Go back to that post and look at the chart on the top countries of origin.  China and India are the two largest sending nations.  Turkey, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan also make the top ten list.  Many of the top twenty-five countries have experienced large percent increases of students sent within the past year.

But, do we see the hand of the Lord in such movements?

Many of the least reached and unreached peoples of the world are coming to our communities to study, learn American cultures, and make friendships.  Unfortunately, many churches in the United States are not aware of such wonderful migrations.  While the greatest needs for the gospel are by far outside of the United States, the sad reality is that while many of us struggle to figure out ways to get into other nations, we fail to recognize the Sovereign Lord at work in our own communities.

We often pass the peoples we are trying to reach at 35,000 feet somewhere over the Pacific.  They fly past us at 530 miles per hour on their way to our neighborhoods.  They are willingly coming to our communities while we’re struggling to get into theirs.

We are called to go into all the world and make disciples.  We are supposed to continue to go into all the world to the least reached and unreached.  Again, the greatest need is absolutely “over there.”

However, what kind of theology and missiology supports going “over there” and fails to advocate going “down the street”?

What kind of stewards are we if we are willing to spend large amounts of money, time, and energy on reaching people groups–at great risk–and are not willing to connect with someone from that same group who wants to have tea or coffee with us at the local shop?

The Great Commission knows no geographical boundaries.  The churches, networks, and denominations that will be the most effective in making disciples of all nations in a highly globalized twenty-first century world are those who strategically integrate all of their missional activities.  They will bring together the domestic and international realms.

And there is no better place to start than by loving and serving those wonderful students who have come to study in our backyards.

All the parents enter campus and snake their way around the school’s property, until they reach the designated drop-off point.  This traffic pattern requires that one drive across eleven speed bumps, while moving very slowly.  Now, while this trip circumscribes most of the school’s property, the cars continue to move.  There is very little stop-and-go traffic.

A slow process? Yes. But, efficient and effective for moving hundreds of cars in a short period of time. . . while not running over the kids.

But could this process be faster–maybe allowing me to save some time and have that time to grab an espresso or latte? Absolutely!  But what would it cost?

Any recalcitrant parent needing their Starbucks could easily take the short-cut, cutting their lengthy cruise across campus down to a matter of seconds.  They could easily miss most of the speed bumps–hitting only two.  They could be on and off the school’s property in a very, very short period of time.

But…

Their disruption of the normative flow of traffic would cause a great delay that would ripple throughout the hundreds of cars already in the car pool line.  Their interference would cause a breakdown in the entire system–hijacking the effectiveness (and efficiency) for everyone.

As I dropped off my kids this morning, I could not help but think about the great temptations that exist to short-cut the Church’s call to make disciples of all nations.  Sometimes the shortest and seemingly most efficient route to accomplish the goal is not the most healthy way.

Sure, it will win the sprint for us.   But after the sprint is over, we may be very surprised to realize that the race is actually a marathon.  And we just ran out of energy!

What about you? Are there missiologies, ecclesiologies, philosophies, strategies, and methods presently being applied in your country that appear to be efficient but not effective for the task to which the Church is called? Are there any shortcuts being taken–and looking very efficient and successful–but are likely to result in poor health and chaos later?

Sometimes the drive around the building is the best way to go.  Sometimes it is right and good to miss the opportunity to get a cup of coffee.

Why?  Because I believe the way to the heart of many people is through their stomachs.  No, I am not referring to feeding the poor–though that could most definitely be included in my thinking.  Rather, I am pondering the potential of using the gastronomic interests of the peoples of the world to open doors for ministry opportunities.

The reality is that people like to eat.  And we are presently in a period when many of the peoples of the world want to share their cultures with those not of their cultures.  One way to connect with people is through the sharing of musical expressions (I blogged about this topic HERE.)  Another important way is through cooking.

Recently, I read an article from the Christian Science Monitor (brought to my attention by Justin Long) that stimulated my blogging senses and led me to bring my thoughts to the screen.

Imagine if the cooks in the Kingdom were to take their regional cuisines on the road to share with other peoples of the world, while sharing in the foods of others.  What opportunities would arise through these connections?

My home town of Corbin, Kentucky is the home of the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.  The Colonel started frying it 3 miles from my backyard.  And if this Southern-influenced fast food chain can now be found across the world, why can’t regional cooking open doors for sharing the good news with others?  (Okay, you health food junkies, no snide posts about any “ethical” issues related to both sharing the gospel with others and Southern U.S. cooking that hardens the arteries and facilitates heart disease. )

Maybe those annual church recipe books can tie into a greater missional purpose?

What are your thoughts?

With the death of this terrorist, the events that will unfold behind the scenes, affecting the advancement of the gospel, are likely to remain unknown to the masses, never drawing the attention of the media.

For example, I have already received concerns from missionaries regarding the their future travels in certain parts of the world.

Just as the falling of one domino can begin a significant movement of dominoes to create an amazing feature, it is likely that there will be a significant chain of events to precipitate the death of a man of this magnitude.  Will such reactions be benevolent? Evil? Both?

Continue to remember our brothers and sisters across the world, and pray that the word of the Lord will speed ahead and be honored (2 Thes 3:1).

Also, I just found out on Sunday that a the new movie, Thor, is set to be released next month.  So, maybe my interest in the Viking Age is more in touch with reality than most would assume.

Just as there is much value in Historical Theology, there is also much value in Historical Missiology, or the history of missions as is commonly known.  Our present and future of missionary activity is based on 2000 years of history.  It is unwise for any missionary–including those serving in North America–to not know their history.  There are many important lessons to learn from those who have gone before us–both things to do well and grave mistakes to avoid.

While I’ll let you continue your study on the Vikings, I do want to share a few thoughts with you.

The Viking Age existed for about 300 years, from the latter part of the eight century to the eleventh century.  Some of the most notable missionaries were:

Willibrord–first known missionary; labored in Denmark in the early eight century; experienced few visible results

Ebo, Archbishop of Reims–preached in Denmark in 823; baptized many people

Ansaar (Ansgar or Anskar)–called “Apostle to the North;” labored in trading centers of Birka, Hedeby, and Ribe, places where a Christian presence already existed or Christian traders visited; saw many people baptized; saw construction of many church facilities

Concerning Anskar, Stephen Neill writes, “Anskar is a memorable and prophetic figure, not because of what he acieved, but because of the patience and devotion with which he  pushed against a door which was not yet ready to open, and because he is the first of a great succession of bishops who worked outwards from a well-established Christian centre into the regions beyond which were still pagan” (A History of Christian Missions, 82).

Tomorrow, I plan to finish this two-part series, and share what we can learn.  Until then, what do you know about the past missionary labors among the Vikings?

Don’t forget your history–remember, you are making it today!

Spaceship Earth–the ride that is found within the golf-ball-looking structure at the park’s entrance–was a fascinating 16-minute journey through time, showing innovations in technology that resulted in significant global changes.  Beginning with the development of papyrus and culminating in the cyber-age, the observer is exposed to a quick glimpse at how innovation leads to major breakthroughs that result in significant outcomes for society.

Global Issues

One of my present writing projects is related to the major global issues (e.g., growth of cities, poverty, Diasporas, what is truth) that are shaping–and will continue to shape–the face of the Church in the present and (Lord willing) near future.  I believe with each of these issues the Church is faced with a decision: follow the leadership of the Spirit and innovate methodologically and strategically or remain on the present course.

The choice to follow the latter option is a recipe that will result in the hindrance of gospel advancement and church multiplication across North America and throughout the world.

In our globally integrated world, the global issues are not ones that we can say are “over there” and not in our own communities.  Rather, such issues do not limit themselves to geographical borders.  Any denomination, parachurch organization, network, or local church that embraces a missiology limited and defined by geo-political boundaries will find it very difficult to navigate the currents of change necessary for effective mission work in the world today–and tomorrow.

Innovation in the Bible

But before we come to believe that innovation in missions is rocket science, we must remember that such is not the case.  In the book of Acts, we read that innovation–to overcome significant barriers to gospel advancement–was a matter of following the leadership of the Spirit of mission– for example, see Acts 10 (the reception of the gospel and Spirit by the God-fearers in Cornelius’ house), Acts 11 (the birth of the Church in Antioch), and Acts 16 (the birth of the Church in Philippi).  In each situation, the believers were required to change their general way of functioning and thinking.  However, once the institutional/organizational adjustments were made–sometimes with great reservation and sometimes by force–the gospel continued to expand beyond the socio-cultural barriers.

Jesus will build His Church (Matt 16:18).  Such is not a matter for debate.  The question of concern should be: “Will He work through us to build His Church?”  We need to understand the challenges of our times, be filled with the Spirit of mission (Eph 5:18), and adjust our methods, strategies, organizations, and institutions accordingly.  It is a terrible mistake to avoid Spirit-led innovation.

The Pain of the Challenge

Unfortunately, such adjustments are usually painful and difficult.  We are the ultimate conservatives when it comes to making necessary institutional adjustments for missions.  And, it is sad to write, that in many cases, until our pet preferences become a burden to us–or are cataclysmically removed from our control–we are likely to hold on to them, grieving the Spirit–yet believing we are walking the straight and narrow path for gospel advancement.

The Body must always be growing in conformity to the Head.  And innovation is required with such growth.  We do not innovate for the sake of innovation.  We innovate for the advancement of the gospel as the pressures of age apply force and create challenges to the mission of the Church.

And just as the history of mankind is filled with examples of innovation that resulted in breakthroughs that reshaped society, the Church’s innovations in missions will continue to result in breakthroughs that will glorify the Lord and reshape the Bride as She waits for the Groom.

What are your thoughts?  Do you see any value in innovation in missions?  Are there dangers with innovation?  If so, how can we avoid that which is unhealthy?

Of course, life in the Kingdom is a life lived with gratitude.  Everyday for us is Thanksgiving, not just one day a year.  From God’s character to His grace to us, we are a grateful people.  True thanksgiving only begins and continues with divine relationship. 

In this post, I want to challenge you to look at thanksgiving from a perspective other than the typical Thanksgiving-holiday-way.

On several occasions, the Apostle Paul revealed a thankful heart for those who recently had come into the Kingdom (Remember, Paul’s writings were written to new believers and recently planted churches.).   For example, we read:

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world” (Rom 1:8, ESV).

“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor 1:4, ESV).

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you” (Phil 1:3, ESV).

Part of his gratitude came from the fact that the Kingdom had grown through the dissemination of the gospel to those now Kingdom citizens and that same gospel was sounding forth from them to others.

As we think missiologically about the world around us, let’s remember to be thankful for those who have come out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of light.  Let’s remember to be thankful for our new brothers and sisters who are sharing the hope they have discovered.

Of course, let’s be thankful this week for God’s other blessings to us, such as family, friends, food, days off work, etc.

But, it is my hope and prayer that if we are blessed to experience Thanksgiving 2011, we will be able to give thanks for the many who have come to know Jesus through our love and sharing. 

Let’s not separate thanksgiving from gospel advancement.

For my U. S. readers, I pray that you have a great Thanksgiving holiday.  And for the rest of you, I pray that you will have a great Thursday, even without the chicken and dumplings.

As a kid, I was fascinated by astronautics.  I would read library books on the topic.  I can still remember the trip to the Space Museum in Huntsville, Alabama and the visit to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in Florida.  I memorized facts on the U.S. space program, collected as much information I could on the topic, and even wanted to be an astronaut…when I did not want to be a bug exterminator. 

Over the past two weeks, I have been engaged in teaching two summer classes (hence the reason for no blog posts).  One of my classroom illustrations came from the history of the U. S. space program.  While I used the illustration differently in class, I want to provide you with a matter for your missiological consideration.

The path from the early days of rocket science to Armstrong’s “One small step…” was filled with numerous challenges and stages of development.  In other words, Wernher von Braun did not simply step on stage, build the Saturn V rocket and put the Apollo XI astronauts on the moon.  Following the use of rocket technology that had been applied to military science to destroy the enemy, its application was directed toward the final frontier. 

First came the Mercury program.  John Glenn circumscribed the earth by means of a rocket designed to put one man into orbit.  Next came the Gemini program.  Two men, this time, were placed into orbit.  Finally, the Apollo program was developed with each launch taking men closer and closer to the lunar surface, until that historic day forty-one years ago.

Bit-by-bit and step-by-step, the United States advanced closer and closer to landing the Eagle on the Sea of Tranquility.  A great, but brief rocket science and technological history had to precede Apollo XI.  And a great scientific and technological history had to precede the development of rocket science. 

NASA had to think and move beyond the earth’s orbit in order to put men on the moon.

And so, now we come to our matter of concern.  The thinking and strategizing and missionary practices of today will not sustain healthy Kingdom advancement later today, let alone tomorrow.  Whenever the gospel enters into a foreign context, the church begins as a foreign body.  Over time, the structures, organizations, and methods that planted and sustained her in the early days become more and more complex.  What usually began as something simple and foreign, becomes technical, commonplace and maintenance-oriented.  And in order to move beyond maintenance to once again missional activity, the church must return to a mode of thought, similar-yet-different, to the paradigm of thinking that led to her birth and establishment in the first place. 

Such is easier said (or blogged about) than done.  When it comes to our structures, organizations, and methods, Christians are the ultimate conservatives.  While there are exceptions, consider the last 2000 years.    

As followers of Jesus we live within a necessary and healthy tension.  On the one hand, the church (local) must be conservative in our contextualized structures and organizations, for such tenacity enables us to be and exist as a healthy local church.  Structure and maintenance are not bad.  In fact, they are necessary for the church to exist, even for the most simple of all churches.  On the other hand, however, the church (local) must allow, encourage, and support the notion of the missionary bands that work to advance the Kingdom across new boundaries.  Remember, the thinking and methods that brought us to where we are today are not the thinking and methods that will carry us beyond the challenges of today.  Fresh, yet biblical, paradigms of missionary thought and practice must be encouraged, endorsed, and expected by the established Church.  Problems for Kingdom advancement arise whenever the structures we develop become calcified and hinder–or even oppose–the development of fresh, biblically-grounded, paradigms for missionary activity. 

Remember, it took Mercury to get one man into orbit, Gemini to get two men there, and Apollo to take three to the moon.  If NASA had relied on Mercury-thinking, July 20, 1969 would have been an ordinary day on the calendar; we would have remained in orbit. 

Today, the Church is faced with many barriers to the rapid dissemination of the gospel and multiplication of churches.  Globalization, pluralism, urbanization, secularism, materialism, terrorism, war, migration, poverty, and disease are just a few of the challenges we encounter.

The gospel tears down barriers and transforms individuals, families, and societies.  However, the gospel must arrive before barriers can be overcome.  While Mercury-thinking advanced the gospel for many years, my question for us today is, “Where does the Church need to adjust in order to move into Gemini-thinking and eventually Apollo-thinking on our way toward the moon?” 

For some of you reading this post, moving from Mercury-thinking to Gemini-thinking is only one small step.  For others, such a paradigm shift is too giant of a leap.  If you cannot make the step, please pray for, encourage, equip, empower, endorse, and partner with those who can.  Hold them accountable to the Word of God, but please do not hold them in orbit and keep them from landing the Eagle.

1) We need to cast the vision before college students to obtain marketable skills and degrees to be used in the global marketplace, while they simultaneously labor to share the gospel, plant churches, and raise up/train elders for those churches.

2) We need a vision that involves reaching international students, teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded, modeling before them a simple, biblical expression of the local church, equipping them, partnering with them, and sending them back to their unreached people groups as scientists, doctors, managers, entrepreneurs, teachers, etc., while they simultaneously labor to share the gospel, plant churches, and raise up/train elders for those churches.

Developing strategies and equipping approaches to carry out these points will involve a missiological shift when it comes to church planting. 

We need to move away from believing that tentmaking is for the junior varsity missionaries who are not very committed to the Kingdom.  Tentmaking is just as important today as it was in Acts 18; it is just that the evangelical Church does not believe it should be a priority for our church planters.  (I want to direct you history aficionados to the early Moravian Church on the matter of tentmaking–or, see chapter 16 of my book Discovering Church Planting.  I think you will be amazed at what the Lord was able to do with tentmakers.)  We need to encourage our students to obtain marketable degrees and skills that will not only place them in strategic global positions for Kingdom influence but will also provide a means of financial support.

Providing international students with biblical teaching is a must; providing them with a massive dose of our culturally preferred expressions of Christianity (and equating that with biblical teaching)  is not a good thing.  We must move beyond the notion of simply reaching internationals with the good news and assimilating them into local church contexts that will not provide them with the necessary missional knowledge and skills that will translate back to their communities in China, India, the Middle East, etc..  We need to reach them, baptize them, and through membership in a local church (even planting churches with them), prepare them for the day when they will graduate and return to their nations, with both a degree in hand and a heart for church planting. 

Much of what is modeled in our churches involves cultural preferences that do not connect with many international students (in this country), and will be a hindrance to Kingdom expansion if such students attempt to reproduce it when they return to their people.  Remember:  we know and reproduce what is modeled before us.  So, how is our model that we will impress on these new brothers and sisters from different lands?

I am greatly looking forward to these meetings. 

But what are your thoughts on these matters?

While I used to teach guitar and play in a hard rock band, recently, I thought I would add something new to my repertoire.  I purchased a banjo about a year ago, hoping to become the next Stringbean and/or Earl Scruggs.  Of course, I do not have time to teach myself to play, for I’m writing all of these blog posts for you.

At least I can still listen to the music. 

Recently, I decided to do something I had been wanting to do for a while–go to the International Bluegrass Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky (about 2 hours from my house in Louisville).  While I had a great experience there, one particular exhibit caught my attention  (And, no, it was not the Granny Clampett photo I wanted to take home.).  

I walked into one room dedicated to the global reach bluegrass music has developed since its beginning in the 1940s.  I saw two maps on display, one of Europe and one of Japan.  Each of the maps had numerous pushpins stuck in them where bluegrass events/festivals take place, most on an annual basis.  Western and Central Europe were filled with them.  And there were about 35 locations scattered across Japan.  Upon seeing all of these pushpins, representing numerous locations and multitudes of people, I pondered the question: “What is the potential for communicating the good news of Jesus through the platform of bluegrass music?” 

This question has actually been on my mind for some time.  It first came to my attention when I was 35,000 feet over the North Atlantic.  I was returning home with a short-term mission team from Newfoundland, Canada.  I had been in the province twice before, and knew the Newfoundlanders had their own unique style of music, consisting of Scotch-Irish influences.  Knowing the music from Scotland and Ireland had also influenced bluegrass, I began to wonder about the potential of a bluegrass band returning to the province to play and work with the missionaries. 

I shared this thought with my friend and colleague, George Martin who led a bluegrass band and team back to Newfoundland the following year.  The Long Run Players were very beneficial to the missionaries on this trip.  Later, they spent time working with missionaries in Asia by touring and playing.   

Why Bluegrass, why Now?

1. While there is much contained in the lyrics of traditional bluegrass music that is ungodly, there is much gospel proclamation that can be found there as well.  Gospel music was one of the major influences on the development of bluegrass music. In other words, you can play bluegrass and share the story of Jesus and His love, with people wanting to hear it communicated via this medium.
2. There is a revival in “roots” type music taking place across the globe.  This may simply be a product of a globalized world that praises multiculturalism.  As long as the nations of the world are interested in hearing the music of other cultures, then we need to play while the time is ripe. 
3. Bluegrass is a unique genre of music.  Everything from the instruments and how they are played, to the melodies of the songs, make this a unique musical style.  There is something just not ”ordinary” about it.  (No, wise-cracks, please.).   Go into a community of the world and start street preaching, and you may be told to head for the hills.  Go into the same community with a mandolin, upright bass, and guitar, and a crowd will gather wanting to hear music from the hills.
4. While not unique to bluegrass, but music in general, is the fact that music tears down social barriers, starts relationships, and opens up numerous opportunities for conversations.  It is a bridge-builder. 
5. Some of the world’s least reached peoples are interested in bluegrass music.  For example, the Japanese are one of the world’s largest and least reached peoples.  Also, the percent of evangelicals living in Western and Central Europe is minuscule.    

As I drove home that day from the museum, I could not help but wonder why and how an American musical style could develop in a tiny area of Kentucky, and become a global phenomenon in thirty to forty years, before satellite TV (and much television at all) and the Internet. 

Could it be while many of the world’s countries are (and becoming more and more) closed off to traditional missionary approaches, many of the least reached peoples have a facination with bluegrass music, and the world continues to grow with the global ethos of multiculturalism, that the Lord permitted something so unknown to become a global bridge-builder so the Church would capture this moment in salvation history and begin to send traveling bands to preach the good news via the banjo?  Just a thought….

Pastors….do you have any pickers in your congregation?  If so, what are you doing to equip and send them?

What do you think?