Introduction to Missiology

Ch.26 Introduction to the Strategy and Methods of

Missions

Strategy and Methods

• Strategy – the overall plan, principles, or ways by which resources and opportunities will be utilized in the task

• Methods – the comprehensive and flexible body of tactics or actions, the detailed means by which God’s people implement the mission imperative

Three Basic Questions

• How are we doing in our efforts to evangelize the entire world?

• What are our overall plans to accomplish world evangelization?

• How can every church and Christian be involved?

1. How Are We Doing?

• There was a radical shift in strategy in the last quarter century– From even emphasis to 10/40 window & UPG– From addition to multiplication– From Institutional to CPM

• NAMB – increased focus on effective church planting

• IMB – increased focus on Church Planting Movements (CPM)

Why CPM through house churches?

1. Radical - True alternative to the institutional church as propagated by western missionaries

2. Trans-cultural – Bible focus and simplicity of form minimizes cross-cultural dysfunction

3. Relational – People are encouraged to relate personally rather than institutionally

The Key Reason:

4.Reproducibility – not dependent upon

– Particular culture– Money– Property– Specially educated leaders

This Model is Foundational to most Church Planting Movements (CPM)

3 9 26 76 195

550

3400

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000

Churches

A Chinese CPM Example

340,000

Baptized

Believers

10,000+

churches

in 2003!

28 36 78 220547

1200

2000

4300

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

1989 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000

Churches

240,000

Baptized

Believers

An East Asia Example

Why the Shift in Strategy?

• Pointed critique by experts– McGavran, Engel & Norton, Dayton & Fraser– Focus shifts to evangelism & church planting from

institutional missions

• Great Commission Christian movement– Spurred by WEF meeting in Lausanne– Led to increased cooperation among mission

agencies, including SBC

Historical Perspective:Mission Strategy

• NT – evangelism & CP by lay people• Ulfilas – scripture translation as primary

method of reaching new people groups• Columba & Aiden – Adequate

leadership training of missionary monks• Boniface – an established church

sending missionaries• Medieval – Forget it!

Historical Perspective (Cont)

• Bartolome de las Casas – humanitarian service (to new world indians)

• Nobili & Ricci – accommodation to culture in India and China

• New England missionaries – Gathering converts into new churches– Establishing Christian towns

William Carey’s Contribution:Five Principles

• Widespread gospel preaching

• Bible distribution in heart language

• Early establishment of new churches

• Careful study of indigenous culture

• Training up an indigenous clergy

Venn, Anderson & Nevius

• Bi-vocational leadership• Methodology appropriate to the local setting• Full-time leaders called out and supported by

the local church• Culturally appropriate church architecture• Extensive training of leaders• New churches planted by existing churches

Twentieth Century Trends

• Ecumenical Churches – gradualism– Dialogue, presence, seed sowing– Dominated by liberal theology– Abandoned the notion of conversion

• Evangelical Churches – disciplemaking– Evangelism and church planting is key– Humanitarian efforts are supplemental– Increasing focus on UPGs and CPM

2. What Are Our Plans?

An Eleven Step Model

• Decide on the goal• Study the culture• Define the workforce• Choose methods• Establish

approaches

• Project results• Decide team roles• Develop detailed

plans• Implement plans• Evaluate results• Adjust and continue

Characteristics of Effective Strategy

1. Centered on Kingdom growth2. Holistic – evangelism, discipling, planting,

church development, leadership training, improving the physical aspects of peoples lives

3. Research Based – effective strategies are discovered – pilot projects

4. Result Oriented – What is the result of executing the strategy?

Effective Missionary Methodology

1. Relies on the Holy Spirit– He leads us to methods– He motivates us to use them– He grants effectiveness as we work

2. Demonstrates Flexibility– Always more than one way to achieve a

goal– Limited to biblically congruent methods

Effective Methodology (con’t)3. Centers on evangelism and church

planting– Churches accommodated to the needs

and styles of the people in that region– Churches that are “dynamically

equivalent” to the churches of the NT

4. Culturally Appropriate– Recognizing the cultural diversity in the

world– Adjusting without compromising the

message

Effective Methodology

5. Incorporates the characteristic of reproducibility

– The test for every activity is whether the indigenous church can multiply it in their setting

Contemporary Methodologies1. Small Groups play an important part

– Cell church– House church networks– Adaptive to particular cultural settings

2. Contextualized Worship to enhance evangelism

3. Professional marketing approaches

Contemporary Methodologies (Cont)

4. Decentralized approaches to identify, train and deploy new leaders

5. Exponential increase in short-term mission experiences