Without doubt the joint BBC – TBC Perspectives course conducted in the latter part of 2005 left lasting impressions on all participants - to the point that we have a significant group in each church that has a genuine heart for mission. Add to us “Perspectivites” others that already share this need to respond to the “Great Commission” and I am confident that we have two core groups that can contribute in a meaningful way to mission outreach.
The point in putting pen to paper is to get us thinking about how we can best harness this commitment to mission. I guess its being written from a BBC perspective, but I trust what I have written will be applicable across the board. Furthermore, I believe we can build on the relationships established through the Perspectives course and the shared commitment to continue to work in partnership with TBC.
This paper does not intend to provide a prescriptive way forward; rather it identifies and discusses several relevant issues to prompt further discussion on how we can best proceed. The impact of Perspectives and the follow-up Advanced Perspectives courses has already prompted many into action and some of these initiatives are listed.
I believe we should act soon but not in a way that seeks to establish committees, hierarchies and programs from day one! We need to feel our way to ensure we establish something of permanent value. We need to win “hearts and minds” within our church. With prayer and ongoing commitment from those with a heart for mission, we can trust God to work within our church as He sees fit – remember that He is in control.
A few practical things for the immediate future:
There’s value in establishing a group with a genuine concern for mission – comprising Perspectivites and others within the church that share a heart for mission or who are interested to find out what it’s all about. It’s important that we Perspectivites do not see ourselves as some exclusive club. The group could meet regularly, say monthly, either in a home (our place is available) or in the Connexion office - commencing asap in the new year.
What would we do? A few ideas:
· Pray – including for one another and others in our church involved in outreach to the community.
· Encourage one another.
· Share mission activities we are either involved in or aware of.
· Explore opportunities for mission activity – both close to home and overseas.
· Explore ways of expanding the mission focus within the church.
· Look at opportunities to link with other churches, missionary agencies and missionaries.
As I noted earlier, things are already happening. Christine Mogg is arranging a weekly mission prayer session at 9.00 am on Sundays, prior to our church service – a great start.
Jonathan Geddes canvassed the possibility
of nominating a mission representative to the MLT. It was agreed this would be a positive move
in terms of raising the profile of mission within the church. The outcome is that Phil Malone has recently
joined the BBC staff as the Outreach and
Looking beyond internal church structure, there are endless opportunities for mission work we can start to think and pray about. Following are some that spring to mind. I might add that I suffered information overload after spending a week with Magnus Linder (OMF’s NSW State Director) and hosting Calvin Ma (OMF’s National Director) for three days but some thoughts stuck.
What
Do We Do Monday? (Immediate to short term opportunities)
Pray individually and as a group for:
· Each other.
· Growth in mission focus within our church.
· Specific needs of missions and missionaries we are familiar with.
· Other mission work and people groups as we progressively expand our horizons.
· Specific people groups with whom there is some connection (eg Central Thai as BBC sends the Malones to this group in the future).
· A Perspectives course led by a team from BBC is planned for early 2006. The team participated in a Perspectives Coordinators workshop in February 2006.
· A group from BBC participated in an intense Advanced Perspectives course in late 2005 and further courses can be arranged if there is sufficient interest
· I have details of a “Mission Nurture Course” – similar to Perspectives but less intense and sponsored by OMF.
· I also purchased a book by OMF’s Allan Webb titled “Your Church can make a World of Difference” which can form the basis of a study program on how churches can partner with God to fulfil the “great Commission”.
Lets start with TBC, building on the relationship established through the joint Perspectives course.
There are many opportunities to connect with people from other cultures – enabling us to learn about other cultures and share the gospel. A great example is Phil Malone’s efforts in teaching English to Buddhist monks – and using the Bible as an English text!
Other specific opportunities and possibilities include:
· English teaching in Monday morning classes at Tuggeranong Community Centre (no qualifications necessary – see Jenny Malone or Barb Geddes for details)
· Home tutoring migrants in English through either the CIT Home Tutor Scheme (ph 6205 9611) or the Migrant Resource Centre (ph 6248 8577).
· Befriending overseas students.
· Linking with newly arrived migrant and refugee families.
What
Do We Do for the Rest of the Week? (Medium to long
term opportunities)
Establish a meaningful ongoing partnership with missionaries having some connection with BBC – either new (like Phil and Jenny Malone) or missionaries already in the field – and provide:
· Prayer support
· Financial support
· Letters
· Site visit (on the missionary’s terms)
· Practical support – both in the field and on return
We have a measure of connection with several societies already, including SIM. OMF, Pioneers, interserve, InterAction, Compassion and Wycliffe. Building on these existing linkages would provide a range of mutual benefits, including:
· Opportunities for visiting speakers/delegations to explain the roles and areas of mission of the various societies.
· Access to resources – most societies publish a range of mission related material
· Assistance in conducting Perspectives and other training courses – particularly in terms of arranging speakers and providing more contemporary video material.
· Open opportunities to support missionaries sponsored by these societies.
· Expose us to short and long term mission opportunities.
Adopt an unreached people group.
· Identify a group we feel that we have a particular heart for – seeking confirmation by God through prayer.
· Maybe focus on a specific community within that people group.
· Establish links with that community – preferably through a missionary on the ground in that region.
· Commit to pray for the people group and the community.
· Identify needs and provide practical support.
· Visit the community on short-term mission.
· Long term mission.
Phil Malone prepared a paper earlier last year on how BBC could be involved in reaching a people group in a strategic way. Phil is happy to make this paper available to others interested in mission.
Despite the down-sides of short-term mission trips, if properly planned and executed in they can be a worthwhile exercise. There are endless opportunities.
· Short term mission programs arranged through Missionary societies.
·
Consider the opportunities
working with our Aboriginal people right here in
· Essential that the objective is to make a genuine contribution to mission effort and not to have a holiday.
Again there are many opportunities and experience shows this can reap real rewards. Overseas students are often lonely and seeking friendships in their host country – providing an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate Christian love and companionship and to share the gospel.
In looking at how BBC might embrace mission, it is important to determine a structure that:
· provides sufficient permanence or stability to permit long term commitments to things like supporting a long term missionary team; and
· allows flexibility so that the church can freely explore mission options and opportunities.
In terms of structure or organisation, we need to explore how mission sits within the present windmill structure. If BBC embraces mission, do we need to add another blade to the windmill?
Avenues of communication are important in terms of remaining connected with fellow Perspectivites, others at BBC with a heart for mission, the broader church congregation and other partners in mission, including other churches, missionary societies and partners in the field. Means of communication include:
· Monthly church bulletin.
· Email.
· Church website.
· Updates at church services (including Zac’s Place), using overheads, video etc.
· Dedicated mission newsletter.
Do our church core values reflect a commitment to the Great Commission?
Rick Wade
Updated February 2006