Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing

To the saints in Rome the Apostle Paul wrote, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” To the Corinthians he said he was “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (II Corinthians 6:10). He said he was “always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:10). For what reason? “That the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”

God’s Priority: Unreached People

To plant a witness for our Saviour within those nations where He previously had no people for His name has been the top priority of Christian Aid for more than 50 years. It’s the main point of foreign missions as revealed in the New Testament.God’s Word is not man-centered; it is Christ-centered.

The purpose of missions is not primarily to save poor lost souls who might otherwise perish (although that is important). If it were, we don’t need to go to foreign countries. Millions of lost souls are all around us.

This WILL challenge your beliefs about missionaries – Are you up for a challenge?

What is a missionary?

The traditional concept, carried over from denominational colonialism of the 19th Century, is someone who leaves his homeland and goes out to serve in a foreign country. It doesn’t much matter what he does over there on the “mission field.” The emphasis has been mainly on going.

I met a Methodist missionary in Korea who spent all of her time teaching people how to raise rabbits. A Presbyterian missionary was showing them how to grow apples.

Ministry in the Middle East

We couldn’t get enough of this ministry leader’s testimony, so we posed some questions for him to answer:

What kind of ministry can you have in a Muslim country?

God’s Spirit is working in many hearts, there are always opportunities for evangelism and the Lord constantly opens up ministries for us. One fruitful strategy has been reaching prisoners. The government is not concerned that we help prisoners. Once they believe in Christ, they have lots of free time to be discipled. Some have trusted Christ and are now out of prison and planting churches! We are also targeting the minority Muslims and college students. Wherever we go, there are people eager to receive Bibles.

What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?

From Missionary Training to Ministry Leader

It was in 1982 that I turned from persecuting believers to becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus. After a few years, I felt burdened to leave my job and pursue missionary training. In 1992, since there were no missionary training schools in my country, I moved to another country to study the Bible and theology.

The Biblical Approach to Foreign Missions

~by Dr. Bob Finley, Chairman of Christian Aid

The number one task set forth by our Lord Jesus Christ after His resurrection was to take out a people for His name from every tongue, tribe and nation. He promised that when He has a witness for Himself in every nation He would come back again (Mark 13:10, Matthew 24:14). Christian Aid is committed to the fulfillment of our Lord’s eternal purpose, and seeks to utilize the strategy revealed in the New Testament in completing the unfinished task. Here are 5 biblical strategies Christian Aid utilizes:

Are Native Missions Trustworthy? Part 3

By Dr. Finley, Chairman of Christian Aid Mission                                                            Part 3 of a 3-part series

 

3. If we send money to “nationals,” they will be corrupted.

This objection is a half-truth. I have known American missionaries who were good at raising money and worked independently. That is, their finances were not under the strict supervision of a mission board. All the funds they raised went into their personal bank and brokerage accounts. “Trips to the field” were really just vacation jaunts during which they stayed with their families in expensive hotels. But to imply that all American missionaries are like that would not be true.

Are Native Missions Trustworthy…(Con’t)

Part 2 of a 3 part series by Dr. Finley, Chairman of Christian Aid Mission

 

2. Foreign support causes dependency

Here again is an erroneous conclusion based on colonial tradition. Missionaries went out and set up affiliated churches in poorer countries, usually patterned after those at home: large buildings with brick walls, tile or metal roofs, wood or concrete floors, chairs or benches, glass windows, piano or organ, paid clergy – things they took for granted. Impoverished people could not possibly pay for or maintain such institutions. So they had to be subsidized by the missionaries. Result: dependency.

Are Native Missions Trustworthy with the Money We Send Overseas?

By Dr. Bob Finley, Chairman of Christian Aid Mission

Part 1 of a 3-part series

Christian Aid Mission has been supporting indigenous evangelistic missions for 58 years. We have said that it makes much more sense than perpetuating the costly practice of sending out American missionaries, especially those who compete with our fellow believers who are already there. While response has been generally favorable, some traditionalists have raised objections. A few have been severely critical, and have tried to persuade our churches not to support indigenous missions. HERE ARE THREE STEREOTYPES  often raised by those who oppose supporting the work of independent indigenous missions:

1. You can’t trust the “nationals” with handling money

What is our Motivation in Missions?

by Dr. Bob Finley, Chairman of Christian Aid
At most missionary conferences, the theme is likely to be centered on how many human souls are lost in darkness with no hope of salvation. We are urged, therefore, to “rescue the perishing.”

Should that be our main motivation in foreign missions? Surely we should be burdened and concerned for the lost. God is not willing that any should perish (II Peter 3:9). He would like all men to be saved (I Timothy 2:4). He loved us and gave Himself for us to redeem us from eternal death. So we should likewise love the lost and give ourselves to save them.

But that’s not the main purpose of foreign missions given in the New Testament.