context. Jesus didn’t cower in the corner of a cathedral reading the Bible and singing praise songs. He “went around doing good” (Acts 10:38), bringing

grace and truth into all kinds of situations. Goodness isn’t confined to the church building; it’s comfortable in the public square. It seeks justice for the oppressed and comfort for the hurting. It shows kindness to neighbors and generosity to the poor. Goodness doesn’t just scream at the darkness; it shines the light of Christ, bringing grace and truth to the classroom, the boardroom, the courtroom, the locker room, and the hospital room. We demonstrate goodness by respecting and obeying those in authority, by refraining from slander, and by treating others with peace, consideration, and gentleness (Titus 3:1-2). God’s goodness, not our own, opens heaven’s door to us. Good deeds are the result, not the means, of our salvation. We aren’t good enough to deserve God’s blessings, but the sinless Messiah serves as our advocate. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior” (vv. 5-6). Good deeds are a surprisingly powerful force. Maybe you have heard this quote from Mother Teresa: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Even better is this exhortation from the apostle Paul: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Personal Challenge: Do something this week that demonstrates God’s power to overcome evil with good. On your laptop or on a piece of paper, write down three specific problems or evils you see in your community or in the world. Ask the Lord to show you specific steps you can take to counteract them.

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D i s c ove ry

by Michael C. Mack 1. What struggle or trial did you face over the past week? 2. As you interacted with people in your spheres of influence last week, how did you make the gospel “attractive”? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Titus 3:1-11 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to summarize the passage as if sharing the teaching at the kids’ table on Thanksgiving. 3. What other big-picture thoughts would you add about this passage? 4. Let’s dig more deeply into this passage. • In your own words, how would you characterize who we were before God saved us? • Look again at the reminders (vv. 1-2) and what we are to avoid (vv. 9-10). What kind of people, in general, should we be striving to become? • How does this transformation take place in our lives? Who and what are involved in it? • Look at the four imperative verbs in this passage: remind (v. 1), stress (v. 8), avoid (v. 9), and warn (v. 10). What do those commands tell you about how Christ followers are to conduct themselves? 5. What do you learn about God from this passage? 6. What do you learn about humans? 7. Put this passage, especially the reminders, into today’s cultural context. What does this passage teach Christians to do and avoid doing in our workplaces, on social media, and in other environments when it comes to politics, race issues, health concerns, and other current events? 8. What is one specific thing from this passage you need to obey?

10. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . ." 11. As you devote yourself to doing good this week at work, with family, or in other circumstances, what challenges do you anticipate? For Next Week: Over the next week, read and reflect on Philemon. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

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WEEK OF November 22

9. This passage presents a beautiful picture of the way God transforms us into people who not only become good but are ready to do what is good for others. What good will you devote yourself to doing, especially to show someone else that God is good?

church life church life church life t i tu s // p h i l e m o n

allow the gospel of Jesus Chris t to break down the barriers that divide believers of dif ferent social s tatuses . lesson text: Phil e m o n 8 -2 1 supplemental text: G a l at i a n s 3 : 2 8 Ep h e s i a n s 6 : 5 - 9

s t u dy

Seek Reconciliation by mark scott

The year 2020 will be remembered for virus and volatility. The virus created a pandemic. The volatility created pandemonium. If there was ever a time we needed God’s universal efforts at reconciliation, it is on this first Sunday of Advent. The first coming of Jesus with his incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection can heal any alienation between people and God and between people and other people (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 1:15-20). The second coming of Jesus can heal any leftover viruses from the old creation (Romans 8:1825; Revelation 22:5). The biblical word reconciliation was a term from the realm of marriage, and it continues to be used in that arena. (Bob and Mary had split up, but they reconciled.) The term means that alienation has been removed—that people who had been at odds with one another are friends again. The Cotton-Patch Gospel translates it this way, “God was in Christ hugging the world to himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). The little New Testament Epistle of Philemon is a marvelous example of reconciliation. Appeal for Reconciliation Philemon 8-11 Philemon was a member of the church at Colossae and a personal friend of Paul. Philemon had a slave named Onesimus. Evidently Onesimus had run away (and maybe even stolen some things) from Philemon. But Onesimus fled to Rome, where he connected with Paul, who was responsible for his conversion. Paul gave his normal greeting and salutation, and then made his appeal for Philemon to receive his former slave back.

Providence in Reconciliation Philemon 12-16 Paul’s affection for Onesimus is obvious. Paul referred to sending Onesimus back to Philemon as sending his

Paul looked at almost everything providentially (Romans 8:28). He postured that perhaps the reason Onesimus was separated (split or divorced) from Philemon was so that when reconciliation could be made, it would be permanent. The relationship formerly was that of master-slave. As a result of Onesimus’s conversion, the relationship changed to that of brotherbrother. We do not know what the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus was previous to the slave’s departure. It may have been good. But good is not the same as dear. When parties know Jesus, it removes distance and alienation from one another. Embracing Jesus as Savior levels the playing field and makes all people one (Galatians 3:28). Confidence in Reconciliation Philemon 17-21 Paul was confident (persuaded by actions and motives) that Philemon would satisfy the appeal for Onesimus. Paul could do this because he counted Philemon as a partner (one in common mind). He desired that Philemon would welcome (receive) Onesimus as if the slave were Paul himself (Romans 15:7). If Onesimus had wronged Philemon or owed him anything (indication of stealing?), Paul agreed to pay it. If Paul was using an amanuensis (secretary), the apostle took the quill in his own hand to write a personal closing (Galatians 6:11). Then, in a psychological sweep that was hard to miss, Paul reminded his old friend that Philemon owed him his very life. That is one way to stack the deck. Paul desired some benefit (profit) from Philemon. Paul desired that Philemon refresh (to cease or give rest—cf. Philemon 7) him in Christ by being compliant with Paul’s request. Paul was confident (persuaded) of Philemon’s obedience (the obedience of a slave to a master) and assured that Philemon would even go beyond the request. If God can help the leopard and goat to lie down together (Isaiah 11:6), he can surely help people seek reconciliation.

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Faithful Rescue 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Paul served the Lord faithfully because the mouth (likely a reference to the emperor Nero). was ready to face the possibility that God might praise for God who had the power to rescue

WEEK OF November 29

Paul could have leaned into his authority as an apostle, but he chose to base his appeal for reconciliation in the love of Christ. Paul was bold enough and had the clout to order (command) Philemon what to do, but as an old man who had been around the block and as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus” (Philemon 1), he appealed kindly for Onesimus. Paul considered Onesimus his son in the faith (a title he otherwise reserved for Timothy and Titus). There is an intentional play on words in this appeal. Onesimus’s name meant “useful.” “Formerly he was useless to you, but now. . . .”

very heart (this is not the normal word for heart; it is a visceral word meaning “deep-seated compassion”). More than once in this brief letter Paul used what might be called “reverse psychology.” Paul would have liked to have kept Onesimus to aid him—in Philemon’s place—during his imprisonment (something he mentioned twice in the text). But again, Paul did not want to be overly presumptuous. Paul wanted any favor (goodness) that Philemon would give in receiving Onesimus back to be voluntary (done willingly).

A p p l i c at i o n

I Missed You by David Faust

“I missed you.” I found myself saying those words a lot when the coronavirus pandemic began to ease early this summer. One by one, friends emerged from quarantine. Worshippers inched back to the church building for in-person services. Restaurants reopened. During weeks of lockdown in the spring, I stayed in touch with my granddaughters by phone, text, and Zoom, but I longed to see them face-to-face. I missed the servers at the local deli. I missed visiting patients in the hospital. I missed little kids darting around the church lobby, young adults chattering in the halls on Sunday mornings, and senior adults gathering for monthly luncheons. Hard-Wired for Relationships This difficult year has taught us many lessons, including the importance of personal relationships. We have learned not to take for granted everyday blessings like eating in a restaurant, shopping in a store, or going to work, church, and school. We have gained new appreciation for doctors, nurses, farmers, and truck drivers. Teachers missed seeing their students. Aging parents sequestered in nursing homes missed seeing their loved ones. We all have gotten a taste of the isolation many consider commonplace. Sadly, for too many men, women, boys, and girls, loneliness is an everyday experience—a cruel quarantine of the soul. It doesn’t take a pandemic to make a widow miss her husband or an orphan miss his mom and dad. No one thrives in solitary confinement. Some of us are introverts and some are extroverts, but we all need connection with others. Something feels off when relationships are disrupted. Welcome Back Just as our bodies require food and water, our souls long for reconciliation with each other and with God.

Remember Jesus’ story about the prodigal son? The rebellious runaway woke up hungry in a pig pen and had a spiritual awakening. Ironically, he found himself missing the very place he had scornfully left behind. Humbled and repentant, he headed home, unsure what kind of welcome he would receive. Meanwhile, the whole time he was gone, his father was missing him, too. The lost son gladly received his dad’s embrace, while the one who missed out on the party was the resentful older brother. As our churches rebound and rebuild from the pandemic, let’s remember the welcoming arms of the prodigal’s father. We may not be allowed to hug, but neighbors emerging from isolation and loneliness need a warm welcome that says sincerely, “We missed you! We’re so glad you’re here.” It shouldn’t be hard to empathize with the lonely and lost, for all of us have been prodigal sons and daughters ourselves. And what about broken relationships where relatives or church members have been at odds with each other? The biblical theme of reconciliation flows from deep in the heart of God. Speaking of the runaway Onesimus, Paul told Philemon, “If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me” (v. 18)—not unlike what Jesus did for us at the cross. Grace triumphs when estranged friends tell one another, “I missed you,” and find peace again in Christ. Something in every human heart cries out to the Father, “I miss you.” Read Jesus’ parables in Luke 15 about the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son, and you’ll discover a profound truth: God misses us, too. Personal Challenge: Think of someone who has been estranged from you, or someone with whom you have an unresolved conflict. Pray for God’s guidance and, if necessary, seek godly counsel, and then write a note or an email letting them know you miss them and want to be reconciled.

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D i s c ove ry

by Michael C. Mack

1. What challenges did you face last week at work, with family, or in other circumstances? 2. What good did you do this past week, especially to show someone else that God is good? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Philemon 8-21 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to take about one minute to summarize the passage. 3. What else jumped out at you from this section of Paul’s letter to Philemon? 4. Let’s dig more deeply into this passage. • How would you characterize the tone or mood of Paul’s appeal to Philemon? • Basically, what is Paul asking Philemon to do? • How does Paul describe himself to his friend? • How does Paul describe his relationship with Onesimus? • How does he describe Onesimus’s relationship—and potentially renewed relationship—with Philemon? • What social or other barriers was Paul asking his friend Philemon to tear down? 5. What do you learn about God from this passage? 6. What do you learn about people? 7. Is there anyone with whom you need to seek reconciliation and welcome back into your life? If so, what is a first step you can take?

9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .” 10. As you seek reconciliation and/or implore others to be reconciled with God this week, what challenges might you face? For Next Week: Over the next week, read and reflect on Matthew 1:1-17 as we begin a new unit based in Matthew with the theme, “Fulfilled.” You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.

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WEEK OF November 29

8. The greatest reconciliation, of course, is between God and people who have moved away from him. “And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation . . . as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20). Whom will you implore on Christ’s behalf to “be reconciled to God”?

Interact Ask! . . . Loren Roberts Since this spring I have been praying that God would provide young people to become preaching/teaching pastors, that Christian colleges would teach God’s Word and not denominational dogma, and for those who are already teaching pastors within his church [“Ask the Lord . . . to Send Workers!” by Michael C. Mack, p. 6, August 2020]. Stephen Parker What a great idea! While you’re praying, please include Australian Restoration Movement colleges: the Australian College of Ministries and Stirling Theological College.

Future for Our Colleges? . . . Ted Booth Great article [“Is There a Future for Our Colleges? (and Is There Even a Need?)” by Matt Proctor, p. 50, August 2020]. I appreciate your words greatly. I pastor a small church now as well as work full-time, so I think my ministry training has been invaluable. No minister should ever fear scholarship. D. Clay Perkins, Ph.D. Indeed. Our colleges matter. Thanks for an insightful, honest conversation about faith-based higher education. I am a graduate of two of our colleges. I love our colleges. I served at Mid-Atlantic Christian University for 12 years. May we all keep sending students and dollars. Thanks, Matt. Keep serving. Al Edmonds Why is it that “Bible colleges” sell out to the world to offer liberal arts education to attract more students, hire professors who do not have an affinity with the Restoration Movement, take on worldly activities like highly competitive sports departments, eventually relegate their biblical education to a minimal degree, and moreover emphasize liberal arts over preaching? Soon they hire administrators from non-Restoration backgrounds, as well as appoint board members who have no understanding of Restoration principles. [They are] just like many of the church-planting and now ever-growing ministerenrichment organizations that do not consider baptism essential for salvation. Pretty soon it is difficult to distinguish the socalled Christian school from the secular school except for the token ambiguous faith statement. Jaime Castro Brother Matt Proctor, thanks for such a great article; it was very encouraging for me. I am serving in my second term as president of Universidad Cristiana de México located in Querétaro City, Mexico. It’s good to know that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, these three reasons for the existence of Christian colleges remain as valid reasons for our mission. Dr. Darel Pruett Thank you, Matt Proctor, for this article about the future, and need, of Christian colleges. We are all blessed to have workers like you at the helm. Mark Campbell Great article! Unfortunately, I have heard the same comment about our church camps. The sad part is that it was coming from a leader from one of the Christian colleges that recently closed. Do they not realize it is the Christian camps that are raising up the church leaders of tomorrow? Most of the Bible college students are attending as a direct result of the Christian camps and CIY [conferences and events]. As a church, a college, and camp, we have to keep our main purpose “the main” purpose of leading others into a life-altering relationship with Jesus Christ! Church, are you raising up and encouraging young people to go into ministry? Parents, are you teaching your kids to be more ministry- [and] mission-minded, or to be more of the world?

Jerry Ryder A “delivery system” for the Word of God [“10 Foundation Stones of the Church—No. 4: Preach the Word,” by Jerry Harris, p. 2, August 2020]! Thank you for stressing the necessity for biblical preaching and delivery of the Scriptures. I don’t think the need has ever been greater for the Word to be powerfully presented.

Missionary Correspondence . . . John Allcott “Sharon’s Vision” touched my heart [MinistryLife, by Daniel Schantz, p. 14, August 2020]. Especially the part about corresponding with missionaries. I send out over 100 email reports about our SE Asian mission 6 times per year (only to people who ask for it). I normally get one or two replies. I treasure those replies! And I wonder if the rest of the people even opened the email. I know, we all get too many emails. But I just wanted to say that missionaries really do appreciate contact from “back home.” Those folks are doing important ministry, whether they know it or not.

Pronoun Problem . . . Loretta Park I am again reading the Christian Standard after a hiatus of a few years. . . . [You have been] following a trend of treating the Lord’s name casually and declining to capitalize all references to Him. . . . Trend or no trend, I wonder how God feels about this diminishment of His name. . . . Some day we will all fall at the feet of Jesus (Philippians 2:10). When we treat His name with the utmost reverence, are we in some way falling at His feet now? Perhaps if someone could explain the reasoning behind the trend, it would not distress me so. Can you? Would you?

1 reply From the Editor: Thank you for your letter, Loretta. For many years, we have followed the widely used style of lowercasing deity pronouns (e.g., he, him, his, me, you). We base this on many factors, but here are three significant reasons: (1) For consistency, we align our style with our preferred Bible version, the New International Version. (2) No biblical precedent exists for capitalization. William Tyndale, who translated one of the earliest English Bibles, did not consistently capitalize God, much less personal pronouns referring to him. (Until about the 11th century, the English language did not have a distinction between uppercase and lowercase, and for the next several centuries, until the invention of the printing press, capitalization was rather haphazard. By the way, the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611, also lowercases deity pronouns.) Both the Hebrew and Greek languages did not differentiate between uppercase and lowercase as the English language now does, so if we are to “speak where the Bible speaks,” the original Scriptures are silent. (3) I think the most crucial reason is this: It’s far more important to show reverence and honor to God through our lives than our capitalization. “After all,” one editor points out, “we capitalize God and Satan, yet only one deserves our honor.” I want to assure you that we would never deliberately diminish or disrespect God’s name. Thanks again for your question.

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