Our Fourth Distinctive: The Pattern to Plant & Propagate
The method by which we carry out the mandate of missions is an incredibly weighty matter! In Matthew 25, it is how we use the talents (ministry) which we have been given that we will be judged as to whether we had “done well” or “wickedly” when we stand before the Master (Mat. 25:14-30). Because of this, it is imperative that missionaries display the right pattern for nationals to follow when planting churches among their own people. The proper pattern by which to plant churches is GFF distinctive number 4 out of a series of 6 we began delineating in June 2022. We believe that modeling an autonomous ministry which can be replicated through the faith and finances of national believers alone is crucial to the longevity of an overseas work. When foreign methods and materials are used by the missionary to plant his church, the nationals will either copy the missionary or cope with failure due to lack of resources.
GFF’s former director, Doug Miller, spent 30 years in the hill tribes of Indonesia. There he saw God do a work among the Moskona and Hatam tribes. Doug said: “For a tribal church to be financed or built by someone other than themselves…even if it were to stand 100 years…will always be viewed by them as foreign. It’s only when it’s forged and financed (built and bought) by the new believers in that tribe that they will ever accept ownership over it…and that…from the beginning.”
Tribal house trees of Indonesia
We desire the Lord receive his own with usury, reaping and gathering as a result of us ministering beyond ourselves by methods which can be replicated organically rather than be manufactured synthetically (Mat. 25:26-27). For this to happen, we must be content with God’s methods of faith over man’s methods of financing. Pray with us that missionaries will pattern church planting with methods which nationals can copy with confidence – that the “good work” started among them will certainly be performed by the Lord Himself until His day come (Phil. 1:6).
Only One Life
Rodney Myers
GFF General Director