Showing posts with label UUPGs. Show all posts

Friday

Scattered and Gathered in My House

We are big fans of making the most of space that we have. Our home has been very well-stewarded during the past decade that we've been in Chicagoland. Today was just a nice, cool example that I felt like sharing with you:

At one point today, the upstairs of our little house was devoted to training Karen S'gaw younger leaders. Katherine (my wife, in case you didn't know) has been taking time regularly to meet with these cool folks to teach them how to take care of their church finances. They have been eager learners and It's encouraging to see one of our diaspora church plants investing real responsibility and ministry into the next generation.

Meanwhile downstairs, TIBM's research team was busy working to finish "Stage 1" of our four-part diaspora people group research and mobilization plan for Chicagoland. We're working on a list of priority people group clusters and multicultural residential patches (think Move In, because we are). The list is nearly complete after today's blitz. So, here's senior interns Abby and Andy along with my oldest son, Christopher (the one shoving a donut into his face). Christopher rocks the missiological research pretty darn good for a 10-year-old!

Monday

The Frontier of Mission Advance is Shifting

By pam's pics-

During my recent tour through Michigan teaching the infamous "Lesson 14" of Perspectives ("Pioneer Church Planting"), one of my primary emphases was that in the 21st century, the frontiers of mission are shifting radically. In the latter part of the 20th century, Ralph Winter (following McGavaran and Townsend) opened the eyes of the Church to the reality of unreached and unengaged people groups. Frontier missiology was thought of as primarily a discussion of how to get the gospel to unreached peoples who had never heard. It was critical in those days to de-emphasize geography in order to help mission leaders and practioners realize that the "unfinished task" was about reaching peoples rather than about merely establishing the church in every geo-political country. As Winter said strongly, "Geography is not as important as peoples."

Today, frontier missions is still about unreached peoples and this has become the overwhelming majority opinion of the evangelical world. But Winter had also seemed to believe that understanding what was happening to peoples geographically was key for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. So, to quote Winter with a bit more context, “Geography is not as important as peoples. Once that is clear, the question of where they are is a very exciting one." (Unreached Peoples: What Are They and Where Are They?, 1984)

Today, we must ask afresh the geographical question of where are the unreached peoples of the world. Indeed, it may be more appropriate to ask where they are going. In a new era of mission history, we see a borderless and wireless world of instant communication, high-speed travel, and ever-accelerating mass migration. People are on the move like never before. My friend, Joy Tira, likes to refer to this as a "Human Tidal Wave" which is an image that captures well the magnitude and power of diaspora phenomena.

I have much more to say on this issue. But today, I would rather you take a look at an excellent post by another friend, Justin Long. In "Shifts in the Remaining Task", Justin writes about the traditional understanding of "World A, B, and C" or "evangelized" and "unevangelized" and reflects upon how migration and urbanization totally transforming the mission field in our day.

Here's an excerpt:

Most World A (unevangelized) individuals are found in heavily World B peoples, cities and countries. And more and more, we are seeing World B provinces and cities in World C countries. This is especially the case because of the movements of diaspora peoples into World C countries. Europe today, according to the Atlas of Global Christianity, is home to 28 million unevangelized individuals. I know some will think the number is far higher. My point is only that the West is not 100% Christian, and there’s plenty of room for work. One can’t say that Europe or America is completely evangelized–only that it is largely evangelized.

Please take careful look at Justin's entire article. He has done a great job of helping us to understand the exciting and complex nature of today's shifting mission frontiers. Now consider:

1. Do the mission structures of your church reflect the realities of these shifting frontiers?

2. Who are the "World A" peoples and the "unreached people groups" that live near you?

3. How do you see the "Human Tidal Wave" powerfully changing the dynamics of your city?

Wednesday

Cody's Scatterings: My Journeys • At #NAYLG12 - Unreached People Groups work group....

Please Check this out for immediate prayer!!

Cody's Scatterings: My Journeys • At #NAYLG12 - Unreached People Groups work group....:

Bhansala of India Ethnic People Profile

At TIBM, we have adopted for prayer the unreached and unengaged Bhansala people of India. I invite you to pray for them for 2 minutes today. You can find their Joshua Project profile here:

Bhansala of India Ethnic People Profile

Here's a prayer for you to pray:

Lord, You own everything. The earth is Yours, and everyone on it. You open doors that no man can shut. You are sovereign. If You are for us, no one can be against us. Lord of the Harvest, please send out workers to reach out to the Bhansala Of India. Lord, I ask that Your favor would give them access to people and places that are impossible to reach. Let Your favor smooth the path before them, and open doors for them that no man can shut. Let Your wind be at their back today, Lord and enable them to push forward the cause of Christ among the Bhansala Of India.

Best Practices for Reaching People Groups

Truth be told, I spent most of my time in meetings today rather than enjoying the official proceedings of the North Central States Rally here in Indianapolis. However, I did get to enjoy participating in a little panel discussion entitled "Best Practices for Reaching People Groups." Though brief, we had a good discussion with a number of church leaders about discovering and reaching out to various people groups in their contexts. And, well, since I have nothing of much pith nor wit to share tonight, let me share some of the resources from that session.

1. You can go to this page if you'd like to download a copy of the powerpoint presentation that Dr. Van Kicklighter prepared for the session.

2. I shared a few web-based tools designed to help you discover people groups in your context. Here they are:

http://www.islamicfinder.org (to help you find Muslims around you)
http://www.anywho.com/whitepages or http://www.whitepages.com (to search for other people groups by looking up last names and plotting resulting addresses on http://maps.google.com)
http://www.rudhratek.com/ (to find Hindu temples in your area)

3. Beyond this, I was asked if I had written other things that might be available. I will direct you to my Lausanne Conversation page for a bunch of stuff. Also, you can check out the following:

Lorance, Cody C. (2011). The Third Lausanne Congress: Assessing Cape Town 2010’s Contribution to the Cause of Christ. In A. Scott Moreau & B. Snodderly (Eds.), Evangelical and Frontier Mission: Perspectives on the Global Progress of the Gospel. Oxford: Regnum.
Lorance, Cody C. (Ed.). (2008). Ethnographic Chicago: Considering College Students and Ethiopian & Tamilian Immigrants Missiologically. Chicago, IL: Chicago Metropolitan Baptist Association.
Lorance, Cody C. (2006). Contextualization in church-planting missions: What is it?, Chicago-Style Church Planting 2(1), 1.
Lorance, Cody C. (2006). Holistic spiritual conflict in a folk Hindu context, Dharma Deepika 10(2), 55-67.
Lorance, Cody C. (2006). The Holy Spirit and the pace of mission, Evangelical Missions Quarterly 42(3), 326-332.
Lorance, Cody C. (2005). Cultural relevance and doctrinal soundness: The mission of Roberto de Nobili, Missiology: an International Review 33(4), 415-424.
Lorance, Cody. (2002). Islam: The missing peace, Midwest Christian Outreach Journal 8(2), 12-15

Finally, don't forget that you can invite me to speak/teach at your church or conference. Just keep in mind that I only fly first class and prefer my grapes peeled.

That was a joke.

Monday

Photos of Bhutanese - Nepali Church Learning, Discussing, & Praying About Global Challenges

Yesterday, the members of TriEak Parmeshwar Mandali -- a Nepali-speaking Bhutanese church in the Chicago area -- spent time learning, talking, and praying about three great global challenges. Human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, and unreached people groups were the topics of focus for this young church made up entirely of refugees. The primary question before them was this: "What would God have us do?"

The discussion was tremendously fruitful and I look forward to seeing what develops from here. Some of the ideas that came forward including planning dedicated times of prayer and fasting, getting more education about these issues as a group, hosting fundraising and awareness events, and sending mission teams and even full-time missionaries from our church. Little attention was paid to the fact that the ones having the conversation were mere refugees and thus typically considered unable to even attempt such things. The belief was firm that with God's help, we could accomplish anything.

Now, I want to simply share some of the photos from our time. These are some of the coolest photos:

Ganesh leading a conversation about Human Trafficking

Dikura explaining the concept of Unreached People Groups to members of UPGs

"Round-Robin" Style Conversations on Global Issues

Krishna explaining how HIV/AIDS & poverty are connected

UPGs praying for UPGs

Our Commitment: To Do Something Before Oct. 31, 2011

Sunday

LORD WILLING: WE'LL DO SOMETHING!

Today at TriEak Parmeshwar Mandali, our Bhutanese-Nepali church -- a refugee church -- we are going to have a discussion about three huge global challenges. We will discuss HIV/AIDS, Human Trafficking, and Unreached People Groups / Diaspora. We will talk, pray, and ask God what He would have us do. That's right, the congregation is entirely refugee, poor, new followers of Christ. Considered by most to be mere objects of charity. No, we are in Christ. Christ has something for us. We will rise up and do something.

Last night, I appointed three of the churches leaders to be conversation leaders today. Each will lead the conversations and prayers about each of the key challenges. The rest of the congregation will be divided into three groups that will spend about 15-20 minutes on each topic. At the end, the leaders will report back on what they have heard from God and His Church. Below, is the conversation outline that will be given by the leaders. It is Palm Sunday. Hosanna to the King! Save us! A good time to ask the Lord how He wants to use us as an instrument and vessel of His salvation to those who are crying out around the world.

Basic Facts and Information about Human Trafficking

What are the Facts?

1. It is estimated that there are approximately 27 million slaves around the world.[1]

2. Around half of trafficking victims in the world are under the age of 18.[2]

3. The average cost of a slave around the world is $90.[3]

4. According to some estimates, approximately 80% of trafficking involves sexual exploitation, and 19% involves labor exploitation.[4]

5. Trafficking victims normally don't get help because they think that they or their families will be hurt by their traffickers, or that they will be deported.[5]

6. In Nepal, every year 10-15 thousand women are trafficked to India alone.[6]

How can we pray?

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

(Isaiah 61:1)

· Pray that God will end human trafficking in the world.

· Pray that God will use governments and churches around the world to stop human trafficking.

· Pray that God will show our church what we must do.

What can we do as followers of Jesus?

What are some small things we can do this year about human trafficking?

What are some big things that we could do if God really helped us?

Basic Facts and Information about HIV/AIDS

What are the Facts?

1. More than 30 million people in the world today have HIV/AIDS.[7]

2. HIV/AIDS is among the leading causes of death worldwide and the number one cause of death in Sub-Saharan Africa.[8]

3. HIV/AIDS cases have been reported in all regions of the world, but the large majority of people living with the disease (approximately 95%) reside in low-and middle-income countries.[9]

4. More than 2/3rds of people in the world with HIV/AIDS are in Africa.[10]

5. More than 2 million children in the world have HIV/AIDS. More than 200,000 die every year.[11]

6. 15 million children across the world have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.[12]

7. Asia is believed to have nearly 5 million people living with HIV/AIDS, with India accounting for 2.4 million cases.[13]

8. HIV/AIDS is a growing problem in Nepal because of poor education. Most Nepalis (80%) who have AIDS don’t know that they do.[14]

How can we pray?

And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

(Matthew 10:7-8)

· Pray that God will use governments, churches, scientists, doctors, and others to end HIV/AIDS by discovering a cure.

· Pray that medicines will be available to the poor in the world who have HIV/AIDS.

· Pray that good education will be provided around the world that will help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.

· Pray that God will show our church what we must do.

What can we do as followers of Jesus?

What are some small things we can do this year about human trafficking?

What are some big things that we could do if God really helped us?

Basic Facts and Information about Unreached Peoples & Diaspora

What are the Facts?

1. A “people group” is a group of people that share certain things like language, ethnicity/race/caste, or other cultural traditions. For evangelistic purposes, a people group is the largest group within which the gospel can spread without facing obstacles of understanding or acceptance. There are about 16,000 people groups in the world.[15]

2. An “Unreached People Group” is any people group in which less than 2% of the population follows Jesus. There are more than 6,000 of these in the world.[16] In Nepal, there are many unreached people groups. Some include: Magar, Maithili, Darjee, and many others. Bhutan also has many unreached people groups including the Dzongkhas, Sherpas, and Lhotshampas.[17]

3. There are only about 100,000 missionaries in the world. Only 3% of them are working among unreached people groups. There is a great need to send more missionaries.[18]

4. An “unengaged unreached people group” is an unreached people group that has no missionaries or churches. Most of these people have no opportunity to hear the message of Jesus in a way they can understand. No one is trying to reach them![19]

5. Today, more than 214 million people live outside their home country. These are diaspora or “scattered” people. Many are from unreached people groups.[20]

6. Nepalis live in countries all over the world. 600,000 live in India. 215,000 live in Saudia Arabia. 125,000 live in Malaysia. 73,000 live in Hong Kong. 2,000 live in South Africa. More than 50,000 live in the USA. Most of these people do not know Jesus and have no one to tell them.[21]