Jeff Shinabarger is one of the more creative servant’s of God I know.  He sent me an email and a link to a couple-of-minutes film on a project he innovated in his city of East Atlanta.

Check out the link to the “Benched” ministry.

Hello Friends.

A celebration of mass transportation. That was the hope. A collaborative project between Whitestone Motion Pictures, Matchstic, GiftCardGiver.com, and about 40 different people that contributed Home Depot gift cards to this project. Together, we created smiles on the faces of neighbors that ride the bus everyday. Our hope is that you will be inspired to celebrate mass transportation in some way today and that you would do something creative for your neighbors. Thank you to everyone that helped in creating this small story with a huge message. We hope that as many people as possible see this film, so please embed the video on your blog and share the idea with the world.

http://www.jeffshinabarger.com/?p=272

We hope you enjoy the this short film.
Jeff

Oh…and East Atlanta Village…YOU GOT BENCHED!

By Craig Schmidle 9-3-08
Many of our churches are again looking at how they can respond to the latest disaster to hit the US. Even though it was not as bad as some of the officials had expected in New Orleans, there are many people with flooded homes and damage around the area. As a church or as a Christian we need to respond to the hurting around us.

It might seem to be second nature for us to get out there, roll our sleeves up and do what needs to be done, but I have seen good intentions create chaos.
To give you a quick overview of my disaster experience, I have responded in the US to numerous natural disasters and internationally to floods, earthquakes, tsunamis and war. I have sat on a Red Cross board, chaired volunteer disaster organizations, been on advisory boards and councils for Citizen Corp, EMA’s, homeland security, and headed the emergency response teams for a large church. All this says is that I have seen both sides of the fence in some of the worst situations possible.
One issue I have seen everywhere is groups wanting to do their own thing, whenever they want, wherever and however they want. I know that faith based groups did most of the recovery after Katrina, and will after this next batch of storms, but to be more productive consider the following emergency response tips:
1. Get trained – To be of most value, have your teams trained. See future blogs for details.
2. Unify your efforts – Join with other likeminded groups and work together.
3. Work with the government entities – Communicate with the local EMA or groups like VOAD.
4. Be responsible for your own needs – Do not expect others to be responsible to feed or house your team.
5. Connect with a church in the affected area – Minister as an arm of that church and not as a church hundreds of miles away.
6. Have well rounded teams – All male chain saw teams may get some work done but may not be able to minister as well as female team members. Remember you are there to minister - from a gentle touch and acknowledgement to cleaning up.

Ministering during a time of need, like a disaster, requires special sensitivity. We need to express to them that God loves them and that we are there because of that love. He will take care of the rest.

I just completed my reading of Charles Fielding’s new book, Preach and Heal, which advocates a unique bent on holistic cross-cultural ministry.

First of all - this book is NOT just for doctors, faith healers, and preachers. For that reason, I wish it had a different title so that more people would be drawn to the book.

Regardless of the title, if you want to gain a better understanding of the nuts and bolts of how 12 disciples became Jesus’ instruments in the advance of the Gospel - read this one. If you want to understand the most basic principles of cross-cultural ministry, read it. If you live in North America and you think you understand international missions, you need to read this book before you speak another word about missions, preach another sermon on missions, or plan another mission trip.

Bear in mind that Charles’ experience in implementing this biblical missional model has primarily been tested among unreached people groups in some of the most restricted access areas of the world. Don’t think that this is primarily North American.

Having lived and worked in some of the areas where Dr. Fielding tested his principles, I would especially encourage volunteers and Christian workers heading to those missional hard places, to read this one before you plan your local-church-based mission endeavors! By the way, don’t be turned off by the fact that it’s 256 pages. I’ll give you a hint about how to use this book.

Read Appendix E, then Parts One and Two. Then read chapters 9 & 10 of Part Three and scan through the remaining chapters of Part Three (chapters 11-22.) You will find those chapters that most interest you and you will come back to the other chapters when you need them. But definitely look carefully at the appendices, especially Appendix E. I think Appendix E should be brought to the front of the book because it is central to the author’s model of cross-cultural communication of the Gospel message. I’ve heard Dr. Fielding teach this in person and - I’m disappointed that it’s tucked away at the back of the book. Don’t miss Appendix E!

Mission volunteers should read and study this book, even though the title is Preach and Heal.

The title doesn’t say, “Mission Trip Training Guide” so you may not realize that it could serve that purpose. Why is this particular book special? For the same reason that Purpose Driven Life is a great book. In both cases (PDL and Preach & Heal) the author took truths as well as Truth and simplified them - bringing the cookies down to the bottom shelf for all to reach.

Charles took proven missional truths, practices, and principles and he boiled them down into simple statements, lists, and charts. He also took a simple chronological storying approach and “taught it” in Appendix E. The book is also worth buying just to flip through and find the charts (simple lists) which serve as the outline for each section.

Who really needs to read this book, perhaps more than others?

Anyone who primarily has a bent toward ONLY preaching the Gospel, as well as those who have a nearly exclusive preference toward humanitarian work: medical, social, community development, wells, and orphanages. Those are two different groups, so what do they have in common? Each can not seem to understand international missions from the other’s perspective. Both groups are right and both are wrong. Charles reasons with both, particularly in Part One where he deals with this very debate.

Breaking It Down

Part One (Chapters 1-4) builds a case for holistic gospel ministry that blends preaching, ministry to the entire person, and multiplicative church planting. If you find those three parts of what I call The Entire Gospel Ministry demarcated or truncated in your church’s overseas work, then you need to read this. Part one builds the case for Charles’ cross-cultural missional model.

Part Two (Chapters 5-8), in my opinion, is the unique part of this book. This is the part that should be extracted and reprinted in little booklets that are used in training folks going to restricted access countries. I say that not because this material is original, but because it is simplified and easily transferable. Some of the foundation comes from David Garrison’s Church Planting Movements. Other lessons come from the experiences of many missionaries in numerous countries around the world. The Truth of all this comes from Scripture.

For example, Dr. Fielding takes Garrison’s goodies and makes them more accessible. The ten elements found in church planting movements come straight from Garrison; but Charles breaks those ten points down into three parts: ingredients (what we add), methods (how we add it), and products (the results of ingredients and methods). He then builds the section around those three major headings.

The other great little list that Charles uses is what he calls Paul’s Church Planting Strategy.

1. Enter the community.

2. Make disciples.

3. Empower the Church.

I won’t give away any more of that.

He also puts forth his own A, B, C’s on the subject, a great simplification of some proven cross-cultural practices.

A word of caution - American church planters will struggle in trying to implement everything in this book in a US cultural setting. Charles’s approach is apostolic (read the book to understand this) and is totally a house church, church-planting-movement model. It’s the most basic and the most transferable, cross-cultural form of church planting. The model can work around the globe.

But if you are going to try to rigorously implement this type of church planting in Atlanta, you have got to totally unlearn much of what you’ve learned all of your life about what church looks and feels like. So, be forewarned.

Part Three is what I would call an abridged resource for all kinds of health and humanitarian strategies. Having seen and tested a number of strategies on the field, Charles demonstrates in this section that health ministries (and actually any kind of ministry) can be implemented in such a way as to ensure the maximum impact for multiplicative church planting. But beyond that he breaks it down into chapters on HIV/Aids, Hospice, Community Development, Clinical, Home Health Care, etc., etc. Whether you are a doctor or church missions leader, dog-ear Part Three and go there anytime you are considering involvement an any kind of ministry around the world. Short chapters on each type of ministry give simple hints on getting the maximum impact. Other books go deeper in each of those types of ministry, but this one gives you a bird’s eye view and some hints at getting the greatest possible result.

In my opinion this is a very helpful book. The forward is by Jerry Rankin, President of the International Mission Board. It comes recommended by Franklin Graham, Rick Warren, David Garrison and David Stevens, MD and CEO of Christian Medical and Dental Association.

So….I guess I don’t mind adding my obscure name to the list.

If you want to understand effective ministry that results in church planting movements around the world - read Preach and Heal!

Today I browsed around a new resource launched by the IMB called Commission Stories.

The feature story shows a picture of a radical young worker named J.D. Tidenberg, with a map of Africa tattooed right in the middle of his back. He’s a recent college grad who left the comforts of the US, heading off to Tanzania to research the Taabwa people group who live along the edge of Lake Tanganyika.

Take a look into JD’s experience by viewing his video journal. You’ll find a personal narrative of transformation. You’ll find high quality exotic footage of the most extraordinary nature.

Browse around and find tons of exotic stories. Maybe we can make a difference around the world!

Cool stuff.

Let me know what you think. Tell me if you see some practical ways to utilize Commission Stories as an online resource?

How about some radical giving?!

As many of you know my wife, Cindy has been in a year long battle with Multiple Myeloma. Read more about that journey below. We spent a big part of the last 12 months traveling back and forth between Memphis and Nashville in order to undergo an autologous stem cell transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Unlike many patients, Cindy was extremely blessed to be eligible to donate her own stem cells for cleanup and later re-infusion back into her own body. This process was grueling, extremely risky, but has prolonged and improved Cindy’s life. There will be more treatment for Cindy and possibly another transplant.

Through this journey, we met some of our fellow patients who were unable to use their own marrow or stem cells for treatment. Some have waited for years for a match, their condition deteriorating slowly in the process. Others never find a match and succumb to their disease. Seeing the dramatic impact on Cindy’s well being, I made an easy decision. Without hesitation, I committed myself to become a bone marrow or stem cell donor. I contacted the bone marrow donor society and began filling out the required survey to donate. I was very, very disappointed to learn that my particular back problem disqualifies me from being a donor. I’m not giving up though. I’m going to keep pursuing it to see if there is some way I can donate.

We’re living in a time of increased willingness of young adults to make personal sacrifice for a higher cause. Young christians are making a difference in our world through radical expressions of brotherly love. The Green Revolution leads us to recycle, turn off the lights, down-size our vehicles, and donate funds to produce clean water around the world. We know that every good citizen donates blood regularly. On and on grows the list of sacrifices we make for saving our planet, helping our fellow man, and serving the common good.

Here’s what I’d like you to consider.

I’m not asking you to give up an organ or limb. I’m asking you to pray about offering up a few million of the youngest cells in your body in order to save a life or two. It does involve some sacrifice. Adult stem cell donations require seven days of getting an injection to cause your stem cells to rapidly reproduce. Yes that’s a pain. When you are “ripe” you will begin to have some back pain which will tell you “it’s time.” The stem cells are drawn from your blood during a 4 hour process of being hooked up to a machine that extracts the stem cells. It’s the easiest way you’ll ever save a life.

Take the first painless step by going to the international donor site. Complete the online questionnaire to see if you are eligible. If you find that you are eligible, pray about what’s next.

I saw my wife’s life extended and improved by her stem cells. I desperately want to do the same for someone else, but I’m not eligible.

It’s a great way to give about a gazillion pieces of yourself, in the form of stem cells. This small sacrifice could save a life.

Pray about it.

*Do me a favor - if you complete the donor survey, come back to this article and leave your comment. You might encourage someone else to do the same.

You may be wondering what I think about The Shack. By the way in Josh Davis’ interview with the author we learned that he goes by Paul not William P. Young. Josh’s interview opened my eyes to the nature of the author, not for an audience of three million, but for his children.  Later friends convinced him to self-publish 10,000 copies and to put up a web site. With ZERO marketing budget - its a best seller. Paul called it a God thing. He’s a very humble man.

So here’s what I think about the book.

First of all - it’s fiction, and then some. In fact, it is superbly written fiction. Man! Paul has an uncanny ability to string together fantastic images that illuminate the beauty, power, and majesty of the One True God. This fiction kept me glued to the book and drew me personally into God.

The edgy imagery, which has raised questions in Christendom, accomplished its purpose. I’m reminded of my favorite worship leader, Miller Cunningham. He’s a gifted worship leader not only because of his musical ability, but because God uses Miller to lead people humbly, deeply, personally, repentantly, and delightfully to the throne of Grace.

When I finished the book, I found myself drawn to my Savior sitting and talking to God for an hour or more - just enjoying my relationship with Him. So I guess you might call Paul, author of The Shack, a very effective worship leader, at least for me.

Finally - yep, I only needed a “first” and a “final” here- Paul used trinitarian dialog (among the persons of the trinity) to make some profound theological statements.

Here’s some favorites:

We (the trinity) are already fully fulfilled within ourself. You are designed to be in community as well, made as you are in our very image.

Judgment is not about destruction, but about setting things right.

In a discussion between Jesus and Mack on Jesus’ passion for his bride, the church, Jesus (in The Shack) said the following, Mack, that’s because you’re only seeing the institution (of the church), a man-made system. That’s not what I came to build. What I see are people and their lives, a living breathing community of all those who love me, not buildings and programs…My church is all about people and life is all about relationships. You can’t build it. It’s my job and I’m actually pretty good at it.

God the Father speaking on the central role of Jesus and his nature - being fully God and Man and fully one with the Trinity - Like I said, everything is about him. Creation and history are all about Jesus. He is the very center of our purpose and in him we are now fully human, so our purpose and your destiny are forever linked. You might say that we have put all our eggs in the One (Jesus) human basket. There is no plan B.

I couldn’t help but make notes one some of the more outstanding dialog on the following topics:

God is Spirit, neither male nor female- p.93

Green living - p.132,144

Evil - p.136,137

Personal Rights?, p.137

Fear -p.142

Submission - p.145,149

Spirit Empowerment & Relationships - p.148-149

Purpose of Judgment - p.169

Church as The Bride - p.177-178

Trust - p.180

Anti-pluralism - p.182

Grace & Suffering - p.185

Jesus - p.192

Perceptions & Assumptions - p. 197

The Self-fulfilled Nature of God - p.201

The Old Law - p. 202

Freedom in Christ - p.203

God is a verb! - p.204

Forgiveness - p.225-227

So, I guess you could conclude that I really like this book because it drew me into the nature and the person of God who is a verb. To quote The Shack, God says,

I am a verb. I am that I am. I will be who I will be. I am a verb! I am alive, dynamic, ever active, and moving. I am a being verb.

So what do you think about the NY TImes best seller, The Shack, by William P. Young?

The book is a craze among students. They are swarming it like ants to a church picnic.

However, many our concerned that the theology falls short.

Many are aghast at the author’s presentation of God in the form of a woman. The storyline makes it clear that God presents himself in such a form to the main character because Mack grew up under a father figure who was an abusive, alcoholic who beat his 13 year old son for two days straight. Ultimately Mack ran away from home after nearly being beaten to death by his father. With that background, how could Mack be receptive to a male representation of the Eternal Father?

If you can get over that issue, there are a few more hurdles.

Another issue discussed among Christians is the fact that the author presents an absolutely equal state of each person of the Trinity. The Trinity is therefore, completely non-hierarchical.

Still others are concerned that the teachings put forth in the book are contradictory on the sovereignty of God.

The list of concerns goes on and on, but others retort:

“This is fiction and it is harmless. Besides, it is markedly Christian and the book holds great potential to draw non-believers into a conversation that could lead to redemptive faith.”

Regardless of what we may think, students and non-students are reading this book like crazy.

If you and I are familiar with the most popular book among students, maybe you and I can speak into their pursuit of the One True God?! Besides, don’t stats show us that of all age groups, young people are the most receptive to the Gospel? Shouldn’t we be ready to speak to them about what they are reading rather than simply condemning the book and closing the door to any conversation?

So, my wife finished the book yesterday and immediately started reading it. I read 100 pages last night and plan on finishing it by Thursday. Why am I pushing to read it by Thursday?

Because I want to understand the craze and I want to be able to speak into the conversation students are having about God. But that’s just one reason.

The other reason I’m pushing to finish it by Thursday is because a friend of mine, Josh Davis has scheduled a 45 minute radio interview with the author at noon Central Time here in Memphis on Kwam 990. Josh’s show is called “The Josh Davis Show: Shining The Light of Truth on our Culture” and it airs just prior to The Dave Ramsey Show. For those not in Memphis you can Listen Live on line at 12pm Central Time on Thursday.

Better yet, if you have questions about the book, send them to Josh tomorrow. I’ve heard him tactfully ask some tough ones so write Josh and he’ll try to work them into the 45 minute interview.

So, if you have an opinion or concern or question about The Shack, don’t ask me, ask the author on Thursday.

So how do we respond to the poor around the world; and do it in such a way that we contribute to ongoing, sustainable field strategies? Check out the following article by By Shawn Hendricks.

GRAHAMSTOWN, South Africa By Shawn Hendricks (BP)–Baby ostriches — 100 of them — scamper in all directions, pecking at the dirt, a stray spoon and anything that moves or glitters. In a few months, the Hanise family will sell these birds for their meat, hide and feathers.

It’s a brand-new venture for the family living in the hills outside Grahamstown, South Africa. They see the ostriches as an opportunity to earn money and have a shot at a better life. Bob Morris sees the birds as an entree to building relationships, sharing the Gospel and helping start new churches among the 8 million Xhosa people living in South Africa.

For the last two years, Morris, a missionary with the International Mission Board, has been working with Martin Fick on the ostrich project. Fick, a tall hulk of a farmer from Zimbabwe, started the project with the native African birds to provide jobs for the poor and to teach Christian principles.

After Fick’s team drops off the batch of birds at the farm, Morris prays with the family.

“There have been many projects before, but this one is different,” says Tempela Hanise, while watching his family shove food into the baby birds’ mouths. More

Nearly every day there is an article like this one (below my comments) I received today from a friend, Rev. Richard Howell, who leads the Evangelical Fellowship of India.

As a concerned World Christian I have two or three options.

The first is to quickly hit delete and push this off into the “file” reserved for heartache and misery for which I have no solution. I know that sitting in Memphis, TN I will have no impact on these villagers who have risked everything to follow Jesus. Now they’ve suffered loss at the hands of ruthless opponents of Christ. I can’t undue what damage was done to them. I can’t call them. What really happens if I send money to some unknown Indian agency and say, “Here, take this, help them.” Am I being a responsible World Christian or am I simply taking a “vaccine against my personal social guilt if I just send money?” I’m better off to just delete this bad news from my hard drive and from my mind and heart. Besides, my hard drive and my heart need to clear off space for something I can actually deal with.

A second option is to personally create an initiative of prayer, fund raising, travel, work and personal involvement in the lives of these Christians Tamil Nadu. It will ultimately result in a brand new 501.c.3 charitable non-profit. I’ll wear my friends out asking them for money to help. I’ll take a few friends with me to the village and after 5-10 years that village will be a pearl of North American sentimentality. In the end, what will I have accomplished? What a minute…maybe that’s the wrong question. “What will I (ME AND MY FRIENDS) have accomplished?” Hmmm. Maybe there is a different question?

What’s the third option. Number two above is the current trend in missions. What’s wrong with it, if anything? Is there a better way to genuinely help, “one person or village at a time?” Is there a way to invest in the alleviation of human suffering, share the Gospel message with those whom we are helping, AND do it in such a way that I (ME and My North American Friends) are NOT the axle of the wheel?

As if that were not a big enough dilemma, throw in the mix the question of effective, international, church planting. We know how to church plant here in North America. We know how to do social justice here and there. Why do we leave our “cross-cultural church planting skills” behind when we go global?

How do we not “just give a cup of cold water.” How do we give a cup of cold water IN JESUS’ NAME in such a way that disciples are multiplied?

Thoughts?

Mark Morris

Church Desecrated in Tamil Nadu
A group of villagers belonging to Uralla tribe desecrated a church on August 4th 2008 in Gurathoamoor village, Krishnagiri district, Tamilnadu.

According to our sources, the church was under renovation when in the early part of Monday morning the radical elements unlawfully barged into the premises of the building and broke down the walls and the roof of the church. They were demanding that the church should be vacated so that they can use the land for their own purposes.

The land has been given to the Christian by the local gram panchayat to construct the church and was approved by the revenue office.

A complain has been registered but so far no action has been taken against the culprits.

EFI requests prayers for the safety of the Church and the christian community in the area.

Rev. Dr. Richard Howell
General Secretary
Evangelical Fellowship of India
New Delhi, India
Evangelical Fellowship of India (established 1951) is a charter member of World Evangelical