(Article written by Dan iverson, director of the work in japan with mtw)
The Facilitation Missions Model:
What are the concerns, and does it fit every situation?
What are the concerns, and does it fit every situation?
There is a growing emphasis in missions to “facilitate” evangelism and church planting by indigenous workers in their people groups, and to do less direct ministry and church planting by missionaries. The logic seems reasonable. The indigenous workers already know their language and culture better than missionaries. It costs less Kingdom money per worker. More church planting can be done. There is not the struggle that sometimes takes place when missionaries leave and the work transitions to fully indigenous leadership and self-support. Also, we can sometimes support indigenous church planting in “closed countries” where we cannot send missionaries.
Send Money, not Missionaries
Some churches are supporting and sending fewer missionaries as they increasingly focus on facilitating indigenous church planters by supporting them directly. This support is often via their missionaries who support, coach, mentor, train, and generally facilitate indigenous evangelists and church planters. Those with this philosophy in the extreme sometimes stop sending missionaries completely and only support indigenous workers directly.
Those with this philosophy in the extreme sometimes stop sending missionaries completely and only support indigenous workers directly.
Is this growing facilitation trend good, and Biblical? Are there concerns? Does it fit everywhere?
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