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When I began this series on Village Missions’ gut check four months ago, many troubling signs existed in the economy, yet few realized that an economic collapse was coming.  It appears our country and perhaps Canada is headed toward a severe recession.  Individual Village Missionaries will experience a severe decline in their retirement savings.  Families in the churches we serve have been and will be hurt by the downturn.  Church offerings may drop significantly and ministries may have to be curtailed or adapted to cost much less.  Village Missions may be affected by the decline in the return in our Pension Funds.  If the environment in which we minister was difficult before, it will be doubly difficult now. 

Yet, we have an incredible opportunity to live and proclaim Biblical truth.  Christians in the U.S. and Canada have paid lip service to the reality that true treasure only exists in heaven but instead have lived primarily for the treasure that exists on earth.  In many ways, we have sought to gain the “whole world,” not perhaps at the expense of our souls but certainly at the cost of the diminishing of our souls.  Rich in the world’s goods, we are generally poor in heaven’s goods.  Such has been the double-edged sword of prosperity, which in most cases does more harm to our souls than good. 

Perhaps we as Village Missionaries have in some ways succumbed to the material temptations around us.  We, however, at least have chosen in many ways to embrace less-less crowds, less prestige, less of a home, and less pay.  In a world that has been grasping for more and now finds “more” slipping through its hands like sand, we will have something to say.  Because we have chosen to pursue true treasure even in the midst of prosperity, our example and words should have greater credibility in the midst of severe adversity.  In the calamities of recent years, God has given us the privileged opportunity to announce to the world that there is a “Rock” on which to build our lives and His name is Jesus.  May we take every opportunity to do so!

The apparent economic collapse is even more reason for Village Missions to do a gut check.  When a family experiences economic turmoil, it seeks ways to trim non-essentials.  It might get rid of TV, pare down the food budget, stop eating in restaurants and other non-essentials that are enjoyable but non-essential to the existence of the family.  Is Village Missions essential to the work of God’s kingdom?

Well, yes and no.  God’s kingdom will move forward even in the tribulation after the rapture of the church (my view of eschatology).  Nothing is essential to God apart from His own person!

Yet, assuming that Jesus will continue to build His church and assuming that Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth includes the U.S. and Canada, the work of Village Missions is essential.  I will not review the nine previous reasons but only present the tenth and final reason why it is important for Village Missions to continue.

Reason Ten: It is important for Village Missions to continue because the approach of Village Missions transcends culture.

Village Missions carries on its ministry in a variety of settings.  The Carsey Institute in New Hampshire[1] divides rural areas in the United States into four primary areas.  The same divisions would hold true for Canada.  They are:

• Amenity rich regions.  These are rural areas enjoying growth because of the presence of beautiful natural surroundings.  We served for eleven years in Red Feather Lakes, CO, an astoundingly beautiful area in northern Colorado.
• Declining resource-dependent rural America.  According to the Carsey Institute, these areas once depended almost solely on agriculture, timber, mining, or related manufacturing industries to support a solid, blue-collar middle class.  Many of these communities have a long history of booms and busts, and now that resources are depleted and low-skill manufacturing jobs are threatened by globalization, they are in economic decline.  We serve several fields that could be characterized this way.
• Chronically poor rural America.  The chronically poor regions are rich in history, but it is a history of devastating hardship, according to the Institute.  Here, both residents and the land have experienced decades of resource depletion and underinvestment, leaving behind broken communities with dysfunctional services, inadequate infrastructure, and ineffective or corrupt leadership.  These are the poor areas of the Deep South and Appalachia.  Although we do not serve any fields that strictly fit these categories, we do serve some fields in pockets that could be characterized as chronically poor.
• Amenity/decline rural America.  The amenity/decline places represent a transitional type, with similarities to both amenity-rich and declining resource dependent communities.  The traditional resource-based economies of these places have weakened but not vanished, and their aging populations reflect out-migration.  At the same time, these areas show signs and potential for amenity-based growth.  The Carsey Institute considered areas in the Pacific Northwest, such as Clatsop County in Oregon and the Northeast, such as Oxford County, ME to be representative of such areas.  We have several fields located in this category.

I would also add a fifth and sixth type of area served by Village Missions.  The fifth would be formally rural areas but now suburban or mixed rural and suburban.  These areas are sometimes called “rurban” because of the mix of rural and urban characteristics.  Village Missions serves many such fields.  The sixth type would be non-Anglo areas where the majority populations are Hispanic, Native American, or First Nation.

Each area presents unique challenges and ministry contexts.  As the Carsey Institute has identified, many of the areas we serve face increased challenges because of the societal and economic breakdowns occurring.

Still further, Village Missions serves a wide variety of churches.  Almost every church we serve started out small, but now several are larger, multi staff churches.  Approximately 44% require salary support.  The self-supporting churches account for our largest source of revenue.  Often we communicate the cutting edge of our mission, which is going to a church that is in danger of closing, but perhaps we don’t communicate as well the success of our mission, which involves the larger churches that send out and support missionaries and do an effective job of reaching their area for Christ.

Additional variety is found ethnically.  We now serve one entirely Hispanic field in Avenal, CA and one entirely Navajo field in Twin Mesa, AZ.  In addition, several of our fields have significant Native or First Nation populations or Hispanic populations.

Why mention all this diversity?  Because the ministry approach of Village Missions allows enough flexibility to adapt to a multitude of situations.  Our approach of local church independence, Biblical ministry consisting primarily of “Preaching the Word and loving the people,” and effective support of the missionary and church translates into extremely effective ministry over a wide range of situations.

God uses our approach to rescue many churches from the brink of closing.  Jennings, MI, was down to six people when we went there but now is growing numerically, financially, and spiritually.  Yet, the flexibility of our approach allows a local congregation also to transition to larger size.  It is unfortunate that some of the churches we serve don’t realize this and feel they have “outgrown” Village Missions.  Even then, we have done our part, as we have been a significant factor in their development.  It will be good for their own spiritual progress as a church to recognize that they can help duplicate elsewhere what happened in their situation by continuing to support Village Missions (Romans 15:26-27Romans 15:26-27
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
26 For it hath been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem. ²⁷ Yea, it hath been their good pleasure; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it [to them] also to minister unto them in carnal things.  

).  Several churches do.

Village Missions’ ability to transcend culture is especially evident in how the Lord has worked in Avenal, CA.  The church in Avenal has averaged over 250 this year in attendance.  They have developed several ministry outreaches.  They use their numerous small groups as a training ground for church leaders.  I have posted pictures of their recent baptism service on my Facebook profile.  Each year the congregation travels to the coast to conduct a baptism service.  They are rapidly moving forward in having their own church building, rather than renting the local school.  Our provision of salary support to Village Missionaries Raul and Teresa Corona, the support of their DR., and the independence of the local congregation has enabled the church (without ignoring the sovereignty of God) to become what it’s today.  The Coronas and the church leadership can determine how God is leading in their cultural context.  Certainly, another major factor is the quality of the missionaries themselves.  The Coronas are an outstanding couple who work tirelessly for the furtherance of the Gospel.

That the approach Rev. Duff developed has worked so well across so many varied situations and even cultures bears wonderful testimony as to how he was led by the Holy Spirit.

The adaptability of Village Missions will perhaps be put to its severest test in the current economic crisis.  Adapting will depend on whether God’s people feel that the ministry of Village Missions is essential and whether they are committed to having treasure in heaven.

 

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[1] Lawrence C. Hamilton, Leslie R. Hamilton, Cynthia M. Duncan, and Chris R. Colocousis, Place Matters: Challenges and Opportunities in Four Rural Americas (Durham, New Hampshire: Carsey Institute Reports on Rural America Volume 1, Number 4, 2008r 4, 2008
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
 

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).

Jennings, MI was once a thriving community in the early 1900’s with several plants and mills related to the lumber industry.  When the lumber ran out all the plants closed and the lumber company moved over 75 homes to nearby Cadillac.  Jennings began to morph into a forgotten community known for poverty, crimes, and drugs.  A small church tried to shine the light of Jesus Christ, but when their pastor retired, the church was ready to close.  Jennings was sinking into further despair and darkness but God had different plans!

After the church asked Village Missions to provide leadership, we sent Larry and Kathy Shetenhelm to Jennings in January 2006.  Jennings was the first church served under our Sliding Scale program, where we not only provide salary support but also cover the health plan.  The church moves forward first in contributing toward the health plan and then the salary according to a scale that adjusts for various ministry costs.

The turnaround in Jennings in two short years is nothing but a miracle.  Sunday morning, April 20, I spoke to a church full of people excited about Jesus Christ and what He was doing in their midst.  I met John, who Larry led to Christ and baptized last summer along with his wife Dorothy.  Neither John nor Dorothy had any spiritual background whatsoever.  Neither he, nor his parents, nor his grandparents ever attended a church but now John is a new creature in Christ and hungry to study the Bible.  You can see pictures of my visit to Jennings and some of the people I write about in this blog by following this link.

Larry led Jeff to Christ through his jail ministry.  When Larry first met Jeff in jail, he was arrogant, proud, and disruptive.  Coming under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, Jeff trusted Christ and became humble and hungry for the Word of God.  Pray for Jeff and his family as he serves his sentence in a federal jail in Chicago.

I’ve never been in a church where so many had recently come to Christ.  The entire back row was filled with teens who have a reputation for being part of the wild crowd but were hungry for love and something different in their lives.  Bob wore a neck collar because of a botched operation on his neck.  He had battled with workmen’s compensation for years, which left him extremely angry and bitter.  Larry and new Christian John cut, split, and hauled wood for Bob.  Bob started attending church after they did that.  Larry visited him in the home and Bob trusted Christ.  He now is also a changed man-in just a short time he has read the Bible through three times and Larry is going through the Pal Plan with he and his wife.  He bought 200 copies of the Daily Bread, put a label on them with Jennings Church information, and distributed them throughout the area.

Jennings is one of our pilot churches for the Awana club program.  This winter they averaged 22-25 children every meeting.  We will have to work with Awana to make some modifications-none of the kids knew the slightest thing about the Bible.  Teenagers especially, who wanted somewhere to go, came to Awana, but had no background knowledge.

God has led Larry and Kathy to help the community in other ways.  Interested parties contributed to a project to haul away trash and tires from Jennings.  They rented the largest dumpster they could rent and men volunteered to go around the community picking up trash from homes.  This is how they met and befriended John, who has very bad knees and couldn’t clean up his property.  They cleaned up his property on Saturday and Sunday he and his wife were in church.  Very few other people in the town wanted any help but within two nights, townspeople filled the dumpster to overflowing.  They borrowed a front-end loader to pack down the garbage and shortly they filled it again.  They also took away 110 tires!

Already the congregation is covering the Benefit Plan and sometimes contributes to salary.  The mission statement of what is now the Jennings Community Church is “Proclaiming and demonstrating hope in Jesus Christ.”  Hope has come to Jennings through a dedicated Village Missionary couple and the ministry of Village Missions.

We are facing extremely difficult financial and recruiting challenges in our sixtieth year as a mission.  We have invested over $51,000 in Jennings since January 2006.  What has happened in Jennings as well as in many other places we serve reminds me that God is still very much at work in and through us.  Together, as we look to God in prayer and jointly seek ways to move forward, may He enable us to continue to serve places like Jennings! 

I have joined Facebook! My kids were shocked that I took such a radical step into their world. Caleb wrote on my wall (A wall, as I’m learning, is a place to post comments), “HAHA my dad is on facebook… love ya tons.” Sarah wrote “Yeah! You are in! Love you tons! Gotta go, the kids are coming!” FellowVillage Missionary and Facebook denizen, Linda, wrote, “Wow, I didn’t think you would have a facebook! Suprise! I did it to keep in touch with my kids. Love the pictures.” I don’t want to think too much about why she is surprised as it probably has something to do with my age and demeanor or?

 

In Facebook, you ask people if they will be your friend. Once they are your friend you have access to their page and they have access to your page. They are your friend! I have to admit that it chillingly brings me back to High School when I didn’t seem very good at collecting friends, especially if they were popular. What if I asked people to be my friends and no one said yes?

Well, why join Facebook? It is the same answer why to have a blog. In typical Baby Boomer fashion, I am looking for ways to get the word out about Village Missions and possibly share Christ. The younger folks on Facebook seem to be there to simply network with one another and share their life with one another. Because I am there with a purpose, I will always be somewhat of an outsider. Real purpose for using Facebook will probably eventually ruin its original genius.

But I am passionate about the cause of moving country churches toward spiritual vitality and do want to connect with anyone who might be interested in the same cause. And I want to interest others in the wonderful potential that exists in country communities for, of all things, networking. Only it is networking with a face and not a book! Going to my Facebook to see who is there is like going to Dal-Rae’s High Country Café in Red Feather Lakes and visiting with the many people you know. Actual face to actual face, longing to introduce them to the One who came to this world to be face to face with us and to die on the cross so that we could be face to face with Him forever. The Bible speaks about it this way:

1 John 3:2John 3:2
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
2 the same came unto him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him.  

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: Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. NASB

So I’m looking for faces who can see the great need and the great potential that exists in rural churches. Will you be my friend?

Before you decide, you might want to watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy2US37-6R8

Recently I attended probably one of the best seminars I have ever attended (no hyperbole) sponsored by Mission Increase Foundation.  Presented by Eric Foley, the title was “e-Fundraising” but the seminar was so much more than that.  It really was an introduction to Web 2.0, the social networking phenomenon that is taking place on the web and the implications for Christian organizations.

As Eric gave his presentation, I found myself thinking of the extraordinary implications these developments have.  The tag line, “You can’t just stick an ‘E’ on what you already got” has implications for recruiting, for our interaction with the churches we serve, for pastoral ministry in general.

I also thought about rural ministry—talk about networking in a small town!  It may not be with all like-minded individuals or with all people committed to a cause but most often they are committed to a place.  And you get to see them face-to-face!  Rural pastors have the wonderful opportunity to build relationships with a “web” of people, many of whom don’t know Christ.