There are cultural, geographic, political barriers which can prevent the modality structures /local church from reaching some of the 2.83 billion unreached people groups yet to be reached. And no amount of church growth will ever reach them with the gospel. However, sodality structures/Para-church organizations are able to devote their time for the set purpose of studying cultures, and researching these groups. They can therefore work hand in hand with the local churches in reaching these groups. These are the resources that sodalities structures have (and are strong in) according to their speciality-calling.
So this idea that the modality structure/local church is the one to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, and that we don’t need sodality/Para-church organizations is NOT true.
Believers committed to sodality take the next level of sacrificial commitment; a sodality calling is different from a modality calling.
DISTINCT RESPONSIBILITIES
The Local Church (Modality) has a responsibility to its community and to its members to build them up for the work of the ministry. Sodalities, by championing God’s heart for the nations, play a prophetic role within the church and all over the world. As the church, we are all called to disciple all people. The modality/local church has it responsibility towards evangelism and discipleship of local people. The sodalities has the responsibility toward evangelization and discipleship of specific peoples; they reach beyond the local church’s geographic locale.
As missionaries, we need to develop and be sent by our local churches. The local church has its responsibility to send people out, and to be part of the consultation, sending and process for a missionary. That covers the entire training and internship process. In Acts 13, Saul and Barnabas are called into missions. They were listed among those in ministry in the local church. God directed them to be separate from the work they were currently doing to a new work that he was directing them to.
The word here “to separate” is afordiz, meaning “to mark off from others, or to separate”.
Acts 13:1-4 (ESV)
1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
After Paul and Barnabas were sent out, they continued their good relationship with the local church. They became missionaries, and later Paul and Barnabas led mission teams. They were just not serving from within their local church, and were now planting new churches outside the local church.
Today we see a number of ministries that have a specific focus, and are not local churches, such as Scripture Union (which focus on school children and youth), Campus Crusade, Operations Mobilization, Youth With A Mission (which focus on missionary training and people participation in missions). These, once again, are called “Para- Church Ministries”, or “sodalities”. They do not operate as a church. Rather they are there to compliment the Church, and serve the churches; although at time there will be a overlapping of ministries.
Chapter 11
Building a Support Team
A support team is a group of people who will stand with a missionary in ministry. They may be part of their home church or friends or family. They do not have to be all in one place; they may be in different cities, even countries. They are partners with the missionary in ministry. They are people that you have a relationship with and you spend time building and maintaining that relationship. This is the key to support raising.
A support team can be involved in these various areas:
Prayer
Finances
Writing to the missionaries (encouragement)
Sending books, tapes, gifts, etc. (care packages)
Representing you in front of the church when you are not there
Encouragement
Helping you with putting money into your account
Providing a place for you to live in when you come home, etc.
Building a support team for a missionary is an extension of their ministry. The attitude is one of seeking to serve our supporters and give to them as they give to us. Some of the missionaries on the field were a result of their involvement in being someone else’s support team. The vision for a support team grows and expands and becomes stronger as they also stand with a missionary.
As they pray and give and encourage it will mean stronger and more effective ministries for the missionary. Our supporters get a bigger picture of God’s world. It’s about giving them an opportunity to participate in God’s Kingdom. This will result in stronger churches being planted in communities, communities changing and the kingdom of God expanding.
A missionary cannot work alone in their ministry. They need the support and friendship of others outside of their ministry, so that they can stay strong and effective in what God has called them to do. These relationships with people who pray, give and encourage are vital for them as they seek to make disciples of all nations. Our support team is not just a group of people who give to us. They are vital for the growth of God’s kingdom. It is much more than just raising finances. It is raising prayer, encouragement; developing vision and relationships and ultimately seeing the kingdom of God expanding. Our support team is not for us alone but for God and the people who have yet to know him. God is moving people’s hearts to support missions.
Biblical Basis for Raising Support
God is the one who provides for us. He is our provider. But often he uses other people to provide for us, whether that is through earning wages for work, or through others giving to us. Sometimes, he provides miraculously.
The Old Testament Pattern
Numbers 18:21-24 (ESV)
21 "To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting, 22 so that the people of Israel do not come near the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin and die. 23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the people of Israel they shall have no inheritance. 24 For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a contribution to the LORD, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel."
God called for the nation of Israel to give a tithe (one tenth) to support their “full time” spiritual leaders, the Levites. The Levites did not have a land inheritance like the other tribes of Israel. Their inheritance was the tithes of the people. God never changed the plan, and the Old Testament ends with a stern rebuke to the nation for not giving these tithes (Malachi 3: 8) This was God’s plan, not something Moses or Aaron dreamed up.
Malachi 3:8 (ESV)
8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions.
For those who become missionaries; it is like we have joined the Levitical priesthood. We no longer have a “land inheritance” (in this case a paid job) and are dependent on God to supply their needs through others who do have a “land inheritance” (such as a paid job).
Read and Meditate on these scriptures also:
Numbers 8:14 (ESV)
14 "Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine.
Deuteronomy 14:27-29 (ESV)
27 And you shall not neglect the Levite who is within your towns, for he has no portion or inheritance with you. 28 "At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. 29 And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner
, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.
Deuteronomy 18:1-2 (ESV)
1 "The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the LORD’s food offerings as their inheritance. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the LORD is their inheritance, as he promised them.
Nehemiah 13:10-12 (ESV)
10 I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field. 11 So I confronted the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses.
The New Testament Pattern
1 Corinthians 9:13-14 (ESV)
13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
Luke 8:1-3 (ESV)
1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
In his life and ministry, Jesus allowed others to minister to Him materially. He was not embarrassed to receive help as they gave to Him of their goods, possessions and property. ‘The twelve were with him’ implies that Jesus and the twelve were giving themselves fully to ministering to people, and the people were providing for their needs.
Matthew 10:5-15 (ESV)
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the labourer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
When the twelve were sent out by Jesus; they were to give themselves fully to ministry, not to earning a living. They were not allowed to take food or money for operating expenses. Rather, they were to depend on God’s supply, and God’s plan for that provision was through other people. There is nothing wrong with making our needs known to others. As I mentioned earlier, we need to seek God on how we are to raise our support.
Many people refer to George Mueller as an example of asking no one but God for his support. Some of the great missionaries had different ways of looking at raising financial support for their work.
George Mueller, a German man who began homes for street children in Bristol, England, financed orphanages for the children mainly through asking God for money. As God provided, it was a tremendous witness to others of God’s miraculous power, might and love. But Mueller did tell people how his work was going, and he published his accounts in a newspaper. His method was lots of prayer and little information, no asking.
Hudson Taylor communicated prolifically about the work of China Inland Missions. Whatever needs that arose, he communicated them but felt called not ask. He said, “God’s work done in God’s way would not lack God’s supply”. His method lots of prayer and lots of information, but no asking
D.L. Moody was a businessman who entered the Gospel ministry. He brought a different mind-set to evangelism; aggressive fund-raising. He believed it was highly honourable to raise money for a worthy cause. It has been said: “Millions of dollars passed into Mr Moody’s hands, but they passed through; they didn’t stick to his fingers.” His method was; lots of prayer, lots of information and lots of asking.
I cannot stress this point enough - we need to pray and seek God on which model to use. I have seen people use all sorts of different models, and each one has worked for different individuals. God moves people to give. In the same way as God lays a particular person on our hearts to prayer for, He does the same with finances. There is no one model that is more spiritual than the other. But we do need to be aware that we may be saying, “God has called me to pray only and not ask for finances,” because we are afraid to ask or feel too proud to ask! Help people to understand that you and they are part of a team involved in God’s ministry. You are partners together. Our supporters need to be assured that the organisation we are working with is a creditable organisation, and one that desires to advance God’s kingdom.
Another way to gain support for your missions work is to be involved in an income -generation project/ Tent-making. Here one has to consider how much time they can invest into the project. Most businesses are very time consuming, and it is good to set a time limit how much time you will spend on your business; as you will end up spending more time with the business and lesser time on ministry. The income-generating project needs to be seen as part of, and not separate from ministry. This can call for a very full schedule.
Even when using an income-generating/ Tent-making project to help provide for your financial needs, relationships are still important. We still people to be praying for us and encouraging us.
1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV) - Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.
Acts 18: 1-4 (ESV)
1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
When God sent Elijah, God was going to make a way of provision to meet his needs.
1 Kings 17:1-6
1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." 2 And the word of the LORD came to him: 3 "Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 5 So he went and did according to the word of the LORD. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
There are also examples in the Bible of receiving, both from strangers and from people to whom one had already ministered
Examples of receiving from people who had been ministered to:
1 Corinthians 9:11-12 (ESV)
11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 if others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?
Galatians 6:6 (ESV)
6 One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.
Examples of receiving from strangers .
Matthew 10:11 (ESV)
11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you dep
art.
1 Kings 17:9 (ESV)
9 "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you."
When we are approaching people to whom we have not previously ministered, we need to be very careful. We need to know that God has told us to do it. However, God believes in relationships, and it is best to ask from people whom we have a friendship with.
It is also Biblical for a Christian worker to work to support himself
Acts 18:3-4 (ESV)
3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade the Jews and Greeks.
Acts 20:32-35(ESV)
32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give that to receive.”
1 Thessalonians 2:9 (ESV)
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
2 Thessalonians 3:8-9 (ESV)
8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.
In her book, “Friend Raising”, Betty Barnett uses the term ‘Friend Raising’ instead of fund-raising. She writes of four principles of building and maintaining our support team:
The Whisper That Echoes Through Africa Page 10