Archive for October, 2008

Normally we do not look for churches that need our help.  We have a hard time filling the churches that find out about us on their own.  Some churches have waited a long time before receiving a missionary.  How I petition the Lord of the harvest for workers in the mission field of North America!

What difference does it make if the only church in a rural community closes?  I’ll let you decide.

Because of the sensitivity of the information, I’m not going to disclose the name of the community or the missionary.  A couple of years ago I decided to try an experiment in finding churches that needed a pastor.  I was going to be in an area preaching at a church mission’s conference.  I did some research on the web and found some communities that only had one church in the surrounding area.

I visited one of those communities, locating the church.  The church building was well maintained and next door to it was obviously the parsonage.  Some painters were working on the parsonage and there was a “For Rent” sign out front.  Not a good sign!  I asked the painters if they knew who the pastor of the church was.  They didn’t know-another bad sign.

To make a long story short, it took me some time to find anyone who knew anything about the church-the only church in town.  I finally located the church treasurer and learned they had just hired a part-time pastor for two years who lived over fifty miles away.  She took my information and I wondered what would happen.

Two years later the church contacted us.  The church had continued to slide downward with a part-time pastor who lived outside of the community.  You need to know that this community has a vibrant public school that attracts kids from all over the area.  Down to less than ten people, we were their very last hope.

A few months ago, we were able to assign a Village Missionary and family to this field.  Today I received a copy of an e-mail he sent to his congregation.  It speaks for itself:

Dear Church Family,
I have to share some bad news with you.  This morning Mr. _____ didn’t show up for our weight training class.  After knocking on his door with no response, I dismissed the kids and went home.  Two hours later the school called me and said he still hadn’t shown up.  I’m very sad to tell you when I broke thru his door I found he had shot himself.  After interviews with the sheriff, I spent the rest of the day counseling with the kids at school.  These kids and community members need help, they need our urgent prayers.  I want our church doors to be open to them and this is an opportunity for all of us to step up and be God’s agent of healing in whatever way He wants to use us.  I will share some ideas of how we can help with this and other crisis that may come later that I will share in Sunday’s meeting.  I know you all really tried to be a friend to Harry (not his real name) when he came to church.  I hope that when he was in our church he felt the love you showed him.  I will continue the weight training program as usual tomorrow (at the kid’s request) and try to minister to them.  In the meantime, we can all pray and seize any opportunity that may come.
Please pray for me as well.  Harry and I were really starting to develop a friendship and I was unable to make any breakthrough beyond surface level.

Wanted you to hear the news from your pastor before you read about it tomorrow.

In Christ’s love and fellowship,

The Village Missionary

Later today, the Village Missionary e-mailed one of our staff:

I remember Brian’s words at conference.  “Do you know what hangs in the balance?  If churches continue to close…”

What would our town do right now with no gospel witness here?  Guess who they called first when he didn’t show up?  The church!  If Village Missions hadn’t taken on this field, they would be closed today.  Who would be there to help these poor kids and community? 

I say this in humble amazement at God’s plan and how he used Village Missions to meet a huge need and tremendous opportunity God already saw when he sent Brian here two years ago.  I understand a little better now why Brian (and you all) have the heart you do for these fields.  I can’t imagine no one being there to meet these spiritual needs but that is the reality he and the District Representatives face when fields are empty.  Thanks for your prayers, and tell Brian our church is almost full and full of kids and unsaved families who are hearing the gospel each week. 

Please pray for the workers and the finances to serve these churches so close to closing.  What hangs in the balance?  Their souls!

Does God have more for Village Missions to do?  Is serving with Village Missions or giving to Village Missions worthwhile in light of the many opportunities for service and giving that exist in today’s world?  What possible reasons are there to continue the incredibly and increasingly difficult struggle of keeping country churches alive?

We exist as an organization today in a “perfect storm” of extremely difficult economic conditions.  Yet, such conditions will not be the least problem for God if He wishes Village Missions to continue.  Does He?

The seven reasons so far:

Reason One: It is important for Village Missions to continue because of the importance of the local church.

Reason Two: It is important for Village Missions to continue because of the importance of lost souls. 

Reason Three: It is important for Village Missions to continue because of the importance of rural people.

Reason Four: It is important for Village Missions to continue because of the potential to demonstrate the glory of God.

Reason Five: It is important for Village Missions to continue because I personally have experienced its impact.

Reason Six: It is important for Village Missions to continue because our approach to ministry is Biblical.

Reason Seven: It is important for Village Missions to continue because of the quality of people who serve with us.

Reason Eight: It is important for Village Missions to continue because ours is a ministry that provides accountability and support through the District Representative ministry.

For many years now, the ministry of the District Representative couple has been a critical component of our ministry.  The D.R. understands ministry and over time develops a good understanding of both the church and missionary. 

Especially on my first field, I needed the wise counsel of Charles and Marilyn Seamans.  They visited at least twice a year, hosted a monthly fellowship time with other missionaries, participated in special functions at the church including dedicating our two children, and were always in reach by telephone (those were the days before e-mail!).  They also were in close contact with the church board.  Although I don’t recall ever needing Charles to resolve conflicts between the board and myself, he was available to do so and would have done a good job.

Sometimes I think Village Missionaries take this important ministry for granted.  I’ve met rural pastors who were isolated and alone with no one to run interference for them.  Sometimes a pastor is at the mercy of a domineering church board and sometimes the church board is at the mercy of a domineering pastor.  A D.R. whose interest is in both missionary and church doing well is a valuable asset to both.

Further, I have found the ministry of the D. R. just as important as the church grows larger.  The missionaries and even the church board still need someone they can talk to who understands their situation.  Although ministries may become more complex, with more developed church leadership, multiple staff, and greater attendance, the assistance of a neutral party who cares is still invaluable. 

A few years ago, one of our larger churches experienced a painful division.  The D.R. assessed the situation, provided wise counsel, helped the church leadership work through the issues, and ministered to our missionary.  His help was essential in enabling the church to survive the crisis with the least possible damage. 

In some ways, the D.R. will be undervalued or taken for granted until the time when they are needed.  Then both church and missionary discover just how important they really are.  They are a major reason why we are effective in doing what we do.

Reason Nine: It is important for Village Missions to continue because of our stewardship of God’s resources.

Honestly, in my flesh I often become frustrated when we try to raise money for Village Missions.  Some donors today seem to like projects and especially like capital projects.  Although sometimes we have small capital projects such as our retirement facilities and sometimes we make “projects” out of our Alaska or Navajo endeavors, most of our investment is in human capital.  About 89% of the funds we expend directly benefit Village Missionaries. 

I keep hearing that people do not like to give to the “General Fund.”  However, our General Fund provides the ongoing salary support to our missionaries that enable them to serve the poorest churches.  Each year we provide about $1.2 million in salary support for Village Missionaries.

We try to be extremely frugal in spending the gifts of God’s people.  Several years ago, we were members of a large Christian organization.  Yet, the annual costs and the extravagant conference costs (they seemed so to me), caused us to drop our membership. 

Now we belong to the Association of North American Missions, an organization of missions dedicated to reaching North America and much more compatible with us in their approach to ministry. 

Village Missions recently experienced a field review by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.  They determined that we were in full compliance with the E.C.F.A.’s standards.[1]  You can view our member profile at this link.  89% of our expenses are program expenses, 8% are administrative, and 3% are fund raising expenses.  These percentages compare extremely favorably with other Christian ministries.

Without sacrificing ministry opportunities, we try to use the internet to save money on travel, looking for the lowest fares and rates.  If possible, when Carole and I travel we stay at someone’s home.  We like the fellowship and it saves the mission money.  Our staffing at the office is at bare minimum, perhaps even below minimum. 

A donor to Village Missions can know that his or her gifts will be spent with great care and that almost all of our spending directly benefits the Village Missionary.

Our approach to finances is scriptural-Paul took great care that he properly administered the gift of the Macedonian churches for the poor in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:18-21).  I think our wise use of God’s resources is yet another reason why He is not finished with us yet.

Next blog entry I’ll finish this series with the final “gut-check” reason why I believe God is not finished with Village Missions.  Any organization exists and serves at God’s pleasure.  For reasons not known to us and perhaps not having anything to do with us, He is free to decide that Village Missions has finished its course.  But it will not be because Village Missions is not doing a valuable work in fulfilling Jesus’ promise to build His church.  I know that in my “gut!”

 

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[1] Letter dated May 23, 2008 from Cory Odden, Vice President of ECFA.