Bro. Louw--Missionary

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On Thu, 31 Oct 1996 00:39:05 EST, you wrote:


>We saw a funny skit at Bible College about the typical missionary
>services. The wife/ husband would speak in a foreign jibber and the =
other
>would translate. It was funny since we do see them seemingly do the same
>things. Bro Louw was a exception in that he did show the German sections
>of this wonderful country, but then opened his Bible and preached to the
>church.=20

Yep, and I don't think these "typical" missionary services are too
bad. Stop to think what they are going through. In this disctrict, the
excellent Foreign Missions director schedules them typically for 5
night and Sunday morning and evening. This is what the missionaries
want and need.=20

The service: Missionaries received guidelines for missions services.
There are a few things to think about. #1, as mentioned, during the
maybe 2 year period they might do 600 or more services. Many of these
will be close to identical. Most are trying to impart a sense of the
mission effor which the church is being asked to support. Also, the
personalities are in view. They are disoriented from so much travel,
tired, concerned about the work on the field which they may be years
from getting back to, and there may well be personal family situations
which they are far away from.

Unlike an evangelist, a missionary with a sick child in Peoria is not
going to fly right back there after these few meetings. Young missions
endeavors can be totally changed and perhaps obliterated after a
missionary spends 2 or more years deputizing. This is a worry and can
effect the extent to which the missionary can be expected to function
as an evanglist in churches that propbably represent a totally
different character than the lively new work they have left behind.

The jabbering, singing and so on, even the film strips etc...
(traditional parts of a sometimes boring service) are important for
conveying to the average pew sitter that 1) missions is a "little
different" - 2) the pew sitter usually isnt going to go to reach those
souls, - 3) the pew sitter probably CAN'T himself jabber and testify
in that language... needless to say that represents a whole lot more
that the missionary is going to be expected to do, that the pew sitter
isnt about to do... (for humorous references see Gordon Mallory's
tapes on dealing with dysentary for 2 years in the Philipines).

Having made all the above impassioned disclaimers for great and
sacrificial servants of God, let me add this personal experience.

We planted this church 22 months ago. Since then we have had FIVE
foreign missionary services. (Im ready for another soon!) IN EVERY
CASE, the missionary came equipped and fired up by God to serve as an
evanglist here. They just got down to business and had a message from
the Lord. In every case we had a great time of refreshing. Last time 1
received the Holy Ghost and 2 were baptized in Jesus' name. I love the
fellowship which we enjoy with missionaries every time. Their
perspective is so valuable, even precious. So, I have never yet had to
call an evangelist.=20

In fact, one preached for 2 1/4 hours, which I can't get away with,
but was awesome in that everyone loved it, and there was spiritual
fruit approaching midnight!

When you are talking missionaries you are talking non-traditional.
This is good, but there are many times when they feel the restraint of
church settings in the USA, and so perhaps there are more "slide show
and trinket" services than there might otherwise be..=20

Leaders and saints: turn those foreign missionaries loose in your
services and treat them as visiting royalty! God will reward you.

-mwb