Reflections on the Reflections on the The Context in which we do - PDF document

4 years in a motorhome 4 years in a motorhome What I Have Learned in 4 Years What I Have Learned in 4 Years & 500+ Personal Interviews & 500+ Personal Interviews  500+ “One: on one Interviews 500+ “One: on one Interviews   30+ States pr year 30+ States pr year  A Webinar for The Mission Exchange A Webinar for The Mission Exchange  100,000+ Miles 100,000+ Miles   Assignment from the Mission Exchange Board Assignment from the Mission Exchange Board  Paul McKaughan Paul McKaughan  Encourage Mission Leaders Encourage Mission Leaders   Cross Cross- -pollinate the Mission Ecosphere pollinate the Mission Ecosphere Ambassador at Large Ambassador at Large   Assist where possible Assist where possible The Mission Exchange The Mission Exchange  Three Main Topics for Reflection Three Main Topics for Reflection Reflections on the Reflections on the  The Context in which we do missions The Context in which we do missions  Context of US Missions Context of US Missions  Our Mission Ecosphere Our Mission Ecosphere   The Mission Leader’s Pilgrimage The Mission Leader’s Pilgrimage  Technology Technology  9 Tentative Recommendations 9 Tentative Recommendations  Growth of the Global Church Growth of the Global Church The Situation in the US Church The Situation in the US Church 1

Technology Technology Growth of the Global Church Growth of the Global Church  Travel / Electronic Travel / Electronic  Optimism abroad Optimism abroad    Technology melds the here / there Technology melds the here / there   Question: How do we relate to the new global Question: How do we relate to the new global   Inability to truly segment and target communication Inability to truly segment and target communication  context? context?  The demise of info. “float” The demise of info. “float”   In a relational world, what is the right structural In a relational world, what is the right structural   Urgency miss Urgency miss- -match between leader and field staff match between leader and field staff response? response?   Technology changes fast Technology changes fast   Others occupy the space which was our own. Others occupy the space which was our own.   People change more slowly People change more slowly   Fields and HQ have different perceptions of change Fields and HQ have different perceptions of change  urgency urgency The Situation of the US Church The Situation of the US Church ?? Question ?? ?? Question ??  Which of these three areas of change have most Which of these three areas of change have most  Our traditional constituency is shrinking Our traditional constituency is shrinking   impacted your mission? impacted your mission?  Age Age   Technology? Technology?   Ethnicity Ethnicity   The growth of the global Church? The growth of the global Church?   The Church that The Church that is is growing sees mission growing sees mission   The changes in the US Church? The changes in the US Church?  differently differently  Which of these three areas will have the most future Which of these three areas will have the most future   Ethnic Churches Ethnic Churches impact on your ministry? impact on your ministry?   Technology? Technology?  Emerging Churches Emerging Churches    The Growth of the global Church? The Growth of the global Church?   House Churches House Churches   The changes in the US Church? The changes in the US Church?   Multi Multi- - Site Churches Site Churches  2

The “All Purpose” Agency The “All Purpose” Agency Reflections on our Reflections on our  Everyone is going “full service” Everyone is going “full service”  Mission Ecosphere Mission Ecosphere  This places everyone in direct competition This places everyone in direct competition   With donors With donors   With potential partners With potential partners  Everyone is going global Everyone is going global  This dulls the cutting edge of mission This dulls the cutting edge of mission  The community is more fragmented The community is more fragmented  This makes it difficult to evaluate and manage This makes it difficult to evaluate and manage  We have little data outside the We have little data outside the today’s mission today’s mission specialty “silo.” specialty “silo.” We have no composite picture We have no composite picture Agency Generosity but … Agency Generosity but … Agency Demographics Agency Demographics  We are an incredibly generous community We are an incredibly generous community  Most missions are struggling to keep even Most missions are struggling to keep even    We will give away most anything We will give away most anything  Small number of exceptions Small number of exceptions    We like our contribution acknowledged We like our contribution acknowledged  Facilities that are monuments to the past Facilities that are monuments to the past    NIH ( NIH ( Not Invented Here Not Invented Here ) is alive and well ) is alive and well  Nationals? Nationals?    Short Short- -Term Missions Plateaued Term Missions Plateaued  We invent rather than adapt We invent rather than adapt    We all have our experts (the best) We all have our experts (the best)   Non Non- -traditional missions may be growing traditional missions may be growing   Wastes significant kingdom resources Wastes significant kingdom resources   US based, internationally focused US based, internationally focused   Evangelical Social Action, R&D, BAM Evangelical Social Action, R&D, BAM  3

Financial Pressures Financial Pressures Theological Issues Theological Issues  Across the board cuts with the hope it will get better soon Across the board cuts with the hope it will get better soon   Extraction / Cultural Accommodation Extraction / Cultural Accommodation   Reshaping the ministry Reshaping the ministry   Flashpoint Bible Translation Flashpoint Bible Translation   Re Re- -focusing focusing   Cutting marginal accretions Cutting marginal accretions   Word / Deed Ministry Word / Deed Ministry   M & A M & A   Traditional / Missional Churches Traditional / Missional Churches  This may be the new normal This may be the new normal    Look at the Church at home Look at the Church at home   Not “if” but “how far,” one way or another Not “if” but “how far,” one way or another   Donors are exerting increased influence Donors are exerting increased influence   Programmatic biases Programmatic biases   Evaluation Evaluation   Quick fixes Quick fixes   Donor growth is individual not Churches Donor growth is individual not Churches  Reflection on the Leader’s Reflection on the Leader’s ?? Question ?? ?? Question ?? Pilgrimage Pilgrimage What do you think about this state of affairs in our community? What do you think about this state of affairs in our community?    Time Bounded Commitments Time Bounded Commitments    Troubling. Troubling.  It is a natural progression. It is a natural progression.  Other important priorities Other important priorities    It has always been this way. It has always been this way.   More aware of the limits of “control” More aware of the limits of “control” Do you think the changes are more or less than in the past? Do you think the changes are more or less than in the past?     More More   Missions are going outside for leadership Missions are going outside for leadership   Less Less   The same The same   Lack of “bench strength” Lack of “bench strength”  Which of the areas do you find most challenging ? Which of the areas do you find most challenging ?    Theological Theological   Lack of development programs Lack of development programs   Financial Financial   Gender Issues Gender Issues  Demographic Demographic    Inability to receive as well as give Inability to receive as well as give   The place of the spouse The place of the spouse  The increased fragmentation of the mission community The increased fragmentation of the mission community    Inability to assign the right person Inability to assign the right person  4