Comments on: What I Hope the SBC Looks Like in 5 Years http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/12/10/what-i-hope-the-sbc-looks-like-in-5-years/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:32:23 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: kamatu http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/12/10/what-i-hope-the-sbc-looks-like-in-5-years/comment-page-1/#comment-10405 kamatu Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:58:28 +0000 http://betweenthetimes.com/?p=1448#comment-10405 Interesting on the parachurch concept and the idea of "bad" vs. "good" version. I recently went on an individual mission trip overseas. I went as a technical expert for a small group working to penetrate a people group where they cannot witness openly. What I saw there was a few Christians working to open up an area to the Gospel. Their needs are both great and small, mainly that they can stretch a little money a long way, but it takes a lot of time to do anything. As I understand it, they have to compete for limited funding from the IMB plus do a bit of fundraising on the side here in the States from individual churches. How do we do "business as usual"? When does the useful function of any mission board (parachurch) in coordinating support for the "little guys" clash with the need for the "little guys" to stop their work to run back to the States to raise more funds from local churches to keep up their mission? Interesting on the parachurch concept and the idea of “bad” vs. “good” version. I recently went on an individual mission trip overseas. I went as a technical expert for a small group working to penetrate a people group where they cannot witness openly.

What I saw there was a few Christians working to open up an area to the Gospel. Their needs are both great and small, mainly that they can stretch a little money a long way, but it takes a lot of time to do anything. As I understand it, they have to compete for limited funding from the IMB plus do a bit of fundraising on the side here in the States from individual churches.

How do we do “business as usual”? When does the useful function of any mission board (parachurch) in coordinating support for the “little guys” clash with the need for the “little guys” to stop their work to run back to the States to raise more funds from local churches to keep up their mission?

]]> By: Brian http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/12/10/what-i-hope-the-sbc-looks-like-in-5-years/comment-page-1/#comment-10400 Brian Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:57:42 +0000 http://betweenthetimes.com/?p=1448#comment-10400 Thank you JD! I am encouraged that the task force includes you. Too many people see the SBC through the stained glass of tradition, bible-belt southern culture, and "denominational loyalty" which prevents them from identifying problems, much less proposing solutions. The SBC, along with regional associations and agencies, is nothing more than a useful tool. It must be evaluated based on its usefulness, nothing more. Nostalgia is great for museums and parlors, not for workshops or factories. Remember things fondly (if you were fond of them) but we have work to do! Brian Thank you JD!

I am encouraged that the task force includes you. Too many people see the SBC through the stained glass of tradition, bible-belt southern culture, and “denominational loyalty” which prevents them from identifying problems, much less proposing solutions.

The SBC, along with regional associations and agencies, is nothing more than a useful tool. It must be evaluated based on its usefulness, nothing more.

Nostalgia is great for museums and parlors, not for workshops or factories. Remember things fondly (if you were fond of them) but we have work to do!

Brian

]]> By: Bill http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/12/10/what-i-hope-the-sbc-looks-like-in-5-years/comment-page-1/#comment-10398 Bill Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:11:01 +0000 http://betweenthetimes.com/?p=1448#comment-10398 I've only got a second but would like to add one thought to this discussion. Our church prayed last night for the GCR committee and GCR in general and we have been talking about it a lot, along with other pastors, our DOM, state convention guys, folks I served with on the mission field with the IMB, Bible professors in our church from the local Baptist college, on and on... and we all agree on one thing concerning the GCR... reduce the size of the state conventions... send more money to the IMB. In an age of Internet resources, we just don't need hundreds of people in a state office. I know we are autonomous and can only make a recommendation, but I support keeping the local Association as a resource for the churches and reducing the size of the state convention so that more money will go to the IMB. Thanks! Bill I’ve only got a second but would like to add one thought to this discussion. Our church prayed last night for the GCR committee and GCR in general and we have been talking about it a lot, along with other pastors, our DOM, state convention guys, folks I served with on the mission field with the IMB, Bible professors in our church from the local Baptist college, on and on… and we all agree on one thing concerning the GCR… reduce the size of the state conventions… send more money to the IMB. In an age of Internet resources, we just don’t need hundreds of people in a state office. I know we are autonomous and can only make a recommendation, but I support keeping the local Association as a resource for the churches and reducing the size of the state convention so that more money will go to the IMB.

Thanks!
Bill

]]>