Missionaries and Stories from the Field
Sometimes it difficult to label a person's ideas of the future. The differences between "plans," "goals," "visions" and "dreams" can be blurred and indistinct, especially when those ideas of the future pertain to people other than ourselves. Often we place too much emphasis on the label and too little on the idea, only because those ideas are new or don't easily fit into our own scheme of things.
For those of us who are Christian, we can be sure of our future, and our dreams can never approach the glory we will one day know. What will happen while we are here on earth, however, is another matter entirely! Missionaries, and those of us who support them, have ideas about how things should happen. We then make plans and set goals so that our vision of the evangelization of the world can be accomplished. Usually the method is based on a tried-and-true, the-way-we-always-use approach. We may improvise some to meet the situation, but few ideas are truly what I would call visionary.
Recently MMPI worked with Chris McKinney, a missionary to the Philippines. While his dream for evangelism may not be unique, the approach was new to me and so well thought out I thought I should share it.
The most basic concept of missions has the US as the great mission agency, and the third world as the mission field. More advanced thinking has us training evangelists to reach others within their own people, or even becoming missionaries to other people groups that are receptive to them. We have seen this in Latin America and Africa.
Chris pointed out that the Philippines is a large exporter of human labor. From maids to engineers, they are in demand throughout the world, even in places not open to missionaries of the gospel. Filipinos are actively working in most of the countries that make up the 10-40 window, Moslem and communist countries that are among the most difficult to penetrate. They are not viewed with the fear that we "imperialist" Americans often connote, especially in Moslem minds.
The Philippines has a large percentage of Christians compared to many countries. Training in outreach techniques is all that is necessary to equip those who can freely come and go in target areas to reach the lost. This they are doing.
The Great Commission wasn't directed just to missionaries, or to Americans. It was and is to Christians everywhere. Teaching and equipping a whole new crop of missionaries is just another way we can reach the lost with the gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ.
You can review other stories in our archives.
The Caribbean Christian Orphanage
Our first trip (Part one of our ministry.)
The second part about our ministry
Report on the Ghana trip, June/July 1996
Nicaragua/Honduras Trip Report, August 1996
Sweet Pea to the Rescue, Honduras 1994
How one person's inability to communicate was an advantage, Honduras, 1996