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ISSUE 004 FEBRUARY 2012
FOCUSING OUR VISION
We are a family of churches together on mission, and over the last few years our various teams have explored five shared goals. This series of articles by Steve Thomas and Marc Walther explores those goals. Goal 4 – church-planting – was the subject of our October 2011 magazine and is not covered again here!
There was one of those ‘flash of illumination’ moments in our Salt & Light International Team meeting in Zimbabwe in June 2011. Every leadership team experiences moments like this. In the midst of a conversation, suddenly someone says something which encapsulates what God is saying, and which carries weight beyond the moment. It’s a ‘that’s right!’-type moment. Actually, individual Christians have those moments too – a moment of incredible clarification when we know God is speaking. We were discussing our International Leaders’ Conference programme for February 2012. In the midst of general discussion on possible themes, someone remarked: “The trouble is, there’s no clear voice anywhere!” So was born the theme of our conference – out of a revelatory moment in the midst of a general discussion.
As I reflected on this, it was also clear to me that, if we don’t know what we think, we won’t have anything to say. The apostle Paul was able to say, “We have the mind of Christ.” That’s quite a bold statement! There are right and wrong ways of thinking, and right and wrong ways of behaving and speaking that flow out of this. Equally, Jesus said, “When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light.” That means, if our vision is clear, we will have clear direction, clear passion, and clear goals – we will know what our life is about!
A shared vision
Over the last few years, within the Salt & Light family we have sought to clarify our vision more and more. For many years, we knew that God had drawn us together as a family of leaders and churches, across nations. This family focused around the fatherhood of a number of leaders around whom God had developed spheres of apostolic influence. We felt the richness of family, and for many years we happily saw our calling to be “Equipping the church, Extending the Kingdom, Blessing the nations”. This still covers, in the most general sense, our calling. After some time, we felt the need to define our vision a bit more clearly than this, however. We started to talk about ourselves as being “a family on mission”. We wanted to
IN THIS ISSUE
Published by Salt & Light Ministries an international family of churches together on mission Editorial team Steve Thomas (UK), John Isaacs (USA/Canada), Stanley Mehta (India), Ngwiza Mnkandla (Africa) Editor Andy O’Connell andyo@saltlight.org international@saltlight.org www.saltlight.org +44 (0)1865 297440
focusing our vision 1 Developing apostolic bases 3 Raising teams of Ephesians 4 ministries 4 Raising up indigenous leaders 5 The task of the apostolic team 10
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finding our voice: A clear gospel 12 Fresh approaches 15 Multi-cultures 18 Show-and-tell 20 Acts of love 22
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5 SHARED GOALS 1. Developing apostolic churches and bases 2. Raising teams of Ephesians 4 ministries 3. Training leaders 4. Church-planting 5. Transforming society underline that we were not just called to be a family, but to be a family centred in God’s mission in the world. We wanted not only to be enjoying God’s goodness together as his family, but also to be about the Father’s business in the world. God is on a mission in the world, to make known his love and grace and forgiveness to the nations: we are about the same mission. God’s instrument to take his love to the nations is the church; and we need to be centred on being the sort of churches that will bring God’s love to nations. Nothing else will do. God’s mission cannot be accomplished outside the church; the local church is the centre of God’s mission locally, and missionary churches are the agent of God’s mission in his world. This starts to define even more clearly what sort of churches we are constrained to be (not just what sort of churches we want to be – but what sort of churches we must be to fulfil God’s mandate for us!). We must be missional churches, about the Father’s business in the world, making the love of God known in the nations.
We still want to be a family of leaders and churches; that gives us security and identity. We know where we fit and where we belong. But we want to have a clear focus on being missional churches to serve our God who is also on a mission in his world.
Five shared goals
The more we have talked and prayed about this in various contexts and various teams (and, of course, we have a whole variety of teams seeking to take responsibility for the field God has assigned to them), we have crystallised five goals on which we believe God wants us to focus: 1. Developing apostolic churches and bases This defines the sort of churches we want to be in every region where God calls us to build – outward-looking, evangelistic and missionary churches. 2. Raising teams of Ephesians 4 ministries We are persuaded, biblically, that apostolic churches are developed by fivefold ministry, and for the church to become all that God wants it to be, we need fivefold ministry operating in and out of those churches. 3. Training leaders We must be intentional about training and developing leaders at every level, if we are to grow into our full maturity as missional churches. Jesus trained up twelve disciples in order to send them out. Discipleship precedes and prepares for apostleship.
4. Church-planting We are convinced that church-planting is the effective means of advancing the Kingdom of God in every nation. The shape of churches may vary depending on local circumstances, but developing communities of God’s people to strengthen one another and stand for Christ to bear witness for Christ and impact society around them is an essential strategy for this.
5. Transforming society We believe that God’s ultimate desire is to change the world around us by the transforming presence of Christ working in and through his people. We are committed to seeing God’s world change as his people are salt and light wherever they are, and shine like lights in a world shrouded in darkness. We believe that this is to be the focus of the Salt & Light family!
focusing our vision
DEVELOPING APOSTOLIC BASES
still a valid ministry of the church today (for me, that is a given biblically!) there is still much debate about how the ministry is exercised. There are many people who are reluctant to use the term apostle at all, thinking it to be a mark of arrogance and presumption; on the other hand, there others who are so convinced that all should be ‘missionary’ or ‘apostolic’ that they lump everyone who has a heart for mission under that title.
And in a world where a lot of churches have really become very static and concerned with the management of their own ministry and resources, and also over-focused on a parochial vision, this phrase describes what we really believe, both biblically and experientially, the best churches should be aiming at!
I do not have space to examine this ministry in depth, but highly recommend two books: Apostles Today, by Barney Coombs (1996), and Fathering Leaders, Motivating Mission, by David Devenish (2011). Barney’s book has been well known within the Salt & Light family for a number of years now, and is still a very good foundation, while David Devenish’s book, published recently, is an excellent further study which helps to clarify some of the more recent questions about this ministry, and I highly commend them both.
Although the phrase ‘apostolic base’ is not clearly used in the New Testament, it describes very well what some of the leading churches in the New Testament actually were.
Examples of apostolic bases – strong, healthy churches which are focused on mission, and sending out ministries into virgin territory – are clearly to be seen in churches such as Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus and Galatia. They are centres of influence, teaching, training and mission. According to the New Testament, what happens in these centres of influences depends on the quality of the leadership based there and working out of these centres. Through experience, we recognise this to be true in settings which have manifestly become apostolic centres. The best apostolic bases are built through leaders who are fathers, training up spiritual sons, where the focus is on mission, development and outreach. In other words, apostolic centres are built around apostles. There has been much renewal of interest in the ministry of apostles in the last 20-30 years. Assuming they are
Apostolic bases are built around the activity and ministry of apostles. We cannot decide that a particular church will be an apostolic centre. God decides that, on the basis of the ministry of the ones called to lead it. Here are some of the scenarios I see happening at the moment, and suggest that they should cause us to think and reflect: In several settings, I see people with clear apostolic gifting come into leadership. These are gatherers, builders, trainers of others, people constantly looking to develop their situations beyond their borders, and people who are irresistibly drawn to motivate mission locally and beyond. Churches led by such people, with the appropriate gift and calling from God, inevitably become apostolic
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centres. This happens because of the gifting of the leader, whatever the denomination of the church! In some settings, I see churches wanting to be influential and apostolic bases, but they are ignoring the proper shaping and training of spiritual sons and daughters. This is a tragedy. So much more could flow from such a church, but everything is trapped to the self-centred ministry of the leader, who is ignoring the priority of producing sons and successors. This training of Timothys must be done intentionally. In other settings, I see pastors and teachers leading churches, having a good vision for being influential and outwardly motivated, setting themselves up to be such churches, but failing to be, precisely because they don’t have the necessary gifting in the local leadership to build and release what they have vision for! In yet other settings, I see men and women leading churches knowing very well that they don’t have all it
takes to develop what they have vision for, but inviting others in to do what they know they can’t do. I think of one man who is a mixture of the pastor and the evangelist. He loves people, whether they are Christians or non‑Christians. But he knows he is not the best builder, and receives apostolic input regularly. He knows he is not the best teacher, and invites teachers of the word in regularly. He knows he needs input from prophets, and invites them in regularly. All of this is a way of saying that apostolic bases are built by apostles. If there are not apostles resident in such bases, they need to be invited in regularly. How do we know whether leadership is apostolic? If such churches are growing, looking outwards, built together strongly – that tells its own story. If they are static, not growing, that also tells you that they need input from others with the right gifting!
focusing our vision
RAISING TEAMS OF EPHESIANS 4 MINISTRIES
Ephesians 4 is very clear. The church is one, united in belief, heart and spirit, but many in the expression of God’s grace on individuals. When Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave five different ministries to the church, to equip all of God’s people for their gift and ministry in Christ.
Strong and healthy churches need access to all of these giftings and ministries to rise up into all God calls them to be. There are structural, visionary and developmentally gifted people who need equipping by apostles, and people with insight who need equipping by prophets. There are outward looking people who need to be equipped by evangelists, and carers who need to be equipped by pastors. There are people in need of understanding who need to be equipped by teachers of God’s word. Larger healthy churches have a mix of all of these giftings. If churches are limited to one or two of these ministries, they are going to be filled with frustrated and
undeveloped people! This is why we see it as a goal that we develop teams of Ephesians 4 ministries – so that all of God’s people can be equipped properly and become who God destines them to be. So it is a priority to develop Ephesians 4 ministries, and to have a clear strategy for this process – it is essential to the development of the church! So we suggest that all church leaders need to ask themselves if they have such a strategy in place. If not, it should be no surprise that we are seeing lop-sided churches develop, which are strong in one or two things, but weak in several others. This is the fruit of lop-sided strategy and training! And if all the five ministries are not represented in our churches, we must have a strategy of training to receive others who are going to help us build (not just change the direction of the church by a different vision). This I yet another example of where we can help and strengthen one another within the family of God.
Steve Thomas leads the Salt & Light International team and travels widely, teaching, coaching leaders and helping teams clarify vision and strategy www.saltlight.org
focusing our vision
Lever des responsables Raising up indigenous leaders autochtones Au cœur d’un christianisme apostolique il y a la passion d’être une Eglise déterminée à remplir la mission donnée par Jésus « de faire de toutes les nations des disciples ».
Dans la famille Salt & Light, nous le faisons par l’implantation de nouvelles églises, par la formation et la libération de responsables ayant une vision large et des capacités éprouvées et en amenant le ministère de chacun dans une position de liberté et d’efficacité. La formation de leaders autochtones ayant une vision large et des capacités éprouvées est l’une des priorités de l’équipe apostolique internationale. Il est vrai que lorsque nous observons la vie de l’Eglise dans le livre des Actes, nous sommes immédiatement frappés par la présence de leaders. Nous pourrions bien sûr citer les 12 apôtres de Jésus, l’apôtre Paul, mais aussi Timothée, Tite, les anciens établis par les apôtres dans chaque nouvelle église implantée, etc. Contrairement à ce que l’on peut voir dans les églises traditionnelles où le pasteur occupe encore une place centrale, ces leaders ne se substituent pas au ministère du Corps mais ils le rendent possible. Il y a quelques temps j’avais une conversation avec un ami impliqué dans le démarrage d’un réseau d’implantation d’églises de maison. Je lui posais quelques questions sur le développement de son réseau. Il m’a expliqué que pour l’instant le réseau fonctionnait plutôt comme un mouvement de discipulat (formation de disciples) que comme un mouvement d’implantation d’églises. Cet ami était conscient qu’implanter de nouvelles églises commençait par la formation de leaders capables de s’en occuper ! Etablir une relation solide avec eux, bien communiquer la vision et transmettre l’ADN familial étaient essentiels pour le succès de la mission. Il me disait : « Le fait que ce cheminement de discipulat prenne du temps (1 à 3 ans selon les personnes), mais progresse réellement est très prometteur d’une belle moisson, période vers laquelle nous nous étirons avec détermination ». Je dois avouer qu’il a raison, c’est aussi mon expérience : chaque étape de croissance dans l’Eglise passe par la reconnaissance, la formation et l’envoi de nouveaux leaders ou l’équipement de leaders déjà formés vers une sphère de responsabilité plus grande. Si nous n’accordons pas assez d’importance à cela nous allons au devant de sérieux problèmes et risquons de perdre ce que nous avons gagné.
At the heart of apostolic Christianity there is a passion to be a church which is determined to fulfil the mission Jesus gave us to ‘make disciples of all nations’.
In the Salt & Light family, we do this by planting new churches, by training and releasing leaders who have a wide vision and tried and tested abilities and by giving freedom and effectiveness to every member ministry. Training indigenous leaders who have a wide vision and tried and tested abilities is one of priorities of the international apostolic team. Indeed, when we look at the life of the church in the book of Acts, we are immediately struck by the presence of the leaders. We can, of course, list Jesus’ twelve apostles and the apostle Paul, but also Timothy, Titus, the elders installed by the apostles in every new church they planted and so on. As opposed to what we see in traditional churches where the pastor still has a central role, these leaders do not take the place of body ministry, but they enable it. Some time ago, I had a conversation with a friend who is involved in starting a home church-planting network. I asked him about the development of his network. He explained to me that, for the moment, the network was working more as a discipleship movement than as a church-planting movement. This friend was aware that planting new churches begins with training leaders who would be able to look after them! For the mission to succeed, it is essential to establish a strong relationship with them, to communicate the vision well and to transfer the family DNA. He said to me: “The fact that the course of discipleship takes time (1 to 3 years depending on the person) but does progress promises for a good harvest, a time towards which we are reaching with determination.” I must admit that he is right, as this is also my experience: every stage of growth in the church goes through recognising, training and sending new leaders or equipping already‑trained leaders to a greater sphere of responsibility. If we don’t recognise the importance of this, we will be running into serious problems and we risk losing what we have gained.
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L’Evangile de Marc au chapitre 3 (versets 14 et 15) nous donne un exemple intéressant de la manière dont Jésus prépare de futurs leaders. Il nous est dit que Jésus a choisi ses disciples pour les avoir avec lui et pour les envoyer prêcher avec le pouvoir de chasser les démons. Plusieurs choses m’interpellent dans ces deux versets qui peuvent constituer un modèle de formation pour nous.
Mark’s Gospel, chapter 3 (verses 14 & 15) gives an interesting example of the way in which Jesus prepared future leaders. It says that Jesus chose his disciples to be with him and to send them to preach with the authority to cast out demons. Several things in these two verses catch my attention and can be seen as a training model for us.
Jésus a choisi ! Il ne l’a pas fait légèrement, mais dans la prière devant son Père nous dit la Parole. Humainement il a pris seul la responsabilité de ce choix. Nous le savons, Jésus a « discipliné » des hommes sortis de la multitude, il les a pris pour les avoir avec lui. Jésus a prêché aux multitudes (aux foules), mais il n’a pas cherché à les entraîner, il a par contre passé beaucoup de temps avec les 12. Ce choix n’est pas facile, mais il nous appartient, nous devons le faire dans une mentalité de père-fils si nous voulons voir le Royaume s’étendre.
Jesus chose! He did not do this lightly, but in prayer before his father, the Bible tells us. Humanly speaking, he took sole responsibility for this choice. We know that Jesus ‘disciplined’ men taken from the multitudes and took them to be with him. Jesus preached to the multitudes, but he did not try to train them; on the other hand, he spent a lot of time with the 12. This is not an easy choice, but it is one we must make, in a father-son mentality, if we want to see the kingdom expand.
Jésus n’appelle pas un numéro 2, mais une équipe ! La préparation de nouveaux leaders est en lien avec la formation d’équipes, la capacité de fonctionner en équipe, dans une équipe. Tout ce qui se passe dans le Royaume, même la plus petite devrait l’être dans un contexte d’équipe, c’est un principe biblique. Jésus choisi le travail en équipe pour le bien de son peuple. Moïse était devenu tellement désespéré de porter seul la responsabilité du peuple de Dieu qu’il demanda à Dieu de prendre sa vie si cela devait continuer ainsi. Dans une formation de disciples en équipe il y a l’avantage d’une double interaction dans les relations au sein de l’équipe : avec le père de l’équipe d’une part et les membres de l’équipe d’autre part. Peut-être est-ce l’occasion de nous poser la question que nous soyons leader en formation ou déjà reconnu : « Suis-je un team player ? Est-ce que je pense équipe, est-ce que je travaille équipe ? »
Jesus didn‘t call a number 2, but a team! Preparing new leaders is related to forming teams, the ability to work in a team, in a team. Everything that happens in the kingdom, down to the smallest event, should happen in the context of a team – this is a Biblical principle. Jesus chooses teamwork for the good of his people. Moses became so desperate from carrying the sole responsibility of God’s people that he asked God to take his life if he had to keep on in this way. In team discipleship training, there is the advantage of double interaction through the relationships within the team: with the father of the team of the one hand, and the members of the team on the other hand. This is a good chance to ask the question, whether we are leaders-in-training or already recognised: “Am I a team player? Do I think ‘team’; do I work ‘team’?”
Le texte de Marc nous révèle deux motivations dans le choix de Jésus : l’une est relationnelle, l’autre est fonctionnelle. Il y a dans le mentoring un but relationnel et un but fonctionnel, les deux vont de pair. Il voulait être avec eux et eux voulaient être avec lui. C’était dans les deux sens, mais c’est Jésus qui a pris l’initiative. Les disciples ne pouvaient pas initier cela, ils ne pouvaient qu’accepter ou refuser son choix, son appel ! Les disciples doivent vouloir être là dans cette relation, si ce n’est pas vraiment le cas, ça ne marche pas. La manière dont les disciples ont répondu a été de venir avec lui. Cela veut dire qu’ils ne sont pas venus pour voir et éventuellement repartir, non c’était un engagement à long terme pour lequel ils ont laissé tout derrière pour être avec Lui. Nous devons travailler avec des gens qui sont « pour nous », ce qui veut dire :
The text in Mark reveals two reasons for Jesus’ choice: one is relational, the other is functional. Mentoring has a relational aim and a functional aim; the two go together. He wanted to be with them and they wanted to be with him. It worked both ways, but Jesus was the one to take the initiative. The disciples couldn’t initiate, they could only accept or refuse his choice, his call! Disciples need to want to be in this relationship; otherwise, it just doesn’t work. The disciples responded by wanting to go with him. This means that they did not come to see and maybe leave again; rather, it was a long-term commitment for which they left everything behind, in order to be with him. We need to work with people who are
‘for us’, which means ‘I can build with them.’ It is therefore up to us senior leaders to take the initiative of giving invitations.
« je peux construire avec eux ». C’est donc à nous les leaders seniors de prendre l’initiative d’inviter.
Jesus’ prime motivation was not the function, the need to make them do something, but it was relationship, to pour his life into theirs. When we look at how Jesus spent time with his 12 disciples, we see that it tended to be in a relaxed context. There is no sign of Jesus speaking to them session after session in a formal manner. They often just sat down together, spending relational time together; we can see how close they were with John laying his head on Jesus’ chest. He knew how important it is to be together. He knew how important it was for the disciples to see how he lived and to be able to grasp his character, not just to know what he said he was. Let’s think about how we train. How much is only transmitted by what you say? How often do those whom you are training have the opportunity to come close to you and see who you really are? If we do not allow room for this, we will never ‘produce’ good sons who will become good fathers and, in turn, ‘produce’ good sons. We need to recognise the importance of such moments if we want to ‘father’ successfully. Writing this made me realise that I still have a long way to go in this area.
Jésus n’était pas principalement motivé par la fonction, par le besoin de leur faire faire quelque chose, mais il était d’abord motivé par la relation, c’était pour déverser sa vie dans la leur. Quand on regarde comment Jésus passait du temps avec ses 12 disciples on voit que c’était souvent dans un environnement détendu. Nous ne voyons pas Jésus leur parler session après session de manière formelle. Souvent il était simplement assis ensemble en passant du temps relationnel ensemble et nous avons l’indication d’un véritable proximité au point que Jean posa sa tête sur la poitrine de Jésus. Il connaissait la valeur de simplement être ensemble. Il connaissait la valeur pour ses disciples de simplement voir sa manière de vivre et de pouvoir saisir vraiment sa manière d’être et pas seulement savoir ce qu’il disait qu’il était. Pensons à la manière dont nous formons. Combien de choses sont données uniquement au travers de ce que vous dites ? Combien de fois ceux que vous formez ont-ils la possibilité de venir prêts de vous et peuvent-ils vraiment voir qui vous êtes ? Si nous ne permettons pas cela, nous n’allons jamais « produire » de bons fils qui deviendront de bons pères qui à leur tour « produiront » de bons fils. Nous devons voir la valeur de tels moments si nous voulons « paterner » avec succès. Ecrire ces quelques lignes me permet de réaliser que j’ai encore du chemin à faire dans ce domaine.
But there is also a functional dimension, an apostolic dimension in the training of new leaders. Even a team of elders needs to be apostolic in the sense that it becomes consciously involved in the aim of making disciples of all nations. There is no room in a team for a pastor who does not have this apostolic vision. Biblical mentoring must have a functional aspect. We train through a relationship with a functional aim. When Jesus calls his disciples to remain with him, he calls them with a purpose: to become fishers of men. He also called them apostles before they showed signs of their apostolate. We train young leaders because we understand that God is a father who has a destiny for their lives. He loves them and fulfils their needs, but his motivation is not their needs, but the desire for them to resemble Christ and become effective in his kingdom. Our fatherhood aims to lead every member ministry into a position of freedom and effectiveness. Jesus’ way was to be and do with them. The life of Jesus’ disciples was an open-air laboratory where error was permitted. I believe that Jesus’ aim was not only to make them into good ‘anointed ministries’, but to develop in them the ability to be fathers to others, with all that that entails. Billy Graham was asked the question: “If you had to start your ministry over again, would you do it in the same way?”His answer was “No! I would do like Jesus; I would look for 12 men and spend time with them, hoping that each one will become who I am and that each one will then find 12 men and do the same.” “Go and make disciples of all nations…” Jesus’ statement resonates as a call to do as he did. To devote at least part of our time and energy to becoming involved in what Christ did: train indigenous leaders able to give a future to what we have started. Marc and Sara Walther are church-planting in Switzerland, and are help lead the Destinee family of churches in French-speaking Europe www.saltlight.org/destinee
Mais il y a aussi une dimension fonctionnelle, apostolique à la formation de nouveaux leaders. Même une équipe d’anciens se doit d’être apostolique dans le sens où elle s’implique consciemment dans le but de faire de toutes les nations des disciples. Il n’y aura pas de place dans une équipe pour un pasteur qui n’aurait pas cette vision apostolique. Le mentoring biblique a forcément un aspect fonctionnel. Nous formons au travers d’une relation dans un but fonctionnel. Quand Jésus appelle ses disciples à demeurer avec lui, il les appelle dans un but : devenir des pêcheurs d’hommes. Il les nomme aussi apôtres avant même qu’ils fassent la preuve de leur apostolat. Si nous formons des jeunes leaders c’est parce que nous comprenons que Dieu est un Père qui a une destinée pour leur vie. Il les aime et comble leurs besoins, mais il n’est pas motivé par leurs besoins, mais par le désir qu’ils ressemblent à Christ et qu’ils deviennent effectifs dans son Royaume. Notre paternité vise à conduire le ministère de chacun dans une position de liberté et d’efficacité. La méthode de Jésus pour y parvenir était d’être et de faire avec eux. La vie des disciples de Jésus était un laboratoire à ciel ouvert ou l’erreur était permise. Je crois que le but de Jésus n’était pas seulement de faire d’eux de bons « ministères oints » mais de développer en eux la capacité d’être pères pour d’autres avec tout ce que cela peut inclure. Billy Graham à la question : « si vous pouviez recommencer votre ministère, le feriez-vous de la même manière ? » Sa réponse fut non ! : « Je ferais comme Jésus, je chercherais 12 hommes et je prendrai du temps avec eux en espérant que chacun deviendra qui je suis et qu’ensuite chacun d’eux trouve aussi 12 hommes et fasse de même ». « Allez et faites de toutes les nations des disciples… ». Cette phrase de Jésus résonne comme un appel à faire ce qu’il a fait. A consacrer une partie au moins de notre temps et de notre énergie à nous impliquer dans ce que le Christ a fait : former des leaders autochtones capables de donner un avenir à ce que nous avons commencé.
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d nesta mum for derby, ukd www.salt UK team light.org/u k steve an d lorrai ne tho internati oxfordshiremas , uk onal team www.salt leader light.org dave and chris ric hards basi internatingstoke, uk www.salt onal team light.org/n ordic
ron and mar Winnipeyg maclean , canada north ame www.saltrican team light.org/n a John and san jose leighton isaac , califor s nia, usa north ame r www.salt ican team light.org/n a barne y a n d vancouv janette er, canada north ame r www.salt ican team light.org/n a
serving the salt & Light international family
jim and daw n swihar ka foundati lida, ohio, usat ons www.salt ministries light.org/n a doug an d denise k pittsbur rEIghbaum g, kansas coast to , usa coast www.eccle sia413.com
Showing the members of the new international team, serving the Salt & Light International family of churches
Mats and monic Västeråsa nordÉn , sweden www.salt nordic team light.org/n ordic buck and patricia hudson Sweden www.salt Nordic team light.org/n ordic marc an Lausannd sara walther e, switze rlan www.salt DestineÉ teamd light.org/d estinee jean and agnè marseills pillonel e, f r a n c www.salt DestineÉ teame light.org/d estinee
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stanle y
and esme mehta ministries mumbai, india internati www.gm onal i.org.in
Titus an d doreen o delivera Kampala, ug undo anda nce chur c www.dcuh uganda ganda.org JB and p Umoja, nersia Masinde ai delivera nce churrobi, kenya c www.dcuh umoja moja.org
Ngwiza a
nd Maur een Harare, Mnkandla zimbabwe fait www.fait h ministries h-ministrie s.net
fraser hamiltonand dale hardy , New Zea land www.link LINKNZ nz.org.nz
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focusing our vision
THE TASK OF THE APOSTOLIC TEAM
In this article Ngwiza Mnkandla, leader of the S&L Africa team, looks at the role of the apostolic team – extension, laying foundations, leadership training and appointment, problemsolving, promoting unity and imparting the supernatural.
To the African mind, the metaphor of the Apostle as a father clarifies the role and function of the apostolic function. In the traditional African family, the role of the father was indispensable in shaping the lives and destiny of every member of the family. In this article, we will use this metaphor to underscore the six functions of the apostolic role that we hold onto as a family of churches: extension, laying foundations, leadership training and appointment, problem solving, promoting unity and imparting the supernatural. My father died at a ripe old age of 102. The greatest asset he left me for my inheritance was my identity. The defining moment came when I, a boy from the village, became the first in his family to cross over to secondary school and pass his form two. The rest of the family immediately saw me as their ticket out of poverty and wanted me to find a job in some factory somewhere. My father put his foot down and insisted I was to be left alone to pursue my education as far as I wanted to go. That’s how I made it through to university level. He had an incredible faith in me and believed there was nothing I could not do if I set my mind to it. I was the pride of his life.
Later, he would be sitting with his colleagues in the village when a plane would fly over and he would be heard to say, “My boy is in there on his way to preach to the English people”. He believed the only reason I did not have my own plane was that I had not quite figured out where to park it! You can imagine what that did to my confidence! In the African culture, you are not a man until you have produced sons! Wealth is partly defined by a houseful of sons and a kraal full of cattle! Your children provide labour but it’s your sons specifically who extend the family name. Training of his sons starts as soon as they are able to handle the lowest level of responsibility which may be shooing away chickens from corn spread to dry on the ground, to looking after sheep and goats and eventually, to the family herd. He must have enough cattle to help his sons pay for their wives. Through his relationship with the headman or the chief himself, he will ensure his sons have land in the village and will mobilize resources to help them build their own homes. His job is not done until he has helped each one to set up his own home. The pride of every African father is to see each of his sons established as part of the communal life of the village. Once this process has been accomplished, he begins to pull back slowly, allowing his sons to make family decisions and to represent him in some of the communal activities. There comes a time when he speaks through his sons. So far, this function corresponds with the first three of our beliefs about the apostolic task. Scripture is very clear that the local church is built on the foundations of
the apostles and prophets. Apostles are men who have planted themselves and understand the joys and pains of birthing a local church. They understand the responsibility of nurturing the new baby, feeding it first with milk, then with solid food, then with meat. No father kills his own sons but he grows them. As a movement, not only are we committed to planting new churches, but we are committed to laying biblical foundations that will enable the ongoing multiplication of these churches. This involves identifying, training and releasing of sons who will continue this tradition. We are committed to teaching these things to faithful men who will in turn teach them to others. In line with the great commission, discipleship is one of our key values. We believe in imparting the vision of church multiplication to every generation. Not only did David leave the plans of the new temple to his son Solomon, but he gathered up incredible resources for the construction of the temple. It is our desire to ensure that our sons have all the necessary resources they will need to accomplish the task we are assigning to them. Those who serve apostolically among us are tasked with these responsibilities. The African father does not disappear once his sons are fully established in the community. Though now young fathers themselves, his sons still need help with problem solving in their new homes. Once the wedding is over, the marriage kicks in and all the fun begins! The father must be there to help his sons apply what he taught them. Not only do they face problems living with their wives and raising their children, but there sometimes disputes among them as brothers. The presence of the father provides a restraining influence that silences those disputes. (Watch what happens to the African National Congress in South Africa when Nelson Mandela dies). Often, he does not have to speak, the look on his face reminds the sons of the family values and brings them to line. Where he speaks, he does not command but admonishes and appeals. His sons are now almost equals and he treats them with respect. His authority is given and not taken. At this juncture, the African father assumes a mystical demeanor. The older he gets, the nearer to the gods he becomes and the more authority he carries. The sons voluntarily seek his wisdom on all sorts of things. They value spending time with him. There is almost a sense that he is about to go and the sons want to download as much as they can before he passes on. They bring their sons to him as well for any impartation he might have for them. Those who have carried themselves well earn a place of high standing not only among their own sons, but in the community at large. The time eventually comes when he is no longer able to look after himself and must depend on his sons. Roles almost get reversed where the
sons become the parents and the parents the children! Before passing on, the African father will bless his children and offspring, will share his deepest concerns with them and will leave last-minute instructions. He will warn his children of the dangers he sees ahead and may rebuke some of them for their character flaws, challenging them to change. He will give instructions about where he is to be buried and will often indicate which of his sons he is tasking with the responsibility to keep the family together. Enough parallels with the last three of our beliefs about the apostolic task! Apostles solve problems. Regrettably, while Jesus said that he would make us fishers of men, He said nothing about cleaning the fish! Or, to use as a different metaphor, while he talked about the sheep knowing the voice of the shepherd and following him, he said very little about how dirty and smelly they sometimes were! Sheep also fight among themselves and need the shepherd to separate them. Anointing their heads with oil was not only to keep the insects away, but it was to stop the rams from concussing each other when they fought! The oil caused them to slide off each other on impact and, eventually, they got frustrated and called it a day. Apostles apply the oil to individual churches. They promote unity by keeping the focus on Christ. When the church keeps the main thing the main thing, unity becomes a by-product. The supernatural will flow as confirmation of the apostolic order. When the oil is poured on the head, the body will have it too! Although my father encouraged me to go on with my faith, he was a private man! I was living in the US when I visited him in the village for the last time. As we shook hands to say goodbye, it was clear to both him and me that this was the last time we would see each other. He held my hand and would not let go. Tears started flowing down his face. He had said very little during the visit as he hardly spoke in those days. As he held onto my hand, he whispered: “Son, help me prepare my way.” I had the privilege of leading him in the sinner’s prayer after which I prayed: “Now Lord receive your servant.” Two months later, he stepped into the presence of the Lord!
Ngwiza Mnkandla is based in Zimbabwe leads the newly formed S&L Africa team. He has an passion to plant churches that impact society, and spent some years leading the global DAWN movement.
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finding our voice
A CLEAR GOSPEL
In this article, Steve looks again the Gospel – an age-old truth, and yet also a subject of much ongoing debate in the church of today.
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16) “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life.” (1 Timothy 1:8-9a) I can’t help but wonder today whether some Christians are actually ashamed of the gospel, or of certain aspects of its glorious message. For the apostle Paul, meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus was the most wonderful thing that happened to him. It broke the curse of legalistic religion that had bound him since birth, and projected him into a relationship of forgiveness, freedom and faith with God. The more I travel in other nations, and see the legalistic bondage of religion, whether that religion is Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism or animism, the more I understand the importance of this freedom that the gospel brings to those who know Jesus. What bondage people live in, obeying life-denying and never-ending rules! Or looking at the secular west, and seeing the lost-ness of people engaged in the empty pursuit of pleasure or materialism or self-centred achievement, one sees the freedom of finding a God who is a father, saviour, friend, helper and guide. What a relief to be delivered from the constant but illusory striving after happiness or significance, to discover in the end that it comes in finding the God who is a Father to us all.
A ‘foolish’ message
There is much about the gospel message, however, that baffles us, and challenges human reasoning. For example, why would God decide to sacrifice his own son for the sake of selfish and rebellious human beings? Why? We see some pretty remarkable love stories in our world of human relationships, but this divine love-story, which centres on the unrequited love of God who keeps coming after us, who remains constant and committed in his love, this divine love-story is matchless! And a God who forgives, again and again and again? In a background of many other much less forgiving religions, the God who came down and showed us such love in Christ is matchless! The love of God is absolutely incredible! Can we believe a God who loves like this? Those who come from other religions find this pretty hard to believe! Others, coming from other backgrounds, find the concept of judgement and hell just as hard to take. Can we really believe that choices made in this life affect our eternal destiny – for ever? Will God really hold us responsible for deeds and actions done in this life – even thoughts and attitudes? Is life on this planet really this important? I want to suggest that these are issues we need to be very clear about. The apostle Paul says, “if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8) Understanding these issues about God’s own nature, and about the importance of life in this world and the decision we make here, affect absolutely what we think about the gospel; so we need to think clearly, in order that what we may speak out clearly the gospel message.
A good news – bad news story!
Paul’s great opening statement of Romans, quoted above, outlines his overwhelming thesis, that the gospel is good news – wonderful news, even. But this great statement begins two chapters of unremitting bad news! The context in which the good news of the gospel comes is thoroughly bad news. It is just like one of those jokes: “Do you want the good news or the bad news?” The truth is that the good news is good news precisely because of the horrendous and dreadful context in which it comes. So, to put the situation as starkly as possibly, here is the ‘good and bad’ news as the Bible describes it: The good news: man was the pinnacle of God’s glorious creation, and put in a beautiful setting (Genesis 1). Man is made for fellowship and friendship with God, and given the joy of the marriage relationship as a blessing from God (Genesis 2). He has a destiny to be productive and fruitful (Genesis 2).
The bad news: after man’s sin, death comes in as a penal event because of man’s guilt of disobedience. God cannot permit sinful human beings to live eternally without redemption. The good news: this is that again, God has acted to redeem and reverse this “guilty” judgement, and the death penalty. He has done this through the cross of Christ, which is the centre of the Christian story, precisely because it is the grand reversal of our sin, its penalty, and our awful destiny. This pattern of good news – bad news – good news needs to come out as a clear trumpet-sound, as in one way or another we share the gospel.
The bad news: pursuing his own agenda, man gets himself into trouble, goes the wrong way, and makes a mess of life. He ignores his maker and his maker’s instructions (Genesis 3:2-5), pursues his own pleasure (Genesis 3:6‑7), loses fellowship and relationship with God (Genesis 3:8‑11), and as a punishment comes under the sentence of death (Genesis 3:19); he thus exposes himself and God’s creation to different curses (Genesis 3:14-24). The good news: the rest of the Bible story seeks to reverse this bad news outlined in Genesis chapter 3! The good news: God so wants people to know him and his love, that he makes covenant with his people to assure them of his love, and to give them the security of a love relationship with him. He makes covenant in this way with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and with his nation Israel. Eventually, he wants to have his covenant people in every nation. The bad news: men and women are so weak that they constantly fail to keep their side of the agreement in this relationship with God. They make efforts from time to time that are doomed to failure and unfaithfulness again and again. But good news again: God comes in Christ to start off a whole new covenant relationship, which depends entirely on his action, and depends absolutely not at all on human effort and behaviour. God offers a new relationship, based on his forgiveness through Christ, and on his help and power working in us by his Holy Spirit. Amazing! The good news: man was created “a living soul”, that is, an eternal being with an eternal destiny, made to relate to an eternal God.
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Contextualised packaging
The gospel needs to come in all sorts of different packaging that will be appropriate for each one of us in our different settings. We need to explain it, unwrap it and make it clear to the culture we are working in. We may share the gospel through courses, through film and drama, through testimony, or through preaching and teaching, through soundbyte hits or through longer explanation.
of God’s good creation, with great potential and a good destiny. 2. Our habitual human condition is to throw off the yoke of God our maker and ignore the maker’s instructions. The story of Adam and Eve describes every single one of us! In turning our back on God and his plans for our human lives, three tragic consequences follow: •
First, God is himself angry and offended at our turning away from him! (That may really shock some people – but why should it? When God had planned such good things for our lives, and we have chosen a much lesser option, that’s pretty insulting). But there’s something far bigger than personal offence. God’s holy, divine nature can have nothing to do with fallen, sinful and sullied humanity – and he is mad about that, because he wants a relationship with us! Sure he’s angry!
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Second, we find ourselves incredibly lost, purposeless, and isolated relationally. We are hungry for some sense of our value and worth, and look for this in work, family, achievement or pleasure, but ultimately, are lost. We are cut off from our destiny, since we have cut ourselves off from God. This is a truly dreadful state for us to be in, when, in our guts, as God made us, we know we are destined for better!
But we have an internal challenge as well. Are we really clear what we want to say? And do we really understand what Jesus himself and the Bible reveal about the gospel story? If we are unclear, we will not be heard amidst the clamour of many calls for people’s attention – rather, our voice will be muted, and our message extremely bland.
•
What are we clear about?
Third, because we are eternal beings, our rebelling against or ignoring of the God who made us has eternal consequences. We are facing eternal lostness, not just lostness in this world. We face hell, which is eternal separation from God, instead of what is our true destiny, life in the presence of God for ever.
This is all very bad news – actually, tragic for human beings. Which is worse? The sense of alienation from the God who made us, the sense of lostness in this world, and the eternal lostness from the presence of God are all equally devastating! We need to be clear about that!
Actually, we might need all of them; because the gospel is a multi-layered story, like the layers of an onion; and we have to keep unfolding and explaining its truth, layer after layer. I am therefore not arguing for a particular style of presentation. Rather, I am very strongly encouraging us to be crystal clear in what we believe, so that in whatever way we present it, the trumpet of our gospel message may sound clearly, and penetrate the hearts and souls of men. We have an external presentational challenge in our generation, given the increasing professionalism in our world of communication, and given the number of voices that are clamouring for our attention in our world.
To come back, then, to our good news – bad news – good news theme, I want to suggest that we need to be crystal clear about the following: 1. We start from a foundation that God is a God of love, who made us good, and made a good world. This God is for us, and wants us to know him. We are also part
3. This is where Christ coming and dying on the cross gains all its power, and reverses all the tragic consequences of sin! By coming, he shows that God is still for us, still loves us, and has never and will never abandon us. We can still be very clear about this. The Bible tells us that the cross tackles the tragedy of our condition on several levels. •
First, it removes the wrath of God (this is propitiation, a technical term which means that God who was angry, now is able to be favourably disposed to us again, because the guilt of our sin has been removed).
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Second, it liberates us by paying the price of our sin. By dying, Jesus ransoms us.
•
Third, the cross brings us close to God again, and allows us access into God’s presence.
•
Fourth, the cross overcomes all the evil powers who have usurped God’s kingship in the earth and in our lives. The cross is Christ’s victory over them.
•
And finally, the cross demonstrates God’s glory – the depth of his love, the extent of his grace, the humility of his self-giving, and the power of his Kingship.
We can be very clear, then, about the love of God for us, about the mess we are in, and about the great reversal achieved by the cross. 4. Finally, we need to be very clear about the hope we have for the future in the gospel. The Bible is clear that we used to have a future, we lost it through sin, and it has been recovered for us by Christ. We have an eternal hope, to live in his presence for ever! We could have been separated from him for ever (hell), but because of what Christ has done, if we open our lives to him and live with him here, we will be with him, in his presence, for eternity. When we die, we pass into his presence (heaven), and when he comes, we will live with him in the new creation, the new heavens and the new earth, where there will be nothing bad, evil or destructive! This is a big destiny, a big future, a fitting end to the big gospel story – and we can be very clear about this! To summarise, as the apostle Paul says: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16) Steve Thomas leads the Salt & Light International team and travels widely, teaching, coaching leaders and helping teams clarify vision and strategy www.saltlight.org
finding our voice
FINDING OUR VOICE: FRESH APPROACHES
David Macfarlane is the Director of National Initiatives for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada. His conviction is that God is at work impacting communities through creative churches, who are discovering new approaches to engaging with those around them and communicating the gospel.
“This is not your parents’ church”, say the cards that are handed out inviting people to services at Moncton Wesleyan Church. What is noteworthy is that the Lead
Pastor is not young (he is in his seventies) yet this fast growing and vibrant congregation attracts youth and young families because of the creative and relevant way they ‘do church’. In 2011 they built a new 2000-seat sanctuary – the largest evangelical church building in eastern Canada at a time when most congregations in this nation are declining or in ‘survival mode’ Attendees at Moncton Wesleyan are willing to embrace new ideas and ‘think outside the box’ and, in doing so, are having a huge community impact. New approaches to church that are true to the gospel and yet unique, and creative responses to the opportunities in changing communities, are winning the day across many nations.
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See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19) God is at work in our world in wonderfully and creative ways. In areas that seem like spiritual wildernesses the Lord is “doing a new thing” and those that perceive it are responding to the Holy Spirit and seeing “streams in the wasteland” bringing the light of the gospel and lasting transformation to people all around them! In Argentina, where I lived until in my mid-twenties, the impact of the gospel has been remarkable. When I was a boy only 1% of the population of Argentina was protestant (this included all the evangelicals) yet today it is reported that between 14% and 15% have become genuine bornagain followers of Christ! Evangelical churches that in my youth were small and struggling are now bursting at the seams with some having over 100,000 worshippers on a weekend and people are coming to Christ regularly in huge numbers. The nation is embracing the gospel thanks to the many churches that have become bold, authentic, relevant and creative in a difficult environment. Since moving to Canada as an executive with the American Express Corporation many years ago and then pastoring churches in this nation I have become very aware of the challenges to ministry in the west. But my exposure to creative churches in North America, some commonwealth countries and Europe have given me enormous hope for the local church! As I travel across Canada speaking at conferences and events on “Sparking Imagination: Finding Creative Church Solutions” I have become aware of God doing wonderful things through local congregations. Here are a few ideas from Canada many of them are not ‘new’, but to those involved they are creative responses that are working for God’s glory in their context. I record them here as an encouragement to all of us and give the praise to the Lord!
Community Idea
In Montreal you will find the largest French-speaking evangelical church in the western world. Claude Houde, the Senior Pastor, began this congregation in 1993 with only 40 individuals, yet, today, over 3,500 people attend ‘Nouvelle Vie’ on any given weekend in a Province known as “extremely difficult to reach” with the gospel. Through prayer, a heart for the lost and an understanding of his community Claude discovered that meeting the physical needs of people in creative ways opened the door for the good news in his area. Nouvelle Vie presently feeds and clothes over eight thousand families a month out of this one church. The last time I visited them, the Mayor of Montreal (not a believer), celebrities and many television crews were present to document and praise this evangelical church for “putting their faith into action”.
Personal Idea
In British Columbia (BC), where less than 5% attend church, a denominational leader told me about four successful church plants, each started by a hairdresser who owns a beauty salon. When I asked “How does she do it?” he told me that while she is cutting someone’s hair she says: “I will give you five dollars off your haircut if you come to my Bible study”. “Does it work?” I asked him. He answered by telling me that her latest church plant has sixty people in it after only a few months.
City Event Idea
For the last ten years a couple have booked a booth at Edmonton, Alberta’s ‘Klondike Days’ (a yearly megatourist attraction in that city) and hang a banner offering to pray for people. The booth, which is run by numerous participating churches working together, has led hundreds to faith in Christ each year. There is another group of churches that do the same at an annual Psychic Fair where they hang a bold sign that says: ‘Spiritual Readings’ – and they read Bible passages to them and present the claims of Christ.
Immigration Idea
When Bibles were no longer allowed to be distributed at the official swearing in ceremonies for new Canadians (the Gideons had done this for decades across the nation) a Filipino Pastor in Winnipeg asked the courts if his church could host the reception that is always held after the event. The courts said yes! Now his congregation provides the food, act as hosts and the Pastor gives a short speech to all the new Canadians: “I tell them that the Canadian national anthem says ‘God to keep our land glorious and free’ and then I talk about our need for God.” Many new contacts are made and some have come to his church.
Youth Idea
volunteering weekly to help them monitor their recesses so now, when we have an activity such as this, they willingly promote it for us to all the students”.
Sports Idea
Pastors in Rexdale, Ontario discussed how to respond to the changes in their community as immigrants, mostly from the Caribbean, move in. They came up with the idea of ‘Hoops’ a basketball tournament that attracts neighbourhood youth to practices each week (where relationships are built and the gospel given) plus tournaments on the weekends. In time, many of the youth and their families started attending church. Now these churches are growing and people are coming to Christ regularly.
An extremely traditional church in the small rural community of Leamington, Ontario, have a dynamic and fast growing youth ministry that is revolutionizing their congregation. When I asked how this came about the Pastor told me that it was because the church took a risk and built a large professional skate park on their property.
Understanding the times
Now many young people come to the weekly youth meetings with a Bible under one arm and a skate board under the other. In the summer they keep the skate park open every day and the local police have thanked the church because while the skate park is operating juvenile crime in the area has gone down.
The good news is that, like the men of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12:32), we can learn to understand our times and know what we must do.
Church Based Idea
In Surrey, BC, a church that usually had 200 attendees on a Sunday, ran a movie night with free admission, popcorn and drinks at the church to which 1,000 people from the community attended and over 100 children returned (with their parents) to the kids program at church the next week. When I asked what was their ‘secret’, Pastor Mike surprised me by answering: “Over two years we have intentionally build relationships with the schools in the area through
Former US President Dwight Eisenhower said: “Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him”. In our changing world being open to fresh ideas from God is mandatory for churches to succeed in their mission today.
This is a season of unprecedented opportunity when more people are coming to Christ around the world than ever before in history! God is at work. So, as we continue to effectively present the good news of the gospel, let us be open to what fresh and wonderful new ideas the Lord wants to give us so that we can have the greatest impact possible for Christ in our communities and world. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you. (Isaiah 42:9) David Arrol Macfarlane is the Director of National Initiatives for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada.
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finding our voice
FINDING OUR VOICE IN MULTI-CULTURES
Dale Hardy speaks honestLy of her journey in church-planting and how they came to ‘find a clear voice’ with New Zealand’s indigenous peoples. Fraser and Dale Hardy lead the LinkNZ family of churches.
Planting a church has been our challenge over the last 3 years. Part of that challenge has been to welcome in, encourage and involve our own indigenous people. Most NZ churches have been established by middleclass, white, European leaders (including ourselves), with a program that reflects our western culture. It wasn’t until we moved to plant a church in Hamilton that we realized the need to emphasise to Maori people how much God loves them and their culture. A group of 8 adults, 3 teenagers and 2 children came to Hamilton 3 years ago to plant a church. Our group included 1 Korean and the rest were pakeha (European!) We had met together for a year before the move, praying, talking and planning. We visited the city, prayed, fasted, and met with ministers, police and city council members. There were dreams, visions and prophetic words. We listened to great people talking on church planting, read books, took notes and asked questions. In other words – we were planned and ready! The idea was to come, move into the city, take 6 months and get to know the place, then start with step one of our plan, to focus on reaching out to the university students. Within one week of moving we held a barbecue, one of the guests so enjoyed themselves they asked where the barbecue would be held the following week! This was how it went every week for the rest of the summer and the people became the beginning of the church, as, we as a group invited friends, colleagues and neighbours to join us. We went after students but that’s not who God brought towards us (they came later). At that first barbecue two guys from our group brought 12 young people from their street, all were Maori. The guys saw the teens in their neighbourhood were getting into trouble so they started a youth group for them. They organised activities and got them to events. At one of these events some of them gave their lives to Christ. As their lives started to change, their parents got interested in what was happening, they even offered to help, they watched baptisms and heard what was being said. In
time, some of them also gave their lives to Christ and so as our church numbers started to increase so did our Maori population. This was all good news!
a clash of cultures
We wanted them to feel welcome and involved. We had so much to learn! Our first church camp, held at a great beach campsite, revealed how different we think culturally. We all arrived and set up our tents, there were planned activities and lots of fun for everyone. At the debrief after the camp one of our Maori women commented that she found it really strange to come to camp and prepare food for just her own family, then eat that food with just her own family. She assumed that we would prepare food together then eat together as a church family because that what Maori did when they got together, no matter how many people there were. It wasn’t a hard thing to adjust and so the following year we all pitched in to prepare food, cook and clean up, everyone was involved including the children. Like most churches we have midweek small groups. They would typically meet at 7:30 at night and finish around 9:00-9:30pm. The group we were running was primarily for new Christians who were all Maori people. We met in one of their homes and after a term, one of them asked if we could meet earlier with a pot luck tea so that the children could be there. Children and the elderly are always meant to be included in the way Maori live out their lives, everyone is welcome. We changed to the agreed time and quickly learnt how to adjust an evening with children wandering in and out. Our language (native tongue) is one of the biggest aspects of what makes us who we are. Since the 1970s there has been a struggle to get Maori language recognized, valued and reintroduced into New Zealand society. It’s very accepted now, but the church in general has been a lot slower to get ‘on board’. Using Maori language in songs, greetings and welcomes became a purposeful part of our worship culture. We often get comments, like “When I came in and got greeted from the front in Te Reo (Maori language) and heard a worship song in my language I knew that this was a place my children would be allowed and encouraged to grow up being Maori.” We started to have conversations with Maori leaders who helped us gain an understanding of their culture and the ‘God journey’ through their history. There was so much we and most of our Maori people hadn’t heard of. They told us of remarkable prophetic acts and stories of God at work through Maori up and down this land. Many of these things occurring before the first missionaries arrived. God was at work well before the big boats got here!
MurmUrings
All was progressing well, when we heard a few murmurings from some of our white churched people… “We are becoming a Maori church” (said in a way that it’s a bad thing!),”how do we know the songs we are singing aren’t bad words?” “Why can’t we just do what other churches do?” One comment brought up a very interesting conversation “Why can’t we stop talking about this stuff and just be ‘one’”. One person’s response to that comment was “Whose ‘one’? Do I need to look like you?”
unique to Maori e.g. in Maori ,a cry or wail calling for the presence of the Holy Spirit to come or a spontaneous haka in the middle of worship. We are learning how to be ‘one’, but different, we’ve tried to adhere to the idea of belong, believe, and behave. Belonging gives people grace, dignity and space to consider further this wonderful gospel we believe in. We are learning to be better listeners! In December 100 youth (including the original 12) had an end of year celebration meal. 90% were Maori or from island cultures. Looking into the faces of such beautiful people made the challenge of these last 3 years so worthwhile
Fortunately the murmurings got people talking, asking questions and thinking. We made adjustments, encouraged people to read about our history and culture, and agreed that what we are seeing and experiencing as a community was a precious thing. We have adjusted our approach, but not backed off!
‘Finding our Voice’ … finding is the operative word here! And, after 3 years we know we are only just beginning!
In encouraging and expressing our own indigenousness, we are finding it is making room for other cultures to express theirs, be they Samoans, Koreans or Tongans.
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people! It is people!
We are learning to love and encourage our culture, and in the process pointing all people towards Christ without worshipping the cultural elements themselves. We don’t want ‘displays’ of Maoridom in our worship meetings but rather worship coming from an overflow of God in people’s lives, which may be demonstrated in a way
He aha te mea nui o te au? He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!
Fraser and Dale Hardy are based in Hamilton, NZ, from where they lead the LinkNZ family of churches www.linknz.org.uk
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finding our voice
THE VOICE OF SHOW-AND-TELL
Ally Kay leads Derby City Mission, Derby, UK, an inter‑church mission reaching Derby’s urban population. Ally is an evangelist, and has previously worked in Calais, France and Kent, UK. In this article he asks how the Western church can once again find a clear voice in its increasingly urbanised context.
God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. (Matthew 5:16, The Message) I always remember as a child enjoying ‘show-and-tell time’ when classmates would bring something in from home, holiday or some other special event in their lives. They would then talk about why it was special or explain the story behind the picture, the object or whatever it was. In doing so they invited me and their class mates into their lives, their community and their story. I love doing mission in the very same way, in the most public of places, for exactly the same reasons. I like to invite people into the story of my life and how it has been redeemed by Jesus. I like to invite people into the community of the church or my missional community in Derby. I find a Gospel of ‘show-and-tell’ utterly compelling to those outside of the church. In fact in these last few years I have made friends with both my city’s most influential and it’s most dispossessed people – all as a result of show-and-tell. Show-and-tell explains the mystery of the kingdom of God in a way that people of all walks of life can get. Jesus was the master of it: he would work the miraculous in the midst of the mundane.
Show-and-tell in action
We live in a visual age where the Church I believe is the best hermeneutic of the Gospel that exists. The Gospel is all about God’s people, doing show-and-tell. It’s showing God’s love by praying for their sicknesses through healing on the streets. Many people no longer go to the spiritualist
church for healing in Derby, now they come to us on the streets because we aren’t scary! I love show-and-tell when I see the Gospel of ‘jubilee’ liberating people from debt. I love seeing the story of the Good Samaritan in action on the streets at 3am explaining what happens after death to the traumatised soldier returning from Afghanistan, or bandaging people’s wounds who have been hurt in a fight. I like show-and-tell as we re-house homeless people or fight with them to get free of heroin. Show-and-tell is about the cake that Judy makes every week to fill up Eastern Europeans who have lived in a tent in Derby for three years. Show-and-tell is about praying with the prostitute who sells her body on the Normanton Road and is desperate to wash out the demons in her mind with alcohol and crack-cocaine. Show-and-tell is that moment when we pray with her and we see the peace of God flood her soul and we show her God’s love by giving her some clean underwear. Show-and-tell is also about speaking prophetically to the City Council about regenerating deprived communities. Show-and-tell is about transforming society!
Show-and-tell changes people and communities
UK church leader and author Malcolm Duncan calls this transfiguration: show-and-tell radically changes people and communities. Jesus tells us in the gospels about salt and light. These everyday things are agents of transfiguration, take the ordinary and totally transforming it. We then see things for what they really are created for: the Glory of God. That’s transfiguration. So why do I give out flipflops to drunken people on a Sunday morning at 3am? Simply because good news comes to us always as mercy to those who least deserve it. Wearing high heels means agony to a girl who has been dancing all night, and I’m told that a pair of free flipflops is like an “angel kissing your tongue!”
Show-and-tell not show-or-tell
I want to be clear that I am talking about showand-tell not show-or-tell. The primary message of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ has died for our sins according to the scriptures. Why do I believe in social justice: Simple! Because I believe in propitiation! Justice comes where and when there is atonement. Society is transformed by people becoming disciples of Jesus, it’s not one or the other but both. I have been intrigued recently by the story of Paul at Ephesus in Acts 19. Social transformation came as a result of Paul’s dependence on the person, work and action of the Holy Spirit and his intentional making of disciples. His filling the whole of Asia with the word of the Lord came through his making disciples by the power of the Holy Spirit. Such was his impact that society was changed. Now that’s what I call transfiguration, when a city is in uproar and its economy is impacted because people become disciples, and signs and wonders are the norm.
The everything of God
So what would a doctor who has been well-discipled look like? He or she would utterly care about the healthcare of the town or city they lived in, not just the plight of the individual patient and their salvation. Or the businessman or woman? They would care about their employees or their products being honouring to God as well as the business profits being used to further the Kingdom and the salvation of their colleagues and workers. Discipleship is about what John Calvin called the “everything of God”. If God through Jesus has invaded planet earth and claimed it as his own then making disciples, planting churches and transforming society are all about the “everything of God”. The cry of Easter “He is not here! He is Risen!” has changed everything! So let’s do a lot more show-and-tell. In fact, let’s make it such a way of life that we really do live up to our name of Salt & Light.
Ally Kay leads Derby City Mission, UK, an inter‑church mission reaching an urban population www.derbycitymission.org.uk
recommended books magazine contributOrs and ILC12 speakers recommend some EXCELLENT books to support the articles in this magazine.
A theology as big as the city Ray Bakke (978-1854243928) “Bakke shows that the primary challenge facing the church is theological. We need to think and read through urban eyes.” Ministries of mercy Timothy Keller (978-0875522173) “Keller shows that caring for needy people is the job of every believer and is as fundamental as evangelism, nurture and worship.” City-wide prayer movements TomWhite (978-1569552421) “Having ministered only to individuals, White began to wonder whether a city could be ‘delivered’ and impacted by the power of God?” Compelled by Joy Michael Green (978-1844745425) “Passionate, provocative and prophetic – just like the author! A wake-up call to the church. A must-read for anyone wanting to see the Lord’s kingdom come.” Just Walk Across the Room Bill Hybels (978-0310272182) “Emphasizing the leading of the Holy Spirit, Hybels invites you to step out of your ‘circle of comfort’ and into encounters with people.” Jesus the Evangelist Robin Gamble (978-1842914076) “What kind of evangelist was Jesus? How did he frame his message? Did he have a plan? What can we learn that will make us more effective today?” Learning Evangelism from Jesus Jerram Barrs (978-1433503184) “I found this to be a wonderful book. Great insight into the variety of ways we need to reach people, and reminds us anew of our own need for the Gospel!” The New Lion Bible Encyclopedia Mike Beaumont (978-0745955261) “This superb book will answer all your questions and more, providing a wonderful guide to the people, places, events and ideas that make up the Bible.” Fathering Leaders, Motivating Mission David Devenish (978-1860248375) “This is the most comprehensive book on the subject of Apostles today that I have read. It is theological, yet extremely practical, and inspiring.” The Spirit-filled Church: Finding Your Place in God’s Purpose Terry Virgo (978-0857210494) “Terry Virgo has written a truly exceptional book on the move of the Spirit that is biblically sound, doctrinally consistent, and easily understood.”
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finding our voice
THE VOICE OF ACTS OF LOVE
Arthur Thangiah leads Sahaara, a charitable society established by the church in Mumbai, India, to facilitate itsworkwiththe poor and needy. Inthis article, Arthur tells the story of Sahaara and the ‘acts of kindness’ foundation that it is built upon.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. (Psalms 46:4-6) We are privileged to live in a time when the various streams of the kingdom of God are combining into a river wherein God dwells and commands the blessing. The nations in uproar and the falling kingdoms will hear the sound of the voice of the Lord from various angles. This article brings out a model of the earth hearing His voice through acts of love.
Acts of love
Acts of love constitute a part of the summarized commandment statement of Jesus who gave us the two love laws saying “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength, and you shall love your neighbour as yourself” Acts of love have always been promoted through the history of the church and some of the statements made by men of God on the topic are as follows: If you give a man the gospel, wrap it in a sandwich. And if you give a man a sandwich, wrap it in the gospel. (Charles Spurgeon) Preach at all times, if necessary, use words. (Francis of Assisi)
Acts of love – Gateway Ministries
Bombay Baptist Church (BBC) was founded in 1869 as an independent Baptist church in Bombay (now known as Mumbai), India. In the 1970s-80s, through the leadership of Stanley Mehta, it became more evangelistic and more influenced by the charismatic movement. This led to significant church growth and the churches planted were registered under the banner of Gateway Ministries International (GMI). The churches that were planted reflected the nature of those setting them up – mainly young professionals.
An annual evaluation showed that although individuals in the churches may be passionate about the poor and were volunteering their time in working independently in service of the poor and there were two churches ministering to the poor, none of the extremely marginalized people of society like lepers, sex workers and ex-prisoners were coming into the churches. We recognised that traditional methods of evangelism were not working, and that what was needed was a far more holistic approach which took seriously the physical and economic needs of those they were seeking to reach. This coincided with several visiting international speakers also encouraging the church to reach out in love to the marginalised.
Acts of love – the rubber hits the road
Victor Gledhill kept encouraging us to press on with the acts of love or as he called it acts of kindness. His war cry was “let’s do it.” The cup of cold water. Jesus uses this phrase to describe ‘Kindness in action’; he puts a very high value on the simplest ‘Acts of Kindness’. In Matthew 25:35-36 Jesus gives specific instruction concerning the way he expects those who follow him to respond to other people and their needs. “I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was homeless and you gave me a room; I was naked and you gave me clothes; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me”.
When a church initiative grows to the size of needing a full time worker, Sahaara will employ and manage a worker who has been closely linked with the development of the project as a volunteer. As the work grows, the first volunteer or a subsequent volunteer rises to be a champion of the cause and is employed as the head of the project. At present, there are ten projects running with full time workers and five projects with volunteers.
Acts of love – Sahaara
Acts of love – A manifesto
This decision led to a significant growth in the number of church-run social action projects, with many of the GMI churches carrying out initiatives for the first time. Initiatives started included work with street children, visually challenges, lepers, prisoners, commercial sex workers, and children in slum communities. The GMI churches are helped to recognise the role of Sahaara. In church prayer meetings, Sahaara is regularly prayed for alongside the church’s initiatives, and church members are encouraged to give 3% of their income to Sahaara in addition to their church tithe. The staff of Sahaara pray regularly that labourers would be released into the marginalised people groups in the city where there is little or no Christian presence. Whilst Sahaara will provide mentoring and training to churches from the planning stage of an initiative onwards, it will not provide any financial support for the first one or two years. During this time, the initiative must be entirely funded by the local church itself. This helps to ensure that the church is really committed to the initiative and truly owns it.
The vision of Sahaara is ‘Gifting Dreams’. The method followed to carry out acts of love and thereby gift dreams to the poor is the Nazareth Manifesto. The Nazareth Manifesto in Luke 4:18-19 has been seen as Jesus outlining the nature and content of his forthcoming ministry while on earth. Here we see beautifully integrated the combination of saving and serving, of proclamation of the gospel and works of service: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord’s favour. (Luke 4:18-19) We have intentionally chosen the most marginalized and underprivileged groups in whom we can work out the Nazareth manifesto. The six steps of the manifesto are worked out as follows:
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The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. The staff of Sahaara are continually encouraged to be filled with the anointing of the Holy Spirit to overcome compassion fatigue and weariness in doing good.
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Preach good news to the poor. We go to the prisoners, the sex workers and others where they are and declare to them good news that there is a God in heaven who loves them and has a purpose for their lives.
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Proclaim freedom to the prisoners. After building friendships and relationships and after delivering care services for the felt physical needs, the message is shared that the place where they are is not their destiny but full freedom is available in Jesus Christ.
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Recovery of sight to the blind. The Bible says that the god of this world has blinded the eyes of people. The proclamation of freedom cause an opening of the eyes and recovery of sight that causes a seeing of the glorious and bright hope in Jesus Christ.
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Release the oppressed. We run homes for exprisoners, ex-sex workers and children from difficult backgrounds wherein they are rehabilitated and released from the oppression of years and sometimes generations!
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Proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord’s favour. The year of the Lord’s favour is the year that came once in fifty years when all the slaves were set free. The person being rehabilitated comes to a life of total freedom and becomes a functioning, fruitful member of society.
Acts of love – A platform for a mighty impact
Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Working out the Nazareth manifesto not only ensures a pathway of freedom for the captives but it also creates a platform of credibility for the presentation of the gospel and the impact on society is seen and felt by one and all. In the work in the prison, the good news has been proclaimed to over 10,000 prisoners and after release from the prison more than 50 people have taken water baptism, one ex-prisoner is currently studying in our Bible College and one ex-prisoner is pastoring a church which he has planted. The transformation in the lives of prisoners, sex-workers and vulnerable children has brought us into favour with various multinational companies and secular funders. Some of the activities have been reported in the popular newspapers. Dasra, India’s leading philanthropy foundation adjudged the head of Sahaara as the social entrepreneur of the month. As the light shines, the name of the Father is glorified.
Acts of love – the ultimate dream
We have also seen various churches and organizations coming together under the banner of a Social Concern Network in Mumbai and we look forward to the day when we can together as the church in Mumbai abolish every systemic structure of slavery and provide an opportunity for anyone and everyone in slavery to be free! Arthur Thangiah leads Sahaara, the charitable wing of Gateway Ministries, Mumbai, India www.gmi.org.in/sahaara