October 7, 2002

Mission strategists affirm BGCT plan for new network
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___a singleness of mission. In a smaller church, the whole church is able to move together into this missional approach as a common task," he said. "There's something spiritual about it. It's not by money and not by might. God is able to work through common people."
___This is a trend that cuts across denominational lines, Anderson noted. "The general trend in all missiology is a movement back to the local church as the basic sending body, instead of turning that responsibility over to societies and boards."
___While Anderson applauds increased involvement by missions volunteers, he said he remains committed to the notion of career missionaries who invest their lives in other cultures. "The cross-cultural communication of the gospel needs specialists," he said. "I guess I'm of the old school on that point, since my generation did it that way."
___O'Brien agreed that any world missions network would need to relate to some field personnel who live within other cultures and speak other languages. "There will always be a role for the career missionary, if by that we mean an incarnational presence working cross-culturally," he said.
___Stroope agreed that there will continue to be a place for career missionaries, but "what is changing is their role," he said. "We need people to pioneer, who can develop innovative strategies. We need people who will be there for long-term relations. But their role will be to open doors and invite others to come through."
___Anderson said he still would hate to see missionaries become nothing more than facilitators for visiting short-term missions volunteers. "I prefer the player-coach idea," he said, casting the missionary as both a participant in direct missions ministry and an equipper of others.
___Anderson added that he hopes the world missions network can provide the BGCT a means to help IMB missionaries who are no longer able to serve the agency that sent them overseas because they are unwilling to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message.
___All three missiologists emphasized that it is imperative for the world missions network to work closely with Christians in the nations where churches send missionaries. The Missions Review & Initiatives Committee criticized the IMB for "distancing" itself from national conventions and unions of churches.
___"National leaders everywhere respond beautifully to anybody who invites them to come sit down with them as partners. If the network succeeds in doing that, it will be a breath of fresh air to Christian brothers and sisters in positions of leadership around the world," O'Brien said.
___He also emphasized the importance of the world missions network being able to relate to all Great Commission Christians, particularly as the center of Christian activity shifts to the Southern Hemisphere.
___"For years, I have been advocating more collaborative strategic planning with the larger body of Christ around the world," O'Brien said. "I believe the last frontier in missions is the frontier of cooperation and collaboration with Christian bodies around the world."

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