bloom where youre planted presentation

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Local Missions in the U.S.

Presenter:Naomi Bradley, missions coordinator

African American Center for World Mission

Objectives:

To discuss the importance of local missions in the

work of the early and present church

communities

To share collaborative methods for pooling

resources and talents in the city

To share opportunities for local missions in our

areas

Local Missions in the Early Church

“And in those days, when the number of the

disciples was multiplied, there arose a

murmuring of the Grecians against the

Hebrews, because their widows were

neglected in the daily ministration.”

Acts 6:1

To serve and to help

Ministration – diakonia

Attendance as a servant; aid

Wait on your ministry?

“…or ministry, let us use it in our

ministering.” Rom. 12:7 (NIV)

Work while you’re waiting.

“Until I come, spend your time reading

Scripture out loud to one another. Spend

your time preaching and teaching.”

1 Tim. 4:13 (NIV)

Work while you’re waiting.

“Don't fail to use the gift the Holy Spirit gave

you. He gave it to you through a message

from God. It was given when the elders

placed their hands on you.”

1 Tim. 4:14 (NIV)

Work while you’re waiting.

“Keep on doing those things. Give them your

complete attention. Then everyone will see

how you are coming along.”

1 Tim. 4:15 (NIV)

Local Missions in the Early Church

“I know thy works (deeds), and charity (love), and service (attendance as a servant, aid), and faith, and thy patience, and thy works: and the last to be more than the first.” Rev. 2:19

“But to do good and to communicate (share) forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Heb. 13:16

Local Missions in the Early Church

• Antioch sends relief to Judea (Acts 11:29)

• Contributions to poor saints in Jerusalem

(Rom. 15:26)

• Relief for widows and orphans (Jas. 1:27)

Born to Serve

“Whoever will be great among you shall be your minister. Mk. 10:43”

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give

his life a ransom for many.” Mk. 10:45

(To be an attendant, a waiter, a servant)

The Mission of Christ

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because

he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to

the poor; he hath sent me to heal the

brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the

captives, and recovering of sight to the

blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Lk. 4:18-19

What Did Jesus Do?

• Preached (declared) the gospel (good

tidings) to the poor (beggar or pauper)

• Healed (made whole) the brokenhearted

(crushed or shattered thoughts or feelings)

• Preached deliverance (forgiveness, liberty)

to the captives (prisoners of war)

What Did Jesus Do?

• Recovered (restored) sight to the blind

(blind physically or mentally)

• Set at liberty (delivered) the bruised

(crushed)

• Preached (proclaimed, published) the

acceptable (approved) year of the Lord

DISCUSSION

Local Missions in the U.S.

USA – A.D. 2005

Population: 278 million (301 million today)

85% Christian (24% Protestant, 24%

Independent, 21% Catholic)

Missionaries from the U.S. – 60,200 in 631

agencies to 220 countries

Missionaries to the U.S. – 1,873 in 139 agencies

from 115 countries (Peru, Brazil, Philippines,

Mexico, Japan, Kenya)

Operation World, 2005

USA – A.D. 2005

“The USA needs revival.”

Biblical holiness – superficiality and

materialism

Spiritual unity – left and right

Christian withdrawal from public life –

schools, violence, poverty, etc.

Operation World, 2005

Missionaries in the U.S.

• Mission America

• World Vision USA

• Prison Fellowship

• Promise Keepers

• Christian Community Development Assn.

Operation World, 2005

A Major Barrier to Local

Lack of cooperation between churches, and

between church and para-church

organizations, resulting in waste of limited

resources.

“Christian Witness to Large Cities,” Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, 1980

Definitions

“Micro-ministry”

Dealing with

individuals and their

needs in the city.

Charles Van Engen, God So Loves the

City, pp. 246

“Macro-studies”

A vast scope of investigation—sociology, anthropology, economics, politics, etc.

Charles Van Engen, God So Loves the City,

pp. 246

Can our cities be saved?

“This know also, that in the last

days perilous times shall

come.” 2 Tim. 3:1

The Church at Corinth

“For I am with thee, and no man shall set on

thee to hurt thee: for I have much people

in this city.” Acts 18:10

Greece – A.D. 2005

Population: 11 million

95% Christian (48% Evangelical, 36% Pentecostal)

2% in church on an average Sunday

Missionaries in Greece – 36 in 15 agencies (30 in Greece)

Missionaries to Greece – 150 in 38 agencies from 12 countries (82 from the U.S.)

OperationWorld, 2005

WORKING

COLLABORATIVELY

God’s Urban Mission Strategy:

ONE BODY

building

ONE CHURCH

for

ONE CITY

Definitions

“Koinonia”

Communion,

fellowship, sharing in

common

“God is faithful, by

whom ye were called

unto the fellowship

(koinonia) of his Son

Jesus Christ our

Lord.” 1 Cor. 1:9

Definitions

“Communion”

The act or an

instance of sharing,

as of thoughts or

feelings.

“Fellowship”

The condition of

sharing similar

interests, ideals, or

experiences, as by

reason of profession,

religion, or

nationality.

An Ideal Relationship

The ideal relationship for the world Christian

community is one of interdependence with

a recognized system for shared decision-

making and resource allocation. Until that

is resolved there will continue to be

tensions and resource imbalances.

Wilbert Shenk, Changing Frontiers of Mission, pp. 114

No Schism

God gave us a diversity of members so that

there would be no schism in the body.

(1 Cor. 12:25)

Schism comes and the body suffers when we

think we can do it alone, that we don’t need

our other members to fully function.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR

LOCAL MISSIONS

Much people in the city

The needs in the city are indeed too big for one person or one congregation or organization.

But praise God! He never intended for usto work alone!

God is with us AND he has muchpeople in the city.