The Directory of Articles for January-February 1997 Cover Story: Dependency: When Our Giving Does More Harm Than Good! How Does It Happen and What Can We Do to Overcome It?

Welcome to the January-February 1997 issue of Mission Frontiers. In this issue we deal with the troubling issue of dependency. Unfortunately, as missionaries have gone out, they have often brought their foreign culture and institutions along with the money to support them. This has created a dependency on outside funds that has robbed many mission churches of the desire to reach out locally and cross-culturally with the gospel. We encourage you to do an in-depth study of this problem, because there are few things more important than churches that are actively reproducing themselves.

We hope that you enjoy these articles and that they will be eye opening experience for you.

The Editorial of Ralph D. Winter
The founder of the US Center for World Mission outlines the importance of global meetings taking place around the world and how they bear on the progress of world evangelization. He also explores the difficult subject of "invisible sin" that permeates all of our lives.  Read this eye opening editorial to find out what this "invisible sin" is all about.

MF Behind the Scenes
Rick Wood, the Managing Editor
He explains how dependency can kill a people movement. Psychological
ownership is paramount to the well-being of the newly-planted church.  Check out the giving strategies that will keep your church from creating dependency on the mission field.

What is the Cutting Edge of Missions?
Jim Plueddemann, General Director of SIM, examines whether or not the best stategies in missions have changed. Is sending missionaries a thing of the past? Read this to-the-point article and decide for yourself.

It's Time to Get Serious About the Cycle of Dependency in Africa
By Glenn Schwartz
Cover Story. The title says it all. Glenn Schwartz attacks this syndrome head on. Get ready to have your thinking challenged in the area of mission giving. Great ideas aren't always as great as they seem. See if your church has fallen into the dependency trap.

Cutting the Apron Strings
by Glenn Schwartz
Here it is. Examples of how some churches in Africa have broken free from the cycle. Also, step-by-step guidelines for leaders of dependent churches, missionaries and mission agencies on how to rehabilitate a weak, dependent church. Quite timely and relevant to solving this problem.

Don't Chase Buffaloes
By Glenn Schwartz
A wonderful, humorous story of how God led one African church to be reliant
on the resources He gave them, instead of looking to American Christians for those resources.

A Champion for Self Reliance
An interview with Glenn Schwartz, Founding Director of World Mission
Associates
Get the inside picture of what drives Glenn to lead the way out of dependency. This frank interview may answer some of the questions you wrestle with. Also includes a description and listing of a video series about dependency by World Mission Associates.

By Professor Zablon Nthamburi,
Presiding Bishop, Methodist Church in Kenya
Here is a story on depenency from the African perspective`   

What hath our Western money and our Western gospel Wrought?
By William J. Kornfield
Financial paternalism and the Westernization of the gospel are two key topics we must address. They are more closely linked that you might think.

Proceed with Caution
By Frank L. Roy
Dangers lie ahead as the frontier mission movement races into the future. Will we run off the road, or will we read the warning signs and avoid the obstacles ahead?

Two Christian Leaders Discuss Dependency
By Chuck Bennett of Partners International
And Glenn Schwartz
Dependency is an extremely complex problem--so don't get caught with a lopsided viewpoint. Get both sides of the story as Chuck and Glenn tackle this issue.

Students: Duck out of missions by digging into debt!
By Bell Sells
The author describes two great ways to get trained into missions while staying out of debt. Both World Christian Foundations and Frontier Service Corps allow you to get a degree, but they each offer different solutions financially. See if one of these programs could be the answer for you or someone you know.

Urbana 96: Focused on the Unreached Peoples of Joshua Project 2000
By David Hargrove of AD2000
Don't miss this upbeat report of Urbana 96, the triennial student missions convention. See why unreached peoples were the "cool thing" there. Also includes a report from Christianity Today on Dr. Winter's lecture at Urbana.

Latins say "Si" to World Evangelization: LatinoAmerica 2000
By Debbie Wood of AD2000
Over 3,500 Latins and North American church leaders met in Panama City to seek God and His plan for evangelizing Latin America and the world. Read the story of the growing mission awareness in Latin America.

Come and see the AGP: AD2000 Releases Adoption Program on the WEB
By Debbie Wood of AD2000
Would you like to have easy access to up-to-date information on adopting a people and how to make it work in your church. This may be the answer for you. The AD2000 and Beyond Movement has set up a Web based program to provide you and your church with the information you need to adopt-a-people. Check this out.

First National Missions Consultation Focused on Indonesian Unreached Peoples
By Setiabudhi (Faithful Friend)
It's a "closed country" with the persecution of Christians being a common story yet in spite of this over 300 church leaders came together in January with a passionate desire to bring the gospel to the unreached peoples of Indonesia. They have proven that much can be done, even under a restrictive system. Learn what their plans are for the future.

Kids Korner
by Gerry Dueck
Director of the Childrens Mission Resource Center
Catch up on the latest news and resources that can help you bring up mission minded kids.

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