January 01, 1996 by Jodie Van Loon

Waking a Sleeping Giant

Look Out! There is a giant that has been awakened and it's an awesome sight! A sleeping giant is interesting, but not worth much. But to watch a giant wake up, stretch and test his strength to find out if all his body cooperates, then stands and begins to walk can be an earthshaking experience! Watch as his mind clears of slumber, then hesitates as he wonders "Why did I wake up and where am I going? Is there an important, even urgent assignment I should be doing?"Good News! Our Great God has awakened his slumbering giant body of believers globally to get on with the urgent yet age old assignment of having the Lord God known among all the families of the earth. The sleepy, awakening giant has had to be shaken with the fact of an urgent task to be done and Almighty God has asked him to do it through the Lord's strength and wisdom empowered by His spirit!

The Strategy Division of the U.S. Center for World Mission was formed to assist the giant body of believers worldwide to understand in a clear and challenging way the task God assigned them. We have been alerted to the tragic facts that many people groups in the world have never heard the gospel and have no viable church in their midst to share the good news. The goal of the strategy agencies is to track down through research where unreached people groups are and find out what has been or may be successful in penetrating these people with God's glorious plan of salvation. We have sought to discover needs, investigate successful methods, use experimentation and revise accepted methods in light of newly discovered facts. We seek to move ahead with developing plans surfacing through networking, think- tanks, partnering, and teamwork, knowing that good communication channels are so vital in getting the task accomplished.

Just Think! Waking giants need vision to take strides in the right direction. Our Strategy Division seeks to assist in this process as we research Biblical principles and models found in His Word. Men like Abraham, Joseph, Moses plus Nehemiah, Isaiah and Paul come to mind as we think of ones who had the ability to perceive the Lord's plan and message not visible by keen foresight. Yet they obeyed the Lord in the vision given them to proclaim Him to all peoples. Our agencies in research and strategy are on the cutting edge of assisting creative planning and exploring new ways of leaping over walls of resistance, but always with the priority of reaching the unreached with the gospel.

Because of the need to know how and where to reach out, facts have been gathered, lists and profiles on unreached people have been researched, produced and made available to all interested parties. To give vision to the body, programs and tools like "Perspectives,"

Comibam, "Praying through the 10/10 Window," and "AD2000" have given vision, direction, and motivation to God's glorious plan and purpose. One joyful aspect of the Center for World Mission has produced veteran missionaries with missiological understanding and have watched them spin off to locations and ministry all over the world. Through this process the vision of the unreached has been shared and multiplied which has produced thrilling breakthrough in unexpected locations. Truly these baby boomer missionaries are vital players in strategy development and we count on them for fresh new insights.

It has been interesting to see a growing number of our strategy agencies manned by internationals who come from the mega blocks and have field experience and cultural know-how, yet are deeply committed to helping their people catch mission visions for the unreached. With this kind of partnering on our campus, a growth in understanding the joy and value of cooperation has emerged. How thrilling to strategize with Latins, Korean, Chinese and other Asians plus ones from India, Africa, and Islands of the World, knowing we all are serving the same Lord and are vital members in His global plan.

Yes, Watch Out! Our global giant is moving with giant steps. He has vision and purpose but needs specific goals for the future. As we witness this impressive giant stride with the purpose and hope, we sense the need of help on this new adventure of obedience and faith, especially when confronted with choices of various crossroads or upon entry of territories where situations are different that originally perceived. This calls for creative thinking and strategies. Let me give you an illustration. As information came to light through mega block research and planning, the need emerged for more research efforts focused on mirco peoples and other groups getting little or no attention. Who will put such valuable information into a data base not only for English speakers, but attention. Who will put such valuable information into a data base not only for English speakers, but also other language speakers?

A very strategic plan has developed to move churches worldwide to take action concerning the unreached. This project is known as the Adopt-A-People movement and is an exciting giant step in completing the global task. A world-wide data base has been developed to keep track of the numbers and names of those being adopted. Now let us consider some of the issues ahead of us that need attention.

1. Explore some key strategies to help potential workers move out of the comfort zone and put their focus the task at hand. It is encouraging to see agencies at the US Center dealing with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation young adult from various cultural roots that find U.S. comforts too attractive and wrestle with the challenge of returning to their roots, especially when their families came here for economic reasons or political safety.
2. There is a need to encourage and develop strategies for ministry to heads of households in villages and cities, so the gospel spreads through the extended web which is good ground for planting churches.
3. The need of investigating how the cell church works in various cultures and settings.
4. How does partnering succeed when participants come from a variety of sending agencies and there is no common language in such a mix. How do you deal with those left out?
5. The need of making clear assessments as cross-cultural workers return to their sending base through attrition. We need a workable plan through feedback loops. learning from such situations.
6. Most global mission meetings involve top leadership. What method for meetings and networking of other level leadership?

Rejoice! For it is thrilling to see the awakened giant striding with purpose and hope as God's Spirit bonds and empowers His body to move on a global scale! May we be Wise, not reckless and misguided by zeal: Patient, not demanding quick answers to eternal matters; and Committed with our eyes ever looking to Jesus our King! Yes, Lord, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Testimony of Henrietta Watson, Institute of Hindu Studies 13 years of service:

"I spent over 40 years as a missionary in India. Now I am at the US Center and what a great blessing my work here is with opportunities galore to continue ministry for the peoples of India!"