2nd Pastors and Leaders Forum

 “Many times we make the mistake of trying to share the Gospel message too quickly. We\’re talking with people about Jesus, but they don\’t know who God or Jesus really are, and in the end don\’t truly understand the Gospel message at all.”

This was a comment from a pastor during the 2nd Pastors and Leaders Forum for 2008.

It was a good time of interaction and sharing covering two main areas of focus.

In the first, we looked at why understanding the language, culture, and worldview of the people we minister to is so crucial, as well as the importance of training for cross-cultural ministry.

In the second, we discussed mission work in Paraguay, the need of the local church to have a vision for missions, the necessity of missionaries being tied to and sent out by a local church as an extension of its ministry, and ways that we as NTM missionaries can help to present the need to the churches as well as assist them in being equipped for this type ministry. 

On January 10th, Mike Goddard and I have been invited to share at a church anniversary celebration. Ten other churches will be attending the celebration and we\’ve been asked to explain to them some of the same things we\’ve been discussing in the forums such as Why We Need to Understand a Persons Language and Culture, Why Teach the Bible Chronologically, What is a Worldview, and What is Syncretism.

We\’ve also been asked to share these same things at a local Bible School that meets in different churches here. We\’re still working on the dates. Mike and I will be sharing in the evenings for four days at one church, then share the same things at another church the following week, then at a third the week after that.

Pray for Mike and I for wisdom and clarity as we share, prepare, and teach. We\’ve got a number of things “on our plates” right now with this and other ministries and need clear minds, and wisdom in how we use our time.

In my ministry dealing with Paraguay documentation issues (visas, identification cards, etc.) I\’ve been working with the US embassy and the Paraguayan Immigration Department to help our missionaries meet some new requirements for acquiring their immigrant paperwork. It takes time, and may seem like a hassle, but is so very worth it if it allows us to stay and minister here.

In my NCLA ministry Ithie Jackson and I are working on the material we\’ll be using to help new missionaries with language and culture study when they arrive. We have five couples and three single missionaries en route to Paraguay right at present. Some won\’t finish up with their training or arrive till the end of 2010, but others will be arriving this summer.

Ithie and I area currently preparing for a seven day course for some of our NTM Paraguay MKs that we\’ll teach the end of January. It will focus on Spanish, Paraguayan Culture, and Paraguayan History. Many parents have over the years asked us for help in these areas and we want to do all we can to assist them.

Times are busy, but oh so worth it. Seeing people grasp truth and walk in it, seeing them equipped for ministry, and working with other believers to share the Gospel and teach the Word here in Paraguay is a privilege we don\’t deserve, but are so thankful for.

Laurie, Laura, and I hope you had a blessed and joyous Christmas and New Years.

We appreciate you so much!

Your brother, friend, and co-worker,

Randy, for all