Apostolic Friends Forum
Tab Menu 1
Go Back   Apostolic Friends Forum > The Fellowship Hall > Fellowship Hall
Facebook

Notices

Fellowship Hall The place to go for Fellowship & Fun!


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-29-2011, 10:02 AM
Cindy's Avatar
Cindy Cindy is offline
Forever Loved Admin


 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 26,537
Re: Why do We Romanticize Foreign Missions?

Do most foreign or home missionaries work jobs wherever they are? Or do they rely on others to support them?
__________________
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-29-2011, 10:15 AM
seguidordejesus's Avatar
seguidordejesus seguidordejesus is offline
Registered Member


 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: South Central Texas
Posts: 2,801
Re: Why do We Romanticize Foreign Missions?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cindy View Post
Do most foreign or home missionaries work jobs wherever they are? Or do they rely on others to support them?
I believe AIM missionaries are the only ones who work jobs, though that probably depends on the country (like if you can't get in as a "missionary"). That's my experience.

I would imagine roughly 100% of home missionaries work jobs
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-29-2011, 10:19 AM
tstew's Avatar
tstew tstew is offline
Mr. Stewart


 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 5,295
Re: Why do We Romanticize Foreign Missions?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cindy View Post
Do most foreign or home missionaries work jobs wherever they are? Or do they rely on others to support them?
The ones I know the best do not work a secular job outside of operating the works in the country (nor would they be able to...at all). I do know some full time missionaries who are able to do things outside of strictly operating the work. I guess some of it depends on the country's situation and the size and scope of the work.
__________________
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Houston.



Either the United States will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. – W.E.B. DuBois
My Countdown Counting down to: The Apocolypse
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-29-2011, 10:20 AM
Charnock's Avatar
Charnock Charnock is offline
Registered Member


 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,663
Re: Why do We Romanticize Foreign Missions?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cindy View Post
Do most foreign or home missionaries work jobs wherever they are? Or do they rely on others to support them?
Most home missionaries work jobs. Foreign missionaries are fully supported.

Not only are foreign missionaries fully supported with a great salary and benefits, they also receive a lot of funding to build facilities.

Home missionaries, on the other hand, are mostly on their own. Metro missions pays a small portion of HM pastors salaries, and there are loan programs, like church in a day, that helps with facility costs. However, these programs are tiny compared to foreign missions.

Mostly, home missionaries are on their own. They have to be full time secular workers, and full time pastors, all while trying to build a congregation and facility in an increasingly secular and anti-Christian society which doesn't trust them.
__________________
I'm (sic) not cynical, I just haven't been around long enough to be Jedi mind-tricked by politics as usual. Alas, maybe in a few years I'll be beaten back into the herd. tstew
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-29-2011, 11:11 AM
LadyRev's Avatar
LadyRev LadyRev is offline
GET IT RIGHT!


 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: WI
Posts: 1,542
Re: Why do We Romanticize Foreign Missions?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charnock View Post
Most home missionaries work jobs. Foreign missionaries are fully supported. Not only are foreign missionaries fully supported with a great salary and benefits, they also receive a lot of funding to build facilities.

Home missionaries, on the other hand, are mostly on their own. Metro missions pays a small portion of HM pastors salaries, and there are loan programs, like church in a day, that helps with facility costs. However, these programs are tiny compared to foreign missions.

Mostly, home missionaries are on their own. They have to be full time secular workers, and full time pastors, all while trying to build a congregation and facility in an increasingly secular and anti-Christian society which doesn't trust them.
The bold is a blanket statement and is not true for all.

As for home missionaries having to work full time secular jobs, SO WHAT?

My pastor and pastors wife both work secular jobs. Guess what? We aren't "home missions" so theres no support at all coming from anywhere. Our church has been around for over 30 years and has been through hell and back multiple times with multiple pastor changes over the years. There has been no help during those times when attendance has been so low that the building was almost repossessed. People worked, people gave and God blessed and somehow the church has survived it all.

I suppose my pastor and his wife should get upset over those foreign missionaries that receive support and may not have to work secular jobs? I guess they should get upset that there was no plan in place to help them when they first took the church under less than perfect circumstances?
THEY WOULDN'T DREAM OF IT!

If this wasn't so sad it would be laughable...
__________________
"The only thing worse than murder in the desert is to know where the water is and not tell it!"
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-29-2011, 12:47 PM
mizpeh mizpeh is offline
Registered Member


 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,749
Re: Why do We Romanticize Foreign Missions?

Quote:
Originally Posted by LadyRev View Post
The bold is a blanket statement and is not true for all.

As for home missionaries having to work full time secular jobs, SO WHAT?

My pastor and pastors wife both work secular jobs. Guess what? We aren't "home missions" so theres no support at all coming from anywhere. Our church has been around for over 30 years and has been through hell and back multiple times with multiple pastor changes over the years. There has been no help during those times when attendance has been so low that the building was almost repossessed. People worked, people gave and God blessed and somehow the church has survived it all.

I suppose my pastor and his wife should get upset over those foreign missionaries that receive support and may not have to work secular jobs? I guess they should get upset that there was no plan in place to help them when they first took the church under less than perfect circumstances?
THEY WOULDN'T DREAM OF IT!

If this wasn't so sad it would be laughable...
Once the churches are built, how long does a foreign country need American missionaries? Shouldn't the saints of that country do exactly what the saints in your church did? When does foreign missions to certain countries become like the American welfare system?

BTW, if you read Charnock's post in which you responded there was nothing but facts given and not sentiments good or bad. What do you find "so sad" with his words?
__________________
His banner over me is LOVE.... My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

To be a servant of God, it will cost us our total commitment to God, and God alone. His burden must be our burden... Sis Alvear
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-29-2011, 12:56 PM
Charnock's Avatar
Charnock Charnock is offline
Registered Member


 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,663
Re: Why do We Romanticize Foreign Missions?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charnock View Post
Most home missionaries work jobs. Foreign missionaries are fully supported.

Not only are foreign missionaries fully supported with a great salary and benefits, they also receive a lot of funding to build facilities.

Home missionaries, on the other hand, are mostly on their own. Metro missions pays a small portion of HM pastors salaries, and there are loan programs, like church in a day, that helps with facility costs. However, these programs are tiny compared to foreign missions.

Mostly, home missionaries are on their own. They have to be full time secular workers, and full time pastors, all while trying to build a congregation and facility in an increasingly secular and anti-Christian society which doesn't trust them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LadyRev View Post
The bold is a blanket statement and is not true for all.

As for home missionaries having to work full time secular jobs, SO WHAT?

My pastor and pastors wife both work secular jobs. Guess what? We aren't "home missions" so theres no support at all coming from anywhere. Our church has been around for over 30 years and has been through hell and back multiple times with multiple pastor changes over the years. There has been no help during those times when attendance has been so low that the building was almost repossessed. People worked, people gave and God blessed and somehow the church has survived it all.

I suppose my pastor and his wife should get upset over those foreign missionaries that receive support and may not have to work secular jobs? I guess they should get upset that there was no plan in place to help them when they first took the church under less than perfect circumstances?
THEY WOULDN'T DREAM OF IT!

If this wasn't so sad it would be laughable...
Your diatribe only serves to prove ILG's point.

Now imagine if your pastor's family, and the local assembly was fully supported. I imagine that would make a difference in the health of the church.

American pastors are leaving their posts in droves, and it's not because they aren't called, are lazy, selfish and/or worldly. The simple truth is, many of them can't afford to pastor.

Consider these numbers from the UPCI:

Year 2010 Churches

2320 affiliated
1666 non-affiliated

3986 TOTAL



Year 2000 Churches

2398 affiliated
1551 non-affiliated

3949 TOTAL

The UPCI added 37 churches in the last decade. That's less than four per year. At the same time,

Year 2000 Ministers

4097 Ordained
2214 General
2237 Local

8548 TOTAL

Year 2010 Ministers

4240 Ordained
2281 General
2642 Local

9163 TOTAL

So, the UPC added 615 ministers to take care of 37 more churches? What does this tell us?

1. We are losing a lot of churches. This must be assumed when we consider the massive number of church plants each year. The idea that only 4 churches a year were added is mind-blowing.

2. We are adding a lot of ministers to do roughly the same amount of work as ten years ago.

The question is why?

a. Why are we losing so many churches?
b. Why are there so many new ministers added to existing churches?

For the past year, I have been conducting research to find out. The number one answer is burnout, which is caused by unrealistic expectations from others, lack of ministry resources, and financial strain.

Pastors are developing new ministers to help them carry a very heavy load. Yet, even with that help, they struggle.

Look, this is not about whining, It's about attrition. If the American church continues to decrease, foreign missions will suffer. It's time to renew our focus on core things, especially the health of the local church.

When the local church is healthy, the entire body grows. When it's not, sickness and death come in.
__________________
I'm (sic) not cynical, I just haven't been around long enough to be Jedi mind-tricked by politics as usual. Alas, maybe in a few years I'll be beaten back into the herd. tstew
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Damage to Our Foreign Policy deacon blues Political Talk 6 09-25-2009 11:58 AM
UPCI Foreign Missions Division Interview Jeremy Lynch Fellowship Hall 34 01-28-2009 10:45 PM
Anyone know Foreign Languages? Sherri Fellowship Hall 37 11-14-2008 03:46 PM
Foreign Missions rgcraig Fellowship Hall 9 04-15-2007 01:59 AM

 
User Infomation
Your Avatar

Latest Threads
- by Salome
- by Salome

Help Support AFF!

Advertisement




All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:17 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2026, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.