PERSPECTIVE

We have a vision of mobilizing, training, and sending missionaries from Latin America and the Caribbean to the restricted nations of the world. But the job is more than just finding some "missionary candidates," training them, and sending them to other nations. We want to "mobilize" an army of missionaries that are prepared and equipped to not just go to other nations and win a few people to Jesus but TRANSFORM nations. As I prayed and pondered the task, I was struck by the thought that it was foolish to think we would be able to effectively minister in and transform some of the darkest and most difficult nations in the world if we aren't able to transform our home nations, which in general, are not hostile to the Gospel. That was the birth of a strategy with phases or stages.

First, we would establish GSI in Venezuela where we have ministries, churches, and contacts. The fact that Venezuela is going through a difficult time probably enhances its training value for us. But how do we go about transforming Venezuela? That is the big question and one that has had hours and hours of prayer and study. And there are probably thousands of hours more of study and seeking God that are necessary. But we are at a starting point and are bringing you on board to help get the vision and convert vision into action.

The Mission20 plan that is being unveiled as we go along will require investigation, testing, and change. As I said in a previous post we are developing a ministry "process" and structure that will produce results. That ministry will then be expanded to other Latin American nations. As the vision, "process," structure, and plan are enhanced and established in other nations we will find, develop, and train some great ministry leaders. These new leaders will work with us to establish Strategic Missions which will recruit young people involved with the various ministries and churches in the Mission20 nations. Their training will prepare them to effectively work in Islamic, Hindu, communist, restricted, secular, and other nations resistant to the Gospel.

Details are coming, but there are several principles that I refer to that must be discussed. These principles are mobilization and transformation. As I lay out the grand scheme or panorama I want you to clearly see that in addition to having a staged strategy of establishing Mission20 in Venezuela, expansion to other Latin American and Caribbean nations, birthing Strategic Missions, and then "invading" other nations; we have a tactical strategy based on the principles of mobilization and transformation. Some of the ministries and activities we will be involved in such as church planting, evangelism campaigns, leadership training, and many others may sound familiar. A church member kept saying every time the minister talked about an activity, "we've already done that." As I talk in future posts about details involving prayer activities, leadership training, evangelistic events, discipleship, and church growth, try to not think in your mind, "we've already done that." The important thing will not be the event or plan but how it is done and the process of which it will be a part. The principles of mobilization and transformation are so key that I will discuss each one in upcoming posts. The other significant factor will be the people. Our focus and differentiating factor will be people, their training, and their preparation. A great plan in the hands of a poorly trained group of leaders will not uield good results. We will teach, train, and mobilize great people.

But there is one more key concept that is even of greater significance than mobilization and transformation. This concept is PERSPECTIVE. Without a proper perspective a vison, strategy, plan, or process is immediately defeated. Many people have embarked on great ventures without knowing if the venture could or would succeed. Ministers and missionaries often do what they think is Biblical out of obedience or a desire to make a difference, but without having faith that they will be able to present the Gospel with power and see it change their community.

What is your perspective of missions and advancing the Kingdom? Some focus on their church or ministry and seek to do the best they can. That isn't necessarily selfish or short-sighted for they feel that they have heard from God and thus it is their focus. Others see the church trying to get as many people saved as possible before Jesus comes back while accepting the fact that many will refuse Jesus and go to hell. Many think of the church as only a remnant of the faithful. I've had all of these thoughts before. But as I got the vision for this ministry from God and as I contemplated the work ahead of us, I questioned God. Can we (not just us personally but our ministry and others) reach all of the nations? The Bible answers that one. Not only can we, but we must! The next question was more direct. Can we reach a majority of a nation and even transform a nation? I have not been accepting of the idea of "church as usual," but even then I haven't seen communities and nations transformed by God through the church. I asked God if it can be done? He answered not only can it be done but IT IS MY WILL. Then I heard this, "But it will be harder than anything that anyone has ever done." I was excited at the thought that it can be done, but sobered at the thought of the difficulty. The task before us is not one of immediate results and easy work.

My perspective is this….. We can and will transform the nations and see a great worldwide harvest of souls. But it won't be simple. It won't happen just because we begin or we try. It won't be just evangelizing and planting churches and training leaders. It will not be a battle or series of battles but it will be all-out war. It will be more challenging than I can imagine. I'll accept that challenge and begin this work to make true disciples of 20% of the nation (not just 20% Christians or 20% in church…. but DISCIPLES) who will then continue to work and transform the nation.

The question before you is what PERSPECTIVE will you adopt?

Now you know that I believe it when I say, "Let's transform the nations!" 

Next.... Mobilization.

GSI OVERVIEW

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!

WELCOME TO GSI

Global Strategic Initiatives is an organization of ministries and support organizations working together to fulfill a purpose…. The Purpose is to Mobilize Prayer, People, and Power to change the lives of individuals with the Gospel and transform nations by establishing the Kingdom of God. Ministries such as Mission20, 10 Million Bibles, Strategic Missions, plus other initiatives to be launched, will be served by support organizations raising funds, securing resources, providing technology, and other services.

The GSI plan is to initially target nations in Latin America. We will establish National Ministries in a nation, such as Mission20 to evangelize and disciple. We will execute our strategy to transform the nation. While working in a nation we will recruit and select candidates for missionary training by Strategic Missions. They will then be sent to other nations. Our plan is to establish the ministry initially in nations that are not hostile to the Gospel with the idea to strengthen the church in those nations and recruit missionaries to go to other nations that are predominantly secular, restricted, or hostile to the Gospel.

In summary, we develop our programs and strategies and concentrate on a nation. We develop a mission force by training people who are called to missions and sending them to nations that have very little witness of the Gospel.

GSI is the parent organization of various ministries. I won't talk a lot about it for a while. Most of you will be part of Mission20  within GSI. And most of you will be working in Venezuela because that is our first target.

What is Mission20? An answer and description will be coming. But first, let me speak about what it isn't and let me explain some key concepts.

Mission20 is not "another" ministry. When I left Torre Fuerte I told Efrain that I wouldn't plant another dysfunctional church. I have spent the last several years studying evangelism, discipleship, salvation, missions, spiritual warfare, prayer, and many other things. The more I studied the less I was sure of. I prayed and studied more. Let me say - I don't have a "New Revelation". Hopefully, I have a better understanding of some Biblical Truths. But even then I don't have a prophetic word or inspired plan to quickly change the world. Be careful of any man who has all of the answers.

You may find as we talk and start this ministry that I seem to have more questions than answers. That's ok. Together we will find the answers and hear from God what we need to know.

But don't worry. There is a vision and direction. And the vision will lead to a plan.

In these Blog posts, I will explain the vision and the proper perspective to understand the vision. I will talk about mobilization, DNA of churches and ministries, multiplication, and paradigms of ministry. Then I will talk about the specifics of Mission20, especially Mission20 Venezuela.

Let me close with 2 stories. When I started ETF I thought we would do medical projects and get people saved. That would help churches grow and the Kingdom of God would advance in the nations.

I was wrong. Getting people to pray the sinner's prayer didn't mean people were getting saved. I didn't realize that.

Churches didn't always grow because they didn't visit and follow-up the "converts."

I became pastor of TF. I thought the plan was to build the church, do evangelistic events, disciple people, and the church would grow and we would start new churches. Instead, I learned what it meant to pastor a dysfunctional church.

I now realize that you can't make sheep out of goats.

Dysfunctional churches don't multiply. They divide.
(More about sheep, goats, and churches later.)

Mission20 starts by not doing more of what hasn't yielded results.

It has to be different. But how?

Mission20 starts in Mark 1.

Take time to read Mark 1 several times. We will talk about this important chapter very soon in a future message.

Together we can transform nations! I know that sounds like typical church talk….. Talk that sounds like this: "One day we will see miracles"….. "One day the church will grow"… "We are at the point of a breakthrough"….. On and on it goes, but always about one day in the future. I believe we start towards the "one day" by what we do now! While many people are talking we can be acting by getting vision and converting vision into action that will transform nations. It will be the hardest work any of us have ever been part of. But we can transform nations! 

I totally believe it!!!