I have previously tried to make the case in a few\u00a0articles<\/a>\u00a0that the remaining language groups who have no gospel witness, no disciples and no church are not random. They are in exceedingly difficult places, and the ambassadors who go to these locations need to be sufficiently equipped. If missionaries are wanting to work in gateway languages (Mandarin, Bahasa, Turkish, Arabic, etc.\u2026), use translators, or not plant churches then we are not talking about the same thing. But, if we are talking about planting churches among the last unreached language groups that exist in this world, there should be\u2014there must be\u2014a higher standard of preparation.<\/p>\n Today, in much of the world, you can purchase and fly a certain class of aircraft with no license whatsoever. These aircraft are usually called Ultralights\u2014typically small, lightweight, slow, and easy to operate. For those who are looking for a cheaper alternative that gets them into the air, Ultralights are a great choice. To fly in the military, however, it will take at least six years till you are authorized to pilot a fighter jet. The responsibility and consequences are much higher, and consequently, the training is mandatory, stringent, and serious.<\/p>\n I worry that the Protestant Evangelical church is sending Ultralight pilots to the most challenging places on the face of the earth and can\u2019t figure out why the results are so bad. Allow me to propose three reasons why serious pre-field training is not only necessary but also responsible for churches and aspiring cross-cultural church planters.<\/p>\n In researching some military aviation statistics for this article, I was reminded that the military doesn\u2019t take everybody who is willing or excited about aviation. There are upper and lower\u00a0age limits<\/a>, education benchmarks,\u00a0health standards<\/a>,\u00a0and competencies that must be mastered. But none of these surprises anyone remotely familiar with military aviation. Of course, what else would we expect of those entrusted with such a grave responsibility?<\/p>\n This is where the similarity to frontline missions starts to go sideways. Those with \u201cwilling hearts\u201d who love the Lord Jesus sometimes\u00a0shouldn\u2019t<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0go into missions.[1]<\/a>\u00a0Many who are burdened for the unreached are lacking in some critical area that will bring them down later in their ministry. Only through serious pre-field training and vetting do we find those things out. And when we find those things out, let\u2019s praise God! It is far better for the home church, for the teammates on the field, and most of all for the individual to find out\u00a0before<\/em>\u00a0they head overseas that this might not be for them. Our service to the cause of Christ, and to his people, when we save someone from the pain of prematurely leaving the field (and the fallout involved with it) is easily worth the extra 9 months[2]<\/a>\u00a0it takes to uncover.<\/p>\n Not every Christian who wants to be a missionary is cut out to be a cross-cultural church planter, and that\u2019s perfectly fine and even expected. In our zeal to see the Great Commission accomplished let\u2019s make sure we send those who are trained, vetted, and equipped for the unique challenges they will be facing.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n One platitude I often hear regarding training is \u201cThey\u2019ll get it over there.\u201d Whether it\u2019s training on how to learn a language or understanding the methodology of a certain missions agency, a lot is being pushed onto the plate of \u201cover there.\u201d The problem is that once you\u2019re \u201cover there\u201d the stress level increases exponentially, qualified trainers with time to train are in short supply, and the pressure to produce results is quite strong.<\/p>\n One of the more interesting things that is coming out in missions today is how many missionaries from good churches, good Bible schools and good seminaries are getting sucked into pragmatic speed-based methodologies (DMM, CPM, 4-fields, Insider Movements, etc.). When the theological\/methodological autopsies (remember all missions methodologies are just the outworking of theologies) are conducted it comes down to two main factors: (1) before they left they had not been explicitly taught the methodologies they would most likely encounter (good and bad); and (2) their methodological training was done by on-field practitioners who convinced them of some version of \u201cthat\u2019s the way it\u2019s done over here.\u201d Not wanting to be a problem, or hearing and seeing that they were in the dramatic minority, they acquiesced.<\/p>\n J.C. Ryle in his masterful book\u00a0Holiness<\/em>\u00a0says of those looking to the past as a guide to the future, \u201cHe that is forewarned is forearmed.\u201d[3]<\/a>\u00a0Good pre-field training needs to involve some type of inoculation for our frontline church planters if they are to recognize errors and pitfalls that have tripped up so many. Terms that sound innocuous or even good (Obedience Based Discipleship, Discover Bible Studies, Prayer Walks, Shema Statements, Oikos, Person of Peace, Contextualization), need to be explicated and their biblical basis examined. Not all that occurs overseas in the name of Christ is good. Some is good, some is weak, some is neutral, and some is bad. Our members should know the categories, terms, and biblical arguments for each before they enter that world.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n An encouraging development in the world of missions is that more and more churches are taking back the responsibility of their members involved in missions. Parachurch organizations (and I include Radius here too) have their place, but may it never be said that they take the place of the local church. The command of the Great Commission is given to the church, and to no other.<\/p>\n That being said, I have yet to find a church that has the experience and skill to teach phonetics, applied anthropology, how to raise normal MKs, cross-cultural pre-evangelism, linguistics, high-stress marriage and parenting, theology of suffering, or business through NGOs in closed-access countries. Special skills require specialized training and in order to gain access and conduct ministry among the last unreached language groups of the world, specialized skills WILL be required.<\/p>\n Beyond these necessary skills, certain intangibles need to be observed and measured. Good pre-field missionary training should be able to evaluate someone\u2019s work ethic, ability to work on a team, robustness of marriage\/singleness, discipline level, and ability to endure. The point is not to give a thumbs up or down on these areas, but to let the home church know how their candidate measures in these key areas and to let them make the decision about their member\u2019s suitability for the task. Good pre-field training works in conjunction with the home church, never usurping the church\u2019s God-given role, but aiding it in specialized ways.<\/p>\n Only by God\u2019s grace will the Great Commission be accomplished. But churches can multiply their effectiveness in reaching those last places by utilizing pre-field training and vetting for those who seek to reach the most difficult locations left today.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n We have our Radius Day event coming up November 6th. Due to Covid it will be online this semester, but between the 5-minute quick hitters from the students, and staff describing the \u201chows\u201d and \u201cwhys\u201d of Radius training it will still be a great introduction. If your new to Radius this is the ideal event for you. We are still inviting groups down (smaller that 200 people \u263a) for in person visits as that is by far the best way to get to know the program.\u00a0Here<\/a>\u00a0is the place to sign up for that.<\/p>\n Finally, I want to say a huge thank you to the growing army of individuals, churches and foundations that actively support this program. We marvel on a regular basis at how God has orchestrated events to bring himself glory from the \u201cends of the earth\u201d. Thank you for your part in that.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/a>\u00a0This is a great article on why not everyone is a missionary.\u00a0https:\/\/founders.org\/2020\/08\/11\/i-disagree-with-spurgeon\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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Don\u2019t Forget!<\/h1>\n
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