International Outreach Module
Because of my overwhelming impression that the younger generation was reacting against missions, I was continually surprised to see how many of our collegians at Circle Church in the 1970’s had either gone into missionary work or expressed interest in that field. Gradually I came to realize that they were not expressing disapproval of the concept of the Christian in a foreign setting, but of the traditional role which missions has assumed. Many of the youth of that day were aggressively evangelistic.
The International Outreach Module in the church became interested in traditional overseas work, as well as in the application of the gospel to our modem world. Many of the members of this group had been actively concerned with Ka Tong Gaw about the foreign students in Chicago, feeling that this is an extremely important area of missions. Every other Friday, they held a Bible study for international students after dinner in one of their homes.
Module members interrupted conversations after the Sunday services, cassette recorder in hand, looking for friends of Roger and Lan Pfiel, who left to teach in Venezuela.
“You remember them? Good! Come over here where it’s quiet and say a few words of greeting.”
This tape ministry also included recording morning services, as a part of the Mass Communication Module. A portable bulletin board with recent letters from our members overseas was kept up to date. There was a continued effort to provide a forum during the discussion hours for responsible representatives of missions to present their work and to field questions. These were always well attended.
At Circle Church we grappled with the communications gap that seemed to hound missions work, especially in light of our increasingly mobile society. Statistics say that the average family moves every three years. This flux seriously impairs true understanding.
How can I relate to someone if I don’t know him or her? How can he or she relate to me if he or she doesn’t know me?
That is the crux of the dilemma which faces church mission programs. The missionary may return on furlough and recognize very few in a “turned-over” congregation. And, for the new membership to relate to that missionary? Well, a smiling face on a prayer card does not seem sufficient. A “ghost” with a name is not enough. There must be flesh and humanity and struggles and dreams to inspire the praying soul.
Our main goal was to maintain an in-depth relationship with the missionaries our people chose to support.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
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