In this Post, I will cover several more points of introduction. But first, let me summarize Introduction 1. I spoke about GSI and Mission20. Mission20 will be our focus for now. It is the ministry that we will be developing in Venezuela to transform Venezuela. And we will transform Venezuela! Mission20 will be the major ministry that we refine and prepare to take to other nations. Mission20 is the "infantry" of GSI. It is the ministry that will advance the Kingdom by implementing a strategy of evangelism, discipleship, church planting, and church growth, along with a focus on influencing the culture, families, and the government. I know it sounds like "fancy talk" and to some "wishful thinking". Slowly but surely I am laying a foundation for understanding. On that foundation, very specific details will be added.
As we work with many people and many churches to bring in a harvest in a nation we will meet people who will become leaders with us in our ministry. We will meet people called by God to serve Him in other nations. We will also plant a mission vision in churches. Thus we will be able to recruit, train, and send missionaries to other nations. Strategic Missions will be a sister ministry of Mission20 that will develop the missions program. SM will establish the training centers and oversee the sending of missionaries and the care of missionaries on assignment.
Let me mention another ministry called Team20. Team20 will be the short-term mission arm of GSI. T20 will put together short-term teams by organizing the logistics such as travel, materials, and other areas starting with finding team members.
10 Million Bibles will raise funds to buy and ship Bibles, tracts, and other materials such as videos to nations for use in evangelistic and discipleship projects.
GSI will also be responsible for administration, fundraising, oversight, and coordination of the ministries.
You will hear about T20 organizing some projects in Colombia and other nations because we have to grow that ministry and prepare it to support Mission20 in Venezuela. There are people working now to raise money for the support of Mission20. Plans are going forward to secure the legal structure of GSI.
With that expanded background, let's return and concentrate for a few moments on Mission20. Why 20? I will talk more about "20" later but let me say that it is based on the principle of 20% influencing and impacting the other 80%. Mission20 seeks to mobilize 20% of a church to grow and change the church. On a larger scale, Mission20 believes that we can mobilize 20% of a nation and enable the 20% to transform the nation.
Mission20 at the moment will focus on Venezuela. Mission20 is an effort to implement a Biblically inspired strategy of evangelism and discipleship that will lead to church growth and church planting. You may think that doesn't sound new and different. It will be radically different when we explore how we will do things. Some of those things will be clear as we lay a foundation of principles. But let me share the first major difference.
RESULTS! It is amazing how many churches feel as if they have done something for God by keeping the doors open and the bills paid. Activities become the result looked for. Churches will do anniversaries of the church, the pastor, Sunday school, and all types of activities without consideration of the purpose of the activity or the results expected. Even evangelism becomes a series of events with results being the number of campaigns or events done. The main goal of the church is to make disciples. But churches can go years without leading anyone to Jesus and making disciples. Churches can exist for decades and never plant another church. I believe we can implement Jesus' and the early church's strategy and bring in a harvest of souls. But it must not be "just a goal." It must have results.
Mission20 will get results. How can I say that? Because if it doesn't it will be changed until it does. We will measure and evaluate until it works and we bring in the harvest. This could be thought of as difference #2. Mission20 is not about certain plans or methods (although we certainly have plans and methods), but it is a purpose and a commitment to that purpose. We will reach people for Jesus, successfully evangelize communities, plant and grow churches, and transform nations. We cannot quit because we tried and it didn't work. If something doesn't yield results we must change and find what will reach the lost and make disciples.
There were lasting accomplishments from ETF and TF. Some of you are fruit of those ministries. Our goal is to change lives…Yes. But I believe we can also work in such way as to bring lasting transformation to communities and the nation. The Gospel can and will bring change. Point 3 looks beyond just transformation of communities and nations. It must be spread not only in an area but be passed to future generations. Mission20 is not about establishing an empire, planting a certain number of churches, or bringing in a certain size harvest. Mission20 is about present-day change that is also planted in the future and continues to produce results. What's better than bringing someone to salvation? Is it bringing someone to salvation and teaching him to effectively bring people to salvation? NO. God's best and His plan is for us to lead someone to salvation and not only train him to reach others, but train him to reach others AND train those others to reach and train others.
Let's transform Nations and Generations!
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