found on the net
 

I was reading from a Baptist site and thought this was interesting...I did not see anywhere they said it could not be copied... what are your thoughts?





Have you ever considered the costs in time and money to get a missionary family on a foreign field? It will take at least 2 or 3 years, and maybe even 3 or 4 years, of deputation to raise the unbelievable amount of money they will need to live on a foreign field. During this time, they'll wear out a vehicle or two and a few sets of tires, burn thousands of gallons of gasoline, and spend big bucks in restaurants and motels. There are also the expenses of slide projectors, prayer cards, and a hundred other things. When they have enough support, then there is the passage and shipping to get them and their belongings to the field. It would be easy for a small family to spend $10,000 on this alone. When they arrive, they are going to spend thousands more for language school, if they are fortunate enough to have one to attend.

Now, how long are they going to stay on the field? And perhaps more importantly, how effective are they going to be? They told the churches (at least 200 of them) what they planned to accomplish on their chosen field. Will they do it? I know one couple that spent 4 years raising support and then stayed only 3 months on the mission field! Many missionaries stick it out for one four-year term until they take a furlough, and then never return to the field. I'm not judging; God knows there are many legitimate reasons why a missionary family must terminate their service on the field. It would be great if, after such a large investment of time and money, he could spend a lifetime or at least 30 or 40 years on the field. But this rarely happens.

Concerning effectiveness, many are not very successful. They may fail to learn the language or languages necessary, and they work only with a few who speak English, or else they are bound helplessly to an interpreter.

What if, on the other hand, a missionary family spent a little more time (9 months, for example) and money (a student family attending BBTI pays no tuition, but only $225 per month for housing) and received specialized training in language and culture learning?

Yes, getting a missionary on the field represents a tremendous investment. There are always risks and there are no guarantees. But does it make sense to stop short and not prepare the missionary properly, just to save a little time and money?

Your servant,
Rex L. Cobb

Re: found on the net
 

Interesting article. I think he makes a good point about the language and culture learning.

Re: found on the net
 

I heard a preacher giving advise to a young man who did not know if he was called to missions or not. The boy thought he wanted to go to China. The preacher said to go live 6 months in China Town in California. Learn the people and if you love them still then take a vaction to the mother county and if you love them still, then move. Same could apply for hispanic/latino, spend a few month in Houston ministring to the people then go to your choosen country.

Just a thought.

Re: found on the net
 

I have seen thousands of dollars wasted on people who wanted an adventure and a free lunch...

Re: found on the net
 

And you have experienced people that want to come and take over your ministry because they think they know how to minister to your people better, even though they have never lived outside of the US.

I think it is best to train natives to minister in their own countries. I don't have a problem, not that my opinion matters anyway, with people like you guys (Alvear's) training the natives though. It just seems like money better spent and it is good for people to reach their own.

I am with you Sister Alvear. Think about how much money is spent for people to be missionaries. Even if they go as a couple, they end up as a family with kids usually. Then they need even more support to feed all those mouths and to supply tickets to come home.

Then when they come home for a year or so, who takes care of their ministry when they are gone? It just seems logical to train people that will live there and stay there.

Re: found on the net
 

I think getting native Missionaries equipped is the key.

Re: found on the net
 

YOU are so right!

Re: found on the net
 

Few things upset me more than people misusing the Lord's money... Most of the "called" ones back out after the thrill is over and they find out WÖRK is involved...

Re: found on the net
 

you mean it isn't a constant thrill ride and vacation?????? I'm shocked.


=) j/k

Re: found on the net
 

This is why we do pastor's conferences instead of crusades when we go overseas. If we can get the training into the local pastors, they can affect their worlds. If you preach a crusade, you may get a bunch of people emotionally stirred to come to an altar, but if there's no one to disciple them afterwards, most of them go right back to their lifestyles.