World missions after Covid-19

Let us consider a few undeniable facts. 

First, the American church has spent a lot of money on church construction over the last two generations.  Measured in the billions of dollars we have thrown money at buildings in ways that most of the Christians in the world cannot imagine.  From gigantic fish tanks to coffee shops to climbing walls, to smoke machines and high tech lighting systems churches have spent money on buildings in ways that are hard to comprehend.  That is not to mention the capital we have poured into salaries, seminars, and publicity.

Second, despite this incredible spending the church in America is actually in decline both in terms of absolute numbers and in terms of market share of the hearts and the minds of our nation.

Third, all of those things for which we have spent copious amounts of money have for the last few weeks for the most part been left idle.  The Covid-19 shut down has closed churches in America more effectively than any persecution might have.  For the sake of community health and well being the church has abandoned mass meetings and centralized gatherings.  

The church worldwide needs venture capitalists to bank roll their work.

While in the midst of the Covid-19 shut down it is a good time to rethink or even reset our spending priorities.  Instead of the church seeing itself as an entrepreneur on a quest for the latest and greatest new building, software system, marketing campaign or location, perhaps there is a better metaphor for self-understanding.  I suggest that we become for lack of a better term, “Spiritual Venture Capitalists”. 

A spiritual venture capitalist understands that workers in the worldwide church do not need “know-it-all experts” who export their systems and forms of church.  A good venture capitalist discovers underfunded workers who can take advantage of untouched market shares.

A spiritual venture capitalist is not the micro manager who is a busy body and wants to be the center of the effort and attention; rather, they understand that value of local expertise and has complete confidence in them and becomes for them a partner who knows to trust and invest in the locals.

A spiritual venture capitalist is not a person looking for a short-term profit, but is wise enough to see the long-term potential.  We must get away from the ideal that an investment in a mission now will result in a great revival in 6 months.  Especially with unreached people groups the R.O.I. may not happen for years or generations.  A people without a Bible in their own language may require years of ministry before they ever hear the Gospel for the first time. 

A spiritual venture capitalist most of all realizes that the resources are not theirs, but belong to another.  We will give an account of what we do in this life with the God-given resources entrusted to us.  As the church, when we neglect the needs of missions, when for the sake of a more satisfying worship time here and now we ignore the great commission we do so anticipating the owner calling us to account.

Hit the reset button

In terms of the biggest of pictures, we would have been better off if over the last 40 years we had poured our resources into world missions, especially in focusing on unreached people groups.  Covid-19 gives us the opportunity to hit the reset button on our spending priorities and move world missions and especially serving the unreached peoples ahead of another domestic, mega project. 

For some time, I have been praying that God would lead world leaders to pass and enforce laws that benefit the Kingdom of God, even if they didn’t realize that it was what they were doing.  That prayer has been answered in one place in response to Covid-19.  The Prime Minister of India, who has not been friendly towards Christians, has recently sent lost, hungry, and needy people past the doors of Christian workers.  As a result of India’s business shut down because of Covid, thousands of unemployed day workers are flocking out of the cities trying to go home.  In response to this river of humanity, Mid-India Church Partners is distributing food packets to traveling families.  Packages of grains, beans and cooking oil costing about $7 will feed a couple for a month.  Additionally, they are providing masks and vitamins C and D.

Think about it, thousands of potential disciples are walking home, hopeless and depressed. Then, because of Christians, they experience help, hope, and love.  Who is to say that this will not become a river of traveling evangelists taking the Gospel to places completely unreached?  That is why I’m asking you for $7.  DON’T SEND IT TO ME!!!

Send $7 to Mid-India Church Partners

You can do this by going to their website: http://midindia.org/ and following the donate links and while you are at it, why not round that up to $10 to help cover the cost of the vitamins and mask.  In fact, you can do what Lorie and I did.  We keep a little money in an “emergency missions fund”.  We emptied that out for this occasion.  I’m not bragging.  I am saying, I will not ask others to do what we don’t do.  We believe this is a God-given opportunity, so we are giving to God.  Please join us!

As a way of saying thank you, I invite you to enjoy my latest book, FREE.  I just finished a devotional study of Mark.  It is free for anyone but you are among the first to be invited to review it and use it freely.  http://Devotions4Disciples.blogspot.com/  There is a donation tab on that page, but that is NOT for Mid-India.  That supports my writing ministry.  You can donate there if you like, but first donate to Mid-India.