In this post I am focusing in on the potential of the Gospel’s movement among an unreached people group in a frontier missions setting.
Instead of giving answers, I want to start by asking a few questions to those who are working to see the Gospel advance in their nation.
Below are my questions for both nationals and ex-pats working to see the Gospel advance among the unreached peoples of the world.
Firstly and most importantly, do we personally have a lifestyle of passion, compassion, and prayer?
- Do we deeply feel the reality of how many still haven’t heard the Gospel?
- Do we empathize what it must be like to grow up under the majority “religion?”
- Do we understand that, “God does through prayer would have otherwise not have happened, had we not prayed?”
Are we engaged in regular outreach that involves sharing our own story with others, even strangers? If no, why not?
Do we believe in the power of God for healing, deliverance, and signs, miracles, & wonders or do we believe that those days are past us?
Are we free from our denomination’s, mission’s, or church’s expectation that we plant their “brands” rather than “Kingdom” within the culture?
Do we have enough time and energy to sustain a new work or have we eaten up any “pioneering” margin by “maintenance” projects?
Is it our goal to see Gospel multiplication or movements happen in our nation?
Are we willing to strip out anything that is not reproducible or potentially a stumbling block to the “core”of our country?
Are we really open to God using women, the poor, uneducated, and non-seminary trained leaders to lead in the ministries we plant?
Are we willing to facilitate rather than lead out, or if necessary to “father” but not control?
Are we willing to find “persons of peace” (Luke 10 & Matt 10) & work with them in their own context rather than extract them out?
Can we embrace broader perspectives and approaches that we may not have had exposure to before if it serves to hasten breakthrough?
Are we willing to allow the choice for new believers to remain in their socio-religious identities as followers of Christ?
Are we willing to help new believers think through the issues by going first to Scripture itself to “self-theologize” without feeling compelled to give them all of the answers?
Can we “model, assist, watch, & leave” without abandoning new groups and leaders?
Can we be ready to move on to new places and do it all again where “Christ has not yet been known.?”
These are the questions I have had to ask myself. I hope that they will help spark some conversation and answers in your own life and work.
