The Smalling Down of Missions

Drs. Jim and Jeanne Lowell

with MA Students Georgetown, Guyana, So. America.

Smalling Down of Missions

As Director of Graduate Studies for Caribbean School of Theology it has been my joy to teach many groups of students in many areas of the world. Africa, Asia, Southern Asia, Europe, Caribbean, Central America etc. I started in Missions with the Assemblies of God in 1978 being appointed to a 10-40 Window nation while being a staff member of Renton Assembly of God in Renton, Washington. Pastor John Tappero was the Pastor. The greatness of Pastor Tappero was that he had a great, mighty, all-sufficient God. His view of God would lead him in his pastoral vision and purpose. He had started bus-ministry when others criticized him. He did Evangelism Explosion/ Discipleship Dynamics when others said it wouldn’t work. He said summer time is "Harvest Time" as a means to teach the people that, "you take your vacation" and then you come back to participate in Harvest. It worked. We take the people where we are going. The where we are going then is important.

Sunday night was the greatest service at Renton. It became part of the culture of the church. Missions and mission’s conventions were big and was a strong part of that culture. There was a belief that new missionaries selected by the Northwest District would be supported by Renton. God would supply and in faith they would support the missionaries that were selected by the District. Faith in God, his provision, God answering prayer was all part of the culture and belief of the people of Renton. They were working men and women who knew God by personal experience and were led by a man with a vital relationship with God and out of "upper room" prayer meetings in the old church was a dynamic of leadership. A man who hears from God is a powerful tool in His hand. Pastor Tappero was such a man.

When Jeanne and I came to Renton, it was God who brought us! Pastor Tappero wanted us to come. I explained we were called to missions and he felt very strongly that we were to come. That God would lead and guide us in this time of transition, "it may take two or three years" he had said. In six months we were interviewed, selected and asked to join the July group of candidates to participate with the Assemblies of God to go to India as missionaries.

The most wonderful thing about Renton was the way they loved you. Teachers, staff, deacons, families came and loved on us and blessed us to go. The "Women's Missionary Council" loved us and helped in the purchase of our appliances and adopted our children by sending out cake mixes and gifts for our children. It was beautiful. A young family called, willing, selected and preparing to go.

The church loved us and was taken by surprise as was Pastor Tappero. He had plans of his own as he was moving towards retirement and we were to be part of his plan. When God interrupted, Pastor was shocked, “I know you are called, I don’t want to lose you and the gifted ministry you bring to the church. We felt the same. When it was time to step into a plane, I really wanted to turn to the three hundred or so people at Sea-Tac and say, “I’m not going, I’m staying with you.”

The question is for me is that "who is it that calls" and as a result of calling are all who called then equal to the task of sending. Because we were going to India it was a field that people knew was going to be difficult, with living conditions that would be harsh, political climate that would be hard. All of this was true! Over the next several years there was a term that started surfacing and became a part of the missions teaching about the "10-40 Window."

As a result of living and ministering in India and other nations of the 10-40 Window I am well aware of the implications.

Missions statistics from the places of the 10/40 Window:

Center of population: Two-thirds of the world's population -- more than 4.4 billion people -- live in the 10/40 Window.

Unreached and unevangelized: 90% of the people living in the 10/40 Window are unevangelized. Many have never heard the Gospel message even once. There are either no Christians or not enough of a Christian movement in many cultures of the 10/40 Window to carry out vibrant near-neighbor evangelism.

Poverty: Eighty-five percent of those living in the 10/40 window are the poorest of the world's poor.

World religions: Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism are centered within the 10/40 Window.

Least evangelized cities: Half of the world's least evangelized cities are in this window.

865 million unreached Muslims or Islamic followers in 3330 cultural sub-groupings

550 million unreached Hindus in 1660 cultural sub-groups

150 million unreached Chinese in 830 groups

275 million unreached Buddhists in 900 groups

2550 unreached tribal groups (which are mainly animistic) with a total population of 140 million

Forming a smaller -- though important -- unreached group are the 17 million Jews scattered across 134 countries

Good news: Missions researcher David Barrett says the country with the most rapid Christian expansion ever is China where there are 10,000 new Christian converts every day.

After twenty-one years serving India, did I miss God to go to the West Indies, Caribbean, to Belize in Central America and Suriname and Guyana of Coastal South America? This region that has not been participating with God in missio Dei, are now being challenged by the Spirit to participate with Him in going to “all the world.” This is one of the mysteries of the “voice of God and his call.” It is important to note that our God doesn’t leave anybody out. Doesn’t leave out a nation, or people group, doesn’t leave out a color or characteristic of skin, He has specifically said that “none would perish” that “all come to repentance” and “all the world.” I am reminded about His Word, which has by the way supremacy over our small thoughts and ideas, visions and theories. It is He who said,

 “go into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature.”

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…”

The Great Commission - A Personal Calling to All Disciples

In the Great Commission, Every believer must ask, “Where,” “Where do you want me to Go.” Jesus calls every Christian to step out in faith and spread the Good News. This is obedient faith in action! People who obey this command change their spiritual lives forever! It could be spreading the Good News to a neighbor or moving to another country to reach the people there. But, We are all asked to make disciples! The question is Where?

The “Smalling Down of Missions” is to limit where and what we do within this sphere. Is it a lack of faith, a faith that says, “He cannot save all the world” so let’s go to plan B and segment the world into the areas that are important and areas that are not important. I actually felt this way as a missionary in India. What we are doing is big, what they are doing in Panama or the DR is small. Great and mighty God talks about “all, nations, all people, and all languages when He talks about His vision and His work. We don’t understand the simultaneously at the same time because every nation is at a different entry point in His work, becoming His people- “nation of priests.” The simultaneously at the same time of Acts 1:8 and Luke 24:47 is God’s view not man. Men will say We have a plan to reach Haiti, or Romania, or Tanzania. God’s view is that all people everywhere know Him and worship Him. Our obedience is “about signing up with God” or signing up with man, his view, his plan and his thinking.

Great Commission verses

Gen. 1:26-28 Man created to rule God’s creation.

Gen. 10,11 God identifies, then scatters the nations into separate languages – (At Pentecost God “reverses” the confusion at Babel by enabling all the nations to understand “the wonderful works of God” in their own languages. (Acts 2:7-11)

Gen. 12:1-3 God’s covenant with Abram to “bless all the families of the earth.”  I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Gen. 22:15-18 God repeats his promise to Abraham, “confirms it with an oath.” (Heb. 6:13-20)

Gen. 26: 3-5 God repeats His covenant with Abraham to Isaac.

Gen. 28: 3-4 God (through Isaac) repeats His covenant with Abraham to Jacob.

Ex. 19:5-6 God identifies Israel as his “special posession” among all nations, and as a “kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation” to represent his loving rule to the other nations.

Num. 14:21 God declares His purpose to “fill all the earth with His glory.”

Josh. 4:24 God tells Joshua and Israel to lay up stones of rememberance so “...that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord.”

I Sam. 17:45-46 David informs Goliath that his demise was so “...that all the earth may know there is a God in Israel.”

I Kings 8:60 Solomon’s Temple Dedication prayer ‘ “That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is none other.”

I Chr. 14:17 God brought the fear of Him “upon all nations” through David.

I Chr. 16:16 David reminds Israel of this covenant with Abraham.

2 Chr. 16:9 God’s eyes roam the “whole earth” seeking to show Himself strong.

Esther 8:17 “…many of the peoples of the land became Jews, and the fear of the Jews fell upon them.”

Ps. 2:8 God says, “Ask of me and I shall give you the nations for your inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possessions.”

Ps. 22:27-28 “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.”

Ps. 47:8 “God rules over the nations … “

Ps. 57:8 “let your glory be over all the earth.”

Ps. 57:9, ii “ I will sing to you among the nations … let Your glory be over all the earth.”

Ps. 67 A prayer for blessing so God’s salvation can go “to all nations.”

Ps. 96:1-3 “Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.”

Ps. 98:4 “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth.”

Ps. 117:1 “Praise the LORD, all you nations, exalt Him all you peoples.”

Isa. 49:6 Israel to be a light to the nations that His salvation could go “to the ends of the earth.”

Isa.52:10 “… All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

Isa. 61:11 “… righteousness and praise will spring up among all the nations.”

Isa. 66:18 “…All nations and languages shall see my glory.”

Isa. 66:23 “… All mankind will come and bow down before me.”

Dan. 2:44 God’s Kingdom will crush all other kingdoms

Dan. 3:28-29 God’s judgment on every nation that denies the God of Shadrach, Mechach, and Abnednego.

Dan. 6:25 Darius decrees that “all peoples, nations, and men of every language” shall reverence the God of Daniel.

Joel 2:28 God promises to “fill the earth” with His glory.

Micah 4:1-2 In the last days “many nations” will worship the LORD.

Hab. 2:14 God promises to “fill the earth”with His glory.

Zech. 2:11 “… many nations shall be joined to the LORD …”

Zech. 9:10 God’s rule will be “to the ends of the earth”

Zech. 14:9 “… the LORD will be the King over all the earth.”

Matt. 21:43 The Kingdom shall be taken from Israel and given to a nation bringing forth its fruit.

Matt 24:14 The gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached to every nation.

Matt. 28:18-20 The Great Commission The “Inclusive” Mandate- make disciples of all nations

Mk. 16:15 “ The “Exclusive” Mandate- preach the gospel to every creature

Lk. 24:47 “ The “Message” Mandate- repentance and remission of sins must be preached

Jn. 20:21 “ The “Jesus-Style” Mandate- even as the Father sent me, so send I you!

Acts 1:8 “ The “Geographical” Mandate – simultaneously at the same time to reach to win Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and uttermost parts of the earth.

Acts 3:25 Peter repeats God’s covenant with Abraham.

Acts 10:34 People from every nation are acceptable to God.

Acts 15:16-17 Peter interprets the rebuilding of the tabernacle of David to be the conversion of the nations.

Rom. 1:5 Paul’s call included “obedience to the faith among all nations.”

Rom. 10:18 Quoting Ps. 19:4, Paul declares the heavens declare God’s words “to the ends of the earth.”

Rom. 16:26 Paul declares God’s command to proclaim the “obedience of faith” to all nations.

2 Cor. 10:16 Paul’s intention to preach the gospel in “the regions beyond.”

Gal. 3:8 Paul repeats God’s covenant with Abraham to bless all the nations.

Gal. 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.- The promise and participation in Abrahams Covenant.

Eph. 1:8-11, 3:6-11 Paul declares God’s “eternal purpose” was to preach the gospel among gentile nations.

Col. 1:25-27 Paul identifies the “mystery of the ages,” which is the inclusion of the Gentile nations into God’s blessing and promise to show His glory.

Heb. 6:13-20 God reminds us that he “swore” he would uphold His covenant with Abraham.

Rev. 5:9-10, 7:9 The redeemed are from “every tribe, language, people and nation” and are a “kingdom of priests” to fulfill God’s desire for a royal priesthood and holy nation (see Ex. 19:5-6, I Peter 2:5-9).

Rev. 22:2 “The leaves of the tree went for the healing of the nations.”

Missio Dei or Mission of God is so important in the church and in the thinking of leadership about Missions. God asks us to participate with Him in what is important with Him. He loves the whole world, He didn’t limit mission to a region, to or from a nation, but that His disciples would come after Him and follow Him to win a lost world. The problem with disciples is this, “you are a disciple making others disciples or you need to be made a disciple!”