A model for Mission Advance
These are exciting days in global missions. In 1980, there were 1,800 known evangelical mission agencies sending 70,000 missionaries. Today, we know of 4,000 evangelical mission agencies that are sending 250,000 missionaries (figures from the Global Network of Missionary Structures). The Korean church has plans to send 100,000 missionaries over the next 20 years. The Philippine and Chinese churches both have similar goals.
How many people groups will need to be reached?
The Finishing the Task network, launched in 2003, has focused on the unreached people groups with a population over 100,000 who have not been engaged with the Gospel.
In 2003, there were 639 groups in this category. In 2010, all but 86 of these groups had been engaged. The network is now working on plans to engage those groups which have a population of 50,000 or greater. Rick Warren is the new executive Director of the Finishing the Task network. Could it be that we are getting close to accomplishing Matthew 24:14 (NLT):
“And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”
Our own Fellowship International ministry has sent out more than 300 Fellowship International missionaries from our churches in the past 60 years. We rejoice that hundreds more have been sent by Fellowship churches with other mission agencies over those same 60 years.
Our mission and vision refreshed
Fellowship International retooled itself five years ago (2017) with a new approach to training and coaching our missionaries for mission.
I’d like to introduce you to the Ten Essential Elements – principles that help develop a Disciple-Making Multiplication pathway for local church mission advance.
Any church can adopt these principles as a means to train, coach, and mentor believers into becoming intentional “missionaries” in their community.
I encourage you to click here to watch our Fellowship International Director, Ben Porter, explain the principles.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate in contacting Ben Porter (bporter@fellowship.ca), Byron Chae (bchae@fellowship.ca), Richard Flemming (rflemming@fellowship.ca), or Mark Naylor (mnaylor@fellowship.ca).