LESS IS MORE

Ninety-nine percent of missionary effort and financial support goes to places where the churches are already present.

Shocking, isn't it? If we’re going to reach the world for Christ, we’d better start doing things a little differently.

I found this statistic on the website of the Issachar Initiative. It’s a coalition of people and organizations formed around the goal of seeing a world with zero people groups unreached with the gospel. One of Issachar’s main objectives is to use mission resources in a more informed, strategic manner.

To do this, many have begun looking to native missionaries, who are doing 95% of effective pioneer work among unreached peoples in the world today.

However as more research surfaces about native missionaries’ effectiveness, more and more "organizations" are using the nationals.

Sounds like a good thing, right? Well, there’s a problem with my above statement and it has to do with that word “using".

“Using” implies putting other people to work to carry out our objective, our vision. If we are to plant indigenous Churches that remain we have to rethink this method to "equipping". Ephesians 4:12 uses the word "Perfecting" which means "to fully equip".

“Equipping” is an entirely different ballgame. It involves teaching, evaluating, listening, entrusting, and assisting. That’s what we do in Zambia. And that’s why I love working here. We ask questions like “What is your vision and what do you need to fulfill it?” For were there is no vision the people perish. 

For example in Zambia, One of the men in the church told me that people won't come to church unless they know someone. So personal connection is more effective than cold call door knocking or print, and it proved to be true.

Unfortunately I have discovered a trend in our Churches in America. That is, the mentality that church planting is the same in the US as it is abroad. The opposite is true.

If you don’t live were they live and learn how they think, how would you know what methods are best to reach their people? When it comes to foreign missions one size simply does not fit all.

When it comes to the most important work on earth we should be more strategic. Less empire building and more mission focused. And for the missionary, Less using and more equipping? 

By Martin Chilando, Zambia

c. (Issachar initiative), (missions with home field advantage)

How To Pray For Your Missionaries

Sunday: 

• The Missionary’s Church services and Bible studies
• Vitality in prayer life and relationship with the Lord
• Fresh empowering by the Holy Spirit 
• Maturity and growth in grace, knowledge, and love of God
• Victory over Satan, the flesh, and the world

Monday:

• The Missionary’s Physical and Emotional Life
• Health and protection against illness and disease
• Hedge of protection and atmosphere of peace around family and home
• Safety, alertness, and protection while traveling
• Victory over loneliness, depression, and discouragement

Tuesday: 

• The Missionary’s Family
• Husband and wife relationship (communication, quality time together)
• Children (schooling, friends, protection)
• Family devotional times
• Relations with and examples to other families

Wednesday: 

• The Missionary’s Ability to Communicate
• Language study, continual improvement in fluency
• Greater cultural adaptation and understanding
• Insight into relevant redemptive analogies
• Victory over discouragement and communication barriers

Thursday: 

• The Missionary’s Ministry
• Anointing for teaching, preaching, witnessing, ministering to others
• Boldness and open doors for ministry and sensitivity to God’s leading
• Prepared hearts and favor with the people
• Fruitfulness in work and sphere of ministry

Friday: 

• The Missionary’s Relationship with Co-Workers
• Co-workers on their local teams
• National pastors, lay workers, and other missionaries
• Christian witness to employees, shopkeepers, government officials
• Home church mission team and support group

Saturday: 

• The Missionary’s Country of Service
• National and local government stability and peace
• Continued open doors for service and peace in the country
• Favor with the government regarding necessary permits and visas
• Open doors and souls saved

The Chilando Family  www.martinchilando.com

Missionary Resources "What I Know Is"

Low-Cost Shipping of Supplies, Aid, Medical, and Personal Goods for Missionaries

Caribbean American Shipping Corporation (CASCO) 

We offer an all-in-one service: purchasing, consolidation, and shipping by ocean and air to most Caribbean ports and airports. We particularly specialize in transportation solutions to Haiti, drawing on our 30 years of experience in that country. We can handle heavy loads.

Denton Program
Allows private U.S. citizens and organizations to use space available on U.S. military cargo planes to transport humanitarian goods, such as clothing, food, medical and educational supplies, and agricultural equipment and vehicles, to countries in need. The program is jointly administered by USAID, the Department of State (DOS), and the Department of Defense (DOD).

Home of Peace
Packing, cargo, and shipping services for missionaries for more than 100 years. Bed and Breakfast Guest Home for missionaries in transit. Near San Francisco, California. 1-510-531-4200   home@homeofpeace.com

Mercy Flight International
Discounts and speedy shipping by air for churches and mission agencies. Will ship personal effects, and relief, missionary, and medical supplies.
1-800-405-0843

Missionary Expeditors, Inc.
A leading freight forwarder for individuals, especially for Christian missionaries, shipping personal effects and household goods overseas. For nearly five decades, we’ve specialized in cargo shipped "from anywhere to anywhere" for church and other humanitarian groups. Fully licensed and bonded international freight forwarder.

Mission Harvest America
We have an answer to your mission's logistics problems. We are experts in obtaining and moving material around the world for Christian and humanitarian aid. We are a 100% voluntary organization, our only goal is to serve God's plan to spread the gospel.

Modern Shipping, Inc.
Modern Shipping, Inc is committed to non-profit Missionary organizations with competitive low rate quotes via air, ocean economy, full container and less than container loads. Import and export services from and to the USA.

Sayva Trek Humanitarian Logistics UK
Specialising in providing NGO's, Charities and all relief organisations with logistical support from the UK and abroad. Air, Sea and Road freight. Emergency relief charters. Excess Baggage. Our network of agents throughout the World ensures your shipment is in the very best of hands.

The Shipping Advisor 1-800-737-7331

Stevens Worldwide
We are a freight forwarder with over 100 years of experience, internationally recognized as an industry leader. We specialize in worldwide shipments of relief goods and personal effects. Some of our customers are Global Health Ministries, SALFA, Books for Africa, PEN Trust, etc.

Ship printed material economically by boat (or air) to many countries using the US Postal Service M-BAG class, without customs problems. There are also economical M-BAG air shipment rates. See USPS Publication 51, under "M-Bags (Direct Sacks of Printed Matter to a Single Addressee)". See current rates at http://www.usps.gov.

These listings are provided as-is, with no warranty, explicit or implied. You must investigate any agency or organization that interests you to make sure that their services meet your needs. We cannot assure you that the organizations listed herein are as they advertise themselves to be, or that they will meet your expectations.

                                                            The Chilando Family www.martinchilando.com

We Are Laborers Together With God

1. The Purpose of the New Testament Church — the propagation of the gospel through the establishment of New Testament assemblies.
2. The Plan of the New Testament Church — To go, baptize and teach, making every Christian  a part of this plan.
3. The Pattern given in the New Testament — Acts 2:36-47; Acts 13:1-4; Acts 20:20-21.
4. The Progress of the New Testament — God gives the increase (we simply work with Him in planting and watering).
5. The Prescription for power in the New Testament — “All power is given unto me… go ye therefore into all the world… and Lo, I am with you alway…” As we go, He gives power. Many churches are sickly and on the brink of death because they do not like the Great Physicians prescription. There was no distinction between “Home” and “foreign” missions, the command was just go, give, and pray! To some this medicine is either too much to take, is bitter to the taste, or perhaps just too expensive. 

In essence, New Testament missions is the process of planting and building indigenous local congregations around the world, to the ends of the earth. Missions is seeing people saved, and then obviously in turning to the Saviour they become disciples. This is the beginning of learning and following the WAY of Christ. Christ is the way to heaven and He is the Head of His plan for service in the local church. This is why Jesus said His disciples were to make followers, baptize, and teach all the things that He had taught. The New Testament way includes the cross of Christ and also involves the church of that same Christ!  Jesus said ‘I will build my church…’ The Apostle Paul included every Christian in this church building work by stating ‘We are laborers together with God. Missions is church work, and church work is missions!

Let not our missionaries go by faith and churches support by sight alone.

                                                                                                                                                                  

1. Mohler. J  (2010. November 2nd), Retrieved from www.fbchsp.org, Faith Baptist Church, Spokane, MO

The Chilando Family www.martinchilando.com

The Essence Of Life

In the Early 19th century, King Fredrick William III of Prussia was determined to free his country from Napoleon's rule. Men and boys throughout the country enthusiastically enlisted in the army. They, too, wanted to free the "motherland" from a hated yoke of oppression.
Lacking finances to fund what is now known as the Prussian War of Liberation, the king provided a way for the women to sacrifice for their country as well. He asked them to bring their gold and silver jewelry to be melted for their country. In exchange, the women were given iron jewelry with inscription Gold gad ich fur Eisen ("I gave gold for Iron").
The Women donated jewelry just as enthusiastically as the men enlisted in the military. Wearing gold or silver jewelry became viewed as unpatriotic and the women prized their iron even more highly than the gold. It was proof that they had sacrificed for their king.

We, too, must be committed to a gospel mission. A fear to give to the Lord exposes our lack of christian patriotism.

Total commitment begins with offering ourselves. This is the Pattern the Macedonian Christians followed: "And this they did not as we hoped, but first gave of their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God."  2Cor 8:5

The essence of life is not ownership; it is stewardship.

Chilando family at www.martinchilando.com

Missions: "OK" CHURCH vs "GREAT" CHURCH

The Pastor Is KEY

As in every other activity of the church, the key person is the pastor. If missions is not a priority with the pastor it will not be a great missions church. However, if it is a priority with the pastor, any church regardless of the size can have a great missions impact. Since the pastor is the key there are some necessary ingredients.

- He must have knowledge of the needs of the world and thus a burden for the world. 

- He must have an unselfish spirit concerning the finances of the church and it members.

- A great missions church will give a large percentage of their total offerings to missions. 

- From a great missions church some of the best members will go to the mission field.

The Mandate Is Uncompromising

The great task of worldwide evangelism was given to the church. It is the glorious privilege and responsibility of every group that calls themselves a church. Even though churches work together in this task, every church should pray, go, and give as if they were the only church. In other words, the purpose of our church is worldwide evangelism. The great commission is not just a good idea. It is not a suggestion. It is not even a request. It is the final mandate of the Lord to His Church just before He ascended back to Heaven.

He plainly commanded, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…” The word teach here means to make converts. We are to evangelize the entire world. This is done by the preaching of the Gospel. All men need a Saviour. Christ died for the sins of the whole world. We have good news for sinners. Sinners do not have to pay for their own sins by dying and going to Hell. Christ has died for them. He paid the price for them. Again He commanded, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” In reality, no group that is not at the task of worldwide evangelization should call themselves a church. Missions is not a program in the church. The program of the church is MISSIONS.

Your Church Can Make a Difference

Regardless of the size of your church, you can make an impact on a lost and dying world. Jesus tells us, “The Harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” The harvest has never been so great and the labourers so few. Your church through praying, giving and sending can provide the labourers for the great harvest fields of the world. This will not happen without a conscious effort on the part of the leaders of your church. Stop and think. Is my church totally involved in obeying the last command of the Lord, or do we just have a token interest in worldwide evangelism?

The Motivation For Involvement In God’s Mission

A better understanding of who God is and what he is trying to accomplish in the world is a good place to start.

Motivation for Missions 

God’s main intention in human history is to reunite himself with a world (people) that is estranged by sin. All that he is doing in time is an effort to further that desire. From the first verses of Genesis to the last verses of Revelation, his intention is articulated and illustrated. The wonder of it all is that he wants to accomplish this mission through the faithfulness of people like you and me.

 The fundamental biblical motivation for committing ourselves to missions is this - we love God and want to please him in our faithfulness. Our motivation to serve God in missions is further fueled by three factors:

Christ Sacrificed Himself For Us On The Cross 

The first public description of Jesus presented in the Bible is when John the Baptist called out: “Behold! The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” This proclamation in many ways sums up what Jesus’ mission was all about.

There Is A Great Need To Hear His Message Throughout The World

Having experienced the wonderful redemption God is offering to the world, the heartfelt response is to share it with those who haven’t heard. When we realize that there are more than two billion people who have yet to hear the gospel in an understandable way, then the need becomes compelling, even heart-breaking.

We must ask God to give us a heart for the lost; for those who have not yet experienced this redemptive relationship with God. When we more clearly perceive the need in the world, we fully appreciate the wonder of God’s salvation.

We delight In Pleasing Our Master 

When we see the great magnitude of Christ's sacrifice for us, when we realize the great need of many to hear the message, and when we envision what it will be like one day to stand before him as his bride, then we will be truly inspired and empowered to serve in his redeeming mission.