Is the Western Culture Unreached?

Saturday 2 May 2009

Facilitator: JJ

After opening in prayer, JJ invited comment on the last week’s happenings. Mario told us about his hiking trip to Durban and taking up Mrs. Dutrieux’s offer to use her timeshare – only to get there and find out that the accommodation was for the previous 2 weeks – and so his adventure started! God inspired and purposed - Mario went to see his Zulu brother Pastor Phillip and his wife in Hammersdale. He says that people are desperate; the world is being shaken now so that people can see bigger. If we take the correct steps a lot of people can benefit. Where are our lives going i.t.o. plan & purpose – GIIC (God is in control!). PS: Pst Phillip is a full time Pastor and also works fulltime…. He also bought Mario a bus ticket back to Jhb! Sela.

Llewellen Skyped with JP. Even though JP ‘s passport came through the travel plans are still rocky – we prayed for their travel docs and plans iJn.

JJ said there are many titles 4 todays group such as ‘is the Western Christian culture un-reached?’ and ‘what is the purpose of this fellowship’. He reminded us about one of the challenges JP left us with namely what can each of us do differently to get involved in our area. The group talked about individual efforts/projects endeavored.

Marlene, Mark & Paulien are meeting with Mama Flora on this Wednesday, 6 May at 12h30 at Boulders Wimpy and are going from there to her premises in Thembisa. Please call her if you want to get involved in this project in order to get busy with the making of a documentary so as to get funds in. She also started with a proposal to EHFCSA (everyhome4christ) but the felt need must be established first.

Hershiela asked what is the definition of discipleship? Marlene ventured to say that in the beginning the bible doesn’t make sense. The gospels work together – salvation & kingdom. The steps are to be educated in the Word and for the Holy Spirit to work in order to become a mature believer, in turn educating children 2 hear God’s voice.

JJ and Llewellen talked about the 4 steps in World Perspective's course: Pioneering (evangelise), Parenting (helping to walk), Participating (doing it self and repeat the cycle) and Partnershiping.

A suggestion was made that discipleship is discussed as a future topic.

Paulien related the talk by David Watson on the FEET program where unbelievers are introduced to Genesis and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It has changed her thinking about discipleship completely as everything learned before has to be questioned/thrown out (toxic) so that the bible truth can become real.

Alison referred to the Rocket diagram – from redemptive to maturity. She also reminded us that she is taking the sessions on 16 and 23 May to present the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to the group. Please come at 4pm.

JJ then talked about the book by KP Yohannen (Gospel for Asia), Revolutionise Missions. He also wrote Road to Reality). Missions have become a charity; knowledge has become a substitute for service. In the western world church life is centered on food – we are not blessed to over indulge! Christian bookshops are for the converted. 0,1% of Christian radio is for the un-reached. There are on average 4 bibles per Christian home. There are 1 religious leader per 182 people VS 1 per 78 000 un-reached Indian people. Today Indian needs 500 000 missionaries. He asks when is the church going to make a real impact? It takes 30 dollars per month to keep a native missionary going VS 30 000 dollars per month to keep an American missionary going.

Mario asked whether this model is an effective missions model? It ticks on many levels and something is effectively being done as we speak.

If you haven’t found your calling, where are you at? We can all endeavour stepping-stones in the meantime as help is needed all around us - just go and do something! Ask yourself: is your investment in good ground? Are we merely paying to take care of our kingdom chores? Remember that nothing will change until people change their world view/vision. JJ said "you can’t put shoulder to the wheel if you haven’t investigated it properly" (telescope vision).

Mark said that church outreaches don’t change people’s output/lives. At this time the church is only providing so many avenues for people to act/sow and that in it self dictates the outcome. Back to warehousing.

Hershiela asked if cross-cultural is necessary?
Love is the salt! Reaching out forces us to love and care and so grow. Love dissolves color! People’s barriers drop when one shows love but defenses go up when we evangelise/preach. The nations are our checks and balances 4 the true gospel.

Mark said the tower of Babel where God created the nations and put something of Himself in each nation. When we go cross-cultural we unlock that part in them to make our gospel whole. The bride consists of all nations.
Mans plan - to stand together and become like God
God’s plan – nations have to stand together
Paulien referred to Rob Bell dvd with the truck where he plants 2 trees on a pavement. The first tree, as in Eden, and the second tree, as in Revelations. The river in Revelations is for the healing of the nations and we live between these two trees…

JP said when they are back we’ll do a case study on the sending cells not properly educated and the devastating consequences it can have 10/12 years down the line.