10 Myths Busted

Myth #1 - Unreached Means Gospel Resistant Unreached literally means...UNREACHED. It does not mean they have been offered the Gospel and then rejected it, they have simply never been offered the gospel. It's a matter of access. We're used to many exposures to the gospel in America, but many people in the world have never had one exposure. They would respond if given the opportunity. Real World Example: For two hours we talked to passersby in the town square of Grimmen, East Germany - a region labeled atheistic and largely unreached. 15 people accepted Jesus as Savior. Not one had even heard of Jesus before. I know, it’s amazing!

Myth #2 – In Our Technological Age, The Internet, Satellite TV & Radio Are Sufficient To Evangelize the World First off, most people in the world don't have computers or Internet access. And why would they seek out Christian websites if they did? Numero dos - Satellite television is available everywhere people can afford it, but why would a non-Christian seek out a Christian tv program among 532 other choices? Next! It's the same with radio. I have my 3 programmed music stations and that's all I listen to. The fact is, Christians watch Christian television, listen to Christian radio programming and surf Christian websites. Non-Christians generally don't – whether they are in America or anywhere else in the world. How did you come to Jesus? Most people came to Jesus through a personal contact. Do you want to know the real proof of successful evangelism in other nations? Churches are the 'on the ground' evidence of a successful Gospel witness. Churches = Christians. No churches = few or no Christians. Real World Example: I have never met a non-Christian in east Germany that can name one American or national TV or radio preacher or has ever visited a Christian website...but I was there.

10 MYTHS ABOUT MISSIONS Brandon Greene

Myth #3 - Missions Means Going To Live In Jungles Somewhere We have to ask, “Where are the people?”. Demographics have shifted in the last century. Within a few years the majority of the world's population will be urban dwellers. Missionaries go where the people are so that means the majority will work in an urban context. New missions strategies and perceptions about missions are needed. The apostle Paul's strategy was to work in urban centers and develop them as bases for evangelizing surrounding regions (Acts 19:1-10). Real World Example: Europe is highly urbanized. For us in east Germany, that means we can reach more people at less cost, in less time than we would if working in a non-urban context.

Myth #4 - The Remaining Work Of Missions Can Be Done By National Christians Some American Christian leaders have said that missionaries are no longer necessary and all mission funding should go to the nationals. Someone needs to turn off the Travel Channel and take a missions trip! Obviously the role of the national is vital. But the same questions confront us. Do they have access to a Christian witness? Who is working there now? Many times there aren't any nationals to do the work. No Christians = No Workers. If there aren't any nationals to do it then we are being irresponsible to say, “The nationals should do it.” Someone has to cross a cultural boundary. There is also an assumption that a near-culture witness is better than someone from a distant culture. This is also not true. Many times the national (near culture witness) is viewed with more suspicion than the foreigner and has a history of problems in that country. Just look at all the tribal warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are vast culture differences and identities within those countries. Jesus said that the harvest is huge, but there aren't enough workers. The world population is growing by 365,000 people per day! Do the math. Lack of workers is still the problem. National Christians are grateful to their brothers and sisters from other countries who get involved. This is the way the Body of Christ should operate. Real World Example: There are deep prejudices between East and West Germans. West German churches have not given a notable effort to church planting in East Germany. East Germany is largely unreached. So who is going to do it? As an American, East Germans are more open to me than to West Germans or 'Wessies' and we are planting churches with East German nationals. We equip them to do it. They are blown away that God loves them enough to send people from another country to help them. Cool...

Myth #5 - Missionaries Have Destroyed Cultures Continued on back - You’ve gotta read this one!

What the ...? Reality is that missionaries have been world leaders in health care, education, women's rights, ending child exploitation practices, racial equality, fighting human trafficking and slavery, AIDS awareness and the list goes on. They have also provided fundamental infrastructures for the development of societies such as: creating written languages for cultures that didn't have any; providing clean water and sanitation systems; building housing, schools, hospitals, and agricultural systems in impoverished regions; and bringing moral and ethical influences to governments. Hmm...could you define ‘Destroying Cultures’ again for me? Long before the United Nations, yellow AIDS ribbons and activist causes like 'Make Poverty History', missionaries were rolling up their sleeves and bringing real change to real world needs. Missionaries have been instrumental in shaping cultures positively and making the world a better place. I love my job! “Christianity helped Africans to become renewed Africans, not remade Europeans.” - Lammin Samneh, native of Gambia and Professor of Missions and World Christianity at Yale Divinity School “Activity abroad by U.S. evangelicals (missionaries) is one of the most important and welcome trends in U.S. Foreign relations.” - Nicolas D. Kristoff, New York Times editorial columnist and former Times managing editor.

Myth #6 - There Are No Job Opportunities In Missions Missionary work is an incredibly diverse field. There are a number of different job opportunities available as well as the traditional mission work of church planting, ministry training, counseling, etc. With globalization today, it's easier than ever to work in almost any field, anywhere in the world and be a witness for Christ. Intercristo is one job placement service.

Myth #7 - Missions Is Only For The Super Spiritual I have to say that some of the most inspiring, dedicated Christians I know are missionaries. But missions itself is pretty unglamorous and usually consists of a lot of routine activities that create significant change over time. Missionaries are normal people that live and work under more extreme circumstances. That doesn't put them in another class of Christian. They are graced to do what they do, just like you are graced to do what you do. Missionaries face the same life issues as everybody else. They get discouraged, too. They like sports, movies, Starbucks, Coldplay and all the normal stuff. All in all, missions is a great, fun community with a positive world view. Real World Example: Sometimes I wake up and think, “What in the world am I doing? This is insane!”. But when I drink my morning coffee and start my day, it's as normal for me to do this as it is for a pastor in America to pastor his church, a business person to run their business, or a teacher to teach.

Myth #8 - Short Term Mission Projects Are Enough To Fulfill The Great Commission A successful short-term mission project is the result of someone on the ground who established relationships, influence, and credibility in the field over the long-term. Short term missions are great as part of larger strategy, but here is no replacement for the language learning, cultural adaptation and long-term influence of full-time workers. Actual change is a long-term commitment. The greatest benefit that short term missions produce is long term missionaries. I say that from personal experience! Real World Example: Even mass evangelism crusades, like those of Reinhard Bonnke in Africa, would be a flop if it wasn't for the dedication of the pastors and workers on the ground.

Myth #9 - Missionary Commitment Is Mainly About Giving Money Sure it takes money. You can't do anything in this world without it. But missions involvement is much more. Missions is not a program of the Church, it is the Church! Money is an essential part of the big picture of sending workers to give Gospel opportunity to everyone on earth. Missions is the front line and the future of the Church and the determining factor of how full heaven will be. There are also many other ways to be involved – ask your missionaries how.

Myth #10 - Hearing The Gospel Is The Same As Being Reached By The Gospel Just because someone hears the Gospel doesn't mean they sufficiently understand it. Jesus and Biblical concepts are totally foreign to most people in the world. There are a lot of questions to clarify and they need to really understand the implications of accepting Jesus before they make a commitment. If they don't understand the Gospel, they haven't been reached by the Gospel. You didn't understand many things about Jesus and Biblical themes the first 10 times you heard them, right? That goes double for someone in a non-Christian culture hearing the Gospel for the first time. Real World Example: In Europe the people are very relational. That means most of the time they need to accept you and prove that you are genuine and honest before they accept what you say. (That's actually Biblical). Committing one's life to something is huge and they value commitments. They want to understand what they're doing and what it all means before they make such a big decision. Giving that understanding to people is reaching them.

Thanks for reading. Help us 'Get the Message Out' by passing this flyer on to a friend. More copies are available for download at www.VirtualVN1.com. Missionary Brandon Greene of VN1/Voice to the Nations . 4209 Lakeland Drive #331, Flowood, MS 39232