Comments for jeremywallace.net

Comment on Why We Should Support Non-American Missionaries by Fred W Canaday

Fred W Canaday — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:43:02 +0000

I’ve seen more harm done by American missionaries who are very good at giving reports, are good at hosting others,try to change the culture of another country by “Americanizing” the churches on foreign fields. Think about the cost that brings and the shame that causes, the harm to the nationals they claim they love. Yet they don’t show respect ot the very people they claim to be so concerned with. I have worked with foreign nationals for the last 22 years. I’ve seen some good and some bad, just like the Americans
Fred Canaday-Grace and Truth Ministries International

Comment on Why We Should Support Non-American Missionaries by Melinda

Melinda — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:30:23 +0000

I probably know the man you are talking about.

Comment on Why We Should Support Non-American Missionaries by Ed Alex Jr

Ed Alex Jr — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:20:50 +0000

I would like to add to what Melinda has stated. I have been in church planting in Latin America for 26 years. I believe in training nationals, and that they ultimately can do a better job than we can. But I have seen numerous capable nationals spoiled by receiving American support. Unless you have seen it yourself, it is hard to describe what getting U.S. support sometimes does to change to a national’s attitudes and appetites.(Obviously, that can happen to Americans too). It is very difficult for an American mission board or local church to understand these changes that sometimes occur when you put in someone’s hands more money or financial security than he has ever dreamed of. I think it would be ideal if there were a mechanism to feed these resources through other good local churches on the field so the national missionary would sense responsibility to his national brethren, who know him and his culture, and and understand the subtleties of his actions and attitudes in a light that only they can.

Another difficulty is the message that is subtlety communicated: the national missionaries who succeed in church planting are on the American dole. They don’t have to worry about support or money for building. This is very discouraging for nationals who are being supported by a small pool of national churches and don’t seem to be progressing like their fellow missionary who is on the American “pipeline.”

I don’t believe these obstacle are insuperable, but they are realities that many of us have seen. I trust your experience will be a positive one and that God will give you wisdom as you try to administrate this avenue of supporting church planting.

Comment on Why Pastors Should Bless Interracial Marriage by Jeremy Wallace

Jeremy Wallace — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:25:58 +0000

Absolutely! I was just focusing on an aspect of marriage that is often ignored.

Comment on Why Pastors Should Bless Interracial Marriage by Christian Cerna

Christian Cerna — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:40:15 +0000

Shouldn’t pastors bless all marriages, even those that are not interracial?

Comment on Why We Should Support Non-American Missionaries by Jeremy Wallace

Jeremy Wallace — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:38:19 +0000

Melinda, You make a great point. The national pastor that we are going to support took over for an American missionary, and is connected to that missionary who is now the director of a missions board in the States. So we know several people who know him, and who can help with the accountability issue.

Comment on Why We Should Support Non-American Missionaries by Melinda

Melinda — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:28:11 +0000

With years of experience in overseas missions, I see the opportunity and the huge challenges of supporting nationals. I have seen the nationals who genuinely want to see the Gospel spread and want to be part of a church plant. I have also seen the nationals who recognize the $$ available in America and see the opportunity to bypass the American missionary and go directly to the American churches to get money for themselves. I would meekly suggest, brother, that when you are considering a national pastor–especially one who speaks no English–that you talk to several English-speaking missionaries or pastors on the field who know him. How will you know what his reputation is and what work he is already doing, if you don’t speak to those who know him? Certainly you need to know more than what he will tell you. (Prov 18:13) One of the great benefits of sending out missionaries from among us is that we know them. Another great benefit of sending out missionaries from among us is that we can do our best to be certain that we are sending someone who is blameless and has a testimony of humble, effective service.

I’m not saying nationals shouldn’t be supported to plant churches on the field. I just have seen firsthand excruciating damage that has been caused by nationals who look good to Stateside pastors as they seek support for themselves but have caused untold harm to the name of Christ on the field by the horrific way they have undermined and attacked American missionaries.

Comment on Why We Should Support Non-American Missionaries by Brian

Brian — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:56:37 +0000

Jeremy,
I second Don H., this idea of yours is not new but has been around longer than you’ve been alive. I’m familiar with several “national” missionaries in different parts of the world doing exactly what you speak of. I have been saved for almost 38 years and have been a part of 5 different churches spanning both the east and west coasts and all those ministries have had national missionaries come through and/or support national missionaries. Good to see others picking up on this idea in the younger generation.

Comment on Why We Should Support Non-American Missionaries by Patrick A

Patrick A — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:47:51 +0000

Bob Finley had a very interesting book called Reformation in Foreign Missions that addresses a lot of this.

Comment on Why We Should Support Non-American Missionaries by Don H

Don H — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:53:22 +0000

If you are not aware of them check them out http://www.ipmworld.org/

This fundamental mission board helps local churches do the very thing you are advocating.