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The vast majority of people I have talked to agree that the current process of getting Independent Baptist missionaries to the foreign field is not working as effectively and efficiently as it can and should.  There are a few naysayers, but that is to be expected whenever the status quo is challenged.  The arguments have already been made for the need to change this process. (If you are new to the discussion you can read the other missions articles here: Why Independent Baptist Missions Is Failing, Missions: Dare I Use The Word Cooperate?, Missions Articles Recap.)

The time has come to put our heads together and develop a new missions strategy.  Your input is needed!  Will you help?

We are putting together a panel of missionaries, missions board directors, educators, and pastors to help in this effort.  Our first informal meeting will be in Hendersonville, TN in April.  (Even if you don’t think you can attend this meeting, your input is still needed.) More information about this will be available soon.  The panel has already begun to form.  So far there several pastors, missionaries, and mission board directors who are interested in being involved in helping develop a new missions strategy.  Once this panel is established a website will be created to help facilitate ongoing discussions.

The goal is to do all we can to develop a missions strategy that expedites or changes the deputation process so that less time, effort, & resources are wasted in getting missionaries to the field; all with the goal of telling even more people about the Good News of Christ.

If you are interested in being a part of this discussion, and ultimately a part of the solution, please complete the form below.   We will be in contact with you in the near future concerning topics of discussion as well as possible meeting dates.

The headline read, “Killed by Friendly Fire.”  Pat Tillman was killed in 2004 in the mountains of Afghanistan not by the enemy, but accidentally by his own army.  This was a tragic event that received nationwide attention.  His death was mourned by thousands.

Unfortunately this happens within the Body of Christ each and every week.  Doctrinally sound pastors and Christian leaders are shot, so-to-speak, by those in their own army — by other pastors and other Christian leaders.  And while this is taking place, the real enemy sits back and laughs, free from any opposition.  In many cases we have lost sight of who the real enemy is.  We get ready…..shoot……and then aim.  We are duped into ‘sowing discord’, gossiping, and attacking others.  The whole time this is taking place, we incorrectly believe that we are fighting for the sake of Christ.  In reality, we have become a hindrance to the work of Christ.

There are several things we need to realize.

1- Satan is the real enemy, not each other.

2- Doctrinally sound pastors and churches are to be unified in fighting the enemy.  This is done by focusing on the Gospel.  Completely separating over styles of music, Bible versions, and other preferences is unnecessary and detrimental to the advancement of the Gospel.

3- As has often been said, “If you can’t say something nice (edifying) about someone, don’t say anything at all.”  This needs to be practiced.  Sure there are times when doctrinal error needs to be pointed out, but here we are talking about non-doctrinal issues.

4- Understand that we each have a responsibility to pray for each other.  Over the course of the next year our church will highlight a different church in our area each week.  We will pray that God will meet their needs, that the pastor will be strengthened and protected, that the gospel will be proclaimed, and that souls will be saved.

Let’s keep the crosshairs on the real enemy.  Get Ready…..AIM…..THEN Shoot!

You have probably heard the saying “Don’t just stand there– do something!”  But, sometimes the exact opposite of that is what is needed.  We need to realize that activity does not always equal effectiveness and busyness does not always mean ministry is taking place.  There are times when we need to just be still. 

Impossible, you say?  Perhaps it is impossible if you must always be in control and if you refuse to trust God.  There are times when the solution to the problem you are facing is to actively choose to do nothing to fix the problem.  There are times when patience and self-restraint are your biggest asset.  But understand that patience is not inactivity.  Patience is actively and aggressively pursuing the face of God about a situation while, at the same time, remaining active and faithful in the things you know God wants you to do. 

We instinctively want to do the opposite of that.  We want to stop everything we know God wants us to be doing and put all of our effort and resources into fixing whatever problem or situation we are facing.  Psalm 46:10 is a passage the deals with this very thing.  It says:

Be still, and know that I am God.

Contrary to popular belief this verse has nothing to do with being still and doing your devotions.  It is a command to not panic in the face of danger, difficulties, or problems.  It is a command to not take matters into your own hands, but to be still and trust God.  No matter what problem comes into your life or ministry there are times when we need to be still and trust the sovereignty of God.  In other words, don’t just do something–stand there!

I recently received a phone call from an individual who unknowingly demonstrated why it is dangerous to live life in a bubble.  For this individual, his bubble was the basis for defining reality.  

Many people are submerged in the same circle of ministries and churches for years, if not decades.  They only visit those churches, they only preach in those churches, they only talk to pastors from those churches, they only recommend that you go to those churches, and they only understand the culture in those churches.  That circle of churches and ministries has created a bubble in which these individuals live.

Let me say that there is nothing wrong with having a certain style of church or ministry that you prefer.  But what has happened for many in Baptist circles is that their bubble now defines reality; it’s all they know.  As a result, if affects how they make decisions, it affects how they view outreach, it affects their view of missions, and it affects how they interact with those not in their bubble.  They begin to think that the issues they face in their bubble are the only issues that are facing the Church and Christianity as a whole.  They begin to think that their methods are the only methods that are permissible.  They begin to think that those not in their bubble are wrong.  Their bubble has created a new, but false reality.

The individual that called me was critical of my view of missions and my desire to create a new missions strategy.  The problem with his comments was that they were all based on the reality inside his bubble; not true reality.  He was convinced that everything he said was true.  However, he simply demonstrated that he was living in a bubble.

Pastors, if we are not careful our bubble can make us blind to reality. It is something I fight daily. We must intentionally resist the urge to redefine reality based upon our specific circles.  If you allow this to happen there are several things that will unknowingly take place in your life and ministry.

1- You will become isolated.  You will choose only to associate with others in your bubble — those who define reality in the same way as you.

2- You will become legalistic.  Your way of doing ministry will be the right way, and all other ways will be wrong.

3- You will become defensive.  You will feel the need to defend what you do.  You must keep the bubble from being popped.

4- You will ignore the weaknesses of your movement.  It is easier to ignore something than fix it.  If everyone ignores the problem, then there is no problem.

5- Your effectiveness will be limited.  When you are blind to reality you cannot effectively influence those living in reality.

We must intentionally be aware of reality.  Please, beware of the bubble!