This is an article from the January 1986 issue: Donald McGavran

Staff Make Contribution at Summer Project

Staff Make Contribution at Summer Project

Participants in Campus Crusade's International Student Leadership Project at UCLA this past summer say that, thanks in pan to the resources and help of several staff members from the U.S. Center for World Mission, by the end of the Project three fourths of the participants had made solid commitments to pursue cross cultural ministries.

Randy Pierfelice, project director. said, "1 saw a groundswell of student interest and tntuauve in world mission that can only be explained by the work of God. I didn't sense big emotional decisions based on performance and legalism, but out of genuinely seeing God's heart for the wont"Jim Zvara, a student from MIT, said, "The instrument in Gods hands was facts what God is doing, what's left to be done, and how attainable the goal really is.

Following talks by several USCWM staff members in which those facts were presented. 36 participants in the UCLA project signed a declaration stating, "I am willing and desirous to dedicate my full time activities to helping fulfill the Great Commission in my generation and to go as a foreign missionary unless God specifically calls me to stay.'

B. McCracken

Strategy Notes

Clara Jean Browning, who, together with her husband. Neal, runs the Institute of Japanese Studies, announced that 26 retired or soon to be retired missionaries to Japan attended the Institutes first Consultation for Retired Japanese Workers January 2 4, 1986. Topic: Working with Japanese in America. One of the results of the conference: beginning of a support network among retirees who are working with Japanese here in the U.S.

Mrs. Browning said there are more than 806,000 Japanese in America and only one church per 4.500 Japanese population. The retirees appreciated the conference so much, they asked to have another one next year with a different topic.

Steve Richardson, head of Pioneers' Western Regional office, said he had just completed work on a 10 week inductive study guide on missions in the Bible. Richardson said he designed the material Lobe used by high school

students. He said he has already received requests for several hundred copies of the first edition that should be coming off the press in the next couple of weeks. .

Don Hamilton, head of TMQ Research, a new agency dedicated to research concerning tentmaking ministries. said he is within weeks of completing a preliminary report on 280 pp. of information and comments gathered from tentmakers on the field. When complete, the study is expected to reveal a profile of "the effective tentmaker."

"Right now," Hamilton said, "we see that conventional wisdom does not jibe with the actual experiences of renrmakers on the field in several key areas." .3. llotzmann

Call the Center 24 hours a day at (818) 797 lIlt. A staff member is always on duty. We are here to serve you.

They Said It.

Concerning the Frontier Fellowship Loose Change Plan

Joseph F. Conley, executive director of the U.S. Council, RBMU International, in the December 1985 RBMU Advance:

"A brother phoned to say, 'Joe, remember the Hidden Peoples' loose change savings program? Well, we've just counted up three years' worth of loose change accumulation. Guess how much it is?' (1 couldn't) 'Seventeen hundred and forty five dollars!  It's coming as our Thanksgiving offering!"

Dr. & Mrs. Paul Risser, Florence Avenue Foursquare Church, Santa Fe Springs, California, in Foursquare World Advance, September/October

1985:

"I confess, when 1 fast heard about 'Loose Change' giving, I didn't want it; in fact, 1 resisted and fought. I was afraid that if our church asked its people to give their loose change, they'd stop giving checks and greenbacks. God had a lesson for me to team about missions giving.

"Last year, in response to specific missions projects, . our loose change totalled $18,0. And it wasn'tjust coins. People gave checks and greenbacks. But most gratifying of all, that $18,0(Kl was in addition to our regular missionary giving!"

... Concerning a Theological Basis for Missions

Gene Adkins, head of Omega World Missions, a mission mobilization agency targeted at the Charismatic/Pentecosta[ churches, in a recent presentation:

I believe there has to be a sound theological basis infused into every strata of the church if we are going to sustain the (mission renewal) effort. Perhaps one of the reasons for the failure of missionary movements of the past is that while they created a lot of energy and enthusiasm about reaching

the world for Jesus Christ, an adequate theological base was never created.

"But with a lot of credit due to the U.S. Center for World Mission we have a sound, biblical¬theological basis for mission not just for a spun of enthusiasm for obedience to the Great Commission because of some dynamic and emotional appeal, but for a movenot based upon knowledge of God, God's ways, God's will, and God's word."

Recent Visitors

One gets a feel for the kind of place the Center is when one looks at the Center's guest book. The following is a partial list of people who have visited the Center in the past couple of months:

Oad uuikaan Cdeoou Jnlerna:ionai: Howard L,tech Wor14 Ovsreach Fellows hi pISPPJ fiT Rod & lane Hghfteld aica f,.tand Mission, Thnsania; Rev. John Dr Writs Bibles for India; Or. Roger }hdlund Chitrch Growth Research

Centre, hiothos, India; Dr. DottEd Htke Former Diseclor, Billy Graham center; Dr. S.D. James¬Asia Evangelistic Fellowship; Dr. Haney ltotkatn Gospel Recordings; Ante Nctlsr4  TEAM; Or. Cedric Gitbs Eenmoies 8th/, College. NSW Austraha; Dr. George t'aticn'je CBFMS; John ctlenbrrger Alliarice lheologica! Seminary, Nyaclç NY; George Venver Operolion Mohilco.tion; Dr. David Adeney OMF; Jim Montgomesy Foansür, DAWN Diropting A Whole Nation; Dr. Richard Deksutr Ca/wM Theological Seminary.

TSFM National Conference to be at USCWM

From 3 p.m. April 4 till noon April 6, the U.S. Center for World Mission will host the fifth annual national conference of Theological Students for Frontier Missions, an organization founded in 1980 to encourage seminary students to become more involved in frontier missions. The topic of this year's conference: contextualization, its importance, problems associated with it, and practical applications for theological students.

Keynote speakers are Dr. Arthur F. Glasser, associate professor at Fuller Seminary School of World Mission; Dr. Margaret Kraft, professor of Anthropology and Intercultural Studies at Biola University; Dr. Donald A. McGavrao, founder of Fuller School of World Mission; and Dr. Ralph D. Winter, founder and director of the U.S. Center for World Mission.

Bill Campbell, TSFM director, said that, in addition to the plenary sessions, seminars fusing on ministry to Hindu, Muslim, Chines, and tribal peoples are also planned. "But considering the fact that one can purchase tapes on these subjects, perhaps the most valuable aspect of this conference is the opportunity =cm ipants will have to meet together ssion leaders and tike minded students from seminaries across the country for prayer, fellowship, and sharing."There is no required registration fee for the conference; a donation of $20 is suggested. Room and board will be on a pay as you go basis, $8 per night, $2.50 per meal. Registrations should be received by TSFM by March 25.

Campbell said questions may be referred to the TSFM office, at P.O. Box 12142, Arlington, VA 22209. Phone number: (703) 356 4823.

Pioneers, Inc.

Founded in 1979, about the same time as the U.S. Center for WorldMission became a recognizable force in the mission world, Pioneers (formerly World Evangelical Ouueach) early adopted as its vision and motto, "A church for every people by the year 2000."

It was no desire for drama or excitement that led Pioneers' founder, Ted Fletcher, to resign his position as National Sales Manager with the Wait Street Journal. Ever since his conversion at a Billy Graham rally during the Korean War 20 years earlier, he had prayed that he would have a part in reaching members of other cultures with the gospel.

Fletcher was in line for another promotion, he had a happy family, andhe had won many fellow businessmen to Christ, but, he says, he came to the point where he asked, "What difference does the circulation of the Journal make as far as eternity is concerned?"

Ted and his wife, Peggy, made inquiry to serve with a number of mission agencies but were turned down each time for lack of formal Bible training or because their four children were just "too many."

In 1978. the Eletchers traveled to Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific. They returned with an even greater burden for those people groups who were beyond the range of existing evangelistic efforts. Propelled by the conviction that God wanted him directly involved in foreign missions, Ted could hold back no longer. He abandoned the world of commerce and founded Pioneers.

The ministry of Pioneers has multiplied rapidly in its seven short years. With nearly 100 North American personnel, Pioneers is busy planting churches among 13 Unreached Peoples in 7 countries, and has plans for penetrating a dozen more peoples in the near future. Pioneers also oversees the work of 83 church planters and evangelists from outside the U.S. and Canada who work among other peoples in difficult.to reach areas of the world.Fletcher attributes the dramatic growth of Pioneers to several factors. Foremost, in his mind, is the mission's overriding commitment to working among Hidden Peoples in all five of the major blocs of Unreached Peoples: Muslims, Chinese, Hindus, Buddhists, and tribais. "Pioneers is willing to target any Unreached People for whom God has raised up a qualified team leader,' he says.

Furthermore, Pioneers is committed to the concept of team ministries. "We believe that individuals who share a common burden and have complementary gifts should work in close partnership." Pioneers teams are not limited to conventional avenues of ministry as they seek to establish indigenous churches in their target groups. Vocational or "tentmaking" strategies are perfectly acceptable. And, wherever possible, Pioneers teams work with believers from neighboring cultural groups to reach the target peoples. "We believe we have a responsibility to pass on mission sending vision to those peoples who have traditionally been mission recipients." says Fletcher.

"Missionary outreach must be a cooperative venture even across cultures."

Fletcher attributes the growth of his organization to one other commitment Pioneers has maintained: the pursuit of healthy relationships with missionsending churches. "We believe that open lines of communication and high levels of accountability will benefit both our agency and the local church," he says. In line with this comrniunent, missionary candidates we requited to develop close ties of accountability to a local sending church.

Fletcher and his fellow "pioneers" project that within five years they will have ministries among at least 18 tlnreached Peoples, and a nisssion membership of 250. Based in Washington, D.C., the organization recently opened a West Coast office on the campus of the U.S. Center for World Mission. Its purpose, in addition to seeking recruits for Pioneers, is to aid the Center in promoting frontier mission vision.

Says Fletcher. 'We art praying that God will raise up an army of aggressive, forward looking missionaries who will join our teams to penetrate targeted Hidden Peoples with the gospel." The Ftetchers' children, with their spouses, are part of the first installment of God's answer to their prayers. All four currently serve or are preparing to serve among the Unreached.

Steve RIchardson

Steve Richardson, son of author and USCWM board member Don Rkhardson, currently serves as Western Regional Representative for Pioneers. Steve and his 4e, Arlene, anticipate ministry among one of the world's largest unreached Muslim peoples in the near future. Toflrid out more about Pioneers, write to Pioneers Western Regional Office, (JSCWM, 1605 Elizabeth St., Pasadena, CA 91104.

Comments

There are no comments for this entry yet.

Leave A Comment

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.