Missions on Point

This key is subtle because missionaries tend to make a lot of assumptions based on their own culture and experience or even a mandate of authorities over them which also make assumptions. If the missionary is going to be effective into the second and third generation of followers, he must be sensitive to adapting to methodologies that are accepted, embraced, and practiced in the local (target) culture. Our highly Western and technology-driven life here tends not to be reproducible there. Choices in teaching styles, tools, and even lifestyle do have an impact on long-term effectiveness. Access the episode transcript page.

Most missionaries and individual churches and Christians, in fact, understand the practicality of having simple priorities day-to-day and clear biblical goals. Few, however, see beyond the first major milestone to see the bigger picture. Committing to the really long-term view of 10-30 years can be transforming to choices made early in the start of a ministry. In fact, it is a key to effectiveness. Doing things right now that facilitate the reproducibility of the ministry into the second and third generation of leaders creates a legacy for God's glory. Visualizing what the finish line celebration looks like, helps motivate the missionary (or pastor, or individual) to do the right things for the long haul. That's what builds effectiveness! Access the episode transcript page.

This is one of my favorite topics, partly because it is so rarely discussed. It is often assumed and not understood. It is also incredibly practical even in our stateside churches. Indigenous churches are the goal. They don't get that way without giving attention to indigenous principles from the very beginning. It changes the way the missionary acts and thinks as the church develops. Valuing indigeneity can be dangerous! But it is absolutely worth it. Access the episode transcript page.

Believe it or not, missionaries all too often don't have this assumed key to effectiveness in their toolbox. It's not enough to have a passion for missionary ministry! Even sincere candidates (and missionaries on the field!) have such a simplistic understanding of the Gospel and of the Bible that they freeze up if called on to explain the storyline of the Bible or find a reference in one of the Minor Prophets. Having a good grasp of Bible content, the interpretation of Scripture, contexts, biblical history, and application of the sufficiency of Scripture are important skills that are used often in the challenging questions and spiritual discipline of people on the mission field. Better to get in here than to lack it there. Access the episode transcript page.

Sound understanding of biblical theology and the discerning ability to accurately apply it to life, even amidst a foreign culture, is a key to missionary effectiveness. It's too easy for the greenhorn missionary to be judgmental of cultural practices and features based on their home culture or personal preferences. Discerning theological structure provides the biblical framework for teaching God's truth for new believers. The oppressive religious practices, from major world religions, to animism and occultism, can be a puzzling barrier to the transforming message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Help your missionary get what it takes to have theological discernment in the toolbox. Access the episode transcript page.

Who would have guessed that learning the target language and culture was so important, so time-consuming, so rewarding? Commit to giving the time and effort to learn the language and culture well, for you are dealing with intangible truths that affect your audience's eternal destiny. It is truly one of the most basic, and most dismissed keys to effectiveness. Don't be among those who minimize the importance of language and culture to the long-term detriment of the ministry. Access the episode transcript page.

It's extremely challenging, as a missionary, to maintain and focus on a few simple priorities. The challenges of cross-cultural living, an environment lacking in comforts and conveniences, even the standard utilities, of "home." Missionaries can get side-tracked by well-meaning urgencies, self-focus, self-family-focus, trendy strategies, and striving to accrue statistics. All these blunt and misdirect the sharp focus of achieving that clear biblical vision. Learning how to keep simple priorities that are in line with the end-result vision is key to effectiveness. You'll have to ask questions to pry beneath the surface and find your answers. Access the episode transcript page.

Second in our series of Keys to Effectiveness. The concept here actually can be applied to Missionaries, to local churches, to pastoral leaders, and to individual Christians. Asking a missionary candidate or missionary to express a singular, distilled vision for the preferred outcome of their long-term ministry just might be one of the best things you could do to help them focus and to help you evaluate the ministry (or potential ministry). Ask yourself the question, "Do I have a clear biblical vision?" Maybe it will help you too! Access the episode transcript page.

Since we understand the centrality of the local church, effective missionaries must have an experiential, functional, and informed understanding of practical ecclesiology. Lacking ecclesiology is a source of many woeful shortcomings on the field. This episode will also specify a list of assumptions of Christian life and character essential to beginning to build effectiveness. May God use this for His glory in effective missionaries, effective sending churches, and effective sending saints. Access the episode transcript page.

How can you tell if a missionary candidate is prepared for effectiveness on the field? How can you evaluate a field missionary? What are the most important markers of effectiveness? Propempo submits this series to help the discussion. 13 keys will be examined, one each week. We'll try to define each one, show which shortcoming each may address, and suggest some remedies to build the qualities that are the keys. Our goal is to avoid preventable attrition and prepare effective field missionaries for the glory of God. Access the episode transcript page.

We'll use the Arlington Statement on Bible Translation to highlight some contemporary problem issues with translation and the corrective principles. We also want to urge sound churches to consider making Bible translation a priority by praying, recruiting, and sending qualified Bible translators to the harvest fields. May it be so for God's glory! Access the episode transcript page.

We can talk about pioneering missions ministry. Yet, an essential element that is often neglected is the priority of Bible translation. No Bible, no ministry! We need to affirm the importance of sound Bible translation by sending our best and brightest to become translators and translation consultants. It is difficult, long-term, and essential to indigenous church planting. Access the episode transcript page.

Christmas is a special time for missionaries on the field. The meaning of Christmas is one of the main reasons they are there! It can be very different on the field than the celebrations and traditions from back home. It can be lonely and even depressing. But it holds a wonderful opportunity to share Christ and the Gospel through the Incarnation. Missionaries may have to be subtle or creative in their personal celebrations. You can help with that. Access the episode transcript page.

Clarifying and balancing "preventable attrition" with the sovereignty of God. Who gets to go on a missionary care field visit? What are the keys for the role he/she/they play? What is the outline of what you need to talk about with your missionary in your pastoral/counselor shepherding care? These critical factors can make or break your effectiveness in field visits. Access the episode transcript page.

In this second of three parts, we'll take a deeper look at the "Barnabas Team" concept. We'll dive a bit into nine of ten categories the Barnabas Team is responsible for with respect to the church's shepherding care of their missionaries. The tenth category we'll deal with in part 3 of this series. Access the episode transcript page.

It is of utmost priority that your whole congregation understand and accept responsibility for caring for your supported and sent missionaries. It makes so much difference to your church's ownership of the missionary task as well as the effectiveness and longevity of your missionaries in their respective fields of service. This first of three in the series, explains some of the concepts to help you implement grassroots missionary care in your congregation. Access the episode transcript page.

It's incredible how few churches actually think about how Short Term Missions fits into the bigger missions vision for the church. Often we are pushed and pulled by the glittering promises of whatever promotion is thrown our way. Better to have thought through the key elements of a comprehensive strategy that will guide and help us be effective in the long view. Better to selectively choose few and best, rather than more and worst! Access the episode transcript page.

The first "Win" of our "Win-Win-Win" philosophy is the incredible opportunity your church has to pour intense discipleship into your STM participants. This could be life-changing for your STM Team! This episode outlines 12 key elements of discipleship for your STM Team. Sound foundations, structure, and practical aspects will help your STM ministry be a solid contribution to the church and the lives you impact for the Lord. Access the episode transcript page.

Short Term Missions (STM) can be as confusing a standing in the middle of the broadway at a carnival or county fair. There are opportunities and conflicting visions and philosophy all around you. How can you and your church zero in on the BEST pathway for STM for your people? How can you select and design the most effective opportunities? Listen to this and the next two in this series on STM. Access the episode transcript page.

The Pastor has to overcome deficits in missions leadership. But God has placed you there to come alongside in genuine, caring, thoughtful enablement. Here are ten ideas that will guide and direct your attention to the right things done in the right ways. Your Pastor needs your help to be all that he can and should be as the leader of missions in your church. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast

Part 3 of 4 - Please listen to the entire series! We've seen the necessity and the obstructions, now we talk about the practice of effective pastoral leadership. These 10 keys will help you, as a pastor, be faithful and fruitful in your role. Simple, practical, effective leadership of missions ministry does not have to be burdensome. It can be a joyful discovery of all God has for you and your church. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast

Pastoral ministry is tough! There is so much to do, so many voices to appease, so many areas of ministry that it doesn't seem like there is enough space for missions in the pastor's agenda. Add to that the fact that there is a vacuum of training and preparation to do this. This episode helps us understand the obstructions so that we can win the battle with a clearer vision. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast

If the local church is the key to missions, the pastor is the key to the church. Not only does Scripture indicate the priority of missions ministry for God's glory to all nations, it also gives solid footing to view the pastor's role in leadership of missions as a necessity for accomplishing that Great Commission goal. Listen to 10 reasons to embrace in the necessity of pastoral leadership. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast

This episode describes the essential elements of a good biblical definition of missions and explains what each means. We will offer a solid model of a biblical definition of missions for your church which cuts through the fog and gets to the point. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast

A deluge of incomplete and incorrect definitions of missions makes it difficult to zero in on a true, biblical definition to guide our understanding and practice of missions. Buckle up! In this episode, we will primarily address some of those negative ones. In the next, we'll move toward a proposed biblically-informed definition that helps us moving forward. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast

Well-meaning believers are often confused in understanding the message of the Gospel and how it is communicated. Today's world doesn't help with distracting agendas replacing the simplicity and priority of the Gospel of Christ. This episode may rattle your cage. Hopefully, it will bring you back to the basics. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast

Missionary attrition is really hard and potentially avoidable. The local sending church has a large role to play. Here are 10 categories of missionary care. Bet you didn't think of all of them! And, we'll start you out on practical ways to take an active role in helping your missionary stay effective and serving with joy on the field for the long term. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast

As a sending church, never send your wannabe missionary to the agency's candidate school without first having a signed partnership agreement of some sort. You need agreement on what, where, why, how, when the local church and agency interface, and partner together to ensure effective mission field ministry, personal and relational health, and alignment with your church's beliefs for the long term. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast

This episode is an overview of the Missions Agency's Role, especially from the Local Sending Church point of view (the Propempo Perspective). We encourage churches to partner with the most compatible missions agency for sending their particular missionary candidate for specific ministry in a targeting field or specialized type of ministry. Use these quick ideas to guide your thinking and develop that relationship for greater effectiveness in the long term. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast

With the background of biblical understanding of the centrality of the local church in missions, we now address two key questions: What is the role of the local church in missions?; and, What is the role of the missions agency in missions? In this episode, we'll deal with the first question, giving a broad overview of the local church's role. In future episodes, we break into very practical application of how do fulfill the responsibilities of that key role. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast

Part 3 of the biblical basis for the centrality of the local church in missions: Why didn't we see this before? Why don't churches and missions agencies step up to their biblical role and biblical goal in missions? The whole New Testament is telling us: obey Christ's Commission by establishing and strengthening local churches. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast

Part 2 of the biblical basis for the centrality of the local church in missions: Taking a closer look at the Great Commission and its elements in Matthew 28 obliterates false assumptions about missions and establishes the real measure of missions success. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast

Part 1 of the biblical basis for the centrality of the local church in missions: A close look at Ephesians 3 demonstrates that the local church is and has always been God's plan for accomplishing His purposes and for His glory to all peoples. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast

In this first episode, we'll see from Scripture how the term "propempo" radically changes our perspective on missions and the local church. Access the episode transcript page. Donate to help Propempo's Podcast