One step, two steps.. one step, two steps… Expanding the Edge of the Church.

This statement above is part of a conversation that our coworker with the Manjúi, Jeff Hunt, had with a Manjúi friend in a grocery store in the small town in northern Paraguay.  It’s a joy to see the local church grow and begin to reach out.  It’s not always neat and tidy, and comes with its share of growing pains, but the Manjúi are growing, maturing, and pressing on.

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You may have heard us mention “Expanding the Edge of the Church”, “Engaging on the Edge of the Church”, or “A Thriving Church for Every People”. That’s exactly what’s going on with the Manjúi… seeing least reached people, reached with the Gospel and discipled. Working with, and as extensions of, not only churches in our various sending countries, but also with the local Paraguayan and indigenous churches.

The responsibility of spreading the Gospel and discipling believers was given to ALL believers… the local church. It wasn’t given to organizations, like Ethnos360.

Ethnos360 and other organizations serve as channels to assist the local church in fulfilling the Great Commission, and were never intended to replace the local church or take over it’s responsibility.

Sometimes the progress seems slow, sometimes barely evident to the naked eye, other times faster and much more visible.

God is building His church… among the Manjúi, Ayoré, Nivacle, and so many others.

Laurie and I are thankful for the part we get to play. I continue to work with new missionaries as they learn language and culture, doing language/culture evaluations (rejoicing with them in their progress), etc.