I recently attended The Every Nation North America Conference ‘09 in our nation’s capital. It was a great time of encouragement and inspiration, reconnecting with old friends and hearing stories of what God is doing around the world. Stephen Mansfield gave the talk on Thursday morning and gave 7 principles in effective cross-cultural missions. This post is a combination of Stephen’s 7 principles along with my own thoughts and musings to help each of you live as a missionary in your context and point people to Life in Christ.
1. Tap into peoples’ sense of destiny
Somehow, we instinctively know we are created for more than just earning a living or getting our needs met. Jesus called Peter and his brother out of his fishing job by speaking destiny into his life: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt.4:19).
2. Identify with their pain
All around us people are hurting for all kinds of reasons. The sad truth is, however, people don’t believe the church is a place their pain can be healed. Or worse, the church has been the reason for their pain. Isaiah 63:9 says “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them…” Thankfully, our God has come and identified with our pain. Identify with peoples pain and watch your influence grow
3. Affirm their righteous hopes
There’s a reason more people today are searching the internet and reading books for spiritual answers. People want to find God. But the good news is this, God really wants to be found! Jeremiah 29:12-13 “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
4. Serve them in crisis
Check out the Message version of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah!…He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.” Need I say more?
5. Create a vehicle for relationship
The church at large offers “structured encounters” while people are starving for real relationships. Jesus was criticized for being “a friend of sinners” (Matthew 11:19, Luke 5:30). Now, unless he took time, ate, and hung out with, people who were considered “sinners,” do you think this epithet would have stuck? So here’s a question: who are your friends?
6. Pray!
Great news: Romans 9:16 says “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” One prayer answered is more effective than a thousand hours of work. So, while you work like it depends on you, pray like it depends on God…because it does!
7. Lovingly, courageously & boldly proclaim your truth
St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) said “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” A great sentiment, and the point is well taken. However, it is always neccessary to use words. As Paul said in Romans 10:14 “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” I’ve heard it said that it takes around 7 times of someone hearing the Gospel before the penny drops along with their defenses. Maybe the next time you share what Jesus has done in your life will be the next time someone else comes into a relationship with Jesus. And if not, the pressure’s off anyway (see point 6).
Lord, let our actions, our words and our prayers, be to the glorifying of Jesus and the spreading of your wonderful news! Amen.
