God tells us to ‘let all things be done decently and in order’

(I Corinthians 14:40). That means we must have an orderly plan for handling appeals of missionaries to present their burden to us. We have worked to develop such a plan. Arising out of deep concerns regarding the productivity of our traditional approaches, our emphasis has dramatically shifted in recent years. The Lord of the harvest has directed us toward a philosophy which we believe maximizes our potential for bearing much lasting fruit. This method will not be popular among those who strongly only embrace traditional Independent Baptist missions endeavors, but we stand behind it as scriptural, and we believe it will catch on. We contend that the Lord intends for us to fulfill The Great Commission through indigenous church planters (Nationals).

     Ninety percent of New Testament scripture dealing with giving refers to supporting the spread of the gospel. Our giving, therefore, should reflect that. These verses, however, all present this ‘communication’ as going to God’s needy servants in foreign lands. In Acts 11:29, the disciples in Antioch send relief to their Judean brethren. This pattern is followed in Romans 15:26, II Corinthians 8-11, and in Philippians 4. Following the template, we have been compelled to help Americans in America and Nationals in their countries.

     Most of the cross-cultural evangelism in the New Testament was accomplished by reaching sinners who were temporarily away from their homeland. We see this demonstrated at Pentecost (Acts 2:8-11) and in other notable conversions, such as the demoniac of Gadara, Lydia, Aquilla & Priscilla, and the Ethiopian eunuch. In these situations, we do not find record of a missionary going to a new culture to establish a work among these believers. Homelands were reached by the converts! In our era, very effective evangelism is accomplished reaching International students, multi-ethnic communities and travelers.

     The ‘goers’ in the New Testament planted churches among those with whom they were familiar culturally. Converts at Pentecost went home and established churches in such places as Rome, (Romans 16) and Crete. It is apparent that most of the eleven apostles never even left Jerusalem. Reference to Peter outside of Jerusalem is negative (Galatians 2) and the passage in Revelation dealing with John on the Isle of Patmos suggests he had been visiting well-established works in Asia minor.

     Note the ‘intra-cultural’ evangelism of the New Testament. In Romans 16:7, Andronius and Julius, saints at Rome, were saved before Paul. They must have been reached due to Pentecost, and went back home to reach their people. When Greeks were won to Christ in Antioch, a fellow Grecian, Barnabus from Cyprus, was sent to evaluate the situation. He was instructed to go “as far as Antioch.” Barnabus wound up among his own people in Cyprus.

     In Paul’s ministry, his calling took him many places within the confines of his native tongue. God prevented him from going beyond it (Acts 16:6-7). While in Europe he won an Asian named Lydia. Certainly she took the truth back home with her. At Corinth Priscilla and Aquilla come to Christ. Paul sends these (Pontus) Asian natives back to their people to start churches (Acts 18:18-19). We believe that the most effective evangelism being done today follows this same pattern and that God wants us to invest our prayers and support for these faithful servants who usually lack financial resources.

     Missing in the New Testament are any examples of families sent by God to vacate their culture to start churches. We’re not against it; it just isn’t there. We certainly do not think it to be the only way to “go into all the world.” Nor do we read of deputation, learning the language, mission boards, or 75 churches producing $5000 per month for someone to go to another culture. The colonization brought about by our 200 year old American tradition has in many places actually hindered church planting and used up great percentages of missions finances.

     Conversely, native missionaries have many advantages. They are there. They are prepared (sometimes trained through American works, sometimes trained otherwise). They are committed to living within their own cultural financial standards. On an average they live on one one-hundredth the income Americans need. They know the language and they are accepted as fellow countrymen. In third world countries they out-church-plant Americans by a 10:1 ratio. They are enjoying exponential growth while navigating their way into places American either cannot or will not go.

     What would we suggest our foreign missionaries do? Well, of course, God brought them our way and we are behind them as faithful servants. God will lead them.

     What do we recommend those on deputation - headed for other cultures do? I would suggest they consider finding pockets of people living in America for whom they are burdened and reach them. One can help evangelize the Ukraine by reaching Ukrainians in Rochester, NY. Jamaicans can be reached in Hartford, CT, and Filipinos and Mexicans are all over the Western United States, etc. They can go back to their people and reach them in their own cultures, just as was done in the Bible.

     In keeping with our understanding of New Testament Missions, Grace Baptist Church presently gives foremost consideration (when able) to the following settings:

 

         1.) Accountable Nationals willing to go where folks have never

         heard the gospel.

         2.) Americans willing to go to English-speaking cultures, military

         bases, etc.

         3.) Missionaries whose labor focuses on training, equipping, and

         supporting Nationals.

         4.) Church planters in America

 

     If you still believe Grace Baptist Church to be a prospective church in which to seek support, please take a moment to fill out a request form. We will read it and consider it when scheduling missions meetings.

Prospective Missionaries: Please read the following closely before submitting an application.