beaconchurches

I have been an a pastor of an ABC church in the Central Region for several years. A few weeks ago I received a package from ABC-USA promoting the fact that we are "the hands and feet of Christ". The packet contained a dvd from International Ministries highlighting the work that ABC is doing in missions around the world.

I watched the video with an open-mind and saw how the different missionaries were ministering to people around the world. Our mission dollars are going to some great humanitarian efforts to help people in need. However, one element that seemed to missing in this promo was how the Gospel (as defined by 1 Cor. 15:1-8) was being shared along with the humanitarian aid.

This inspired me to look into one of the missionaries that we support through IM. This person's ministry provides some wonderful physical and emotional help to people in dire need. However, there is no mention of sharing the Gospel.

My impression of what the mission money that our church gives goes for, is not only humanitarian aid, but also the furtherance of the Gospel. Our people genuinely think that our donations are furthering the preaching of the Gospel around the globe. From my little bit of research the past few weeks, I have my doubts.

Is this typical for our ABC missionaries? If not, who are the exceptions?

Disappointed Yet Again
bygrace

You just put words to the question I have had as well.

I have read of missionaries (mostly in Hong Kong and China) who are reaching people with the gospel as they are doing humanitarian aid but it does seem as though the emphasis is on "good works" rather than "saved by grace" and it seems to get worse every year.

Let me know what you find out.

I've had this concern for a while too. What is worse. my church supports the Church World Service (part of the World Council of Churches) tools and blanket program. A couple of years ago we got the same International Ministries DVD, and one from CWS. After watching those two back to back, I really appreciated International Ministries. While the emphasis does seem to be on humanitarian aid, at least they are doing it in the name of Christ in many places around the world. The CWS DVD actually managed to mention CWS every thirty seconds, on average, but over the course of 11 minutes NEVER mentioned Jesus. At least IM does better than that.

I like the new partnership program IM has developed. You find a missionary doing something you like and you can support them more or less directly.

Jon:
I agree with you as to how we are able to contribute to a missionary rather than the VF regime. Our church started that about three years ago when we discovered what our general mission giving was supporting. However, even though our church is specifying what missionaries we support, I still am concerned that we are giving to some great humanitarian efforts without the presentation of the Gospel of the grace of God.

What makes our mission efforts any different from secular concerns like the Peace Corps, UNICEF, etc, if our missionaries are not proclaiming the Gospel? From my viewpoint, mission work should minister to the needs of the whole person- physical, emotional AND spiritual.

I hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong and point me to some ABC foreign missionaries that are ministering to the whole person. I will pass their names on to our Mission Committee.

bygrace

My experience with the ABC (which has been lifelong) is a mix of good and bad, but international ministries has always been the bright light of hope within the ABC. While I can't guarantee that every single missionary is great (there are a few I would categorize as mediocre gospel-sharers at best), I believe that the majority of our ABC missionaries are doing a fantastic job of spreading the good news of Christ both in word and in deed. Some folks that I am especially impressed with are the Clemmers in the Congo, the Dieselbergs in Thailand, and the Gutierrez family in S. Africa. While I am sure our missionaries in other parts of the world are doing a good job as well, it seems some of our strongest ministries and missionaries are the ones in the Central/Southern Africa and SE Asia. I would strongly encourage you to check out the International Ministires website, the bios, and the journals/newsletters of some of our missionaries. The individual stories directly from the mission field are very telling about where their ministry priorities are.

[font=Arial] [/font] I believe that most of our missionaries subscribe to the words of Jesus in Luke 4:18-10.

"Tell good news to the poor, announce freedom for prisoners, give sight to the blind, free everyone who suffers." (CEV)

I understand this means to educate train and prepare the indigenous to grow Jesus where they are.

Whereas So. Bapt. try to make people little So. Bapt., we try to grow them into Christians who are in turn sharing Jesus with their friends and families.

I may be wrong, but this has always been my take on the subject.
Razor

[font=Arial] [/font] I believe that most of our missionaries subscribe to the words of Jesus in Luke 4:18-10.

"Tell good news to the poor, announce freedom for prisoners, give sight to the blind, free everyone who suffers." (CEV)

I understand this means to educate, train and prepare the indigenous to grow Jesus where they are.

Whereas So. Bapt. try to make people little So. Bapt., we try to grow them into Christians who are in turn sharing Jesus with their friends and families.

I may be wrong, but this has always been my take on the subject.
Razor