1

Supporting Mission:How the UK Church

can connect with Africa

www.missionafrica.org.ukDispatch

2

How your church canconnect with Africa

The relationship between Mission Africa and the Church is absolutely central to everything that we do. Our understanding of the

teaching of the Scriptures on mission is that the

local church is the primary sending

agency. In other words, it is the task of the church to send missionaries. It is the task of Mission Africa to encourage the church in its

responsibilities under God and to

facilitate the sending of missionaries to Africa. At

no point does Mission Africa ever seek to usurp the place of the church in mission. It is for this reason that we as a Mission place such a premium upon our relationship, both in terms of our relationships with denominations and local congregations. We want a partnership with your church, whether it is

deepening a pre-existing relationship or starting something entirely new. We are ready and able to come to your church to enthuse and envision people for mission service.

In Nigeria, we work with a number of denominations, such as ECWA and COCIN, but none is as close to us as the United Evangelical Church, formerly the Qua Iboe Church. The UEC traces its roots to the missionary endeavours of Samuel Bill and those who followed him. Over the years the relationship between the Mission and the UEC has matured and deepened so that it is now best understood as a partnership of equals where the Mission is guided under God by the Church. It is our prayer that our relationship with UEC and the other denominations in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad and Kenya will continue to become ever stronger. We acknowledge - with all humility and deep gratitude

Mission Africa is deeply committed to the work of the local church. We work in partnership with sending churches to

help facilitate God’s Mission in Africa.

3

- that without our church partners in Africa, we would achieve very little indeed. Likewise, within the United Kingdom and Ireland, the Mission treasures its relationships with a host of ecclesiastical partners. We work closely with congregations to promote mission and to provide opportunities for individual Christians to serve in mission. Through these opportunities provided by the Mission, individuals may feel called to overseas service; but it is not until the local church has confirmed that calling that Mission Africa will accept individuals for service. Just as we affirm the indispensable nature of our partnerships in Africa, we take this opportunity to record our heartfelt appreciation for our equally indispensable church partners in the UK and Ireland. We are aware that the majority of Dispatch magazines will be read in the UK and we would say to UK based readers that Mission Africa want to do everything we can to help your local church maximise their mission involvement. We can train and facilitate congregational mission teams; teach the young people about how they can help disadvantaged young people in Africa; help a women’s group to Email:

paul.bailie@missionafrica.org.uk

adopt a missionary...the possibilities are endless. We want to be of service to your congregation - we await your call!

Why not pass this magazine on to your church leaders and encourage them to get involved with God’s work in Africa?

Paul BailieChief Executive

4

First, by informing the church of what is happening in other parts of the world. It might be in unknown and far flung corners of Africa, Asia or South America, or nearer to home in Europe. This information serves to engage the church in the worldwide mission of the church through prayer and giving.

Second, it provides the church with a channel through which to focus their missions interest. No church is able to support everyone nor be involved in every place, but by means of a mission agency the interest can be focused on a particular work, or particular people serving there. In this way the church is better able to engage in mission work. The agency becomes the channel through which missions interest is expressed through prayer, giving, or going – or, indeed, all three!

There is the danger for the church to think they are

That the Church should be mission oriented goes without saying (doesn’t it?). Whether it is the clear command of Jesus for us to ‘go into all the world’; or the example of the early church as they both went and sent (Paul and Barnabas went, the church in Antioch sent), or, indeed, the very missional character of God who ‘sent his only Son’. It is what we are to be about until Christ returns. Indeed, this is one area of the church’s life that can only be fulfilled here on earth. Worship, praise, service will all be present in heaven, but mission will not! It is very much an earthly calling!

Some churches have the privilege of being senders of some of their own members, and that, inevitably, helps stimulate mission interest. But there is a wide world out there and it is good for the church to be aware of what is going on. This is where mission agencies are such a blessing. They serve the church in two ways:

Thinking globally:going into the worldNorman McAuley discusses how the local church can have an

interest in global mission and presents a challenge to us all.

Learning

5

doing the mission agency a favour by having them along to speak about their work. The opposite is the truth. The agency is doing the church a great service, especially where a congregation has no missionaries of its own, by providing a channel for missions interest which, ultimately is the church’s work. Maybe you are not able to go, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be part of what’s going on throughout the world.

Of course, the fact that every believer is called to be a missionary should not be overlooked. There is always the danger that we somehow feel no responsibility for our own local mission field as long as we are supporting others in foreign fields.

Norman McAuley is the Minister of Greenwell

Street Presbyterian Church in Newtownards, where

he has been serving since 2004.

If you would be interested in having someone from Mission Africa speak at one of your services,

contact Naomi Spence.

naomi.spence@missionafrica.org.uk02890 402850

6

“How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

And how are they to preach unless they are sent?” Romans 10:14-15

Setting the challenge:reaching the lost

From the beginning, Mission Africa has been committed to pioneering evangelism – at the heart of what we do is a desire to see people reached by the Good News of Jesus Christ.

“Mission is the church sent into the world, to love, to serve, to preach, to teach to heal, to liberate.” – David Bosch

It’s easy, as Christians in the UK, for us to assume that the work of evangelising the nations is a thing of the past. Surely everyone has heard of Jesus by now? We assume, with our long heritage of cultural Christianity that other nations and people must have at least a basic knowledge of the gospel.

Unreached People Groups

Praying

7

While the spread of Christianity has been nothing short of supernatural, there are still huge segments of the world’s population that have never heard the name of Jesus let alone a clear presentation of the message of salvation.

In Nigeria, nearly 60 million people are classified as unreached; that is, people among whom there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelise that people group.

In Burkina Faso and Chad the numbers of unreached people are smaller but account for a quarter and half of the total population respectively.

In Kenya, 1.3 million people (close to the size of Northern Ireland) have never even heard the message of Jesus.

Jesus came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10) and as His church here on earth we are called to follow His example. The Great Commission calls us all to make disciples, not a chosen few. Evangelism is integral to the mission

of the church. It is not an optional extra but a sacred duty.

“[The disciples] were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

When we partner with God to reach the lost, we are joining God in doing the impossible. When we reach out to the lost God is glorified. Your own life is a miracle of grace to the glory of God, and you are going to be used by God to do the humanly impossible: to transform lives.

Mission Africa has always been dedicated to pioneering evangelism and this is still the highest priority today. We work with unreached people groups including the Fulani and Dagara and are working to establish Christianity Explored groups in urban communities.

Will your church join us in praying for the unreached and the work of Mission Africa?

Contact Paul Grant to find out more.

paul.grant@missionafrica.org.uk02890 402850

8

The need for Missionin a broken world

Charles and Ruth Beattie have recently returned from Jos after 8 years of service. Here they reflect on their time and the

ongoing need for missionary work. In October 2006 we arrived in Jos, Nigeria, so that I could take up the post of undergraduate lecturer in Old Testament at JETS. In May this year we returned to Belfast, already preparing for our return in January. However, as we talked over and prayed through issues concerning our anticipated next term in Nigeria and beyond it became clear that our time in Nigeria as a family had come to an end.

It was an eight year roller coaster – from the thrill of new experiences and the joy of making new friends, to the tension of living under curfew through severe bouts of Muslim/Christian conflict and the uncertainty that came with the rise of Boko Haram.

There is no denying that a place like Jos, with all the turmoil going on there, is far from the ideal environment for carrying out a teaching ministry, for raising a family, for completing one’s studies. I felt it. My students felt it.

Sometimes you wonder ‘Why am doing this?’ Sometimes other people wonder for you. We were in no doubt that we were in Jos because of God’s call on our lives. We stayed knowing we were there under the assurance of God’s protection. But, when you live day to day with the challenges of life and ministry in a hostile environment the answer has to be more than ‘because God told me so’. Our experience growing up in Northern Ireland helped us understand and connect with what was happening. I had already found that my teaching and research directly addressed some of the struggles that my students had, and Ruth had collected and published the stories of Muslims and Christians helping each other during the crisis.

When we returned Ruth became involved in setting up BRiCC, bringing Christians and Muslims into contact with one another again. Though my

Sending

9

studies prevented me from getting involved so directly I continued to address issues of conflict and peacemaking to encourage my students that there are Muslims there to be won for Christ.

Psalm 72 gives us a portrait of the Messiah as the Prince of Peace. The nations recognise the Messiah through his justice and are drawn to him, to submit to his rule. This is not merely a principle, we have seen it borne out in reality. As BRiCC reconnected Muslims and Christian in a divided community one Muslim asked “Why do you Christians love us so much?” The way of peace opens to the Prince of Peace. We leave Jos knowing the blessing of having witnessed the impact of God’s word impact individuals and communities as it is taught and lived. We leave Jos knowing that the needs do not diminish. We have seen how our Nigerian friends have struggled and become disheartened as the missionary community has dwindled and they feel abandoned.

In this respect I am not sure that my work in Nigeria has finished. It feels like a premature end, and JETS are keen to have me still involved. We are exploring the possibility of continuing

ministry through occasional visits, and contributions that can be made from a distance.

However this will work out, I know that the need for the international ministry of the missionary remains even where the church thrives. The missionary mandate is about so much more than reaching the unreached. It is about serving the prince of peace as we build and maintain the infrastructure of his global empire; keeping the Messiah’s global empire vital; keeping the body connected.

I cannot say what will happen in Nigeria, in Africa, in the Middle East under Islamic extremism. I cannot predict how the global economy will impact the long-term viability of missions. What I can say is that the challenges faced by the church in Nigeria or elsewhere are not isolated inconveniences in remote locations that can be ignored. Their problems are our problems. They should not stand alone.

Can your church help? We need more missionaries to go, to take up the challenge and to make an

impact for Jesus in a broken world. Contact Jonny Beggs to find out more.

jonny.beggs@missionafrica.org.uk

02890 402850

10

The impact ofshort term mission

Short Term Mission has become a common missionary paradigm in recent years. We examine how Mission Africa

uses short termers to support the work of God in Africa.Short term mission (STM) has allowed churches to carry the Gospel to all corners of the world. While this may only be for a few weeks, these missionaries are able to plant seeds that see people come to faith and develop in their relationship with Jesus as his disciples.

Mission Africa has sent many people, both individuals and church groups to be sowers of the gospel and to serve God in Africa. We send them with two important tasks. Firstly, to share Jesus with the people they meet and secondly, to be like Jesus and be prepared to care for the needs of those they encounter. There are many pros and cons to short term mission, but when Jesus is at the heart of what we are doing it becomes much more than simply a positive experience for the short-termer. If our primary purpose is seeing people come to faith in Christ then it’s worth so much more than the cost of a plane fare.

Have you ever tried growing plants from seed? It can be a wonderfully rewarding experience to finally see the shoots pop through. However, not all seeds grow into plant; it’s important to sow lots to make sure you get a good crop.

In Mark 4 the parable of the sower illustrates this: some seeds produce a great harvest, others start off strong but then wither and die, and some don’t grow at all. Sometimes we focus on trying to find the productive ground to sow

the gospel, but Jesus tells us the sower spread

the seeds in many different places. As churches we also need to be prepared to spread the gospel far and wide. We need

to sow seeds of the kingdom

of God in our local communities but also

look to go to some of the difficult places.

Sending

11

The Church’s Perspective:To gain some perspective on the impact on more than a decade of widespread short term mission engagement we asked six leaders in the UK how their church viewed short term mission. These were churches who are active in both their local community and also invest in the global Christian community. We don’t want to highlight the people or their churches so we haven’t included their names.

1. How does your church view people going on mission teams?

2. What does your church do to support and encourage those going overseas to serve on teams?

“We value people going on mission teams (especially overseas) because we see it as part of what the church is about...engaging in mission in God’s world and teaching that the Great Commission is still for us today.  We need to remember our call to reach out with the Good News of Jesus to others - whether near at hand or far away.”

“[Mission teams are] something to be encouraged when appropriate but not necessary for all.”

“We encourage those going on mission teams to apply for congregational support - both finance and prayer.  They are normally asked to report briefly to the church what they are planning to do, and when they have returned, report back.”

“People are keen to serve God overseas, though should it be seen any differently to people serving the hurting people in their own neighbourhood? Do we give more kudos to those who go overseas?”

“We have a policy and a process in place for anyone heading on a STM trip - initially we encourage people to go, we ensure that they are supported prayerfully and also offer a bursary to help financially. We keep in contact and when they return we will debrief and give them an opportunity for share their stories either through our missions magazine or as part of a service.”

12

3. What benefits has your church seen from having people interested and engaging with overseas mission?

4. Are short term visits something that you see as being strategic for your church engaging in world mission?

“We have seen several people greatly energised in their Christian walk by these visits; we have a few people whose view of mission changed radically and whose whole lives have been shaped by their visits; however, we have also seen one person struggle following such a visit to the extent that he has not returned to church since the team trip.”

“Short terms visits overseas are strategic to our mission engagement.  As a congregation we have sent teams to Romania both to do building work and to work with young people in camps.  The whole congregation has been involved through fundraising and support. They have felt part of the team’s work from the beginning. ”

“Yes this is an ongoing experience for our congregation; however, it would appear that there are more people joining teams individually, rather than a team from our church going.”

“No. Research in various books shows it makes little difference to the long term involvement of people in missions. It does open people’s eyes to world mission for a while, but does it leave a lasting effect when they return to their home culture?”

“Yes absolutely, its a really helpful platform. The bigger challenges are making the trips worthwhile as opposed to holidays with a purpose. We find that a STM trip has greater value when people are stretched and challenged to serve. On the other hand, we are also aware that teams can cause people in the field to struggle with organising and managing, so it is vital to ensure that the team has a positive impact.”

“Over the years we have seen that those who go on STM attract others to go; there is a ripple effect. In addition they have more interest in mission generally, a greater awareness of the privilege they have living in NI compared to some other countries, the freedom to meet, the resources that they can use, and so on - in general we see people changed and matured as a result of serving overseas. “

13

5. Is there anything you would like to change about short term mission?

As you have read, there are a range of opinions on short term mission - not all of them positive. At times short term mission can seem like a holiday. We have to be careful to do it with the right attitude. At Mission Africa we believe that mission teams can not only transform the lives of the individuals serving, but also the sending and receiving churches, and most importantly the lives of people who encounter Jesus through their work.

Missionaries, churches and mission agencies need to get better at sharing the impact that teams make in building God’s kingdom. The seeds have been sown and we need to tell people about the resulting harvest.

We have seen many teams be a fantastic blessing to different communities and projects in Africa. The projects at Gyero and Ogugu grew from nothing to substantial ministries through teams and gappers working alongside the local church and long term missionaries. There is no doubt these projects and others would look very different today if it was not for the impact of short termers.

What really makes sending teams worthwhile is that year after year, people in Africa are having seeds of the gospel planted in their lives. Not only are people coming to faith but they are now sharing the gospel themselves and being disciple-makers in their own communities, all because individuals in the UK responded to Gods call and carried His message of salvation to the people of Africa.

“It would be nice to hear that short term teams make a difference where they are sent.  Are they just a vehicle for encouraging and developing those who are sent? Could the money needed to send teams overseas be spent more effectively in that overseas situation without sending anyone?”

“I would love to see more interest in going to unreached people groups. “

“It is difficult to answer this as each team will have its own dynamic depending on the personalities and skills included in the team. The balance between ‘missionary tourism’ and work done will also vary from team to team.”

To find out more about how your church can be involved in short term mission, contact Jonny Beggs

jonny.beggs@missionafrica.org.uk02890 402850

14

Responsive hearts:serving as senders

Dave Leach asks how churches in the UK can be more responsive to God’s call to mission.

been a blessing to be part of church family that shares that passion. As a congregation we continue to ‘send’ missionaries across the globe. Last year we ‘sent’ the Garvies to PACT, Ankpa, whilst this year we ‘sent’ a lady with OMF to Thailand. These individuals joined our growing missions’ family that numbers over 20, from one congregation. Whilst this is exciting, we would love to see more. Why? Because of the Psalm 67 principle, where the psalmist prays, ‘May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your ways may be known on the earth’ That ‘that’ is of utmost importance to us as a church leadership.

Our prayers for ourselves and growth within our church fellowship must result in responsive hearts as we view the nations of our world.

Over the last ten years or so Christians throughout the UK have been bombarded by the challenge to be part a ‘missional church’. While I have nothing against the sentiment attached to this challenge it strikes me as odd that we have to accompany the word ‘church’ with ‘missional’. It reminds me of teaching a toddler about farmyard animals, encouraging them to identify the ‘moo cow’. ‘Moo’ is what a cow does just as mission is what a should do. The church is a gathering of worshipping believers that longs for others to join them in worship. And how is this carried out? By doing mission. By going or sending - there is no third way!

I have had the privilege of serving in a large Presbyterian Church for over eight years and coming from a home where

‘mission’ was alive and real, challenging

and exciting, it has

Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 13:3

Sending

15

I recently challenged our church family, asking if they were sports car Christians or articulated lorry Christians - if they were Christians who shared the joys of Christ’s salvation with a cosy, intimate group, or by throwing wide the truckload of blessings we have received for the world to see and share.

In order to become a ‘sending church’ we must first of all recognise what we have in Christ. We will never be ‘senders’ or ‘goers’ unless we are consumed with a passion for Christ and His glory.

Secondly, we must pray for others to ‘go’, regularly and publicly. Remember what happened in Antioch? The leaders prayed and the Holy Spirit set aside Paul and Barnabas, for the task of reaching the known world. This infant church was mature enough to let their ‘best people’ go. Are we willing to let our preachers, youth leaders, children, grandchildren ‘go’?

Thirdly, we must ‘send them in manner worthy of the Name’ (3 John 7). Missionaries are doing the work of Christ’s church, in another part of the world. What they do and the support they receive, depends on people like you and me! How we treat our missionaries reflects on how we value the Name of our Lord Jesus.

Finally, in order to be senders we need to take up a wartime attitude. As John Piper states in ‘A Holy Ambition’, ‘the luxury liner, Queen Mary, became a troop carrier, and instead of bunks three high were stacked seven high. Resources are allocated differently in wartime...a wartime lifestyle presents itself not as a legalistic burden, but as a joyful acknowledgement that our resources aren’t entrusted to us for our own personal pleasure but for the greater pleasure of stewarding them for the advancement of the kingdom of God.’

Dave Leach is associate minister at Hamilton Road

Presbyterian Church, Bangor and has been a

friend of the Mission for many years.

16

Top 10 ways to carefor your missionary

Churches often ask how they can be involved in the pastoral care of their members serving in mission. Here are ten ways

that you and your church can stay involved.

10. Encourage them when they come homeHome assignment can be busy and stressful. Invite them round for a home-cooked meal and a good chat. Have you read any good books recently that may benefit our personal growth or ministry work? Why not share these with them. If they have children, include them in Sunday School and youth group events.

9. Send resources to help with their workOur missionaries often don’t have access to the same resources that we have back in the UK. You could send out books, ideas or creative suggestions to help them in their ministry.

8. Show an interest in their ministryAsk good questions and listen well. Ask about significant joys or discouragements. Ask not only how they are doing, but about their work, and try to learn all you can about the people and ministry where they are serving.

7. Raise awareness in your churchConsider putting up a missions notice board filled with pictures, newsletters and updates from your missionaries. You could involve your Sunday School classes or home groups by ‘adopting’ a missionary to pray and care for.

6. Send postReceiving a thoughtful letter or parcel is a real blessing and can help with homesickness when out in the field. Consider sending cards and small gifts at Christmas and birthdays. Small reminders of home can really help missionaries to feel cared for.

5. Support them financiallyCommit to supporting the work of God through giving. Regular support shows missionaries that you are committed to their ministry. Giving financially is an easy, practical way for a church to partner with missionaries and to show that you are sharing in their mission.

Caring

17

4. Visit themThis may not be possible for everyone, but a short term team or pastoral visit is a great way to care for and be involved in their ministry, and to show that your church is committed to supporting them. Sending visitors to pray, watch, and learn can both encourage your missionaries and help your church develop a deeper understanding of their work

3. Keep them involved with your church lifeSend them church newsletters and bulletins - keep them up to date with what’s happening. Do you record sermons and worship services? Consider sending them a CD with copies of the recordings. If you are able, try and involve them in church life remotely. Ask them to send you a video, or schedule to have them skype chat or phone call during your home group or Bible studies.

2. Stay in touchModern communication tools have made keeping in touch with your missionaries easy. Most have decent phone signal and internet connection. A thoughtful text or email can really help encourage and lift them up. Flood their inbox with love and support. It doesn’t all need to be ‘spiritual’ - a quick update about family, school and work can help keep missionaries feeling connected to life back home.

1. Pray for themAs well as praying for them on your own, you can bring your missionary’s prayer needs before your church. Distribute their prayer points and newsletters to members of your church and small groups. Don’t forget to help your church kids to pray! Ask for specific prayer requests and let them know that your are praying for these things.

You could organise a prayer group for your missionary and let them know so they can be encouraged. You could even Skype them during one of the prayer meetings so you can share with them in support.

If you want to find out more about sending and supporting missionaries we are happy to help

info@missionafrica.org.uk02890 402850

18

Supporting missionthrough giving

financially. In fact, almost all of 1 Corinthians 9 is a rebuke to the church in Corinth for not supporting God’s mission.

As Jesus and the Twelve travelled through the cities and the villages proclaiming the gospel, they were provided for by fellow believers. (Luke 8:3)

The church is the most universal body in the world today. Our brothers and sisters in Africa are as much a part of God’s church as our brothers and sisters in our home congregations. When we support the work of God we become coworkers in His mission. (3 John 1:8)

Since the early days of Israel, God has provided for His workers through the giving of his people. Numbers 18 shows us the Israelites’ responsibility to use their tithes to fund the work of the Levites (God’s full-time workers in the Old Testament.)

The New Testament teachings are equally clear. Philippians 4:16-19 points out that the church at Philippi supported Paul’s missionary work financially, and that this pleased God.

“For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once ... I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. ”

In 1 Corinthians 9:14 Paul teaches that those who do the work of the gospel should be provided for

For more info: missionafrica.org.uk/give

Giving

19

Mission AfricaGet Involved

Do you want to know how your church can get involved in the work of Mission Africa?

Sending

Caring

Giving

Praying

Sending missionaries

Organising a short term team

Supporting Mission Africa financially

Supporting missionaries

Getting monthly prayer updates

Being involved in a prayer group

Distributing this magazine at my church

Having someone speak at my church

I want to know more about...

Name:....................................................................................................................................................

Address:............................................................................................. Postcode:................................

Email:................................................................................. Phone:.....................................................

Church:...................................................................................................................................................

Learning

20

www.missionafrica.org.uk

Contact us:Chief Executive:Rev. Dr Paul Bailiepaul.bailie@missionafrica.org.uk

Head Office:14 Glencregagh Court, BelfastBT6 0PA02890 402850info@missionafrica.org.uk

England Mobiliser:Jeremy Nash46 Hunt Road, ChristchurchBH23 3BW01202 904329jeremy.nash@missionafrica.org.uk

Mission Africa (The Qua Iboe Fellowship) is deemed to be a Charity by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.

Recognised as a Charity by HMRC: No XN45493.Registered in Company House, Belfast as a Company Limited by

Guarantee, R611.

Scotland Mobiliser:Robbie Toop07796263117robbie.toop@missionafrica.org.uk