The Barnabas File (My friend Maynard Belt really stirs your thinking here)
February – 2012
Change In The Church Is Of The Devil!
Let’s confess! Change bothers all of us! Just try sitting in a different seat around the dinner table and watch the response! Just take another member’s seat at church! Just try taking another route home from work! Just try telling the dog he can’t sleep at the foot of the bed anymore! Change has been around since Adam and Eve and sin in the garden. I don’t recall which translation, but Adam said to Eve, “My dear, we are living in a period of transition.”
How often have we heard that change in the church is of the devil? Well, that phrase has been round a long time too. But change in the church can also be of the Lord. Let me illustrate. When the King James Version of the Bible was issued in 1611, it was widely criticized and rejected by the clergy. G.S. Paine, in his volume, “The Men Behind The KJV,” quotes Archbishop Richard Bancroft as saying, “Tell his majesty that I had rather be rent to pieces with wild horses than any such translation by my consent should be urged upon poor churches.” When Isaac Watts was growing up in England, his Puritan father rebuked him for participating in congregational singing. In those days a Psalm would be read line by line, with the congregation singing each line following. Young Watts said that there was no music in the Psalms and that they didn’t rhyme. Outraged, the older Watts suggested that his son write his own songs if he thought he were smarter than King David. And so Isaac Watts did! Believe me, it caused quite a stir in the church when hymns began to replace Psalms. Here is just one example. In Clint Bonner’s book, “A Hymn Is Born,” he references the first General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church meeting in Philadelphia in May, 1789, with this statement from the floor by Rev. Adam Rankin: “I have ridden on horseback all the way from my home in Kentucky to ask this august body to refuse to allow the great and pernicious error of adopting the use of Isaac Watts’ hymns in public worship in preference to Rouse’s versifications of the Psalms of David.” In C.B. Eavey’s “History of Christian Education”, he tells the story of when Robert Raikes started the Sunday School Movement, the Archbishop of Canterbury called together the bishops to see what could be done to stop him for, he said, it was a violation of Exodus 20:8. In the late 1700′s, “Sabbath (Sunday) School Societies” were started here and there throughout the young United States of America. But at first, many members of the clergy were opposed to them, maintaining that it was a desecration of the Lord’s Day to hold “school” on Sunday. A pastor in Connecticut said of a class held in his church on Sunday, “You imps of Satan, doing the devil’s work. I’ll have you set in the street.” When Clarence Jones, co-founder of missionary station HCJB in Equador, pioneered radio evangelism using the airways to proclaim the Gospel, one of the critics said, “Will God prosper this new-fangled fad since it operates in the very realm of Satan –the air?”
Over time these changes have proven to be of spiritual blessing to the saints of God. Change in the church is not always of the devil. The only constants are Jesus Christ (Hebrews 13:8) and His Word (Isa. 40:8). Living within a constantly changing culture we must study and understand the trends that are confronting the church. The context of I Chronicles 12:32 is still pertinent for today:“The Sons of Issachar understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” We must identify trends, not to be changed by the trends, but to know how to minister to those affected by them.
Under Divine design, living within a continually shifting culture, some of our approaches to ministry may need to be re-evaluated. But we do not let culture dictate our thinking. That has happened too much already. We are in the world, but are not to be of, or like, the world. The First Epistle of John should be our mandate regarding our relationship to the world. Change must be inside out, and not outside in. It must be Christocentric in purpose. It must be earnestly bathed in prayer. It must be considered in the light of Scripture. It must not imitate the fad of the world. It must reconcile with the glory of God. I am sure that Watts, Raikes, Jones and the authors of the King James Bible recognized that they were approaching ministry in a new and different way, but sought to follow the leading of the Lord, not the influence of a godless society. Their motivation was to create new ways in which to reach the lost and edify the saints of their day.
For some of our churches it may be time for some re-tooling. If so, remember change takes time. Pastors must be patient and people need to be flexible. Don’t change for the sake of change. Follow God’s leading and minister to the spirit, the world caters to the flesh. Test the waters before jumping in headlong. Educate before you initiate. Present proposals with clarity. Expect resistance. Encourage responses. Advance by favor not by foolishness. Personally, change raises my blood pressure. But change in some areas may be applicable. The world is changing so fast that, as someone said, you couldn’t stay wrong all the time even if you tried. Our goal is to do what is right and pleasing to the Lord. Even though not popular in the day of their inception, I am so thankful for hymns, for the Sunday School, for genuine Gospel presentations via radio, TV, and the Internet, and I am also thankful for my King James Bible! As we observe moderations in the church throughout the ages, it could be that some changes may be of the Lord, not of the devil. Our responsibility is to ask the Lord to help us discern the difference.
Maynard H. Belt
616-361-2396 - mhbelt@sbcglobal.net -
www.BarnabasFile.com - www.fellowshipofmissions.org
United with Christ – United with one another.
Some doubt that diverse people groups can be united in one church. They can’t unless they literally accept the relationship they each have with Christ who makes them one family. When they identify with the one that gave them life, family members can be UNITED even though they each have unique personalities and gifts. Jesus Christ identified with mankind to deliver us from the one who had the power of death. Can you sacrifice as He did to unite with your brothers and sisters in Christ? See Heb 2:11 – 15
2:11 For both He who sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of One, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brothers, 2:12 saying, “I will declare Your name to My brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.” 2:13 And again, “I will put My trust in Him.” And again, “Behold Me and the children whom God has given Me.” 2:14 Since then the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise partook of the same; that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death (that is, the Devil), 2:15 and deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Yes but only in God’s plan. The summary of the answer is in God in Eph 4: 1 -7. V2 Lowliness, the attitude toward myself; Meekness the attitude toward others, Long-suffering, patience and giving time for others to change; Forbearing, relaxing justice and showing mercy which is the display of God’s love. V 3 Unity is possible when united in the Spirit; v 4-6 There is one unity when all depend on and worship the one and only God who is active in each one; and this is possible because to those who accept the One God have been given the grace/the ability to serve together. Yes but only in God’s plan found in the Bible, His revealed Word. REB
Christmas Greetings From Eldon and Ruth Brock
Dear Family and Friends,
Ruth and I rejoice in the family and friends God has given to us. Christmas time is a special reminder of this privilege. God’s gift of love as seen in the sending of His Son as Savior exceeds all acts of friendship. We pray that you have personally experienced this by faith.
Our purpose here is to tell you of His wonderful work in and though us this past year. We rejoice that God has given us five years of marriage and service together. Eldonna and Carolyn came in April to celebrate Eldon’s 85th birthday in April. We praise God for good health and opportunities to “serve Christ by serving others.”
Ruth has been blessed by the response and growth in the life of a lady she mentors in a Bible study each week. In July we visited the Navajo ministry where she served many years and saw firsthand the results of her labor and the continued work of those who now lead this ministry.
Eldon has watched God work first hand in several ways. Perhaps the most spectacular one was the miracle of rescuing Camp Sparta, the Florida camp. He became chairman last winter as the reports showed that it could not survive the financial shortfall. As a board we prayed for some way to see a ministry continue in respect of the 20 year history of dedication of this property to a Biblical ministry. In May, in a God like way, the Master’s Academy, Oviedo, FL offered to pay off the $325,000 mortgage and bills we could not pay, if we turned everything over to them. Aug 19 they assumed all responsibilities with new leadership and improvements to make it a premiere camp with an enlarged ministry. He said this took 8 months out of his life but it has been a spectacular demonstration of God’s blessing.
God also has blessed Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries, Inc. Eldon’s vision is to see “U S church congregations reflect the ethnic diversity of their local community, united in Christ to reflect God’s glory to the nations.” There has been small but very good progress in seeing, especially, the conservative churches take interest in this challenging expansion of ministry. We spent seven weeks on two trips traveling for E-tem plus Eldon attended two other conferences.
On our trips we visited Eldon’s sister in Illinois, Eldonna and Don (daughter), Greg and Christy (grandson) and Nathan and Andrew (great grandsons), Jeff and Christy (grandson) and Adalee (now 10 month great granddaughter) and Ruth’s sister Margaret and Milt and niece Melissa. Another highlight was to tour the Creation Museum near Cincinnati.
Again we praise God for the health to be this active but it does tire us out more than in the past.
We wish we could visit each of you personally but we are happy we can wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2012. By faith we wait to see how God will bless each of us.
Eldon and Ruth
251 Timothy Rd., Sebring, FL 33870, Ph. 863 471 6061 – Email, eldon26@gmail.com, Ruth, laughinglady1@gmail.com
There is strength in unified understanding of the “fullness of God.” However, if we only compare our understanding and application from within our own circle of chosen friends how can we recognize that which “passes knowledge”?
Think of the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural Ephesian church when you meditate on this call to unified understanding of the love of God.
Even though I don’t want want to give up the absolute truth of the Inspired Word of God, I have realized that I have overlooked or undervalued the purpose of some Scriptures by not knowing what people of another culture are facing in their need for God’s help.
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We need to be awake to the World Wide Mission Field that is in our local community. What is your church doing?
My passion includes planting new churches but is focused on Established Churches that can extend their outreach to the neighbors who are culturally different. We are in place and can begin right away.
Ken Davis of Project Jerusalem (Baptist Bible Seminary, PA) has summarized some of these facts. See the web site for more or their Church Planting efforts while training students and cooperating with churches. http://www.bbc.edu/seminary/pjoverview.asp
Reaching Ethnic America
The 2010 Census reveals that 40% of our nation is made up of immigrant persons. That’s 130 million precious people. Twelve million immigrants come to America every year. Yet, less than 10% are ever befriended by a Caucasian American. They come from all over the world—from every class, from research scientists to refugees. They’re looking for a home. We have more to give them than America. We have Christ.
Operation World, which compiles prayer information about the world, states we have “the greatest ethnic origin diversity of any nation in history.” The world is coming to us. By 2046, Caucasians will be in the minority. Right now, Texas, California, Hawaii, and New Mexico are already ethnic majority states. We have much to do to reach “Ethnic America.”
Multi-ethnic, Multi-cultural unity; Is it possible?
Yes but only in God’s plan. The summary of the answer is in God in Eph 4: 1 -7. V2 Lowliness, the attitude toward myself; Meekness the attitude toward others, Long-suffering, patience and giving time for others to change; Forbearing, relaxing justice and showing mercy which is the display of God’s love. V 3 Unity is possible when united in the Spirit; v 4-6 There is one unity when all depend on and worship the one and only God who is active in each one; and this is possible because to those who accept the One God have been given the grace/the ability to serve together. Yes but only in God’s Biblical plan. REB
Dear Pastor and church leaders,
*You cannot love a city unless you know a city! And you cannot know a city
unless you know how to do proper research on your city. That’s the message
Ed Stetzer wants city leaders to grasp. Hear Ed, director of LifeWay
Research, on this 21 minute video tell how to do solid city research:
This may take you 21 minutes but it may help with the vitality of your
church and with how effective you are in reaching the lost. Go to http://vimeo.com/19761239
It is really helpful if you continue to the last 5 minutes of the 21. This
provides a tool for motivating your people and targeting groups who need
Hope that is only in Christ.
Eldon
The link to the paper will give you some insight into the challenges but the amazing potential of transitioning from a homogeneous church [over 80% one ethnic or cultural group] to a multi-ethnic church.
This article tells the importance of have a Biblical conviction that goes beyond need for change.
Go to this link http://unityinchristmagazine.com/opinion/commentary/how-we-transitioned-a-homogenous-church/
Why not a Multi-ethnic Church?
Could your church be Multi-ethnic???
Check how many nationalities live in your community.
Go to www.Peoplegroups.info then click on your state and go to city, county or zip to find the list of nations that live near the church. This could or should be a prayer list for outreach. But a large % of church members drive in from a distance. It would be a big step of faith and a challenge to intentionally learn how to welcome these people in your community, of other cultures, to Christ and to your church.
The question is How Big Is Your God and What Is God’s Purpose in moving the Nations to your community?
www.Peoplegroups.info While there look for the other resources available.
Also look up www.EthnictoEthnic.org
Christmas is a JOYFUL time of the year BUT, Every day is a day of HOPE with Christ as my Savior.
Ruth and I have enjoyed a special 2010 and trust God’s blessings have been evident in yours too. December 30 will be the anniversary of 4 enjoyable years of marriage. She loves to travel with me even though I made two trips alone this year. [See her letter for some of the details] We plan to stay in FL for Christmas but hope to connect with my kids by Skype [video conferencing] during the holiday season. I am glad we are not braving the winter in Iowa, Ohio or Maryland.
Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries, Inc. continues to be my main focus. Because of this I spend lots of time on the computer for email, face book and web sites. Also I had opportunities to present the Biblical basis and some of the challenges for churches to transition from mono-ethnic congregations to multi-ethnic. See www.EthnictoEthnic.org. I am honored but amazed that God has given me this responsibility.
In our travels I was able to conduct a workshop in 2 conferences and speak in some churches. I went to San Diego for a Multi-Ethnic Church Conference. This was very helpful and encouraging but very tiring for my old body. Also, this year three men have showed interest in joining this mission even though no one has felt lead to do so at this time.
We have friends from several countries but it was extra special that four people from the Navajo Nation came for Ruth’s birthday. She had taught them when they were kids. 
We have continued contact with the Kachin people, who live in the states that are from Myanmar. In April I went to Dallas to take part in an ordination of La Seng. Then in September we were honored to take part in a Kachin wedding. His bride arrived in the States for the first time on the 1st and the wedding was the 4th. We can see this is true love even though it is different from our custom. In Oct they came here for overnight in Oct. so we could encourage and bond with them even more.
My Kids: Eldonna and Don Long continue in Iowa. Grandson, Greg and Christy are there too with my great grandsons, Nathan and Andrew. Grandson Jeff and Christy are in Ohio and in Jan. they expect to add a great granddaughter to the family. Carolyn and Jack live on the edge of Washington, DC. Each one is busy and productive in their own way.
As part of our 5 week trip to the mid west we attended 2 conferences, reported in one of Ruth’s supporting churches, stayed at 2 camps, visited family and friends and then enjoyed three days in a cottage near the top of the Smoky Mountains in NC. We should take more time out like this.
Hopefully we can meet or interact with you during the year. We value each friend and look forward to making many more.
Eldon and Ruth Brock
Can’t teach about heaven! I wondered why Chinese Communists restrict their churches on this. I believe if you take away HOPE then they can control people with oppression, torture and fear. Hope for eternal rewards allows us to face all kinds of problems. Only Christ offers hope. Why live in fear of failing their gods as all other religions teach.
I remember my pastoral days when we kept the focus on preparing the members to work together to reach the community. My passion now is to challenge churches to reach the local community but that has become very diverse, culturally and ethnically. In most cases our churches have the appearance that there is a Black God, a White God, an Asian God, etc. I challenge you to study this issue in the light of Eph 2:14 – 22.
I know that any multi-ethnic emphasis cannot override the main purpose. It is not a replacement of the traditional mission program but neither can we be content that we are reaching the world by sending missionaries overseas. There should be a balance in our outreach beginning with Samaria; our neighbors who are of another culture.
Labor Day weekend we went to Jacksonville, FL to a wedding of Lat Aung Kinraw and Chan Myae Thu [Esther]. She arrived from burma on Sept 1 and the wedding was the 4th. He had everything arranged plus he has so many friends and family that this was a special production as you can see by the pictures below.
One of the features of a Kachin wedding is that they dress in the traditional style for the wedding and then they go out and change to more of an American style dress. They then cut the cake before the meal and had me speak with some comments about marriage and pray. When they cut the cake the used the sword that she gave to him, and asked Ruth and me to hold onto the sword with them to make the first slice. All of this is representative of the honor and the relationship he has given us as his American parents.
Then they had the elaborate buffet of Kachin food, much like Chinese. The bride and groom went from table to table to greet everyone. He is such an appreciative person that they did not finish this until everyone was finished. Of course it took more time since it seemed that he wanted pictures with everyone. Esther’s mother came from Burma with her and Lat Aung’s father too. Many came for Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and California, plus the many who live in Jacksonville.
The day was not over. At 6:00 people, many people, met at his house for a dedication [worship time] of their house that he bought in May. This involved 5 speakers and nearly 1 ½ hours and then food.
I respect that they except us and consider a responsibility to them in the name of our Lord. I only wish you could know Lat Aung. He is a very special person.
Do you think churches should be mono-ethnic or multi cultural and multi-ethnic? Consider this opinion and change in this church. Connect to the link below.
Fla. Megachurch Ends Age-Segregated Worship
By Lillian Kwon| Christian Post Reporter
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100825/fla-megachurch-ends-age-segregated-worship/index.html
Please read this from a friend, Maynard Belt. See his address at the end. It is fitting for the need to go out and reach the local community for what ever culture it may be.
The Barnabas File
June – 2010
If The Church Lights Are On – The Lost Will Come!
(Today – I Think Not!)
Give us a watchword for the hour, a thrilling word, a word of power,
A battle cry, a flaming breath, a call to conquest or to death,
A word to rouse the church from rest, to heed the Master’s high behest!
The Word is given, you host arise! The watchword is….evangelize!
Maynard H. Belt
616-361-2396 - mhbelt@sbcglobal.net - www.BarnabasFile.com
Below are some historical and projected population stats for the USA. [Also note the web site for many interesting facts.]
This rate of growth becomes more significant when recently our newspaper reported that Florida 9 grew by 114,091 to a total of 18.5 million July 2008 to July 200. The growth was an influx of 87,381 international immigrants and a natural increase of 58,169 as births outnumbered deaths for the year. It also reported that Florida like some other states is experiencing and outflow of residents.
To some this may scare you and maybe anger you that there are so many immigrants. But I hope when you consider the potential that God has moved them to our land so you can begin to pray for them, try to befriend them and offer them the Gospel. If they should receive Christ that makes them a brother or sister in Christ. Rejoice!
Also, since these people have connections to other lands, maybe lands where Americans could never, they could find a way to send or take the Gospel to their homeland since they know family and friends, the culture, the language and probably ways around the government controls.
It is really our opportunity to “Reach the World without Leaving Home.” [See the figure to show how the population is increasing.]
Total Population of the World by Decade, 1950–2050
(historical and projected)
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0762181.html
Year
Total world population
(mid-year figures)
Ten-year growth
rate (%)
1950 2,556,000,053 18.9%
1960 3,039,451,023 22.0
1970 3,706,618,163 20.2
1980 4,453,831,714 18.5
1990 5,278,639,789 15.2
2000 6,082,966,429 12.6
2010 6,848,932,929 10.7
2020 7,584,821,144 8.7
2030 8,246,619,341 7.3
2040 8,850,045,889 5.6
2050 9,346,399,468
—
“You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Revelation 5:9. Today It hit me special that Christ “purchased” people from every people group. With His sacrifice to leave heaven, become man, Die and rise to be ready to welcome born again of every ethnos gives meaning to Christmas.
Unreached People Groups.
Would you like a daily reminded to pray for them. Go to http://www.unreachedoftheday.org/unreached-email.php. It is interesting that of the 6,000 plus people from at least 60 of these groups live in the US. Maybe you could meet and win them and they could send the Gospel to unreached areas.
The trip to Dallas/Ft Worth April 15 to 19 was a special blessing mixed with some concerns. Thanks for praying. It was busy but God sustained and blessed. I went specifically to attend the ordination of La Seng. He was the first Kachin Bible College teacher I sponsored for seminary training in the States. I then had the privilege to preach the ordination sermon. I told of my personal involvement with La Seng and his family and the opportunities to mentor him. I challenged him with Biblical principles that God has used in my life regarding ministry. I was also blessed by the personal friendship and humbled by the way they in their culture gives honor to me for seemly small things that I have been able to do for them. I think of James 3:1 that says those who teach are judged more severely and that I am accountable for the trust they give to me. The fellowship and opportunity to counsel was very special. The Kachin food was sooooo good. They even surprised me with a birthday cake. I preached for a new church of Burmese speaking and then to the Kachin speaking church [through translators]. To me it seems they need to have more organization as a church but I know that unless they understand and agree, too many changes would cause confusion. Pray that any advice I give will be Biblical and not just our American Baptist cultural.
Kachin Son Being Ordained
I fly to Dallas TX on 4/15/10 and return 4/19/10 to meet with the many Kachin friends [From Burma] and to speak in La Seng Labya’s Ordination Sunday, 5:00. I will also speak in the Kachin church that morning.
This will be a great honor since La Seng is my first Kachin son in the faith. I went to Dallas to meet him in 1996 while he was in a MA study. He had the wrong visa and lacked support. After spending 5 days with him I could see that if we assisted a Bible College teacher he could train many workers. I gave him money so he could go home and obtain his visa and I committed to sponsor him for $100.00 per month. This was the beginning of the vision to assist three other Bible College Teachers from Kachin State to earn a D Min degree and from that formed the Closed Door Ministries, Inc. Our motto was “Assist a few to disciple many to reach millions.” Dr Phil McDonald has been the president since 2004.
This will be a blessing. It will be an opportunity to serve since they want me to advise and encourage in the purpose and unity of the church. Thanks for praying.
Do you need or want to share the Bible with someone in another language?
Below is a link that allows you to select 2 languages and then a chapter in the Bible. When you click submit it will show the passage in the 2 languages side by side. http://www.ethnicharvest.org/parallel/index.htm
Many people from other countries think God only spoke in English. Therefore they often think that there is an American God and then their national god.
From this same web site go to link, Bibles in Your Language, in top right corner to find Bible in many languages.
Help them learn that the God of the Bible speaks to all people.
to evangelize ethnic people worldwide.
Eldon
Eldon Brock, DD
Email eldon26@gmail.com
Web www.EthnictoEthnic.org
To donate to Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries click on the secure link below and give from your Paypal account or credit card. For the credit card form, Select “continue” then fill out and send. Thank You for sharing.
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The Importance of Allowing a Person the Freedom to Serve Jesus Christ According to His Gifts and Opportunities.
Eldon Brock, DD
I trust you are passionate about the need for people worldwide to hear the Gospel. But you say I can’t go to those restricted countries. Then you discover that some of the most effective people for sharing this message to their own language group live near us in
I believe those who are from a different ethnic group will want their people to have the same joy. I believe God will give them a passion for their family so they are serving God rather than being accountable to us, our church or even our mission agency.
Below is one plan for discipleship training. I like to remind myself, “The way we disciple may be the way they will disciple”. Are we willing to serve others sacrificially in a way that they will learn how to effectively share this Good News with people in their homeland. Let’s give freedom to others who want to follow Christ.
EIGHT STEPS FOR TRAINING DISCIPLES
From Robert Coleman’s book The Master Plan of Evangelism
1. Selection-people were his method.
Jesus believed that people should reach other people. He could have used an exclusive barrage of miracles, or He could have brought everything to conclusion while on earth. Instead He chose common men and women like us to reach the world. This demonstrates not only His love for us, but also His confidence in us.
2. Association-He stayed with them.
With the first disciples, the essence of Jesus’ training meant just letting His disciples follow Him. He drew them close to Himself, becoming His own school and curriculum.
3. Consecration-He required obedience.
Jesus expected His disciples to obey Him. He didn’t require them to be smart, but He wanted them to be loyal-to the extent that obeying Him became the distinguishing mark they were known by. “Disciples” meant they were the Master’s “learners” or “pupils”. Later Jesus’ disciples became known as “Christians” (Acts
4. Impartation-He gave Himself away.
Jesus gave His disciples everything: what the Father had given Him (John 15:5); His peace (John
5. Demonstration-He showed them how to live.
Jesus showed the disciples how to pray, study, and relate to others. More than twenty times the Gospels recount Jesus’ practice of prayer. He taught the disciples about the use of Scripture by extensively using works from the Old Testament. As the disciples saw Jesus interact with Nicodemus, the woman ant the well, the rich young ruler, and many others, Jesus showed them how to talk to and how to treat others.
6. Delegation-He assigned them work.
From day one, Jesus prepared His disciples to take over the mission. He gradually turned over responsibility, sending out the seventy (Matthew 10: 1-42) and giving extensive instructions to the Twelve (Luke 10:1-20). He told the disciples to follow His methods, to expect hardships, and to go out in pairs. Following His resurrection, He clearly gave the disciples the responsibility to take the gospel to the entire world (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).
7. Supervision-He kept checking on them.
When Jesus gave the disciples work to do, He followed up. He listened to their reports and blessed them. When He was with the disciples, He spent time helping them understand the reason for a previous action or preparing them for a new experience. He used questions, illustrations, warnings, and admonitions to teach the disciples what they needed to know to reach the world.
8. Reproduction-He expected them to reproduce.
Jesus told the disciples to pray for workers (Matthew
Quoted in The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Making Followers of Christ, Bill Hull, Navpress
DOES GOD HAVE A PLAN TO REACH EVERY NATION?
The open fields for evangelism and missions are getting smaller. More countries are saying “no American missionaries”. Billions are behind closed doors when it comes to American missions. It is sad but too many Christians are assuming that this limits God’s plan and they say we can’t do missions there anymore.
I still believe that God has a plan that will allow every tongue and tribe and nation to hear the gospel. The question is; has He put people in your neighborhood that can be the messages to their own ethnic homeland. Maybe we don’t need to go overseas to complete the job. Maybe each believer [you and me] should see themselves as a missionary to the immigrants who live near us. If you help them develop a spiritual passion for the lost they have ways whereby they can share the gospel with people of the same language group. Maybe a language group you never heard of.
Lift up your eyes to see the harvesters for the worldwide harvest.
Contact, Eldon Brock
Dear Friends of Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries
As I try to follow the vision for Multi-ethnic churches it seems that several things need to change from church traditions that I have known for over 60 years. I know that most younger men have approached ministry with more personal application of Scripture to daily life and social outreach so this is not all new. The article listed below has some thought provoking suggestions for reaching the culture we in which we live.
I would love to have some response, negative and positive.
We Are the Body: How to Become a Practicing Church
Whitney Hopler
Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
Link – http://www.crosswalk.com/pastors/11626074/
Carlos Pena, 1st baseman of Tampa Bay Rays, was in his homeland, Dominican Rep. at the time of the earthquake in Haiti. Haiti and Dom. Rep. are not friendly nations but Carlos has donated $15,000. He said” This is a good time to show we are one race – human race”. If everyone understood this then Multi-ethnic ministry in our churches would be a natural. Christ’s death and resurrection is for the Human Race -all. How could it b e otherwise when there is ONE Creator God.
Below are some historical and projected population stats for the USA. [Also note the web site for many interesting facts.]
Total Population of the World by Decade, 1950–2050
(historical and projected)
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0762181.html
|
Year |
Total world population |
Ten-year growth |
|
1950 |
2,556,000,053 |
18.9% |
|
1960 |
3,039,451,023 |
22.0 |
|
1970 |
3,706,618,163 |
20.2 |
|
1980 |
4,453,831,714 |
18.5 |
|
1990 |
5,278,639,789 |
15.2 |
|
2000 |
6,082,966,429 |
12.6 |
|
20101 |
6,848,932,929 |
10.7 |
|
20201 |
7,584,821,144 |
8.7 |
|
20301 |
8,246,619,341 |
7.3 |
|
20401 |
8,850,045,889 |
5.6 |
|
20501 |
9,346,399,468 |
— |
Christmas Letter – 2009
Eldon and Ruth Brock
251 Timothy Rd, Sebring, Fl 33870
Eldon26@gmail.com or Laughinglady1@gmail.com
Merry Christmas to our Family and Friends,
Our desire is and has been to serve and honor the Lord with the abilities and energy He has graciously given. At our age we can’t expect much but as the opportunities come we have given our best. We pray that you also have experienced great blessings from serving Our Savior with the gift he has given you.
Ruth and I rejoice in the blessings of our marriage; it really does grow sweeter. We both enjoy good health except Eldon had a knee repair September 1 but we were able to travel for the month of Oct. with limitations. Ruth has continued contact with the Navajo ladies and served as president of the Maranatha Ladies Mission Fellowship. You should taste some of the fruit cakes she makes; they are not the typical.
Our lives tend to be filled with trips and recovery from trips. Eldon has seen God do some special things with Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries and he is trusting for even bigger developments in 2010.
2008 Christmas we rode the train [one of Ruth’s dreams] to Washington, DC where we were able to enjoy a few days with Jack and Carolyn, Don and Eldonna, the two Long grandsons and their families. Being in Florida limits the time we can have with family. April we flew to Erie, PA to speak in an International Dinner and speak in the church on Ethnic Ministries. May Eldon led the 1st Multi-ethnic Ministries Round Table, in Clarks Summit, PA. This was 2 day discussion group of 16 on the why, who and how of a Multi-ethnic Church. June was a trip to the GARBC conference in Elyria, OH where we enjoyed great preaching and made several contacts for the mission.
October was a big trip of a 4-legged air trip for 3 ½ weeks. We went to Toronto to visit a multi-ethnic church and spend a lot of time discussing ministry and the future of E-tem. This also allowed us to visit the church on Six Nations Reserve where Ruth ministered for 5 years. Even though it had been 30 years they had a special celebration with many who knew her. [perhaps the biggest highlight for her].
The second stop was in New Jersey so we could see several of Ruth’s family and to attend Ruth’s 60th H S Reunion [another one of Ruth’s dreams]. Eldon conducted another Round Table with 16 from very diverse backgrounds. The third stop Washington where from Carolyn’s we visited churches. Eldon held a Round Table in Virginia and in Maryland. Again there was great interest from pastors on how to meet the needs of the diverse ethnicity in each of their local areas.
The Kachin believers are a blessing. They are from the churches in Myanmar that Eldon visited and served from 1994 to 2004. In August a pastor came to the States to connect with many Kachin people here but he made a special effort to visit us. Then Dr Naw Mai came for Thanksgiving. He is the first teacher Eldon sponsored for a D Min degree and now he is President of Hanson Baptist Bible College in Myanmar. He brought his daughter to be an exchange student and visit churches and family but he included a trip to Florida to express his gratitude for believing in him. The college, churches and friends sent special greetings to Eldon for helping them with their ministries.
That is a peek at how God led us in 2009. It would be great to hear how God is encouraging you. This is one of the traditions we enjoy, at least it is not a bore to us.
Yours in Christ, Eldon and Ruth
Please send us an email if you would like to be on our news list
“You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Revelation 5:9. Today It hit me special that Christ “purchased” people from every people group. With His sacrifice to leave heaven, become man, Die and rise to be ready to welcome born again of every ethnos gives meaning to Christmas.
From the beginning, as suggested by the unity of the Trinue Godhead, God planned for men who worship Him as the One True Creator and Redeemer should unite in their worship as one. This sudy cover many of the principles for united worship. God gave even the Choosen Nation, Israel, the responsibility to display His Glory so that they could welcome the Nations, the Stranger.
Click on the player to listen to this message.
Have you read the book of Ephesians with the thought that this church and book sets the pattern and exhorts us to have unity among all followers of Christ who come from differnt people groups, nationalities and cultures?
Listen to the this study, part one, whith this view by Eldon
Click on this player to begin listening.
Part Two
Part One of this study focused on the Reconciliations of Jew and Gentile nations, in other words all Nations, based on one common faith in Jesus Christ. That was a new thing since God had given favor to the Jews so they could reveal God greatness to the nations. Here His favor is available to all who trust Christ by faith to become One Body.
In this message Eldon reviews WHY WOULD GOD MAKE THIS CHANGE AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE.
Click on the player and begin listening to this Part Two.
To friends of E-tem
I feel God blessed the 5 weeks of SS teaching on Biblical Basis for Multi-Ethnic Churches as I spoke here in Maranatha Baptist Church. I now have prepared more material to go out to speak if called. I also had the sessions videoed on DVD and hope that some sections can be edited for future. I spent 2 weeks on the book of Ephesians, focusing on the mystery of Jew and Gentile in one body and then God’s reasons for this. I had one lesson on the OT and one on the Model and commission of Christ for M/E churches. I emphasized that multi-ethnic people serving One God in harmony can be a testimony of the Love of God that the world can not imagine. Then yesterday I made application on where can we begin by giving examples of how to pray for the Nations, world wide, locally and the unreached people groups.
Did you know that there are immigrant people from 60 unreached people groups of the world who now live in the USA? To me this supports the ideas that if we can win the nations who have moved in around us then they can become the messengers of the Gospel to their homeland by either indirect methods of communication or possible by returning to their people with the Truth.
Ruth and I have tickets to fly Oct 8 to 31, to Canada, NJ and MD. We plan to be with Rob Elkington 4 days and visit the Indian Reservation where Ruth served. In NJ she will attend her 60th HS reunion and I hope to contact some churches in the Trenton area. In MD I plan to speak in Jim Johnson’s church, observe Ron Lindholm’s church ELS class and contact Bryan Clark and Jim Eaton. We are open to other contacts as the Lord opens, according to my stamina.
God has allowed timing for a arthroscopic knee surgery for Sept 1 with the assumption that with this minor surgery I will be free to travel 10/8
I pray that God will bless each one that focuses your efforts to befriend people of any and all Nations.
I copied the News Release regarding the Multi-Ethnic Ministry Round Table we had.
Now I can give you the link to the Baptist Bulletin web site http://www.baptistbulletin.org/?paged=6 Scroll down half way to see the picture with the above heading.
I am now in the process of preparing SS lessons for the month of August on the Biblical Basis for Multi-Ethnic Church outreach and membership.
Also, Ruth and I are planning a trip to Whitby, Ontario to visit Pastor Rob Elkington and Faith Baptist Church. He wants me to interact with his staff, deacons, small group leader and members as well as be there for a Sunday. I know that I will learn more than what I can help. While in Canada we want to visit the Six Nations Indian Reservation where Ruth was a missionary for 6 years.
Then we want to go to Ruth’s 60 HS reunion near Trenton, NJ. I will try to contact churches in the Philadelphia area.
From there we will go to the DC area to visit Carolyn, my daughter. There are three pastors in that areas who attended the Round Table so there I want to interact with them about their ministry and discuss future plans for Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries.
God is good to allow me this level of health even though these activities wear me out quicker than when I was 65.
Yesterday a Kachin Pastor from Myanmar [Burma] came to visit us for only two hours. He attended one of the three youth camps when I was there in 1995. He told me that during the camp he made the decision to trust Christ and to go to Hanson Baptist Bible College, 1996 to 2000. He was pastor for 7 years and is now the chairman of the men’s association for his convention in northeast Burma. He remembers me from my other trips to the college and churches since then.
The reason this is so special to me is that he is on a two month visit to the States with a busy schedule to visit Kachin people in various parts of our country. One of the Kachin refugees who lives in Jacksonville, FL and is a very close friend of ours drove at least four hours each way to bring him for this short visit. We reviewed other special experiences from my seven other trips to serve the Hanson Baptist Bible College and these churches.
He also reported to me blessing of God on his service. One ministry is his personal work with homeless drug addicts who are rejected by family and society. He accepts 5 at a time into his home and then because of the loving care they open up to the Gospel and begin a new life. I am honored by this show of appreciation for the simple acts of service I gave them.
I always felt that the blessings of seeing their faithfulness to the Bible was greater than anything I could do for them. While you praise God for these believers who serve Christ in their poverty also pray for them.
The following will appear on www.baptistbulletin.org and in the Baptist Bulletin magazine, with pictures.
Multiethnic Ministries Roundtable Discussion
Clarks Summit, Pa.—Sixteen church leaders have met on the campus of Baptist Bible Seminary for a discussion forum on multi-ethnic, multicultural and intercultural church ministries.
The group discussed three aspects of multicultural ministry: the scriptural commands and examples for Christians to give the Gospel to the “ethnos” (people groups) at home and overseas; the adjustments we need to make to think and reach out cross-culturally; and the potential results of reaching the world by allowing God to direct the ethnic people who live in America to spread the Gospel to the unsaved in their homelands (where Americans are restricted.)
The event was attended by representatives from six ethnic backgrounds and various levels of multi-ethnic ministries. Some had years of experience but all demonstrated a hunger to learn.
Ken Davis, director of Project Jerusalem for Baptist Bible Seminary, reported that the United States will become 50% ethnic and 50% Anglo by the year 2042, a projection that has recently been moved up from the previous date of 2056.
“The nations have come to us,” said Eldon Brock, founder and director of Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries, Inc. and organizer of the conference. “God is giving us the opportunity to give the Gospel to the World without leaving home.”
Formerly a GARBC pastor and director of Lake Ann Baptist Camp, Eldon Brock has spent his retirement years motivating churches toward international ministry. “I have realized that I am like the dog that chased the train but it was too big for him,” Brock said of his God given vision which has motivated him to alert churches to the needed changes in missions through this conference. “I see my role as helping to get something started and then watch others develop it. Pray with me for wisdom to know when and how to release this to others who have abilities I don’t have.”
As existing churches age and gentrify, Brock is interested in challenging them to welcome the diverse community next door. “Maybe the church should not move away,” Brock said. “They can be revived as they welcome other cultures into one fellowship.
Read more about Eldon Brock and Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries, Inc. at www.EthnictoEthnic.org and http://EthnictoEthnic.blogspot.com. Contact Eldon Brock at eldon26@gmail.com
Round Table Report
LET’S DO THIS AGAIN!
This was the response from those attending the Multi-Ethnic Ministry Round Table May 18, 19.
These comments confirm that the meeting was a success and that these and many more among conservative churches have a growing desire to share the Gospel with the millions of people who have moved to the United States. The Nations have come to us. God is giving us the opportunity to give the Gospel to the World without leaving home.
16 leaders who are keenly interested in Multi-Ethnic, Multi Cultural and Inter Cultural ministries joined in this discussion forum to think through 1. The Scriptural commands and examples for Christians to give the Gospel to the “Ethnos” (People groups) at home and overseas, 2. The adjustments we need to make to think and reach out cross culturally, and 3. The potential results of reaching the ‘World’ by allowing God to direct the ethnic people who live in America to spread the Gospel to the unsaved in their homelands where Americans are restricted.
Thank you to all who prayed for this “God Sized Event”. This was a good start of what potentially will spread through our conservative churches and Bible Colleges. Many others who could not attend indicated a sense of urgency for this focus on Multi-Ethnic Ministries. Four leaders from Baptist Bible College and Seminary came in for some of the session. Then some of us met with BBC leaders on Wednesday to discuss student recruitment and retention for the college. All of this shows how God is already awakening Christians to this opportunity.
Ken Davis reported to us that the projection for the time when the USA will become 50% ethnic and 50% Anglo has been 2056 has recently been changed to 2042. This is exciting if we will accept it as a privilege to win people “From every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Rev. 5:9)
Continue to pray that God will give me direction to promote this through Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries, Inc. At the same time pray that God will raise up pastors and leaders through E-tem or by any means that will enter into this field, “for they are white already to harvest.” (Jn. 4:35)
Eldon Brock, President
Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries, Inc.
Email, eldon26@gmail.com
Phone 863 471 6061
The ‘God Size’ Event is May 18, 19
On Monday 15 people will meet with me for the Multi-Ethnic Ministries Round Table that I have been planning for the past 5 months. Many others showed special interest in this discussion forum indicating that there is a sense of urgency and it is like a hunger to learn more about how our churches can welcome people who are of a different culture into our fellowship. Will you PRAY?
Those attending are educators, pastors, missionaries and church planters plus they represent several different ethnic backgrounds. It is an answer to prayer that we can have this variety of experiences to openly discuss the opportunities, challenges and plans to enter this specialized field of ministry.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
These verses lead me to think that all (all nations) who trust Jesus Christ are joined into one body in God’s eyes. But it seems that our cultural boundaries limit us in how we practice this in our local churches.
The test of faith for us is to learn how to “go to” the mission field that has moved into our local church neighborhood with the message of freedom from sin and death. We have the answer that overcomes the fear of appeasing unknown gods; the message of One Creator God, One Redemption by faith in the One Savior, One Body for fellowship and One Hope of eternity that allows for peace and joy.
Pray that as we meet to discuss and plan on how to help churches transition into this multi-ethnic ministry we will also be able to offer helps for planting multi-ethnic churches and establishing partnerships between English speaking churches and non English speaking churches.
I feel this is the biggest project God has given to me in my 58 years of being a pastor, camp director and organizer of Closed Door Ministries, Inc. I have experienced many special demonstrations of God’s work and I believe Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries, Inc. is another opportunity to Watch Him Work.
Some believe that the survival of many churches depends on whether we can refocus to include this multi-ethnic and multi-cultural potential. One third of our nation is non Anglo (white) and more than 10% of our 300,000 USA residents are foreign born. This is BIG and it requires SPIRITUAL SENSITIVTY. Are we ready?
P.S. YOU CAN JOIN US. I am confident that God can you use you to help move this ministry along as you pray. Check out www.EthnictoEthnic.org. Also can help if you go to http://ethnictoethnic.blogspot.com/ and sign in as a follower. It seems the more followers a blog has the more likely others will discover it.
Let the WHOLE EARTH be Filled with His Glory
Do you want to join God in His desire that all nations should fill the earth with praise from their life and lips? (Psalm 72:19b)
We all know how important it is to pray for the missionaries. They are out there doing the Lord’s work first hand; representing us. Even so the missionaries we know touch only a few of the 6.7 BILLION people of the world. You can be sure that the missionaries are praying for the lost people of their field.
If we want to be true partners we should be praying for God to soften and turn the hearts of people to Christ? This is a personal way can enter Satan’s field of battle when they are in such faraway places.
I hope you are asking, “How can I share in the outreach to the rest of the world?” Here is a tool that will help in meaningful prayer for missionaries and for the unreached nations.The Joshua Project has published prayer cards, in color, for each of the unreached people groups by regions of the world. Go to http://www.joshuaproject.net/prayer-cards.php. From there you can select a region of the world and find the unreached people groups. Even in North America you can find the many people groups of the world who have immigrated to our continent. Each card has a picture for the people group and then stats on how many now live in USA and then the total in the world. You can print them as an aid to focused prayer.
My passion is to “assist churches to disciple U S ethnic people to evangelize unreached people groups worldwide.” You can become a part of helping the nations hear the Truth by praying for the various people groups. Maybe a good way to begin is to pray for each of the 6 continents on a regular schedule.
Eldon Brock
Check our Web site www.EthnictoEthnic.org
We hope you have enjoyed fellowship with our Savior, Jesus Christ, during this year. He came as a baby to reveal God’s love to mankind and provide salvation from sin and hope of heaven.
As we review the past year and reflect on our walk with God we are humbled that he would allow us to enjoy Him and serve Him. We have many joys of living and serving together in our marriage that God arranged. December 30 will complete two years. The blessing of good health makes us responsible to use it for His glory.
We truly enjoy living here in Maranatha Village, Sebring, FL, a retirement community of Christians. Our church is located within the village and nearly everyone attends there. Our pastor is a great Bible teacher and we have many opportunities to interact with people. During the year the church has Bible conferences, Music Concerts, Missionary speakers, a great Choir with cantatas at Christmas and Easter. The Village also plans fellowship times for fun and communication.
Ruth has been the president of the Ladies Mission Fellowship. She gives special effort to provide informative and interesting programs. Both of us serve on the Mission Committee.
Eldon’s special passion is Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries. This is the vision God gave to him three years ago. This year the board agreed to incorporated and applied for IRS Tax Exemption. God has expanded his communication with people through the website – http://www.ethnictoethnic.org/ and with a Blog Site http://ethnictoethnic.blogspot.com/ . For the past 18 weeks he has posted an article about the need and benefit of intentional multi ethnic ministry. Eldon has founded this to help churches make this adjustment to become multicultural in out reach and fellowship. If this could happen many of those from other nations would find a way to send or carry the Gospel to their ethnic homeland. They could be the missionaries we can’t be in major parts of the world.
Last summer we traveled nine weeks and 8400 miles to Iowa, Kansas, New Mexico, Texas, New Jersey and home. We made several valuable contacts for E-tem, served with the missionaries to the Navajo where Ruth had been a missionary, visited friends from Kachin State, Burma living in Dallas that Eldon knows from his trips to Burma, attended the wedding of Ruth’s brother. Included did visit Eldonna and family, toured the Grand Canyon, and attended a musical on Texas but nearly all of our time was given to missions activities.
We anticipate special opportunities for 2009. Ruth is president again and maybe it will be easier the second year. Eldon is dreaming of a special Round Table type meeting of several leaders involved in multi ethnic ministries to coordinate the potential and the methods of assisting churches. If he had a support base of administrative staff and finances the potential would be greater. Meanwhile, we are praying for God to provide a man to develop E-tem far beyond my ability.
In 2009 let’s trust God to reveal his salvation and His glory even though there seems to be such resistance to Jesus Christ, the one who can provide a righteous solution to the problems of the world.
Eldon and Ruth
251 Timothy Rd, Sebring, FL 33870, eldon26@gmail.com or laughinglady1@gmail.com
Last week I wrote “Ethnic People Can Give the Gospel and Plant Churches.”
Jean B Manirakiza wrote regarding the hesitancy people from other cultures feel. He is a friend who was born in Burundi, Africa. Notice, too, his insight on the working relationships needed for fulfilling the Great Commission. (Underlining is mine. More of his background at the end.)
“Thank you for another insightful and provocative (in a positive way) post. From an immigrant perspective, I agree with your statements and would only add that the cultural gap is one of the contributing factors in the misconceptions. For example, at least from where I come from, (Burundi, Africa) modesty/humility hinders a lot of people to assert their capabilities and may yield to the opinion that assertiveness is equivalent of knowledge and capability. As a result, we may believe that Americans are more capable of reaching people of ethnic background more than we do. Another minor issue we may deal with is the familiarity breeding contempt-remember that even Jesus’ siblings were not enthusiastic about his ministries until he ascended to heaven…that one always baffles me. But in the end, love for God remains the most powerful tool if we, American and ethnic people, hope to reach the lost in other cultures. Do we love God enough to seek his guidance in finding ways to bridge the cultural gaps and change our misconceptions of others? That’s my prayer! Thanks and may God grant us wisdom to care for the lost.”
[Jean was forced to leave Burundi when a civil war began. They were killing College students. He made his way to South Africa where he accepted Christ as savior through a church. After this he sought refugee status here and now has a government job in DC. He is active in Calvary Baptist, Alexandria, VA but has interests of serving our Lord in Africa some day.]
An American friend also wrote this week to say, “I work with a very diverse group of nurses who, 2 of them are here in the states and planning on going back to their country to minister there. Both are Calvin grads as are their husbands who plan to start agencies to minister to their own country men.”
My contention is that we are not listening to people who have perspectives on reaching the world. We have a lot to learn as well as a lot to give.
This may seem like a minor point but something is limiting the joint effort to share the Gospel worldwide.
Tell me what you think. Leave a comment here. Soon I want to talk about prayer for the nations as a beginning action step. Eldon, www.EthnictoEthnic.org.
Key Point 13
American’s are not the only ones who can give the gospel and plant churches. “Do we pray, plan and encourage cross culturally empowering others to carry the message where we can’t?”
Many American’s have a subconscious response that questions the ability of people from another culture to properly give out the Gospel. I know we quickly affirm that others can be effective within their culture BUT the question is, “Do we pray, plan and empower others to carry the message where we can’t?” It is so common to us that the Bible is in English and some may doubt the ability of one in another language to teach the truth to others. Be patient with me on this.
My proposition for E-tem is that we should seek to win the people from other nations, especially the immigrants, and disciple them so they can give the gospel in areas where America’s are rejected or disliked.
I believe, “You can reach the nations without leaving home.”
AN EXAMPLE: A friend told me about his work with Mexican immigrants, mostly illegal. Churches in Mexico give him names of those who move to his area. He then has led several to accept Christ as Savior. Some of these have returned home by choice or by deportation and have helped to strengthen the church in Mexico.
AN OPINION, OBSERVATION:
Americans commonly have more education, money and organization. It is easy to look at the people of another nation and assume that we know best how to teach the Bible and organize church planting efforts. After all, how could they understand our methods since they are not as educated in this culture which is superior? (This is sarcasm to emphasize point.)
On the other hand many people from other nations tend to think of themselves as less qualified because they don’t know our ways. This may true if they are new believers. Even so it does not make them inferior.
Here is the problem! American’s tend to think the ethnic person is not ready and the ethnic person tends to think he is unqualified. Too often we may try to maintain control and he may not accept responsibility.
The result is that we sometimes limit effectiveness. An ethnic person is more readily accepted by his culture because he knows the language, the culture, and the false religion. Let’s ask ourselves if we truly trust God’s promise, “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit.” If so, we will give more effort to assisting, encouraging and maybe pushing the convert to take leadership up to his level of learning. In my camp leadership days I often said, “Help a camper learn/discover a new thing and he will have a desire to learn more.”
Let’s, disciple U S ethnic people to evangelize the ethnic people groups worldwide.
I need you insights. Enter you comments. Also sign on as a follower in the upper left corner of this Blog. http://EthnictoEthnic.blogspot.com.
Eldon Brock, Eldon26@gmail.com.
Planting strong, vital multi-ethnic churches is the most effective way to advance the Gospel in our increasingly urban, ethnically diverse world. This is the growing conviction shared by many North American church planters and is confirmed by a growing body of research. Ken Davis, Director of Project Jerusalem. Go to the following link to see the complete article. (http://mail.google.com/mail/?zx=veu75xvidpnq&shva=1#inbox/11dabc5df7b67f9a).
“Project Jerusalem’s innovative strategy partners BBS’ M.Div. students with independent churches, state associations, and mission agencies to intentionally train church planters by planting healthy churches in the Northeastern United States.” http://www.bbc.edu/seminary/pjoverview.asp
Multi Ethnic ministry is not simple but Ken refers to the easier, and maybe the quicker way, which is to start a new church with an intentional purpose to be multi ethnic. There are many exciting reports on ministries that are planned and programmed this way from the beginning.
Even though is hard to change established traditions in a church, is it not true that we should be open and yielded to whatever is needed to make the greatest spiritual impact in our changing nation that is increasingly urban, ethnically diverse world. I want to encourage the planting of new churches but let’s also challenge established churches to adjust to welcome the diverse community next door. Maybe the church should not move away; could it be they can be revived as they welcome other cultures into one fellowship.
Perhaps this means churches will have to notice the nations represented in their local area and pray for them instead of thinking that missions is all overseas. Maybe we need to get real about the one faith, one Lord regardless of the cultural background. It excites me to think of ONE ETERNAL CULTURE in heaven made of many nations. We should prayerfully make effort to experience some of that fellowship here so it will not be such a shock to us when we get there.
Read more of what Ken Davis said.
The multicultural church matches an urgent need in a fractured North American society which often seeks unity in superficial solutions. In a day of rising immigration (both legal and illegal), we live in a world often characterized by fear, suspicion and mistrust. Sometimes outright racism raises its ugly head, even in church.
The multi-ethnic church which models well the reconciling power of the Gospel and the oneness Christ followers have in Him will be attractive to many of the younger generation who are fed up with the racial discord and division in our land.
North American evangelicals face two demographic challenges: continuing urbanization and rapid ethnic diversification.
Watch my post next week post but I would like your comment on this. I hope you will become a Follower by clicking on the words Follow this Bog in the upper left corner of this page, http://EthnictoEthnic.blogspot.com.
Millions of international ethnic people seek freedom in our country but most remain in bondage to personal sin like millions of people born in USA.
I attended the local Veteran’s Day memorial ceremony on November 11 and our attention was drawn to the sacrifices that paid for our national freedom. Freedom has come at a great cost but just a few people attended this ceremony to acknowledge this fact. I guess most people feel that this freedom is our right and they fail to give tribute to those who fought for us so we can live free of oppression.
Let’s ask:
FREEDOM from what?
FREEDOM to do what?
In our country we have freedom from bondage to foreign powers. We also have freedom to make independent choices about family, business and worship.
Jesus said a lot about FREEDOM in John 8.32 – 36.
The problem is that most who say they have freedom do not have it. They don’t realize that all are sinners and “Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin.” (v34) This is bondage not freedom. Jesus said, “If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
This freedom is 1. Freedom from eternal terror of judgment and also 2. Freedom to live a righteous life acceptable to God. It was paid for by one who was without sin. Our national freedom has required payment by millions in the military and law enforcement and this is only a determent of violence. And praise God it does provide the freedom to proclaim this message.
Most who read this have two freedoms. We enjoy this national freedom of speech and also the religious freedom to give our “members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (Rom. 6:13)
Both of these freedoms, the salvation from “slavery to sin” and the freedom to serve a Holy God are available to all people of “all Nations” especially those who live in our neigborhood.
We American Christians have a responsibility to present this message of Christ’s deliverance from bondage to the Nations. God has made this easier in that He has moved so many of them to America. The churches and believers who have experienced this salvation generally have not learned to give it without boundaries or prejudice. Our churches tend to depend on paid missionaries instead of each one reaching out cross culturally and building multi ethnic church fellowships.
Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries, Inc. purposes to, “Assist churches to disciple U S ethnic people to evangelized unreached ethnic people groups worldwide.”
Eldon Brock, Please interact with me here on this Blog, http://EthnictoEthnic.blogspot.com, or by email, mailto:eldon26@gmial.com. Check out the web site http://www.ethnictoethnic.org/.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Yesterday America voted. We have a new president. The many segments of Diverse Ethnic Americans have exercised their rights and made us more aware of their presence. Some people seem to think that things are the way they have been; that Anglo Americans, with a predominantly Judeo-Christian background, are still the majority. This is not so.
The variety of voting blocks in this election forcibly reminds us that God has moved the Nations to our land.
This should awaken us to the opportunities we have to help them learn of Christ and His salvation from sin with an eternal hope. Think what the results would be if we could help them learn that the Government is not the answer to their social, economic and security needs. The One True Creator God is the one on the Throne in Heaven and He alone can meet our needs for now and the future.
Our churches should welcome people of other cultures so they can see the Welcoming Savior. If so we could see people of “every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” begin to worship Christ and then they would want to share this joy with their ethnic homeland.
As commanded we should to pray for President Obama. (I Tim. 2:1-3) Let’s pray that God will be honored and that there will be increased freedom to share the Scriptures with all men of all ethnic backgrounds.
The Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries purpose is “to assist churches to disciple U S ethnic people to evangelize unreached ethnic people groups worldwide.”
Contact me at eldon26@gmail.com. Eldon Brock
Key Point # 12: We should assist ethnic believers where it is necessary but always allow them to have ownership of their own passion and ministry.
Have you found a way for church members from two or more cultural backgrounds to serve in harmony? Let’s talk about it. Post your comments below.
Often we think we know best how people in another culture should serve Christ.
Has someone tried to help you when you didn’t need it? Sometimes a person tries to give help that doesn’t fit the need. I know I feel the most successful when someone assures me that I can find the answer and then he praises me for work well done.
I heard a two year old girl say, “I can do it myself if you help me.” It is always a better partnership if we help when asked, especially when two or more cultures are involved. I found that my American ways did not always work when trying to help Asians. True, we need to teach the Scriptures but allow a person freedom to trust the Spirit of God to lead.”
God’s plan is seen in 1Cor. 12:4 – 7, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
If I insist on my way, especially when I don’t understand all of the conditions, I will rob the other person of his ownership and blessing. This is really hard when I feel time and convenience is at stake.
Let’s take time to hear before expecting to be heard.
The work of God is best done when there is unity in the body of Christ and we proclaim the Word of God without prejudice toward one another or the people we seek to win.
God’s challenge to me is to assist American churches to win the millions of people from other nations. They now live next door. If we respect and encourage them I believe they could send or take the Gospel to their homeland.
Post a comment here.
Key Point #11: We should become brothers with people of another ethnicity to such and extent that they will be able to share their views and needs.
Often we detect the attitude; if only he would listen to me we could work together. It is troubling when this response of “do it my way” limits service to God and the cooperative evangelization of people worldwide. No, I am not talking about adjusting clearly defined Bible doctrine. I am talking about methods for reaching the lost in another culture.
My concern here is, how can I build a two way trusting relationship with a person from another culture so he can feel free to share his plan to present Christ? There seems to be two problems. 1. We tend to think; because it works for us it will work for others. 2. People from other cultures may hesitate to openly share their opinions or needs based on their assumption of inferiority. This is especially true if support money is involved.
We should respect the dignity and the insight of others. “Respect” is different than “accept,” or “adapt”.
No one should assume that there is only one way to share the Gospel. After all there are over 6,912 language groups, i.e. cultures around the world. Let’s take time to build an understanding of one another so the other person will feel free to tell us how we can best help them. Don’t let the sin of pride hinder the joint effort of giving the Gospel to the ethnic groups here in America and through them to their “Nation”.
Each of us should prepare for serving together with believers from a different culture by making a practical application of these Biblical exhortations.
1Co 1:10 “ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
“And in the same judgment – γνώμη gnōmē. This word properly denotes science, or knowledge; opinion, or sentiment; and sometimes, as here, the purpose of the mind, or will. The sentiment of the whole is, that in their understandings and their volitions, they should be united and kindly disposed toward each other. … And the proper way to produce union in the church of God, is not to begin by attempting to equalize all intellects…, but to produce supreme love to God, and elevated and pure Christian love to all who bear the image and the name of the Redeemer.” (Albert Barnes)
Rom 12:16 “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”
Barnes says a more literal translation might be, “Think of, that is, regard, or seek after the same thing for each other; that is, what you regard or seek for yourself, seek also for your brethren. Do not have divided interests; do not be pursuing different ends and aims; do not indulge counter plans and purposes; and do not seek honors, offices, for yourself which you do not seek for your brethren, so that you may still regard yourselves as brethren on a level, and aim at the same object.”
It is challenging to apply these and other passages. Can we do less and achieve the highest potential?
Don’t hesitate to share your opinions so we can understand one another. Click on the envelope to post a comment.
Key Point # 10 Some ethnic people may return to their home country but we should not try to program them for that purpose.
Each person is very loyal to his heritage, his culture. In fact you and I are loyal to ours so it should not surprise us that others have a defensive attitude toward theirs.
Most American’s think that a person from another country would never want to return to that way of life. How could anyone want to leave all the conveniences of America? The thing we don’t understand is, for instance, the convenience of talking in the language of our birth. In my short trips oversees I know how helpless I was without a Christian friend there helping me find my way and communicate my ideas and needs.
Based on this many would return home if they could. However, some have come as refugees and would be arrested if they returned. Others feel the responsibility to earn money here and help those they left behind.
My proposition is that we prayerfully help multi ethnic people trust Christ as Savior and disciple them so they can experience the hope found in Christ. Then many may want to return to give the Gospel to their family and friends. Others will do what they can to send the Gospel home. Keep in mind, we must allow God the Holy Spirit to create that passion according to His will.
Most of us have a desire that “All Nations” hear the Gospel. We tend to want to recruit someone we think has potential and then try to program them so they will fill our desires. But, remember Rom. 10:15a, “How shall they preach, except they be sent?” Sent by God that is.
Dr. Jim King, Baptist Bible Seminary, said to me, (when I was assisting three Bible College teachers from Burma to earn D. Min degrees in BBS) “Be careful, some mission agency will want to take them on as their missionary with support. Then when they return home they would be treated as an American worker instead of one of the nationals, accepted by nationals.”
Let’s give a new emphasis to evangelism among the diverse ethnic population around us. They need Christ. We are obligated to share our faith with those God has put within our reach. If we do our part then God can lead people of another color or culture to do evangelism where we can’t go. If a person has the Bible and the Holy Spirit to teach and guide them, then they should be able to serve God. In fact we should cheer them and become their helpers rather than the manager.
Join in the discussion by leaving a comment. Three more Key Points coming. I want to show the logic of E-tem’s purpose with these 13 Key Talking points.
Key Point # 9
People from other nations can find ways to send the Gospel even where it is dangerous for them to return to their homeland.
People from other cultures and political systems have learned many survival and defensive skills from living in countries of oppression and economic poverty. I have watched as I traveled in 8 countries. I have also been very closely related to several leaders who come from a very restricted nation. In fact some I know have lived under a leader who is listed number 2 to 4 worst dictator on human rights.
Christians coming from these conditions have learned to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Mat. 10:16b. Christ said in the beginning of this verse, “I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.” People under oppression and persecution have a clear sense of what to live or die for. If Christ is their Hope He is greater than their fear of the king or death.
They learn skills for proclaiming and defending their basic beliefs and culture. Based on this they can find ways to send the Gospel even where it is dangerous for them to return to their homeland. One man I know has gone on short trips to his homeland to assist believers and help with evangelism, even at great risk.
True other ethnic people want to learn many things from us but as American’s, let’s accept the gifts and abilities God has given to them. Don’t let American arrogance get in the way of giving them respect and maybe the leadership.
But what about the millions of immigrants who do not know Christ as Savior? They are living next to us. We need to pray for love and opportunity to share the Good News with them. Pastor Rob Elkington. Whitby, Ont. replied to my blog post last week, “Once they know the Lord, are settled in a church home, and feel loved and a part of the family of God in their local church, they will eagerly work with the church body to reach their homeland in ways we could never imagine.” He has seen this happen in his intentionally multi ethnic church.
Let’s do all we can to refocus our traditional ways of church and ‘missions over there’ in order to love and win the people God loves and that Christ died who are from The Nations around the world. They also live in our community.
More on my Key Talking Points next week. Please comment so we can all share in this discussion.
Key Talking Point # 8 Ethnic people have the best insight into how to communicate the message to their own ethnic group.
It was very humbling to me when I first met the Kachin believers in Burma. They had no contact with American missionaries for 35 years but when I met them they had formed a new Bible based association and opened a Bible College. They were doing things that surprised this American but then I realized they had Bible and submitted to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their own culture.
Often you detect an attitude, at least subconsciously, that if it is to be done right American’s have to do it or instruct the national. I realized that any believer who has the Bible and the Holy Spirit can:
a. see the spiritual challenge,
b. determine a way to meet the challenge
c. and experience personal blessing because they allowed God to do it through them.
Internationals that bring their native culture to America:
· Know the language
· Know the culture
· Are aware of the economic standards
· Understand the religion and opposition
· Can discover ways to communicate with the homeland
We who accept the call of foreign missions work hard to adapt to all of this but think how natural it is for some one who comes from that culture.
If you invest your passion into this gold mine you would allow God to demonstrate His grace on the nations. We need to recognize the “gold mine” that God opened; that is people from other cultures locating in our land. This is an opportunity to win them to Christ and allow them to find ways to send or take the Gospel to people of their homeland.
Recognize the opportunity. Allow God to help you mine the gold and give freedom for the “gold” to cast its influence on the world.
I welcome your comments. Click on the small envelope below and post your thoughts.
Key Talking Point #7 Ethnic People can develop a Spiritual passion for their own people group if we demonstrate a passion for the lost of their nation.
Most materialistic Americans think people immigrate to America for personal greed.
Generally this is not their real motive. Their greatest motive is to provide for their family here and in their homeland. Nearly all of them come out of a survivor mentality where communal support of family and culture is necessary compared to the all too common American “me first” motive.
Did you know that a majority of immigrant people are selected and sent by friends and family which means they are “on assignment” to assist those at home? Even if not, they are willing to sacrifice when they arrive so they can assist their cultural network. They passionately do amazing things to succeed.
Four years ago this became clear to me when I read that the second largest national income in Mexico was Mexican immigrants sending money from USA.
I concluded that if ethnic people knew the joy of sins forgiven through faith in Christ, compared to the works and fear systems of a past religion, they would find a way to send or take the Gospel to the culture they came from.
To me this is a good theory but I am afraid we Americans have a problem. THE WAY YOUR DISCIPLE MAY BE THE WAY THEY DISCIPLE.
Do we American’s have enough spiritual passion to step out of our cultural comfort zone in order to reach out in love to those in our neighborhood who struggle socially and spiritually to survive in this foreign land??? Is there enough personal concern in our local churches for the lost of “every tongue, tribe and nation” to move us to be missionaries in the mission field that has come to us?
Let me know what you think. Let’s begin praying for a soul winning passion without prejudice against any ethnic group. We can be a model for how the ethnic immigrant could be a missionary to his homeland.
Key Talking Point #6 Ethnic People living here need freedom from their religion based on fear.
I saw fear as the basis of other religions in clear demonstration when I traveled to foreign countries. I saw this in contrast to Christianity, at least to authentic Biblical Christianity.
We can offer a confident HOPE; “…shall never perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) This hope is based on assurance that our sins are forgiven and from this we can enjoy PEACE and JOY. No more do I have to fear whether I worked enough to pay for my sins to satisfy God.
True, other religions have a system of WORKS to satisfy a god or hundreds of gods BUT the underlying motive is FEAR. The true salvation provided by Christ is one of assurance. I do not have to pay for my sins or work to appease an angry god. Christ paid for the sins of the whole world. This includes every language group without exception.
But think of this; many people who immigrate to America think that “Christianity is our national religion”. Even so they come with “their national religion”.
How embarrassing that they come to “Christian America” and we are not doing all we can to welcome them as a friend so they will be open to hear to the invitation “Come unto Me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Mat 11:28)
It is a wasted opportunity. We should wake up to the fact that God has moved millions of people who worship based on fear to our neighborhood. (38 million foreign born people live within our borders.) They have to make so many adjustments to a new culture that most will welcome a helpful friend.
As we help them in the midst of their fear of adjustment to a new land and then we can show them Christ to overcome the fear of judgment for sin. No one can have HOPE and JOY without Christ even though some may become content socially in our land.
Let’s talk about how to befriend these who have a religion of fear.
Key Talking Point #5: Churches are organized and have potential workers. We don’t need professional missionaries to begin this type of program.
I believe we have the ORGANIZATIONS already in place and that they are sleeping giants? Organized mission agencies are needed to train and oversee evangelism and church planting in most areas of the world; in America too. However, the mission field has come to us; to our neighborhood.
We have thousands of LOCAL CHURCHES already located in the midst of multi ethnic mission fields of people who need Christ. They are representative of the Nations of the world. The exciting mission potential! If churches were to share the Joy of Salvation with these lost souls they could give this message in Nations closed to Americans.
Too many American believers are satisfied to attend church, give money and pray for the professional workers to give the Gospel to the LOST. It also seems that the word MISSIONS triggers the concept that the work is to be done in some foreign land where it will not disturb our comfort zone. Don’t change the foreign missions but don’t be content thinking that everything possible is being done.
Local churches are organized. They have leadership and purpose (even though the purpose needs to be expanded). Local churches have the potential missionaries (member) who live near or even next door to the Nations; the immigrates in our neighborhoods.
From experience I believe churches need an agency that can help them capture the vision and assist them to be the LOCAL MISSION AGENCY to “disciple all nations” without leaving home.
Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries, Inc can provide: 1.vision casting for a church to be the MISSION AGENCY locally, 2. Can offer training for leadership and members, 3. Can assist with strategic planning, and 4. Can help set policies and programs to increase the success rate.
What do you think? Can mono ethnic churches become multi ethnic? Post your opinions; list the challenges and opportunities in the small envelope below.
Next week; People need Hope and Freedom from Fear.
# 4 Key point for E-tem. God has moved people from most of the nations and people groups of the world to the USA.
Immigration (legal and illegal) is a hot topic. When asked, I say there are two sides to this. 1, there is a national and political issue we should be attentive to. BUT, 2, there is the spiritual issue or opportunity whereby we can assist in the spreading of the Gospel worldwide and to all people groups.
The facts indicate that God is moving the world to our neighborhood; within our reach. This is an important trend to watch because everyday, the challenges for American foreign missions increase. Countries are closing or restricting American missionaries including the increasing costs. It is as if we are being forced out of traditional mission methods.
Some report that people from 190 foreign countries now live here and that 650 languages are spoken within our borders.
CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES, www.cis.org/immigration, reports, “The
March CPS found 37.3 million immigrants in the country. Data collected in 2006
indicates that 613,000 immigrants live in group quarters, for a total foreign-born population of 37.9 million in March 2007”“The figure shows that between March 1995 and March 2000, the foreign-born population grew by 5.7 million, or about 1.1 million a year. The figure also shows that between 2000 and 2007 the immigrant population grew 7.3 million, or 1.04 million a year. These two numbers are the same statistically.”
This means that one out of every eight people (1 out 
living here were born in another country. In other words the mission field has come to us. Matt. 28 tells us we should “Disciple” in our going or as we go. This also means each one who is a “disciple of Christ” can be a “missionary” with out leaving home.
This #4 out of 13 Talking Points. In 3 weeks we will talk about the passion people have for their homeland so if they could experience the joy of salvation I believe they will find a way to send or take the Gospel to their friends.
Next week: To be part of this new opportunity we don’t have to have professional/full time missionaries . See you then. www.Ethnictoethnic.org
Key point #3: We need to look for changes that will allow us to be a part of reaching the world.
The World Is Getting Smaller. In many ways the world is more accessible. But, have you noticed that many churches are so busy and so over loaded with what they are doing that it is difficult for them to stop and notice changes.
There is stress to change. In the last two months we made several changes in our office attached to our house. This brings improvement but it has introduced confusion of where to relocate things from the old desk to the new. Now I even wonder if I need to upgrade the computer; but that would mean another learning curve and more time. It is easier to keep doing the same but the issue is can I do more with change? Even committing to this Blog creates pressure but I can see it can be part of casting the vision for “reaching the world”.
Last week I mentioned several changes in the world. Many think of these as limitations but “with every problem there is an opportunity.” Can we do more if we make the right changes? Will we face the challenges/changes and adjust so we can do more?
Increased mobility
High tech-communication
International business connections
Language translations, even digitally automatic
Plus many others
The wonderful record of 200 years of world missions causes me to rejoice. Now I just want people to evaluate 1. The basic issues of the Great Commission, 2. The productive things you now do, 3. The great opportunities if we adjust/improve our methods and 4. The potential of allowing God’s Glory to be revealed to more people.
There is no one miracle method. We need find effective ways of sharing the Gospel with “all nations.” One of those is to minister cross culturally to the 100’s of people groups living in USA.
More next week on my Key Talking Points.
God’s plan for redeeming man has not changed but many of the national, communication, economic, travel and language barriers have been revolutionized.
This is the second point of 13 “Key Talking Points” to present the Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries concept. First, the Great Commission Has Not Changed! [that was last week]
Therefore, have we and will we need to change methodology to more effectively help people understand the offer of forgiveness and hope in Jesus Christ?
National. The names of nations and political leaders seem to change each day. Not once have I heard that they are more inviting to the Biblical message. How do you share the Gospel where you are not wanted?
Communication. I am using communication systems that no one dreamed of when I was born and then there are new ones they offer every day which I can’t understand. Today, you don’t even have to sit in a classroom to study for a degree. Person to person is still needed but this means restrictions can be broken.
Economic. Our dollar has less value, international trade is changing, the cost of sending U S missionaries has increased almost like our national debt, and the cost of doing anything has gone up. Think of how dependent you are on Internet and this is a new cost in the last decade.
Travel. Here again we can go further but at the same time there are more security restrictions, especially in the last seven years.
Language. More people are bi-lingual and English is more universal. Computerized translations increase but even so there are still 16.000 people groups.
Conclusion: American’s have to accept that winning the world must be shared with believers who can identify with their homeland and use the new methods. Nearly all of these people groups reside next to or near you and your church. Will we and can we win them to Christ so they can send or take to Gospel to lands American’s can’t go?
More next week. Please respond and join me.
Is the Great commission only for professional missionaries we send away from our church?
We have focused on the word “world” in Mk 16:15 so much that the word “nations” in Mt 28:19 means some distant land of another culture and language. Oh, I know that we say that every man in every place, including the USA, needs Christ to be saved, BUT do our actions show it? Just look at the “nations”, the people groups of the world who live in our land, in our local community.
Anglo churches commonly seek to win Anglo people. Generally we assume that other cultures need to win the people of that culture. Sometimes we help a language group establish a church so they can meet separately. We may even support someone to evangelize that “other ethnic group” in our local area for us so we can stay in our comfort zone.
Mt. 28:19 gives the command and direction for offering the way of salvation and hope to the distant lands but also to the neighbor next door.
Let’s apply it. Where ever you are in your going, teach (disciple so they become followers of Christ in belief and life) all nations (the people groups wherever they are). Then we should welcome them to be baptized into Christ (one united body of believers). Baptism into Father, Son and Holy Spirit (accents the unity of those being baptized in this new human relationship as a preview of the unity of ethnic groups in heaven).
The Great Commission is more than a proper tool to challenge people to go over seas and more than an appeal to churches to support “full time” missionaries.” It is also our commission to seek out the Ethnic America and include them in a multicultural church, reflecting the Glory of God as it will be in heaven for eternity.
Let me know what you think.
Notice the mission statement in the header. There are two issues!
- God has moved people to America from “Every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;” [Rev. 5:9b]. We who have the Bible and know the truth regarding salvation from eternal death by faith in Jesus Christ should do all we can to reach the mission field that has come to us in America.
- Increasingly the Nations of the world are restricting the traditional work of our American missionaries. Half of the world is closed. Many others are limiting the entry of the “white man” to the point that many mission fields are forced to allow the national to reach nationals before we may think they are ready.
Conclusion: we must rethink how we are going to have a share in the Great Commission. If we only continue to maintain the overloaded mission budgets and search for the the shortage of missionaries we will soon be shut out. Let’s look to other methods while we continue to give wise effort to the past methods. But let’s lift up our eyes and look at the fields ripe for harvest according to the current world conditions. Let’s befriend our neighbors of another culture and help them hear about forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ the one creator of all men and the one giver of eternal life and hope.
Let’s help them understand that freedom from the bondage of religions, based on fear of the unknown gods, is available so that God will give them a passion to share the good news with their family and friends in their ethnic homeland. They have abilities that we Americans don’t have. Let’s give them the opportunity to serve God by sharing with people of their own language group.
I hope you will respond with practical insight and questions so that we can watch God develop this ministry to assist churches. They are in place to win the world that has come to us.
Review my simple talking points below and contact me. Let’s pray for people to catch this vision and prepare themselves.
Key points. Talking points for Ethnic to Ethnic Ministries
Eldon Brock info@ethnictoethnic.org www.ethnictoethnic.org
1. The Great Commission has not changed and God plans for people from every tongue, tribe and nation to be in heaven.
2. The world is changing. Let’s adapt our outreach methods.
3. We need to look for changes that will allow us to be a part of reaching the world.
4. God has moved people from most of the nations and people groups of the world to the U. S.
5. Churches are organized and have potential workers. We don’t need professional missionaries to go for this program.
6. Ethnic people here need freedom from their religion based on fear.
7. These Ethnic people can develop a passion for their own people group if we demonstrate a passion for the world, especially for their nation
8. These people have the best insight into how to communicate the message to their own ethnic group
9. They can find ways to send the Gospel even where it is dangerous for them to return to their homeland.
10. Some may return home but we should not try to program them for that purpose.
11. We should become brothers to such an extent that they will be able to share their needs.
12. We should assist where it is necessary but allow them to have ownership of their own passion and ministry.
13. American’s are not the only ones who can give the Gospel and plant churches. Let’s let God work.
Conclusion, so what can I do?
1. Begin praying systematically for the unsaved locally and worldwide. Start a plan such as praying for the lost: a. in each of the nations of the world, or b. on the six continents or c. those active in the major religions.
2. Survey the various ethnic groups in your church neighborhood and pray for them according to each nationality.
3. Encourage others to prayerfully consider this potential.
4. Encourage your church to plan an ethnic outreach and to organize training for members to help them become successful.
5. Pray with ethnic believers for the people of their home land and trust they will develop a passion that cultural group locally and internationally.