FEBC Global

Step 8 – Your Part in the Big Picture

Things are changing on the global scene. This book, Serving as Senders by Neal Pirolo, was published in 1990, and even then, things were quickly moving toward a new look on the Christian outreach scene. At that time, mission organizations were talking about reaching all unreached people groups by the year 2000. They cited statistics that showed the possibility of achieving this immense goal. They showed people were turning to Christ by the droves. The 1980s saw the greatest growth rate across Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

That was then. This is now.

People from these continents are now being sent out to other parts of the world as global partners representing their own countries to share the gospel. These people can go where many North Americans can’t. Also, many people are training to reach their own people, which has many benefits.  People living in their own region reaching their own people can live on much less than North Americans moving in. These indigenous workers know their own culture and language better than anybody else, therefore cutting language learning and culture adaptation to a minimum.

A new initiative set up by SIM will help the church in Africa not only be a mission field but also become a mission force. The church in Africa desires to fulfill the Great Commission also. They do not want to be only receiving the gospel but also sending workers into the world. They want to send workers to other parts of the world, but they can’t afford to support those workers completely. SIM is not asking for North American churches to fully support those workers, but to match what the African churches can donate themselves. Together by “Matching strengths to send more workers” they will send more workers into the harvest field from Africa. (for more information contact Wamo.director@SIM.org)

The basic premise of this last chapter is that reaching the whole world is possible with the whole world working toward this one goal of reaching the lost for Christ. God is still calling North American Christians to minister abroad; therefore, we still must attend to the needs of our global partners sent out by our church. But we are now working together with the believers from many other countries.

Step 9 – Just Do It

We can talk a lot about suggestions made by a person writing a book; but when it comes down to it, we must take action, and just do it!

Action steps:

1. Individually – pick a global partner on your church’s roster and choose to build a relationship with them. Write letters (emails) referencing items listed in their correspondence. Ask them specifically how those items are progressing. Tell them about your family and what you are doing.
2. If possible, plan a trip to visit them in their field of service. It would be an encouragement to them, and you would see what the ministry really looks like and be able to better pray for them.
3. As a church – look around your congregation to see who might be a good fit to send to help with a ministry abroad. Mentor that person/couple using our “Global Partner Preparation Handbook”.

In that booklet, you will find practical guidance in helping prepare a new global partner

• Grow in maturity – spiritually, emotionally, and relationally
• Grow in commitment to body life – discover what it means to be connected to the local church and how they can be used even locally
• Grow in knowledge – Bible education (Bible studies, formal Bible education), global service education (world religions, become familiar with global organizations), study language and a culture, general education for technology, basic survival courses
• Grow in ministry, training and involvement – be involved in cross-cultural ministries at home, be a leader, be a follower, help others to grow spiritually
• Grow in relationships with senders – build a network of supporters for prayer and financial support, build and nurture relationships.

This booklet provides step by step actions to accomplish the above objectives. Working together with a mentor/accountability partner, this future global partner will be prepared to apply to a sending organization with confidence or know that God is calling him to stay but now is better informed about what is required of a global partner.

These handbooks are available free of charge through the FEBC office at www.fellowshipforward.org.

As stated at the beginning, Step 9 is Just Do It! You will be blessed as you partner with those who go abroad to spread the gospel by sharing in their ministry with prayers, communication, finances, logistic help, re-entry, and moral support during their time of service.