A big challenge when a local church sends out its missionaries is supervising them. A Chinese proverb says, "Beijing is very far away, and the mountains between here and there are very high." In other words, it's difficult for leaders in Beijing to supervise what's going on out in the provinces. In a similar way, it's very difficult for a local church to supervise its missionary personnel half way around the world. 
 
A key deliverable provided through the C&MA's sending structure is supervision. Through regional and field directors, and field leadership teams, personnel are held accountable to fulfill their assignment. If performance problems are discerned, those in leadership are responsible to work them out. The preferred result of good supervision is healthy resolution of the problems. When after significant effort it becomes clear this cannot be attained, transition from the field is arranged. 
 
Holding workers accountable through good supervision is critically important. To do this well is good stewardship of very valuable personnel.  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

"If we go to country X, can the C&MA assure us of our safety there?" Just as it was impossible for the US government to assure the safety of American citizens in New York and Washington on 9/11, it's impossible for the C&MA to assure 100% the safety of its personnel. However, the C&MA as a missionary-sending family of churches works hard to provide sound advice and helpful guidance when it comes to missionary safety. 
 
Here are three key elements of this effort: 
 
1) The principle of not intentionally putting personnel in the path of martrydom is strongly embraced. 
 
2) Healthy, strong connections are maintained with good sources of safety-related information. That information is then passed along as needed and appropriate so that wise precautions can be taken. 
 
3) A broad network of people pray regularly for God's protection over C&MA personnel involved in cross-cultural ministry around the world. 
 
While these and other safety-related steps are designed to help assure safety, risks cannot be eliminated. Acknowledging that ultimately the lives of God's people are in His hands, the C&MA will continue to be diligent to do all it can to help assure the safety of its personnel.  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

An African proverb describes a group of hunters getting a hippo. The big task is to drag the huge carcass back to the village where it will be butchered, then divided. After tying ropes to various parts of the hippo, they start to pull . . . but in the confusion of the moment, they pull in slightly varying directions. A village elder steps forward stating they'd never move the hippo unless they all pull in the same direction. Once this correction is made, the hunters are able to get their prize back to the village. 
 
A strategy helps everyone pull in the same direction, toward the same objectives and goals. Through field and team structures, C&MA workers develop their shared strategy in concert with leaders of the developing church. Regional leaders help hold them accountable and adjust that strategy for increased effectiveness. A strategic field review every five years sharpens the strategy and strengthens the accountability even more. The aim is to see healthy, reproducing, missionary churches . . . Christ-centered, wholistic, communities of faith . . . established. Those with least access to the good news about Christ are of greatest concern in all of this. 
 
This is a very important deliverable. Without it, the hippo is never pulled back to the village! Stay tuned for another deliverable in my next entry.  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

Shepherding, or pastoral care, is another key deliverable provided through our C&MA missionary sending structure. Some of the many delivery channels / methods are pastoral care couples from US churches who help care for a specific field team, a developmental assessment process designed to help missionaries in their personal growth and development, and professional caregivers who provide specialized help in response to specific needs. The US C&MA seeks to care well for its missionaries! 
 
A Member Care Team helps oversee the shepherding of US Alliance missionaries. This team has put together a paper describing a helpful model of member care, and is working to improve the quality of this care for missionary personnel. 
 
Through a member care audit, more than twenty specific elements of current member care were identified. Many people in the US and around the world contribute to the provision of these various expressions of member care. 
 
Each year member care specialists gather for a "Mental Health and Missions" Conference involving many US-based mission agencies. The C&MA participates in this event. Papers are presented, ideas are shared, and networking is done at this event with the goal of improving the quality and delivery of member care. 
 
How can we best come aside personnel in their personal growth and development journey? What do we do when a missionary encounters serious personal or relational problems? What does gracious intervention look like when a missionary is struggling with effectiveness? These and many other issues are a part of the shepherding equation. May God help us shepherd missionaries well . . . they're too valuable to lose! 
 
 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

A local church trying to do cross-cultural mission overseas on its own would need to figure out how to answer these questions: 
 
1) How much money each month does our missionary need, and how do we get that money from here to our missionary? 
 
2) What do we do about health insurance and health care when this missionary is serving outside the United States? 
 
3) What about some kind of a retirement program enabling our missionary to prepare well for the later years of life? 
 
4) We want our missionary's children to have a quality educational opportunity preparing them for an eventual transition to life / college back in the United States. How can we best work this out? 
 
5) What's the best way to obtain visas for the country in which our missionary will serve? 
 
6) If our missionary gets into trouble or needs specific, focused help while on the field, to whom do we turn? What do we do? 
 
7) How do we handle all our missionary's finances in a way that meets with the approval of the government of the country of service as well as the Internal Revenue Service? 
 
8) If our missionary wants to ship some needed household items and supplies to the field, what's the best way to do this? And if the shipment has to go through customs, how does that work? 
 
These and a myriad of other questions emerge in missionary sending. Over many years, the C&MA has discerned best practices in responding, providing high level, quality services for missionaries and international workers around the world. Highly trained, deeply committed people . . . very committed to Christ and his mission . . . serve within the C&MA's infrastructure to provide these and many other much needed, greatly appreciated services! Without them and the services they make available, missionary sending can be very complicated indeed! 
 
I'll talk about another deliverable in my next posting.  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

One of the questions I've wrestled with is, "Why a missionary sending structure? Why not just have every church send its own missionaries instead of a using a sending structure supported by Alliance churches across the country to help with the sending process?" I see at least seven key deliverables that our sending structure provides . . . all are critical and valuable. 
 
Deliverable #1 is SELECTION. An assessment process has been developed and fine-tuned over many years to select those missionary candidates who have high potential for impactful, cross-cultural ministry. Some make it through this assessment process, others with good reason do not.  
 
The danger is that sending everyone who wants to go . . . and has the financial backing to do so . . . can result in people being sent who have not-so-easy-to-discern issues in their lives that often preclude effective cross-cultural ministry. It could be rigidity . . . or physical problems that can't be treated well in many overseas settings . . . or low potential to learn a new language . . . or unresolved personal / family history issues which unaddressed hinder effectiveness . . . or psychological issues that tend to be magnified with the stresses of cross-cultural living . . . or relational difficulties. These and many other dimensions of a person's character, ministry gifting, track record, physical / mental health, and history are important to assess. The end view of the assessment process should be answering the questions, "Does this candidate have what it takes to make a positive, helpful contribution in a cross-cultural ministry setting? Are they likely to thrive . . . or just barely survive?" 
 
An objective assessment including the hard questions is difficult for those in a local church context to do on one of their own. That's why having a third party assessor who has lots of tools and experience to do a thorough assessment is a huge, much-needed deliverable. 
 
The C&MA has this . . . and its purpose is to serve the local, sending churches. They are still the senders . . . and this deliverable enhances the effectiveness and impact of their missionary sending! 
 
I'll talk about other deliverables in future entries.  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

A few weeks ago I was sitting in the living room of some US Alliance workers living in Ecuador. They serve in regional ministries helping train leaders in several Latin American countries. The US C&MA is in the process of transition from Ecuador because our family of partner churches there has shown very encouraging signs of strength and maturity. While the idea of transition is very difficult, while missionaries don't want to leave and we want to continue a healthy relationship with the Ecuadorian Alliance, we are intentionally moving forward with transition from Ecuador. A key reason for this is access. 
 
The concern is having access to the good news about Jesus Christ. And here are the specifics this couple shared with me that evening in their living room. "If a person walks out their front door in Ecuador to seek someone who can share how to be reconciled to God through Christ, that person has to talk to four or five people before finding someone who can do this. In Spain, a person seeking the same help has to talk with five hundred people. In (a North African country), it's thirty thousand people."  
 
What does this mean? Relatively speaking, the gospel is quite accessible to the people of Ecuador. The accessibility factor is much lower for the people of Spain, and extremely low for the people of (the North African country). Where, then, is the greatest need for help in making the gospel more accessible? In (the North African country). 
 
It's essential for the Church of Jesus Christ to understand this reality . . . and respond to it with the heart and passion of Christ! In doing this, we need His grace, resiliency, wisdom, and courage. There will be a cost, but He is absolutely worthy! He is the resurrected Lord.  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

In a May 2007 study done by the Joshua Project (www.joshuaproject.net), Central Asia was put forward as the region of the world with the highest concentration of least reached peoples. The report indicates that 96.3% of the people of Central Asia are "least reached". (For North, Central, and Latin America, the number was less than 1%.) This means for Central Asia to be reached, it's necessary for Christ-followers to cross ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and even national boundaries to present by Word and deed to the peoples of Central Asia the good news about Jesus Christ. Otherwise, there aren't enough Kingdom resources among the peoples of Central Asia for them to do this on their own. Outside help is absolutely essential. 
 
Here are some honest questions as I think about Central Asia. Would I be willing to go through the pain and hassle to move there with my family, to learn the language and culture of a Central Asian people so as to be one of Christ's representatives among them? Would I be willing to have my children educated in Central Asia instead of North America? Would I live in a small, somewhat Spartan apartment where frequent cuts in electricity are common? What about being far from the excellent medical care available in North America? Would I accept life in political and economic situations that are much less stable than my own country, where security is far from being assured? The restaurants and recreational, leisure activities I enjoy now wouldn't be there. Many I love would not be there with me . . . they'd be thousands of miles away. Most of the people of Central Asia would not even want me there . . . some would overtly oppose my coming and could even be threatening to me. How would I respond? What would I say? 
 
Could it be that the comfort, great opportunities, and security my generation in North America enjoy could be lulling us to sleep? Bottom line: If these mean more to us than anything else in the world, God will have to call on others to reach Central Asia . . . or wait for a another generation like the Alliance workers who headed to Vietnam in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.  
 
Some of those brave, committed souls never came home. They're buried in Vietnam. And the Alliance family of churches there now numbers over 1,000,000 believers as it continues to grow.  
 
As they laid themselves in the line for the peoples of Vietnam, may we today be ready to lay ourselves on the line for the unreached of Central Asia . . . and wherever they're found throughout the world! This is our mission, given by Christ . . . who is worthy of our giving our all for Him. He died to redeem these people, and we're the ones called to bear this message. 
 
 
 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

One of the new wineskins God is using in increasingly powerful ways in 21st century mission is business. Christ-adoring business professionals are using their training, entrepreneurial skills, and spiritual gifts in missional business ventures. These are being used by God to: 
 
1. Help the poor in Christ's name, providing desperately needed jobs in challenging economic contexts. 
 
2. Give legitimate, helpful rationale for Christ-followers to be in places where intentional barriers have been established to keep missionaries out. 
 
3. Provide opportunity for Christ-followers to make connections in the market place with people far from God. 
 
Christian business people are a part of the laity . . . and over 99% of the Christian church around the world is comprised of laypeople. A mistake some clergy types like me have made is to look at business laypeople as the source of financial support for "our" ministries. They can do so much more . . . God's plan A for reaching the world is for everyone to be involved, and there is no plan B. There is a place for business people in the mission of Christ! 
 
This comes into sharper focus when we refuse to see what's done from 9 am to 5 pm as secular, and that which we do in "ministry" on evenings and weekends as holy. No such dichotomy exists in God's book: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it ALL for the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31). Business is holy when done for God's glory! 
 
There's a growing group of committed people seeking to do business as mission in collaboration with the C&MA around the world. More than just collaboration, they're a part of us. They're a part of Christ's body. And I believe they have a huge part to play in completing His mission!  
 
 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

"Let us never forget the special calling of our Alliance work. It is not to form a new religious denomination. It is not to duplicate a work already done. It is not to advocate any special system of theology. It is not to glorify any man or men. It is first to hold up Jesus in His fullness, 'the same yesterday, today, and forever.' Next, to witness to the imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as our millennial King. And finally, to encourage and incite the people of God to do the neglected work of our age and time among the unchurched classes at home and the perishing heathen abroad. God will bless us as we are true to this trust." -from the pen and heart of Dr. A.B. Simpson, The Alliance Weekly, November 11, 1899 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

What kinds of international workers are we looking for to establish prevailing churches (or holistic, Christ-centered communities of faith) among the least reached where all the odds are stacked against us? Here are the characteristics I long to see: 
 
"We want men and women who are thoroughly converted and know it.  
 
We want men and women who are fully consecrated to God, sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit—so saved from themselves that they are at leisure to work for others. 
 
We want men and women who are burning with a love for lost people and are longing to lead men and women to Christ. 
 
We want men and women who have already begun to work for Christ and have led many to the Savior. One of the first questions asked a missionary candidate is, “How many have you led to Christ since you were saved?” The best place to begin foreign missionary work is at home.  
 
We want men and women who can live simply, endure hardship, deny themselves, put up with every discomfort, who are not particular about their outfits, who do not want things “just so” for their wardrobes, who do not need two or three trunks and a great amount of baggage, who can travel with a knapsack like a soldier and sleep in their boots without grumbling about it, who have gotten over the romance and novelty of travel and are going to foreign countries for one thing only—to win people for Christ. 
 
We want men and women who are easy to get along with, who have died to self and self-will, who can keep sweet and can submit themselves to their senior missionaries until they have learned the language and become qualified to be leaders, who can keep rank as David’s soldiers did, who are adjustable, good-natured, ready to meet persecution and insult without getting angry, and who can live the gospel of Christ among the unbelievers even as the Master did. 
 
We want men and women who are strong, vigorous, rugged and healthy; or at least have such a hold of the Lord for their bodies that they are not afraid of climate, hard work, inclement weather and physical pressure; who now are having victories in their bodies and are able to stand strongly against exposure and hardship and do real work for God. 
 
We want men and women who know the Lord so well they can have His joy under all circumstances; who will not be afraid of loneliness nor privation; who ask no greater recompense than the privilege of serving and pleasing Him; and who go out not wanting sympathy, but rejoicing in the name of missionary and the privilege of enduring suffering or shame for the name of Him who died for them. 
 
We want men and women who have such a distinct call to the mission field that they cannot stay back, and that even if we do not send them they will go somehow. 
 
May the Lord send us a thousand such men and women." 
 
These words, published in 1892, are from the heart and pen of Dr. A.B. Simpson, founder of The Christian and Missionary Alliance. We continue to look for people living out these characteristics today!  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

Often important truth can be powerfully communicated through metaphors and images. One that gripped me as I recently pondered it was the starving baker. When I think of a professional cook or baker, I think of a person who enjoys food so much that he has become jolly and plump. I'm even comforted when I see an overweight person in a restaurant kitchen preparing my meal or dessert. "Surely this will be delicious," I reason observing that this person obviously enjoys food. 
 
Yet the image of a starving, skinny baker is about a person who is constantly close to food yet never eating. I encountered it in Tim Elmore's book Habitudes: Images that Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes (2004, Growing Leaders, Inc). 
 
The starving baker represents the person who is so busy feeding others that he neglects feeding himself. In other words, sometimes leaders put so much into the people they lead that they fail to nourish their own lives. Eventually this kind of situation can deteriorate to the point where the leader's talk is great while his walk becomes increasingly fake.  
 
How do busy leaders avoid this tragic condition? By feeding themselves before feeding others. The airline industry understands this well. They instruct adult passengers, "Put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others." Why? So that able passengers don't die from lack of oxygen while helping those less able access oxygen. 
 
In preparing for 2008, how can you get enough soul-food to keep growing as a person in Christ . . . so that you can lead and help others who want to follow Him? What does it profit a person to gain the whole world yet forfeit his own soul (Mat 16:26)? Don't become a starving baker! 
 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

Amy, an Alliance missionary from Africa, was ministering in a C&MA Church in Massachussetts. With her was Nyagali, a believer and partner in ministry from the Alliance churches of Burkina Faso. They were excited to be visiting several Alliance churches together in the northeastern United States to report about God's work in Africa. 
 
Herm and Helen were their hosts during the days at the church in Massachussetts. An older couple, Herm and Helen had faithfully supported Alliance work for many years. This included prayer for the Red Bobo, a people group in West Africa, asking God to bring many Red Bobos to himself. 
 
Over a meal in Herm's and Helen's home, Herm leaned forward and asked, "What about the Red Bobo people? Is there anything much happening among them these days?" 
 
"Oh, yes," exclaimed Amy with excitement. "In fact, Herm, Nyagali is a Red Bobo. Her father is an Alliance leader in Burkina Faso who has helped plant twenty churches among the Red Bobo people, right Nyagali?" 
 
"Yes!" Nyagali responded with a huge smile on her face, thinking fondly of her aged father. 
 
"What was that again?" Being hard of hearing, Herm leaned closer. Amy repeated what she had just explained, this time with increased excitement as Herb strained to catch every word. As the story became clear to him, tears welled up in his eyes. Seeing her husband's tears, Helen began to cry, too. 
 
"Helen and I have been praying for the Red Bobo people for over forty years. A missionary by the name of Bowman came through here years ago asking us to pray for the Red Bobo. We've been praying ever since. God has wonderfully answered our prayers!" The tears now flowed freely expressing joy over what God had done. Even Nyagali was deeply touched seeing the love Herm and Helen had for her people. 
 
What examples Herm and Helen are of faithfulness in intercession! How wonderful what God has done among the Red Bobo people, an ethnic group among whom there are now hundreds of churches and thousands upon thousands of Christ followers! How magnificent is our God! 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

"This movement stands pre-eminently for the supernatural." These are the words of Dr. A.B. Simpson. He believed in the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Simpson was committed to the filling of the Spirit, leading to holy living and passionate love for Christ and his mission. He held that the Spirit's power and presence are manifested both in the believer and in the church. 
 
When under the illumination of the Spirit we apply our minds to the understanding of the Word, discerning from careful study what the original authors were saying then applying it, God is honored. His powerful Word is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. But if we're just Word with little emphasis on living the fruit of the Spirit while experiencing the power of the Spirit, we risk drying up. 
 
When our exclusive emphasis is on the Holy Spirit, seeking experiential manifestations evidencing his power, we can become hyper-emotional. It's easy for us to fall in love with sensational experiences, creating the impression we're spiritual fanatics. When we do this, we risk blowing up, even destroying churches. 
 
Modernity has resulted in the questioning, even the doubting, of anything supernatural. Yet emphasis on both Word and Spirit are biblical and a part of our spiritual heritage in the C&MA. So why not live out both with Christ-centered balance, integrating them in a manner leading to growth and missional synergy? Isn't it possible to avoid "charisphobia" (over-emphasis on Word) and "charismania" (over-emphasis on Spirit). . . leading us to Christ-centered lives that could be described as "cautiously charismatic without chaos"? 
 
"If it's just the Word, you dry up. If it's just the Spirit, you blow up. If it's both the Word and the Spirit, you grow up." I gleaned this from REKINDLE THE FLAME, a gathering of Alliance people interested in rediscovering our spiritual roots and heritage. 
 
We'll be stymied on the homefront and in our missions outreach around the world without careful work to understand and apply the Word coupled with the power of the Spirit, the supernatural. Jesus lived these out in an impactful integration. I desire to do likewise, longing for the same for Christ's church everywhere!  
 
Let's not dry up. Let's not blow up. Let's grow up!  
 
 
 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

"Do you really think God can use me?" I could see the tears welling up in her eyes as she asked me this question. She went on to explain that her life was a string of poor decisions, one compromise with sin after another. Her sense of regret and brokenness was palpable. As our conversation progressed, it was clear guilt returned to visit her often, making her feel unuseable in the Kingdom of God. 
 
Similar questions have been voiced to me by other Christ followers, especially ones in their twenties and thirties. Looking at their tarnished pasts and the struggles they've had, they sincerely wonder if God can use them. Overflowing with remorse, they express honest doubt about their contributing anything of lasting value for Christ. 
 
Oh, how I yearn for them to be freed! How I long for them to grasp God's grace which is so much greater than all their sin. My deep deisre is that they be overwhelmed by this truth: "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our trangressions from us" (Psalms 103:12). 
 
Having doubts about whether or not God can use you? He specializes in using broken, clay vessels to display his glory! No matter what your past is, his redemption is real. You are a new creation in Christ . . . and he can use and empower you in incredible ways for his purposes! 
 
In humility and dependence upon him, give him all of yourself . . . and then stand amazed at what he can do in and through a wholly devoted follower! 
 
 
 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

Recently a friend doing some research in the US C&MA archives called to my attention a disturbing reality. Back in 1952, the C&MA made a decision to no longer send "colored" missionaries. I read the documentation related to this decision in disbelief. 
 
Five years later a decision was made to rescind the 1952 action. There was an expressed willingness to send "colored" missionaries on a limited basis, with certain restrictions in place. While this was an improvement over the 1952 action, it still was marginalizing. 
 
While several African-American personnel have been sent in the decades of the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and since 2000, I am troubled by the 1950's action. That's why this week at the meeting of the C&MA's Board, I'm recommending that in a spirit of repentance, we commit as a US family of churches to sending personnel of all ethnicities. 
 
My dream is for our force of overseas workers to reflect increasingly our US family of churches . . . which is one third non-Caucasian. We have a ways to go for our overseas force to reflect this. To see it happen, we'll need to make some changes, including having more and more non-Caucasians in key leadership roles. 
 
When the Apostle Paul said, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" (Romans 10:15), I'm convinced he envisioned multi-colored feet. May this increasingly be true in the C&MA! 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

Last Wednesday I was at Quest Church in Lexington, KY. I had heard about Quest, learned all I could about it before going . . . but wasn't quite prepared for what I experienced. It was so exciting! 
 
Quest is all about seeing unconvinced people become fully devoted followers of Christ. This is not something they just talk about or have hanging on a plaque on the wall. It's what they live! 
 
On Wednesday Quest was packed out. The congregation was celebrating the ordination of one of their pastors. When it was time for the laying on of hands and prayer, the senior pastor invited all those who had been led to faith in Christ by this younger pastor to please come to the platform to participate. Immediately more than a dozen people got out of their seats and went to the platform. Fantastic and so encouraging! 
 
A young man came to me saying, "I just gave my life to Christ three weeks ago. He's helping me overcome addiction to alcohol. Everything you said tonight resonated with me. How can I get involved in Alliance missions? Serving God in this way is exactly what I'd love to do." I was blown away. 
 
Quest is on a journey to become a "glocal" church . . . representing Jesus to people locally while at the same time investing in his mission globally. With the average age of the congregation at 29, there are very exciting days ahead! May the Spirit continue to make them an Acts 2, revolutionary church impacting Lexington, other cities in Kentucky and southwestern Ohio, and the world!  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

Recently I learned of a church where a rapid, sweeping change was made in worship style. Exit piano, organ, and hymns. Enter drums, guitars, keyboard, and worship choruses. It all happened quickly. Sadly, more than one hundred of the faithful (mostly over fifty-five) exited. 
 
Culture is changing . . . worship teams and choruses are in . . . so shouldn't we expect these people to adjust? Why shouldn't they learn the new style of musical worship? Aren't they being the insensitive ones? 
 
The issue is culture. For these sincere followers of Christ, the hymns they've been singing for decades touch their hearts. They feel a connection with God when they sing them. If this opportunity is insensitively ripped away from them in one church, they're likely to look for another where they can feel comfortable and connected once again. 
 
Wise, culturally sensitive church leaders have figured out how to offer opportunities for hymn lovers and chorus lovers to co-exist peacefully. They don't alienate either group. Instead, they have a mix of traditional and contemporary. Or they have one service designed for hymn lovers and another for chorus lovers. They're being culturally sensitive. 
 
Sadly hymn lovers have often felt alienated, even forced out. Many of them are faithful supporters of Alliance missions. Too often they're leaving Alliance churches so offended that they discontinue their investment in Alliance missions. For sure, they've not always been gracious in this process. But can't we avoid this painful scenario by being culturally sensitive? 
 
It's not a matter of one style of worship being right and the other being wrong. It's giving everyone opportunity to worship in a style that feels comfortable, that connects them with God. My plea is this: Let's be culturally sensitive! This helps everyone win. 
 
 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

You've accused cross-cultural workers bearing the name of Christ of being agents of colonialism. Granted, at times this has been true. You've said that people on mission for Jesus have been imperialistic. There's some truth in that accusation as well. And yes, there have been acts perpetrated in the name of Christ that are a shame to the Church and to Christ himself. 
 
At the same time, historian David Bosch writes, "The missionary movement made a prime contribution to the abolition of slavery, spread better methods of agriculture, established . . . schools, gave medical care to millions, elevated the status of women, created bonds between people of different countries, which war could not sever, trained . . . the leadership of the nations now nesly independent" (Bosch, Transforming Mission: Orbis, 1991, pg. 294). All of this is the result of God's transforming, redemptive power at work. 
 
In addition, the power of Christ at work through the missionary movement has resulted in millions of people crossing over from spiritual death to life. In the words of Jesus, "Whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24). Coming out of the dark night of the soul into the light of the gospel is the greatest journey anyone can take! Thanks to God's work through the missionary movement, as imperfect as it has been and still is, people continue to find new life in Christ. This is priceless . . . it begins during our earthly journey, results in the kinds of dramatic changes described above, and lasts for eternity!  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

More than 99% of the C&MA is laypeople . . . they've not gone through a licensing or accreditation process to be formally recognized for ministry. Yet without them there'd be no C&MA! 
 
Recently Esther and I were at a banquet to celebrate the 100th anniversary of a local church. The pastor stood up and said, "We have a number of VIPs here today." Sitting at the two front tables were Dr. David Rambo, former president of the US C&MA, the district superintendent and his wife, a pastoral couple who had formerly served the church, some other visiting pastoral couples, and us.  
 
This pastor was right on when he introduced the VIPs . . . he presented the key laypeople in the church who had worked hard to make the special weekend celebration happen. He paised the laypeople involved in various parts of the church's ministry. This pastor gets it! Esther and I were elated that none of us at the "head tables" were introduced at the banquet . . . we had been introduced previously in other parts of the weekend celebration and certainly didn't need another introduction. 
 
Paul describes in Ephesians 4:12 the work of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. They are "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up". This pastor not only understood this principle, he and his people were practicing it! Esther and I were greatly encouraged to see this and again gave thanks for the 99+ percent of the C&MA who are faithful laypeople! 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

This week Esther and I are visiting five local churches in Pennsylvania. While size, style, and philosophy of ministry vary, all are interested in local outreach and overseas missions. In a word, they desire to be "missional". 
 
We've been talking about building deeper connections between their congregations and Alliance missions. The best way to start is nurturing a relationship with a missionary. There are also short term missions trips, partnerships, focused intercession, and financial investment. 
 
It's possible to connect relationally with a missionary in Cambodia . . . take short term missions trips to Mexico . . . establish a partnership with Alliance work in Mali . . . pray for a ministry initiative in Ecuador . . . and give money to help with a project in Russia. But wouldn't it be more effective to align all of these? 
 
What if a congregation was intentional about a relationship with a missionary in Cambodia, sent short term missions teams to help that missionary, built a partnership with Cambodia, prayed specifically for Cambodia and that missionary's efforts there, and focused its Great Commission Fund investment on the support and work of that missionary? Would there be power in this kind of alignment? Would this result in synergy? 
 
YES! For help with the short term missions piece, talk to your missionary, go to www.cmalliance.org/stmo or contact Matt Peace at peacem@cmalliance.org. To explore a partnership, interact with your missionary or get in touch with Don Sappington at sappingtond@cmalliance.org. To exchange specific prayer concerns, get an e-mail connection going with your missionary. To invest financially in that missionary, give specifically to support him or her through the Great Commission Fund. 
 
There is power in this kind of alignment! If you don't believe it, just try it. I'm convinced you'll feel a deeper, more satisfying connection with God and what He's doing through Alliance churches involved in Alliance missions.  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

Bridges of connection are essential when it comes to Alliance missions. Mission flows out of the local church to its Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Local church leaders have to work at building bridges to those they help send to distant places, and sent ones have to work at keeping connected with their sending churches. Bridge building has to be intentional in both directions. 
 
A new tool is being effectively used in local churches to build bridges. On a screen in the front of a Sunday morning congregation is a live video feed from an Alliance worker in another country. Questions to be discussed are shared ahead of time via e-mail. The pastor or another church leader interacts live with the Alliance cross-cultural worker. They end the ten minute. real time interaction with brief, encouraging prayers for one another.  
 
With the pressing need for regular connections to keep Alliance missions alive in our local churches, wouldn't it be great to see this tool used more and more? The essentials are software available at www.skype.com/download/features/videocalling and a computer camera (less than $50 at an electronics store) . . . and intentionality when it comes to connecting! This is a powerful tool. Let's use it well to CONNECT!  
 
 
 
 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

My son David and I have been interacting about a metaphor that is helping both of us. It has to do with firemen and gardeners. 
 
God gives each of us a certain amount of "water" to use during our earthly journies. Your "water" is your time, your energy, your spiritual gifting, your passion . . . all of which you choose how to invest. 
 
Some choose to use their "water" to put out fires. They run from one emergency to another in an anxious state. With a sense of urgency, they dump their "water" on problems. They have a fireman mentality. 
 
Others use their H20 in gardening. They "water" seeds they or others have planted, nurturing life, health, and growth. When used wisely and well, this "water" can bring multiplied glory to Christ as seeds bear fruit . . . which produces more seeds capable of yet more fruit. 
 
Each of us is given so much "water" by God. We can choose to use it like a fireman or like a gardener. When the fireman's day is done, he often stands before ashes, perhaps smoldering embers, possibly only light damage if the flames were doused early enough. Tomorrow his focus is on other fires needing more "water." 
 
When sun sets on the gardener's day, there's life and hope for tomorrow if his "water" has been used well. The recipient of the gardener's work is "a tree . . . which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers" (Psa 1:3). 
 
Are you a fireman or a gardener?  

Posted by: bob Fetherlin

Today my friends David and Margot left Colorado Springs to go to another country as Alliance workers. They went to share Christ, make disciples, nurture churches, and help the team of C&MA workers serving in this nation.  
 
For the last several months, David and Margot have been on a transition journey . . . putting their home on the market, selling two cars, going through everything in their house to decide what to keep / give away / throw away / take with them in their suitcases / sell, getting visas and passports and power of attorney papers in order, etc. It's been a tiring journey leading up to their getting on the plane today. They're just one couple among many Alliance workers who have been through this exhausting transition process in recent months. 
 
David usually has a key ring in his pocket with several keys on it: one for the house, one for the mailbox, two for cars, and some other miscellaneous keys. These keys symbolize his responsibilities, his possessions, his person, in a sense even his earthly significance. But today he had none of these keys in his pocket. They're all gone. David and Margot have left their keys and all they symbolize to go to a place where many least reached peoples are concentrated, where huge odds are stacked against them, the church, and Jesus Christ whom they represent. 
 
Over the coming weeks, David and Margot will accumulate some new keys in their new setting. But the lessons of having no keys in their pocket today will remain clear: 
 
Having lots of keys is not what's really important in life. Knowing and loving Christ, belonging to him, is. 
 
Keys represent life in this temporal world through which we journey. We have only one life to give, and giving it in service to Christ is worth it! 
 
In order to leave one culture and go to another as Christ's representatives, we have to give up our keys. Sacrifice is involved in this process. 
 
When all is said and done, accumulating and holding on to keys is an act in futility.  
 
"Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweights them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen . . . (on all the things related to keys) . . . , but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). 
 
Remember, the keys in your pocket or purse represent a temporary world. They are not your signficance. The world represented by those keys will not last . . . only what's done for Christ will endure!  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

A friend of mine once quipped, "We evangelicals have lots of meetings. When it comes to what's really important on God's agenda, we talk much but act little." 
 
I've been thinking about how many of us sit around talking about fishing, but how few of us have our lines regularly in the water. We promote fishing, teach fishing, analyze fishing, and even urge others to fish. But for many of us, it's been quite awhile since we actually caught a fish. Could it be this is because we talk lots about fishing but do little actual fishing? 
 
Jesus said, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Let's move intentionally from talking about fishing to getting more of our fishing lines in the water. It's critical for us to fish in order to complete Christ's mission!  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

You may have heard about the idea of MAKEOVER . . . it started in International Ministries and has now spread more widely in the US C&MA as we seek God's guidance and help in an important journey. The journey is in the direction of broader impact and greater effectiveness for Jesus Christ as we seek to carry out his mission. 
 
Frankly, if this is just a National Office journey, it won't go very far. It has to be a journey in which many participate. And you're invited to give your input and ideas. 
 
How? By logging on to "MyCMA", then going to "e-community" and entering the forum focused on MAKEOVER. There our web team has done a great job of setting up an interactive forum where you can post ideas, critiques and responses to ideas already posted, and even dialogue with others about MAKEOVER possibilities. 
 
In the future, this MAKEOVER will become even more accessible as it is taken out of the password protected area of the website and moved to a more public forum. That will make it possible for even wider participation. 
 
In the meantime, you're invited to get involved. Thanks in advance for your contribution to the MAKEOVER journey!  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

Friday, July 13 
Libreville, Gabon 
 
Gary Benedict and I arrived here in Gabon on Tuesday of this past week. Since that time we (including Chris and Marcia Braun and Al Stombaugh, Gabon Field Director, and leaders of the Gabonese Alliance) met with various government officials, plus we've been on the local television news. The big story is after a US missions investment of more than seventy years (since 1933)involving more than two hundred personnel, there's a family of Alliance churches here who can continue on with strength with decreasing US mission investment. This church shows several exciting signs of health and maturity: 
 
They are fully organized with official recognition from the Gabonese government. 
 
They are able to support financially their own pastors and leaders. 
 
As the largest family of evangelical churches in the country, they are taking initiative to plant new churches and reach into new areas with the gospel. 
 
They have a training / equipping strategy in place with a beautiful Bible institute campus and a stong theological education by extension program. 
 
They have a world missions center focusing on cross-cultural ministry and have sent out their first missionary couple to Cameroun. 
 
On Saturday, there's a "transition celebration" where we acknowledge with the church this major change. Then over the next two years, our US mission personnel will be transitioning to other countries. As plans now stand, we will not lose one missionary in this transition process. While the church doesn't want to see missionaries leave, they understand this transition journey and have embraced it. We are talking about how to continue the relationship even after missionaries leave . . . without the church feeling abandoned. On Sunday, I'll be giving them the challenge of increasingly moving full circle from being a recipient of Christian missions to being partners with us in Christian missions. As they send out missionaries, it will increase the investment of Alliance World Fellowship member church resources on unreached peoples. The Gabonese church can make a major contribution to all of this. 
 
On Monday we'll be at the Bongolo Evangelical Hospital with the team there. They will be staying until 2015 in that there are still some major transition issues to work through there requiring more time. 
 
Tonight I'm giving great thanks to God for the faithfulness of His servants who have invested so much, so well, here in Gabon! 
 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

A people share a common history and identity. Often they are united by ethnicity and language. In urban contexts, a people's sense of being tied together may be influenced by socio-economic factors. Our world is made up of an incredible mosaic of peoples! 
 
Why should a significant portion of the missional activity of the Church of Jesus Christ focus on least reached peoples? Here are five reasons:  
 
1. Some peoples have little if any access to the good news about Jesus. They haven't been given the opportunity to hear about him. Giving them access is critical. After all, is it fair that we can sit in our churches talking about the second coming of Christ when least reached peoples haven't yet heard of his first coming? 
 
2. God wants lost people found (Mat 18:10-14). 
 
3. The Church of Jesus Christ has been given this responsibility (Mat 28:18-20). 
 
4. Love demands it. We are called by Jesus to "love our neighbors as ourselves" (Mat 22:39). We can love least reached peoples, our global neighbors, by doing whatever it takes to get the good news to them. 
 
5. The end will not come until least reached peoples have been given opportunity to hear, understand, and believe (Mat 24:14). 
 
These are reasons why we as the US C&MA are focusing a considerable portion of our missional energy on least reached peoples, even if huge odds are stacked against us as we pursue them for Christ. And we're excited about partner churches around the world joining us in going to where the church isn't . . . in other words, among the least reached. This is ultimately God's agenda, not ours. He will bring this essential part of his redemptive work to pass. He empowers, we cooperate in quiet trust and unswerving obedience. 
 
 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

Recently phone conferences took place between C&MA leaders in Colorado Springs and overseas regional / field directors. These conversations were a part of our desire to connect and listen well so that we can "live the call together." During that call, one of the field directors put forward the idea of funding the call together. 
 
A part of "living the call together" is funding it together. Everyone who receives support from the Great Commission Fund can help raise the money. To assume others will do it while we benefit is not good thinking. 
 
Everyone has to put their shoulder to this load so that we bear it together. It's just too heavy for a small group to carry. 
 
If you receive from the Great Commission Fund, I'm calling you to two action steps. First, "as you have freely received, freely give." It only makes sense for you to give. Second, put your shoulder to the load . . . take action to help raise the funds. As we "live the call together" let's also fund the call together!  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

Ever feel overwhelmed by e-mail? I do quite often. Many days I've worked as fast as I can for two or three hours at a shot trying to answer a big pile of them. By the time I finished, my inbox was filling up again. It’s an unending cycle. I have frequently felt like e-mail’s slave instead of taming it as my servant. 
 
It’s odd that I’ve spent two to three hours many days on e-mail, yet often have struggled to invest a solid, quiet hour in prayer and the Scriptures. My pattern has been to spend lots more time on e-mail with believers than I do building intentional relationships with unbelievers. Something is definitely wrong with this picture. 
 
How can I tame this insatiable beast that’s crept into my life, doing its best to dominate me? I know I’m to have no other gods in my life before the God of all creation, the God of the Bible. Frankly, I don’t have a formula to follow that tames this intrusive, electronic beast well. But I am trying to discover ways to avoid its deadly grip that can dominate me, my time, my energy. Here are some the ideas I’m trying to implement: 
 
1) Give the best hours of my day to what’s most important in my life . . . not to e-mail. 
 
2) Limit my time with the e-mail beast. For me, it's ninety minutes a day. I'd like to get it down to an hours. This beast is usually hungry for much more. Denying it takes intentionality on my part. My ninety minute limitation makes me hit the delete button more often and write shorter replies. 
 
3) Unsubscribe / untangle myself from being on lists resulting in lots of unhelpful e-mails piling up in my box. I avoid these lists like the plague. 
 
4) Forget e-mail for more important, higher impact communication. Either see the person face-to-face or pick up the phone and call. 
 
5) Do unto others as I would have them do to me. When I don’t stuff their inboxes with junk, they’re less likely to send junk my direction. I neither want to become an e-mail junkie nor do I want to help others become junkies. 
 
You may have some other ideas that can help me tame this beast. I’d love to hear about them. Most importantly, I want to invest well in people and relationships, especially life’s most important relationships with God, my wife, my children, my coworkers, and those unbelievers God has brought into my life. How sad it would be to have all my e-mails caught up and miss out on these more important, weightier opportunities.  
 
When e-mail has its death grip around our necks, may God give us the wisdom and discipline we need to slay it, breaking its control so that what’s more important in our lives can flourish!  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

"A great fear has been at work in my mind and God has used it to arouse me to prayer. I knew a mighty man, filled with God's power. Then I saw him ten years later . . . embittered with a dead soul." 
 
I wrote this quote in my journal as I listened to Gordon McDonald describing the resilient life. It was a wake-up call for me as I realized how easily we can slip from vibrancy to embittered despair. I've watched a couple of people spiral downward in this painful journey, and it's looking like they'll finish their lives embittered . . . with dead souls. I wish I could rescue them but my efforts to date have come to naught. They're no fun to be around. Rather than attracting people to Christ, they repel them. How sad. How tragic. 
 
How do I guard my heart against this danger? What can keep me vital, energetic, and full of passion? What allows me to live and serve with joy, gratitude, wonder and praise? 
 
While I don't claim to have all the answers, here are four postures of heart that help me: 
 
1) Ask God to expand the margins of grace in my life. This enables me to forbear with others (Eph 4:2b)and be quick to forgive (Mat 6:14-15). 
 
2) Keep no record of wrongs (1 Cor 13:5b). When I keep playing over and over again in my mind a record of wrongs committed against me, I become fertile soil for seeds of bitterness to sprout and take root.  
 
3) Guard my heart against envy. Envy rots the bones (Pro 14:30) and is contrary to the way of love (1 Cor 13:4b). 
 
4) Do the dailies. The dailies are those practices in my life which refresh me, recharging my batteries. Though outwardly I am wasting away, yet inwardly I can be renewed day by day (2 Cor 4:16b). An essential daily for all of us is to fix our eyes on what is unseen, knowing what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor 4:18). Prayer and time in the Scriptures are a part of this daily. 
 
My prayer is that God will help me avoid this deadly trap. May He help you as well. There's too much at stake for Christ and His kingdom for us to be walking around with dead souls. Instead may we be attractive people of exciting vibrancy, giving life to others, as Christ is seen in us!  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

In the early stages of my talking about a makeover, someone asked, “Bob, why are you doing this?” That question has reverberated in my heart and mind over several months now. My response is embedded in an experience I had while in Dakar, Senegal. One afternoon I was taken by boat from Dakar to Goree Island just off the coast. It was from Goree that somewhere between ten and twelve million slaves left Africa for the Americas over a period of more than two hundred years. It was usually a 6-12 week trip on boats that were eight by thirty meters. Wanting to maximize their profits, slave traders would pack 300-400 slaves on each boat. Between 20 and 30% of the slaves who left that island died while crossing the Atlantic Ocean. 
 
In the slave house on Goree Island my heart was deeply moved. To my horror, I learned that the value of young female slaves was based on the size of their breasts. They could become free by becoming pregnant to white slave traders. I walked through the spacious, well-lit quarters where the slave traders stayed while on the island. Then I went down the stairs to the dark, musty slave holding cells. I saw the room where male slaves were weighed to be sure they were at least sixty kilos before making the long trip to the Americas. I stood in the center of the yard where new slaves were auctioned off to the highest bidder. It was there, I learned, that often family members ended up being sold to different buyers creating situations where they were separated, never to see each other again . . . husbands ripped away from their wives, teenage and young adult children being torn from their parents, brothers and sisters . . . not just for a year or two, but in most cases for the rest of their lives.  
 
Then I turned and saw “the door of no return.” It was through this doorway that slaves were crowded onto ship after ship after ship. Once a slave walked through this door, he or she would leave African soil never to return again. 
 
Just as the slaves who passed through Goree Island were in a desperate situation, those without access to the gospel are in an absolutely desperate situation. What an incredible privilege it would have been to declare FREEDOM to those millions of slaves who left Goree Island. I would have given everything, even poured out my blood, for that privilege. But that privilege was never mine.  
 
The privilege of declaring the gospel to those without access to it is within the realm of possibility for all of us today. Jesus made it very clear, “If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you FREE!” (John 8:32). He went on to proclaim, “If the Son sets you FREE, you will be FREE indeed!” (John 8:36).  
 
The main reason behind the makeover is rooted in a burning passion to see us make the good news about Jesus Christ accessible to as many people as possible. We’re losing in the C&MA some of our effectiveness and capacity when it comes to taking the gospel to people who today don’t have access to it. If some of the present trends in the C&MA continue, we’ll wane as an effective missionary church. I don’t want to see this happen. 
 
The main motive behind the makeover is to declare with greater effectiveness to those enslaved by sin that through Jesus, they can be set FREE . . . to concentrate more resources on those people without access to the gospel, where all the odds are stacked against us, proclaiming FREEDOM in and through Jesus Christ. 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

In our changing times, some have advocated doing away with the Great Commission Fund (GCF). For me, this would be a huge mistake. A great strength of Alliance missions is that our international workers don't have to raise their own support. It's provided through the GCF. 
 
Why kill a goose that lays a golden egg year after year? The last fiscal year, this GCF goose laid an egg of $38.9 million. It looks like this year's golden egg will be about $39.7 million. That's not a goose I want to kill. 
 
Why not do away with the GCF? Here are ten reasons articulated by a C&MA missionary who has served in Chile: 
 
10 Spiritually vital - It is a faith-promise based ministry which challenges individuals to seek God and obediently respond by faith. 
 
9 Freedom to minister - When I visit mission conferences, I do not have to concern myself with the bottom line of having to reach my needed support level and I can freely challenge our people to be involved in the Great Commission world-wide. 
 
8 Clear focus - The purpose of the GCF is not projects or strategies or even "missions". It is about fulfilling the Lord's command to make disciples of all nations. 
 
7 Team spirit - When I encourage churches to give generously to the GCF, I am supporting my colleagues in the country I serve and all around the world. 
 
6 The ultimate in connectivity - I can visit any Alliance church and with total sincerity thank them for having sent us to Chile because they are shareholders in what we do. 
 
5 Mutual support - I don't have to "compete" with other missionaries for the missions dollars of our churches because we are all working together. 
 
4 Efficiency - I know that my giving is being used for strategic ministries in the US and among unreached peoples of the world. 
 
3 Meeting personal needs - The GCF puts bread on our table, a roof over our heads and clothes on our back. It provides our health care for us and education for our children. 
 
2 Ministry - The majority of our ministry overseas is fueled by giving to the GCF. 
 
1 Great diversification - My own faith promise giving makes me a shareholder in the ministry of every Alliance worker on every field. It lets me touch the world. 
 
IF YOU'RE ALREADY GIVING, THANK YOU FOR GIVING TO THE GREAT COMMISSION FUND! IF YOU'RE NOT GIVING, I URGE YOU TO GET INVOLVED TODAY. (For more information, consult a local Alliance church or the home page of this website.)  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

There are now 2,506 local Alliance churches in the Philippines. This makes the CAMACOP (C&MA of the Philippines) larger than the US Alliance when it comes to number of local churches. The definition of "church" being used is an assembly of at least 25 baptized believers organized with elders and officers. CAMACOP's goal is to continue planting churches to reach 3,000 congregations by 2010. 80% of these church plants are being launched from already existing churches. 
 
CAMACOP now has 54 missionaries it has sent out. Many are "tentmakers" requiring only partial funding or in some cases no funding. In addition to the 54 missionaries, there are thousands of CAMACOP believers employed outside the Philippines who take their faith in Christ with them wherever they go. Many of these Filipino believers are in countries closed to professional missionaries. 
 
The Alliance Graduate School (formerly called Alliance Bible Seminary) now has 16 centers established where modular courses are taught. The aim is to take the seminary to the local church, providing opportunities for those serving in the local church to continue their education at the master's level without having to leave their ministries, families, and homes. In the next three years, the goal is to have 1,500 students enrolled in this innovative program. 
 
While visiting with CAMACOP leaders recently in Manila, we talked together about some of them coming to the US General Council and LIFE in Orlando. Some of them are coming with a desire to connect and encourage one another. If you're at one of these events, I hope you can meet them! 
 
Thank God for the faithful investment of so many US missionaries in the Philippines. Thank Him for the partners He's raised up there, the CAMACOP! 
 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

I'm currently with Gary Benedict and two leaders from Simpson University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Yesterday I asked our C&MA partners from the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (Tin Lanh) about how many believers they thought there were now in their family of churches here. They stated that there are now more than 1,000,000 believers associated with Tin Lanh. That means the Alliance-related family of churches in Vietnam is now the largest of any of our partner churches around the world, and more than twice the size of the Alliance family of churches in the USA! 
 
I thank God for the vision and passion that brought Alliance missionaries to Vietnam back in 1911. From then until 1975, they poured themselves out among the people of Vietnam. Churches were planted, men and women were nurtured in Christ and taught the Scriptures, loving compassion was demonstrated, and leaders were trained. In 1975, there were about 125,000 believers associated with Tin Lanh. From then until now, this family of churches has grown more than eight-fold . . . without the help of foreigners. This is so encouraging! 
 
While here, we've had meetings with the Bureau of Religious Affairs and Tin Lanh leaders to explore a partnership between Simpson University and Tin Lanh. The purpose of the partnership is to help with the training of Tin Lanh church leaders at the master's level. The training delivery is being designed so that church leaders can stay in their places of ministry. With the government's permission, Simpson University will offer some courses in Vietnamese in Vietnam, in partnership with and at the invitation of Tin Lanh. Some students from Vietnam will apply for government permission to study in Redding, California on the campus of Simpson University as well. Distance learning options are also being explored as a part of this partnership. 
 
While here, we've visited the land granted by the government of Vietnam for the building of a new campus for Tin Lanh's Institute of Bible and Theology. Building plans have been approved and preparations are being made to construct this new campus. At present, 115 Bible and theology students (15 of whom are from the north) are in training in temporary facilities to serve as Tin Lanh church leaders. It is hoped that the new campus can create opportunity for the number of leaders being trained to expand so that the leadership needs of this growing family of churches can be met well. 
 
Bureau of Religious Affairs leaders shared with us the document detailing the new government policies on belief and religion. We are encouraged by progress being made, and are grateful for the Tin Lanh family of churches in Vietnam!  
 
 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

Earlier this week I was in Seoul, South Korea where I witnessed fire burning in the hearts of Korean believers in a partner church there. They were incredibly passionate about Christ and his mission. It was greatly encouraging to be with Jesus-followers who were so on fire for him! 
 
Regardless of our ethnic or national origin, the danger when we have this kind of fire in us is that we end up intentionally, or more often unintentionally, burning each other. In our passion, we end up being insensitive to others. We can press our agenda and our way of doing things in the work of the kingdom so strongly that we inflict pain on other Christ-followers. They get burned. 
 
How do have fire burning brightly in our hearts for Christ and his mission without burning each other? We put into practice 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." When we live out this kind of love for one another in the body of Christ, we don't burn others. 
 
Dr. A.B. Simpson wrote in 1900, "God's methods in matters of outward form are flexible enough to allow for exceptions and adjustments." This counsel helps us have fire without burning each other. 
 
Augustine also offers wise counsel: "Unity in things essential, liberty in things non-essential, and charity in all things." 
 
As we engage in a variety of partnerships to advance the cause of Christ, including international ones, we'll need to remember the 1 Corinthians 13 words of Paul, the exhortation of Dr. Simpson, and the wisdom of Augustine. They can help us have differing opinions without pressing our views aggressively in a controversial spirit. Let's stoke the fire of passion for Jesus without burning each other!  
 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

When we know there's a tiger in the area, we are extra careful to avoid it. When it's at our front door, its intentions are more obvious and we have reason for great concern. 
 
At the moment, the US C&MA has a tiger at the door. A documented problem that's more than a decade old, healthy giving to the Great Commission Fund (that keeps pace with increases in local church income), is standing there. Its presence is being acutely felt by missionaries facing 7% allowance cutbacks with district superintendents and national office leaders facing 10% ones. With ministry costs rising and incredible opportunities before us, the latest is we'll be preparing a flat budget for the new fiscal year, possibly even a budget that's 2% less than last year's. This is because of the tiger. 
 
What's the response when the tiger shows up? The easiest response is to do nothing . . . or just run away and hide. Another common reaction is to try to chase the tiger away. Some would even suggest a plan to kill the tiger. While all of these are possibilities, they assume the tiger has come for destructive purposes. 
 
But is there another way of understanding the tiger? I believe there is. Just seeing him there puts me on my toes. I tend to think differently when he's around. I'm sharper, more alert and creative. My attitudes and behaviors are more circumspect. I'm forced to trust God more fully than when the tiger's far away. His uncomfortable presence at the door results in my having the courage to try that which I would not do in times of ease. 
 
"Thank you, Father, for the tiger at our door. While I don't like having him there, I realize you may have reasons for allowing him to come. Give me eyes to see what you want me to see, and teach me what you desire that I learn. Give me a sensitive, discerning heart during these days. I'm ready and willing to change, under your lordship, to better spread your fame and reknown. And don't rescue me until you've fulfilled your purposes for sending the tiger. In the name of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Amen." 
 
written from Conakry, Guinea  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

Several years ago a Romanian pastor was being harassed in an effort to shut down his influence. In the midst of this, he came to the point of all-out commitment to Christ, even if that meant losing his own life. After that commitment, he preached without fear or inhibition. Increased threats and harassment soon followed. 
 
One day as he was questioned, his interrogator threatened to kill him. "Sir," the pastor replied, "let me explain the issue to you. Your supreme weapon is killing. My supreme weapon is dying. You know my sermons are all over the country on tapes now. If you kill me, I will be sprinkling them with my blood. Whoever listens to them after that will say, 'I had better listen. This man sealed it with his blood.' My sermons will speak ten times louder than before. So go on and kill me. I win the supreme victory then." The interrogator released the pastor and sent him home. 
 
The pastor then realized that for years, he had been overly cautious and low-keyed in his ministry. He had accepted all of the restrictions placed on him because he wanted to live. Now he wanted to die and those in power were unwilling to put him to death. 
 
His freedom in ministry dramatically increased after the above-described incident. The pastor lamented, "For years I had wanted to save my life and I was losing it. Now that I wanted to lose it, I was winning it. Somebody had said those words before, but they had not sunk into my mind." 
 
Want to increase your ministry impact exponentially? Embrace the way of thinking, the posture of heart demonstrated by this Romanian pastor. Then watch what happens! 
 
[This true story was taken from "Partners in Suffering: How Christ Builds His Church Through the Crosses of His Servants" by Joseph Tson (Ann Arbor, Michigan: The Center for Pastoral Renewal), pg. 28.] 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

On Sunday, February 25, we gathered as family at Esther's mother's apartment just north of Pittsburgh. There were twelve of us. Knowing Mother has an asbestos-induced lung cancer with only a short time to live, our purpose was to honor and thank her, expressing our love. We said the kind of things that would normally be said at a funeral.  
 
We began by gathering around the piano to sing her favorite hymns as she accompanied. The first one was "Like a River Glorious." She sang and played heartily while the rest of us wept, singing as well as we could as the tears flowed. Then we sat in a circle in the living room, four generations of us, to share wonderful memories and thank Mother for her faithfulness to Christ, us, and the church. It was impact time because the joy of loving and following Jesus, of living out Christ-honoring values, of being worshippers, of pouring out our lives in service to God and others . . . all of these were powerfully reinforced in our lives. It was a never-to-be-forgotten time. 
 
The journey of trusting God continues. We know that Mother was exposed to asbestos. Her children were probably exposed to it as well during their growing up years in the same houses. This means an elevated risk that this same kind of cancer could appear in our family again in the years ahead. With this troubling reality, we are driven once again to trust our heavenly Father. 
 
We are so, so thankful to have Christ in our lives . . . to be able to face death with overwhelming hope . . . to know that to die is gain!  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

My wife Esther and I received last week the very difficult news that her mother has advanced lung cancer. She appeared to be quite healthy when she was with us before Christmas. Now we're told she has about two to six months to live. 
 
As a family we're headed to Pennsylvania this weekend to have some time with her. We're grateful we'll have opportunity to articulate our love and appreciation face-to-face. Instead of awaiting a funeral to express these deep hearted feelings, we want her to hear them now. This will truly be an extraordinary family gathering with children, grandchildren, and even an infant great grandson gathered around her bed. 
 
Mother has decided to not have chemo or radiation therapy. Now in her eightieth year of life, she's ready to go be with Jesus. "The sooner, the better," she says.  
 
As Christ-followers we have tremendous hope in the face of death. We can boldy declare, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? . . . Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55, 57). We can state emphatically, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). 
 
The even more extraordinary gathering will be when all who know and love Jesus . . . from every tribe, language, and nation . . . are gathered around the throne worshipping Jesus forever! This will be THE GATHERING of all history. On the basis of Christ's finished work on the cross and his resurrection, and my response to him in repentance and faith, I'll be there. What about you?  

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

We as evangelicals tend to be quick in launching new initiatives, seeking to advance the cause of Christ. Our motives are good. We invest time and energy in these new efforts hoping they’ll work well. Every local church, every ministry has a track record over time of lots of these initiatives. 
 
While I’m grateful for them, I think we need to ask a hard question a year or two down the road (with on-going evaluation thereafter) after a new initiative is birthed. Is it working? Is the intended impact being realized? If not, what do we do?  
 
Whether a ministry initiative is working or not, do we too often allow it to live on without accountability? My observation is we usually either fail to ask this question or ask it years too late. If an initiative is not working, we need to ask why . . . and either change it so that it’s moving toward fruitfulness as originally intended or lovingly put it to rest. 
 
Some may argue, “Killing an initiative is inappropriate. Be gracious by letting it die a natural death.”  
 
For me, the most gracious and loving response to a well-intended effort that’s ineffective is to face it honestly. Rather than continuing to use Kingdom resources in ways that make little or no difference, why not look for the most strategic ways to invest them? This may mean the most godly response is to put to death (with as much sensitivity to those concerned as possible) an initiative that just isn’t working thereby freeing up people, time, and money for more effective investment. This in my thinking is what God-honoring stewardship is all about! 
 
To interact with Bob Fetherlin about this idea, e-mail him at makeover@cmalliance.org. 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

How do we connect Alliance missions with people in the pews of our US family of Alliance churches? Here are some of the many ways connections resulting in increased ownership, deeper relationships, and greater involvement by local churches can be made: 
 
Short term teams 
 
• Providing English language skills training courses of one to two weeks 
 
• Sending computer technicians with donated computers to set them up and train local people how to use them 
 
• Recruiting medical personnel to hold medical / dental clinics in a manner that elevates the local church in the community and leads to opportunities for the advance of the gospel 
 
• Encouraging business professionals to go to a field to give seminars on effective business principles thereby making connections with business professionals in the overseas ministry context 
 
• Deploying speakers, worship leaders and children’s workers for field forums 
 
• Finding coaches / sports teams to lead clinics with local youth, play against local teams, and interface in local schools in a manner that advances the kingdom 
 
• Putting together vision trips of pastors and church leaders from US Alliance churches 
 
 
Partnerships 
 
• Building “webmaster” partnerships for fields, teams and individual missionaries working with them in establishing and maintaining quality websites 
 
• Nurturing relationships with clusters of churches / individual churches / church leaders out of which natural opportunities to build partnerships follow 
 
• Working together so that a local church can adopt a people group, a missionary family or a special project 
 
 
Finances 
 
• Funding the work of Alliance missions through the Great Commission Fund 
 
• Having a financial planner visit the field to help missionaries with their personal finances, retirement planning, etc. 
 
• Helping a field or cluster of fields do an annual audit of their books 
 
• Taking responsibility to raise the funds for a specific approved special related to an overseas ministry project 
 
Communications 
 
• Having a videographer / video production person or team prepare video segments on field ministries for promoting the work 
 
• Helping a missionary produce quality communication pieces enabling strong connections with that missionary’s sending churches 
 
 
Prayer 
 
• Recruiting a prayer team to go to a field for specific, focused intercession 
 
• Inviting a district or church or individual to exchange e-mailed prayer requests and answers to prayer with a missionary or a field thereby creating a two-way exchange of prayer support 
 
 
Leadership Development 
 
• Having gifted Bible teachers, seminary and Christian college professors, and others go to a field to teach on specific subjects and in response to specific needs 
 
• Sending people who can help with short-term projects related to the work of C&MA-related Bible schools 
 
• Connecting with an overseas, C&MA leader-in-training to provide encouragement and help, including some funds for tuition in a ministry training program 
 
 
Why not explore how you and the people of your church can better connect with what God is doing through Alliance missions? Strong connections enable the "sent ones" overseas and the "senders" at home to live the call together in carrying out Christ's mission! 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

Here’s an interesting picture: 
 
• The North American family of Alliance churches (the US and Canada) represents the majority of financial resources within the Alliance World Fellowship. 
 
• More and more Alliance churches from economically challenged areas of the world in Latin America, Africa, and Asia are catching the vision to send out their own missionaries. 
 
• The US C&MA is now investing in missionary training for young men and women from our partner churches in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. 
 
• The main barrier to deploying and sustaining trained missionaries from Latin America, Africa, and Asia is financial. 
 
• Missionaries from Latin America, Africa, and Asia can access some peoples of the world more easily and in some cases more effectively than North Americans. 
 
Strategically, what is the best response to this picture? In my vision, it’s figuring out how to enable the missionary sending of our more economically challenged partner churches of the Alliance World Fellowship in a way that leaves as much sending authority and responsibility with them as possible. The models developed to carry out this objective must be sustainable in a manner that does not create unhealthy dependency. I can envision ways this can be done that will hasten the completion of the Great Commission thereby hastening the return of our King! 
 
This vision calls for some bold yet sensitive conversations leading to the development of some experiments, some pilot projects. As models that work are discovered, they can be adapted for other contexts in other places. The bottom line is contained in Romans 10:15, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” In the last century the predominant understanding in US Alliance churches was that it would be primarily white American feet that would bring the good news. In this vision, it will be feet of many colors from many different nations and ethnicities as we move toward greater and greater internationalization. 
 

Posted by: Bob Fetherlin

How can we unleash laypersons who are business professionals to help in Alliance missions? Many of them are already traveling to do business in countries where Alliance missions resources are being invested. Rather than asking these C&MA business professionals to just show up at their local Alliance church on Sundays to pay for and pray for missions, why not have them engaged in front-line, missional activity? After all, they’re like lions all week in their businesses. Why should they be treated like lambs when they show up at church on Sunday morning, often relegated to the sidelines with the expectation that as long as they behave and write big checks, they’re “in”? When their hearts are overflowing with a love relationship with Jesus and their passions align with His mission, ways can be discovered to engage them in front-line, missional work. 
 
What might some of these opportunities look like? Here are five ways Alliance business professionals with love and devotion for Jesus Christ can help carry out His mission overseas: 
 
• Use their profession as a basis for obtaining visas for themselves and others in areas of the world with high concentrations of unreached people – This would help establish presence in countries closed to professional, clergy missionaries. Business professionals involved in this could live their lives and conduct their work in ways prompting questions to which Jesus Christ is the answer. This would fit into the growing “kingdom professional” and “business as mission” models of cross-cultural ministry. 
 
• Go short-term to a country to work with the “on the ground” team of missionaries and church partners in building relational connections with business professionals in that setting – In urban church planting among middle and upper class professionals, missionaries not of these socio-economic classes find it challenging to build relationships with local people who are of these classes. Having US Alliance business professionals make periodic, short-term visits to build relational bridges with local professionals can open doors in very helpful ways for “on the ground” personnal. 
 
• Invest in beginning a branch of their business in an overseas context thereby providing opportunity to be witnesses while helping local people have jobs – In many impoverished areas of the world, unemployment runs at over 50%. This results in economic hardship for communities and the developing churches within them. H