It's been slightly warm ...
As we have travelled amongst different ministries the last couple of days, the truth is that we have sensed the raised temperature of the spiritual battle also. Those who are truly reaching out to the unreached and poor, marginalised, forgotten about, have had everything thrown at them by the enemy. Such is the nature of strategic mission work, and ground breaking kingdom industry.
On top of this they are doing things for which there is no training manual. Of course...they have God's word, they act on the primacy of it and are thoroughly biblical in their approach... yet the cultural challenges that come with first generation Christianity present their own issues which need thinking through afresh and reformation under God.
What works in other contexts would definitely not work here, and has failed so spectacularly when others from outside come in with imposed cultural ideas on how this church should look like in this context. Development of indigenous leaders has its own peculiar challenge. Cultural sensitivity is the main thing lacking in those who have travelled here so far, and the primary reason the pastors gave today for why this church has not taken root and multiplied as we would dearly love it to. Our role is to help pioneers and think through help and resources which will navigate this issue biblically.
The reality is that indigenous culture will always be an influence. We can train leaders to be biblical, but under pressure many will be tempted to resort to type and what they have known. The cultural mindset/ worldview, family influence, attitudes to money, marriage, routines of the day (and the very hot summer) all impact how the church community can grow, the commitment of people to serve others and church growth, the reality of growing indigenous mature leaders of the truth.
Those who have endured and been fruitful here admit through their own tears that there is actually no true indigenous leadership present. The prevailing church here is led those who have come from outside and dedicated their lives to introduction of the gospel to this culture with a view to handing over to indigenous leadership. However, the sustaining leaders of the church here remain those who at present have no mature leaders to hand on to.
Our prayer is for us to aid these purposes, As we serve the church here and those who have served it so faithfully we long to see indigenous leadership mature and be able to carry the gospel into the next generation and season. With all that church planters and workers have thrown at them on a regular basis this could only happen through a supernatural work of God. What is humanity impossible is possible with God. This is the truth of Genesis 12:1-3. We pray not only for the miraculous new birth of those from kingdoms and cultures of darkness, but also the multicultural family of God being born in cultures where humanly it has seemed impossible, This is particularly true of refugee and poorest communities here. So long neglected and despised, the door has been opened to the gospel. So many lives have been changed by receiving Christ, but this is not the same as having a church full of mature disciples who can lead. What is now a church amongst the poorest is not "standard" western church. It is community, connections, relationships which grow into communication about Christ, receiving Christ and then outworking the application of this in so many complex situations. There is so much to be encouraged by, but such a long way to go.
Pray for Pastor S and his work amongst the Roma community.
Pray for Pastor D and his work amongst those who have fled wars.
Pray for Pastor E and his work amongst poor urban families.
Pray for Pastor X and his work amongst those from dark religion practices and superstition.
Pray for us tomorrow as we meet to pray for this special country.
Bless you, thank you.
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