Comments on: From the Missionary Blogosphere http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/from-the-missionary-blogosphere Life at the Intersection of Culture and Christianity Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:34:25 +0000 hourly 1 By: Tai Fu http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/from-the-missionary-blogosphere/comment-page-1#comment-3912 Tai Fu Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:33:56 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=592#comment-3912 I was searching for missionary organizations and I came across a few that swears by "national church planters" because according to them, "we can support 10 local church planters for the cost of one foreign missionary". I think the mindset seems a little one sided because both are useful and every country needs both. The downside to national church planters I can see is that in some countries, particularly third world or developing country is that people don't always take locals seriously for some reason. There are churches in Africa from what I heard that doesn't acknowledge anyone who isn't foreign. This may be different in different countries but from what I can see foreigners always get noticed, whether it's good or bad kind of attention. But then the flip side is that foreign missionaries are harder to train, and the person must adapt to different cultures. However I don't think only one or the other solution should be the only solution because of cost, that is just narrow minded. I was searching for missionary organizations and I came across a few that swears by “national church planters” because according to them, “we can support 10 local church planters for the cost of one foreign missionary”. I think the mindset seems a little one sided because both are useful and every country needs both. The downside to national church planters I can see is that in some countries, particularly third world or developing country is that people don’t always take locals seriously for some reason. There are churches in Africa from what I heard that doesn’t acknowledge anyone who isn’t foreign. This may be different in different countries but from what I can see foreigners always get noticed, whether it’s good or bad kind of attention.

But then the flip side is that foreign missionaries are harder to train, and the person must adapt to different cultures. However I don’t think only one or the other solution should be the only solution because of cost, that is just narrow minded.

]]> By: C. Holland http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/from-the-missionary-blogosphere/comment-page-1#comment-3888 C. Holland Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:48:24 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=592#comment-3888 @Tai: Yes, a national planter would be someone planting churches in their homeland; the opposite would be a foreign missionary coming to another country to plant. I see what you're thinking about a tentmaker (we're half tentmaker, half fundraised); however, some mission fields may require taking a secular job to enter the country instead of being upfront about coming as a missionary (I won't mention which ones for security reasons). I've seen full-time fundraised missionaries lose focus, too, so it's more a heart issue to me than fundraised or tentmaking. You're right about broadening the concept of how missions is done. I'm working on some thoughts about that and hope to have it posted soon. @Tai: Yes, a national planter would be someone planting churches in their homeland; the opposite would be a foreign missionary coming to another country to plant. I see what you’re thinking about a tentmaker (we’re half tentmaker, half fundraised); however, some mission fields may require taking a secular job to enter the country instead of being upfront about coming as a missionary (I won’t mention which ones for security reasons). I’ve seen full-time fundraised missionaries lose focus, too, so it’s more a heart issue to me than fundraised or tentmaking.

You’re right about broadening the concept of how missions is done. I’m working on some thoughts about that and hope to have it posted soon.

]]> By: tai fu http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/from-the-missionary-blogosphere/comment-page-1#comment-3856 tai fu Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:32:40 +0000 http://www.missionaryconfidential.com/?p=592#comment-3856 I was kinda wondering, what is a national church planter? Is it local people who plants church in their own country or long term missionaries? I really think we need to broaden the way we do missions though, I think any way of people doing missions is pleasing in the eye of God as long as they do it with the right heart. We need tent making missionaries, we need full time missionaries, and we need "national church planters" (whatever it might be). Problem I see with tent making missionaries (those who spend the bulk of their time working) is that it is very easy to lose focus and the whole experience ends up being about the career rather than the Kingdom. Full time missions has its pitfalls as well such as fear but I'd say don't be limited to one or the other, it depends on what God calls you to do and which doors are open. I was kinda wondering, what is a national church planter? Is it local people who plants church in their own country or long term missionaries?

I really think we need to broaden the way we do missions though, I think any way of people doing missions is pleasing in the eye of God as long as they do it with the right heart. We need tent making missionaries, we need full time missionaries, and we need “national church planters” (whatever it might be). Problem I see with tent making missionaries (those who spend the bulk of their time working) is that it is very easy to lose focus and the whole experience ends up being about the career rather than the Kingdom. Full time missions has its pitfalls as well such as fear but I’d say don’t be limited to one or the other, it depends on what God calls you to do and which doors are open.

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