The Transparency
of Token-love
If the extent of a church's involvement in missions is
merely signing and sending a support check, this is a church
that is playing at missions. Its missionaries will be
neglected and the missionary vitality of the church will
expire.
Sending funds without showing genuine interest and
involvement is like a rich kid who gets everything but love
from his parents - there comes a point when even the gifts
are offensive in light of the relationship neglect. Then he
starts acting up because what he wants more than things
(money) is the relationship. The message that comes across
in spite of the abundance of wealth is "my parents don't
love me."
A church displaying this type of token affection is one
which is merely going through the motions yet lacks a
genuine heart for the missionary (and the work of missions
itself). "We've done our missions duty" (so we can brag
about it or not be accused of being unbiblical). At the
source of this deficient love is a spiritual problem.
If, however, a church does missionary care (communication,
logistics, moral, financial, prayer, and re-entry support),
missionary training, and missions education (throughout all
aspects of its inherent ministries) in addition to its own
local evangelistic efforts, it is clear that missions truly
permeates that church. In other words, "missions is who we
are"; instead of, "missions is something we do" and the
former can't be fabricated or feigned.
What is a missionary to do when a supporting church is
apathetic? Pray for the church because it is, indeed, a
spiritual problem. Church history reveals that missions and
revival have always gone hand in hand. Why is this?
Because missions is God's idea - it is His heartbeat.
Missions is no church contrivance. Dr. James S. Stewart
said it best, "To accept Christ is to enlist under a
missionary banner. It is quite impossible to be "in Christ"
and not participate in Christ's mission in the world."
Friends do know when friends are no longer friendly.
Wives know when husbands are no longer loving. And
missionaries know when their churches really don't care.
May it not be so.
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Biblical School
of World Evangelism
1367 Woodville Pike
Milford, OH 45150
A Ministry of First Baptist Church
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electronic epistle
 Greetings!
"The church exists by mission as a fire exists by burning.
The Lord founded the church as a missionary organization.
Missionaries were its leaders. Its primary purpose was
missions and all of its members engaged in the propagation
of the Gospel! There was no organized missionary endeavor
during the first centuries after the resurrection as those
that characterized later periods because the Gospel was
preached by laymen. Nearly every convert, with the ardor of
a revolutionary, made himself an office of propaganda" (A
Concise History of the Christian World Mission, J.
Herbert Kane).
Let's grab hold of the flame (not the ashes) of the past!
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Lip-service Love toward Missionaries
How NOT to treat your missionaries
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Two Terrible Tales
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 Story
One
Recently, a missionary friend of mine told me about his
growing concern of the displayed apathy of some churches
toward their own missionaries. This is what he said.
"It is amazing to me that out of sixty plus churches who
support me, about one-third do not want me to come and report
to them! Many will not even return my phone calls! They send
me a monthly check but that is the sum total of their
communication toward a person they have been supporting for
[almost ten] years! Is it any wonder that missionary kids do
NOT want to be Independent Baptist missionaries!
"There is a Grand Canyon-size difference in philosophy between
a missionary family and a missionary program. I think many
missionaries in Independent Baptist churches feel like
red-headed step children instead of a true 'brother'."
My friend is not alone. I have heard this over and over
again from missionaries.
Story Two
The following is an excerpt from Dr. David Cummins' recent
article entitled, "The Forgotten Missionary."
"As we visit our supporters, we sometimes wonder if pastors
(and church members) really know what it means to be mission
minded. We have been in a different church each Sunday
morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday since our arrival
back home. Only one congregation really seemed excited to
see us, knew all about our ministry, were friendly, and
asked excellent questions. Otherwise, it seemed to us that
we were just another 'visitor' coming through the door. I
was amazed as we talked to several pastors and one pastor's
wife who knew nothing about our ministry or, for that
matter, why we were in the United States. Many actually
asked how long we have been on deputation. Two of these
churches have supported us for over 25 years! We try to
write informative monthly letters, and occasionally we pen
personal letters to our supporters. Yet, no one seemed to
know us or our ministry, and even worse, they did not even
seem to care.
"We had one meeting where not one staff member was present.
It seemed to us that they were thrilled to have someone
replace them so they could be elsewhere, but we needed them
there so we could let them know what is happening in the
ministry they are supporting. As never before, we began to
realize why there are so many struggles in the ministry and
why Satan is so successful in his attempts to discourage and
attack. I do not believe I have ever seen such apathy! I
wanted so badly to write an 'open letter' to supporting
pastors and churches, but I concluded that was not really
the best way to deal with the situation. I can honestly say
that we would rather not have their money if there is no
genuine concern and prayer behind it. It is true that we
need the funds to be able to stay on the field, but without
the prayers of others behind us, we will not have the power
needed and the strength necessary to accomplish the
ministry. With such lethargy on the part of pastors and
members, how can we expect to see young people even consider
the call to missions? I know that I sound as though I am
frustrated, but I must somehow get victory over my
disappointment with God's people. We just received a call
from the pastor where we are scheduled to be in the near
future, and he let us know that neither he, his wife, the
associate, or his wife would be in the service, but rather
they will be with the children and teens. He said at least
fifty will be out of the main service . . . we will have the
'older people.' We are ready to forget everything else and
head home to a ministry where we are needed and where the
people are interested in missions!"
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Focusing Faith on Better Things
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C.S. Lewis and Hebrews 11
"If you read history, you will find that the Christians
who did the most for the present world, were just those who
thought the most of the next" (C.S. Lewis).
"And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from
whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have
returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an
heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:
for he hath prepared for them a city" (Hebrews 11:15-16).
Staying focused on heaven will keep you from living like
this world is your home. It will keep you from going back
to the world. Keep your eyes on the prize!
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