VISION OF THE POSSIBLE – CHAPTER 12

OVERVIEW

This chapter covers CPM’s in highly resistant cultures and give some anecdotal evidence of what is happening in resistant areas around the world.

COMMENTS

He spoke about some of the political and cultural changes we have seen in areas of the world that have created openings to more openly share.  I think, at least in our area, we have seen a cultural change with the immigration issue opening doors for the gospel.  I can only personally speak of our area but we know of many local believers who accepted Christ in the states and have come back and are now making inroads amongst their own people.  Also, because so many people in our villages have been to the states, we see an openness for them to approach us and befriend us which leads to sharing opportunities.  Let me know what some of you have seen in your areas.

I was glad to see he was very much against the model of church planters living in other areas(often at a good standard of living) and coming in and out of the villages to try to plant churches.  He preached incarnational living with the target people group which is definitely not easy but necessary. 

  

VISION OF THE POSSIBLE CHAPTER 11

OVERVIEW

This chapter covers the role of the church planter in church planting.  We know we are there to plant churches but how much do we get involved and when do we start backing out.

COMMENTS

After a long delay, we are now back into our review of the book and this chapter provides some good food for thought on our work, especially those totally starting from scratch.  I liked his analogy of scaffolding and this will stick with me.  Scaffolding is not the building but a temporary need for the building to be built well.  Then it is taken down and used for another new building.  I think this is a good way to look at our work and obviously our scaffolding will be needed for different time periods depending on the church plant. 

He mentioned variables that will affect our church planting and said that he has seen some church planters, in order to remain 100% indigenous, not meet or have any influence with a body of new believers in order not to taint their indigenous forms of body life.  I cannot see how this would work where we are and in most places.  I think new believers must have some guidance on a biblical church albeit with as little as our Western influence as possible.  He did not subscribe to this method but I found it interesting. He went on later to say that concerns over foreign influence are important but secondary, by comparison, to laying solid biblical and spiritual foundations.

One other point mentioned is that it is vital that we pour out our lives among the believers and nurture them with motherly love and care.   This requires a time investment as well as living around them and them being in our home and vice versa.  This is draining at times for us but I see the invaluable need to be with them in their villages.  We know of two other missionary families who live in a larger city and drive into the villages.  They are making friends and connecting but no where near to the extent that we are because we are right there.  We are woven into their lives and problems.  We are the ones they call for help when the husband is out drinking and they need help because we live with them and we have their trust.  Just a plug for our strategy of living amongst the people although I know it is not easy but I guess we were not called to do an easy job.