missions and money part iii
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Missions and Money
Partially adapted from Missions and Money
Jonathan BonkDr. Robert Patton
Missionary to Suriname, South America
Part IIAvoiding Dependency
Dr. Robert PattonMissionary to Suriname,
South America
Dependency Of course, our first reliance is
on God! But we must not rely on the
resources outside locally Otherwise you may miss the
resources that God will provide, a
Furthermore, then you cannot help others
.Indigenous - something locally owned and operated
There is often an imported and expensive foreign structure requiring outside support
Placing nationals in responsible positions is not indigenization, but nationalization
.Indigenous - something locally owned and operated
We need not only legal ownership and national ownership,
But also psychological ownership
Truly indigenous = ownership
This is ours. It belongs to us. We are going to make it work. We will manage it ourselves
with our own decisions, structures, and resources
Characteristics of the dependency syndrome
Fatalism – nationals saying: we can’t help ourselves... and missionaries saying: they can’t help themselves
Not all dependent churches are poor- it has more to do with the mentality of the people
Foreign funding can be like a poison or pollutant
But - It is possible to cure dependency
Dependency can be cured
One “poor” church has 3 offerings .For the poor .Tithe .Thanks offering
Dependency can be cured
Successful cure through discipleship. 2 days of fasting & prayer, then 3 days of teaching on
stewardship and discipleship Spiritual renewal is key. Repeated again after 6 months. Soon the church was self reliant.
Lessons from Irian Jaya No foreign funds used in local
church development Mission employed no paid
evangelists Missionaries did not burden the
churches with a structure they could not sustain
Church members paid pastors by cultivating the fields for them
Lessons from Irian Jaya They practiced self-support in
church and community No preferential treatment was
given to believers in medical or community work
Stewardship was taught from the beginning
Lessons from Irian Jaya Missionaries were given cross-
cultural training and sensitivity
Warning - don’t resent the church’s move toward self-reliance
Characteristics of the Syndrome of Dependency
It affects all aspects of mission life
It especially affects Bible distribution
It is longstanding, and not confined to one geographic area
The problem is still contemporary
Dependency syndrome Who have problems? Missionaries whose programs
create the problems Church leaders whose salaries
come from foreign sources
Dependency syndrome What is the problem? Foreign funds often come in
large amounts and in hidden ways.
There is a great temptation to misuse the funds - more than locally managed funds
Dependency Syndrome Unhealthy dependence makes
it nearly impossible for churches to send out their own missionaries.
What we seek is outreach from an energized church which has spiritual and financial energy left over to reach others.
This can become a way of life
Dependency syndrome This can become a way of life It can have very attractive nature- you
can support a national for $50 per month
Local people are deprived of the opportunity to support their own evangelist
Sometimes the evangelist is seen as a ‘foreign agent’
Things to ask about partnership
Many suggest western funds and eastern manpower
Which way to resources flow? If one way - then it is sponsorship rather than partnership.
Partnership works best when money is not an issue
Interdependence - two relatively equal partners
National contributions
Knowledge of the language and culture
Ability to live in circumstances that would be very difficult for a western missionary to tolerate
Risks involved in challenging dependence
Loss of reputation and attack on the individual
May affect your own salary You may lose potentially good
leaders
Dependency syndrome Resolving dependency is a great
blessing Often there is a direct revelation
of the Lord It is very difficult for westerners
to accept that their giving could be the root cause of dependency problems
Breaking dependency is a spiritual problem.
Attack dependency with Prayer Sound teaching Discipleship Spiritual decision-making
What should wealthy churches do with their money? Where does the money come
from? Ethically? Invest in cross-cultural training
for missionaries
What should wealthy churches do with their money? Helping with debt encountered
in college Mobilization of resources to
send people where the gospel is not preached
Outreach in your own communities
What should wealthy churches do with their money?
Invest in campus organizations, radio broadcasting, Bible translation
What should wealthy churches do with their money?
Invest in Help refugees Preventive health programs Employment projects, job
creation schemes and revolving loan funds
Where should we exercise care?
Individual church leaders paid directly
Child care programs bypassing family
Bibles - be careful that we do not overly subsidize them and make their value too little
Be careful about overseas scholarships
Where should we exercise care?
Building church buildings which the people could build themselves.
Remember people can have a church building equal to the house in which they live
Food aid projects which can affect the cost of local products.
Historical Development of the Syndrome of Dependency Healthy churches are not
dependent on outside resources
Three self is important – self-governing, self-supporting, self-propagating
Historical Development of the Syndrome of Dependency Some want also an indigenous
theology and hymnology The problem is when
missionaries entrench themselves and build huge foreign institutions.
Practical Suggestions for Missionaries Large mission stations have a
negative impact .They put distance between
missionary and people .They are expensive to maintain
.We must focus more on being than doing
.Recognize what God is doing, and join Him in His work
Cross-cultural training is vital This is more than a crash
course We must adjust to the other’s
point of reference Where does my primary
fellowship come from? Is my identity tied with
position and responsibility, or who I am in Christ?
Missionary attitudes Decline to take charge of
anything that could be done by a local person
Excuse yourselves from business meetings when possible
Be ready to remove the scaffolding which has been built
Avoid personal agenda which must be completed before leaving
Proper missionary ownership I will give away my rights I will resist giving an answer
for everything on every subject I will defer to others and not
make them dependent on my money
I will not condemn anyone if a program is closed because it cannot be maintained
Proper missionary ownership
I will not allow dependency to develop
I will not become bitter or discouraged if my rights, privileges and responsi-bilities are taken from me
I came to be replaced by others I will not react with anger when
others talk about how things can go in the future
Destructive missionary attitudes These people do not
appreciate what we have done for them
As a missionary I need to do more than be
We will give them authority when they are ready for it (maybe in 100 years)
Destructive missionary attitudes If we turn the work over too
soon, maybe it will be destroyed
What is your attitude toward transition to local responsibility?
Questions for missionaries
What will you do if your present role is ended?
Could you move your scaffolding elsewhere?
Can you help a local church develop a sending ministry?
Questions for missionaries Could you serve in an
existing church without a position of power or leadership?
Could you help actively develop local resources and break dependency?
Could you be a mobilizer for missions, looking for others to serve wider?
What can Local Leaders do to Avoid or Break the Dependency Syndrome?
We must not allow the past - colonialism, paternalism, or apartheid to make us bitter
We must not build up our own empire
Make a strong commitment to the process of change
What can Local Leaders do to Avoid or Break the Dependency Syndrome?
Get the whole team on track for transition.
Give attention to how the missionaries feel, but do not become paralyzed by that.
What can Local Leaders do to Avoid or Break the Dependency Syndrome?
If older members cannot, then let them be involved with something less stressful and not active at the heart of the process.
Spiritual unity is a must
What can Local Leaders do to Avoid or Break the Dependency Syndrome?
BEGIN WITH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
Good planning is necessary Give attention to restructuring
the box
Practical suggestions
Let the imagination flow Give joyfully Be prepared to reduce
expenses Be sure to put evangelism &
missionary outreach into the agenda
Encouragement to remove dependency
You aren’t the first to face change Pray that the Holy Spirit will show
the right time for change Ask for divine guidance - humility,
spiritual discernment and determination
Allow a reasonable time for change to take place
Leadership qualities
Be at peace with God We must believe our present
calling of God is valid - and with God’s help it can be carried out
We must be committed to leading people and not simply fixing problems
Leadership qualities
Respect the need of change and do not fear it
Those who change need to be prepared to be criticized
We may need to sacrifice personally
Be humble when we see progress
Leadership qualities See the long-term picture Have unquestioned personal
integrity. Remember - the failure to
confront diminishes our ability to lead
Employ the most gifted Be certain that we have God’s
agenda in mind
Effects of long-term foreign subsidy Outsiders often set the
agenda Progress is often determined
by the availability of outside money
Often foreign-salaried nationals are not free to decide and innovate
Effects of long-term foreign subsidy There is adverse effects of
the self-image and community image of the church
Local value systems can be damaged
Problems in stewardship teaching in mission-established institutions
The hearts of the members may be cold
Outside funding creates the appearance of wealth
There is often hidden income and hidden expenses
Problems in stewardship teaching in mission-established institutions
The project or church seems to belong to someone else
There is inadequate training of the treasurers
Why is there an urgency to relieve dependency?
Churches & mission societies often have broken relationships over money
Missionaries & agencies do not know how to remove the scaffold
Paternalistic mission societies are an embarrassment in the kingdom of God
Why is there an urgency to relieve dependency?
Discouraged church leaders go elsewhere for fellowship and employment
Dependent churches cannot reach their potential for the Lord
There is a problem not trusting local treasurers
How do you know if local leadership occurs
Do the leaders have to check with someone first?
Is control maintained by outside finances?
Promoting local ownership
A feeling of ownership must precede responsibility
Programs may be inappropriate or too expensive to maintain
Both anticipate and precipitate change
How do you know if local leadership occurs
Do the leaders have to check with someone first?
Is control maintained by outside finances?
How do you know if local leadership occurs
Do the leaders have to check with someone first?
Is control maintained by outside finances?
Where is the money coming from?
Sleeping Christians Non-believers Unemployed – via microloans,
etc. keep it small keep it local keep a watchful eye
Teaching giving
Ownership before stewardship Full heart experience before
teaching stewardship Emphasize “thanks”giving
Teaching giving
Emphasize the joy of giving, not just the law of tithing
Emphasize local creativity Train treasurers in integrity
Teaching giving
Don’t rely on the gimmicks of the world - raffles, games, teas,
Remember everything comes from the Lord
“In kind” offerings are as important as money
What sources of income hinder church giving? Income from church-run
properties Avoid all illegal practices Avoid private gifts to church
leaders who are unknown personally
What sources of income hinder church giving? Be careful of relief supplies
which ruin the value of locally grown produce
Avoid securing a vehicle through a developmental agency
What sources of income hinder church giving?
Community income better than church business
All people in the community benefit
Draws on resources of wealthy non-believers
What sources of income hinder church giving?
Church thrives on the giving of believers
The church is not competing with business people
Transitions to local ownership Make certain that the Holy
Spirit is guiding Meet to determine the
seriousness of the undertaking
Transitions to local ownership Set up a timetable for the
forseeable future Outside decisions will no
longer be the basis on which decisions are made
Don’t be derailed by indecision
Transition to local ownership
Expect opposition from satan He does not want strong churches Allow enough time for local
support Pray for the Lord to remove
difficulties Don’t worry about the reactions of
others
Transition to local ownership
Encourage local creativity Local solutions to local
problems New music from the hearts of
the people Local ways of raising funds Expect some insecurity