It’s late Sunday night, January 4th (yes… actually writing this Brigada today on the publication date, for a change!!! :-) [oops] :-) ). I just flew in from a Sunday morning speaking engagement at a megachurch in North Carolina. It was “Faith-Promise Sunday” and, boy, was interest high. At their request, I spoke about “Finishing the Task” of the Great Commission. Romans 15. Matthew 24. And the book of Nehemiah. Lots of stories, illustrations, case studies. And here’s what I noticed: These people were *excited* about missions. As I arrived at the church at 8am this morning to meet with the Missions Committee, I found some of them already on their knees up on the 3rd floor, praying for the day. These people were *serious* about world evangelism. The minister had just gotten back from a trip to India. He gave up the entire service (1st Sunday of the new year). He had been working with some 40 people, teaching them about how to become a Christian. They all came forward at the end and I think he might have hugged 90% of them. (He knew them all.) The services were high energy. And on top of all that, the young couple that we introduced (interested in going to the Middle East, the young man a “timothy” of the congregation) was warmly received. We asked the church to partner with us as a networking church to take the key role of sending this timothy on the team we’re assembling… and one committee member said, with a smile, “We were already signed on as partners when you said your first hello.”
I guess what I’m trying to say is… it all feels very bright to me. Today isn’t the day to fret about the future of missions. Oh sure… the economy’s sluggish. People are busy. There’s instability the world over. But don’t bother telling this megachurch not to do missions. It would be useless chanting. They’re *engaged*. Hear that? *Engaged*.
I’m upbeat about the future of missions. You should be too. Let’s lose the Rodney-Dangerfield-“Missions-don’t-get-no-respect” attitude. Let’s find these open and excited congregations — and let’s ride the wave. Prayers have created this day. Prayers can sustain and increase it. Let’s “rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.” Let’s finish the task. Exciting.
[Note: Photo for this item courtesy John Palmer Gregg using a Leica AG M8 at 1/180th, ISO 160, in Trujillo, Peru.]
(Comments on this line of thought? Write them down, anonymously if you choose, by clicking on “Comments” immediately below.)
Dr. Robert (Bob) Priest has a “webinar” on the topic of missions and megachurches. It will take place on February 5, sponsored by the Mission Exchange, formerly EFMA. http://www.TheMissionExchange.org/learninginitiatives
He will have a balanced picture of the positives and negatives on megachurch involvement in mission, based on in-depth research. Doug’s comments here are surely true … from one day at one megachurch. The overall picture is more complicated. We ought to still be encouraged, especially in terms of the willingness to be involved. But there is plenty to lament as well, or perhaps be motivated to change. The webinar will be insightful and helpfully provocative.
I would be very interested in talking to the person that wrote, "upbeat…". We are a mega church and very active in missions. We will have between 50 & 60 missionaries and organizations attending our two week conference (Feb 22 -March 8, 09. Looking for ideas of how to excite more of our poeple and get them involved in missions. [email address deleted to preserve this contributor's identity and prevent address-harvesters from spamming him/her. Editor]