Many congregations “tread water” for years, never moving closer to God’s divine ideal for congregational organization.  In my experience, two factors particularly trap a church into leadership stagnation.  Often, one man has the “upper hand” in men’s meetings.  Some are of the Diotrephes variety (2 John 9, 10), while others may simply “take charge” in the absence of any others showing initiative.  These men often seem reluctant to influence toward eldership appointment.  Some want to keep their leadership and others simply see none qualified for the office of a bishop.  So the subject receives no attention at all.

A second contributing factor is the breakdown of the family.  The erosion of the domestic structure is at the heart of many congregational woes.  One elder recently wrote to me deploring the shocking number of divorces within the local body of believers.  The number of men with strong, stable marriages seems to be shrinking and children of the saints are leaving the church in disturbing numbers.  The men who have proved their ability to lead their own families (1 Timothy 3:5) are becoming an endangered tribe.  So the pool of men to be considered for the high church office is small.

In response to the need, Carey and I spoke for our leadership seminar in Iringa.  Following Sunday morning worship, the men joined for a lunch in one member’s home.  We enjoyed rice, beans, goat meat, bananas and sodas.  With satisfied stomachs we returned to the building.  I delivered a lesson on congregational leadership in the absence of elders.  Carey followed by speaking about the need to strive toward an eldership and the qualifications that each man must be working to attain.  After all, but for a few exceptions (i.e. married, believing children), all Christian men should meet the qualifications of an elder.

As a follow-up to our Leadership Seminar, I delivered a lesson the next Sunday, challenging us to develop goals for spiritual growth, both as individuals and congregationally.  That is a challenge for all of us, not only the church in Tanzania.  We need to plan for growth if we expect it to become a reality.

What are your goals for spiritual growth in 2012?

George

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Once a soul has been freed from the bondage of sin, continued teaching is vital to further strengthen this initial foundation of faith.  The attrition rate among new converts is often traceable to inadequate initial teaching and the lack of “counting the cost.”  But also, the lack of follow-up teaching plays a part.

We are blessed with a good group of new converts here in Iringa.  On the 7th of this month we hosted a Friday evening teaching and fellowship time.  We had a great turnout.  Joy had prepared a number of traditional African dishes and the Samfords also contributed more.  The included picture shows the wall ledge which served as a buffet “table.”

Following our nice meal we all gathered in our living room and I delivered a lesson – The Problem of Human Suffering.  It is amazing how far back in time misconceptions about this subject can be traced.  Even in the time of Job (Job was likely a Patriarch; Job might be the oldest Book in our Bibles) his “friends” made the assumption that since he was suffering he must have some personal sin.  Furthermore, they surmised that since he was suffering greatly, then his sin must be grievous.

Superstition, witch-doctors, and such like are still so deeply rooted in this culture.  It is so important that our new brothers and sisters be taught the truth regarding these issues.  I have been amazed at how many Christians here seem to still be in mental bondage to some of these deep seeded fears.  Many believe Jesus can save, but still are concerned that a witch-doctor might put a curse upon them.  Freedom from such fears is just one among many blessings that those in Christ should enjoy!

We keep on teaching.  Please keep on praying for us.
George Jensen 2011

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Here in Africa, choices are limited, but not in the realm of religion. Mainstream denominations have long yielded their missionary influence in this land. What may surprise you is the fact that even some of the smaller religious bodies have a presence here. For example about a year or so ago, I had a study with a man who was a preacher for the Mennonite church. He had been trained in one of their schools of preaching here in Tanzania.

Another curious fact is that most religious bodies here have what might be termed a “Pentecostal Flavor.” That is to say, they have a leaning toward being charismatic. Last week, there was a special meeting being held on the grounds belonging to the Catholic Church. As I drove by, I saw hundreds of people assembled. It is hard to estimate accurately, but my guess was near 1,000 people. The amplifier system was loudly broadcasting the preaching that was in progress. It sounded just like what you might expect to hear at a Pentecostal/holiness revival. My brother Charles said the Catholics must use this type of presentation to compete with the other denominations. Such “hooping and hollering” draws the crowds!

In contrast, the Lord’s church has been around for about two thousand years. What worked in the first century will work still today. The power is still in the gospel (Romans 1:16). God still promises that the seekers will find (Matthew 7:7). We need not mimic the denominations. Those who are drawn by such theatrics are easily drawn to the next show in town. People seem to freely change churches as easily as they change their sandals. The true church does not need to try to be different – it is different! Neither should she try to be like false bodies. Remember Israel of old, who wished to be like the nations about her?!

Like Paul we must be busy teaching publically and from house to house (Acts 20:20). Three key qualities of “overcomers” are listed in Revelation 12:11. First, they have been washed (Acts 22:16), and continue to be washed (1 John 1:7) in the blood of the Lamb. Second, they have the courage and practice to share the message from their own lips. We will never see the church grow as God desires until each saint gives “the word of their testimony.” Third, their commitment ran so deep that they “loved not their life even unto death.” Faithful life in Christ is of more value than physical life (Cf. Matthew 10:28). We expect a missionary and a preacher to “share the gospel” from their own lips. God also expects the same from each of his children.       George Jensen

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George Jensen

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Modest Apparel

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Many church leaders seem to make a common mistake.  Namely, assuming that a man with good business savvy will make good mission decisions for the congregation (I have seen the same mistake made in the selection of a treasurer).  An example would be appointing a corporate-world wise man to be a deacon of missions.  Judgments will likely be made without any real knowledge of missions or missionary challenges.  The whole “bottom line” and “budgets” and “numbers” mentality will likely be transferred right over from the secular arena into the spiritual kingdom.  A brief survey of God’s dealings with his people in the past ought to give us a clue that Jehovah is able to bless His people with great victories, even when such seems unlikely from the human vantage point.  Elders must educate themselves to be able to get beyond basic questions i.e. how much money is this missionary saying he needs?  How many baptisms are being reported?

Think about the difference between childlike questions and adult questions.  The type of questions asked reveals a person’s level of knowledge. The foregoing questions are rudimentary.  Consider an example of a more penetrating question.  Is the mission work under consideration following a paternal or an indigenous approach? While these two methodologies can have some overlapping, they are quite distinct in practice and long-term outcome.  I would highly recommend as mandatory “homework” for every elder, deacon, etc. the fine booklet by Rod Rutherford titled: “Practical Principles of World Evangelism” (available at www.rodrutherfordbooks.com).  This web site states: “It is excellent for elders who really want to know how to work effectively with missionaries.”  Brother Rutherford, now in his seventies, has vast, in-the-field experience in many foreign fields including Africa and Australia.  If you obtain this fine material be sure to read carefully pages 85 to 109 if you wish to understand why the question posed above is so important.   As knowledge increases, effectiveness in fulfilling the great commission will increase.

With heaviness of heart I must say that most of our American-funded efforts are following a paternalistic method.  Such can be characterized by (seemingly) “amazing and exciting growth” in its infancy.  But a genuine analysis will reveal a condition more often than not, of what the Hebrew writer described (5:12-14).  The synthetic “propping up” with dollars, which often flies under the banner of “helping the needy”, needs to be exposed.  The greatest missionary seemed to learn the difference between helping and enabling (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:13).  While this point might be puzzling upon first reading, I pray that with study of methodology it will become clear.

While we are giving attention to education I wish to offer a word of caution.  I am pleading with you, dear reader, to be humble enough to resist a specific temptation.  Namely, not to allow one or a few brief mission visits to swell your head.  A brother makes a two-week visit to the country of ___________________, and returns with a comprehensive understanding about missions.  The crash course has worked a miracle.  He has become the Guru of missiology.  In reality, I would venture to say that every missionary who has lived in a foreign field will tell you it was far different than the view he had from a brief visit.  Am I in opposition to supporters visiting the work in person?  On the contrary!!!!  I am a vocal advocate encouraging supporters to visit the work and see for themselves.  You can be encouraged and also encourage those you visit.  I must add this side note.  Often, if there are shenanigans taking place on the field, every façade deemed necessary by the charlatans, will be erected in time for the visitor’s arrival.  You will be shown what they want you to see!  Remember, being informed before your visit will better equip you to assess the work you are shown.    George, 2011

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We now turn our attention to an “evaluation tool” which is sorely misunderstood and frequently abused. This tool or test may be termed the “numbers test.” It takes various forms and is spoken of in a variety of ways, but one basic attitude prevails. “How many baptisms do they have each year?” “How many congregations are being established?” In reality, if you ask faithful veteran missionaries, they will readily admit that this mindset often comes out in “mission reports” more as a numbers game, rather than a true test. I heard from the lips of one church leader the statement: “We choose a work where we can get the best bang for our buck!” There was no mistake about it – the only determining factor to him was – number of reported baptisms.

What about the fantastic “results” that we are reading and hearing about? One writer simply took the figures another man reported, and the length of the short mission trip, and calculated that it would have require having one baptism about every 20 minutes, if the brother slept at all. Some are reporting thousands of baptisms that simply stagger the mind. And yet, I heard from one native Indian preacher, that he had worked in India, as an Indian, for about a year and a half in one place, without anything remotely like what he read in some US reports. My own short two visits to India sadly revealed some disturbing activities. I am presently living and working in Africa, and can tell you the problem is not unique to India.

Consider momentarily the examples of Noah and Jonah. Noah was “a preacher of righteousness” who faithfully proclaimed for Jehovah, and God “preserved Noah with seven others” (2 Peter 2:5). In contrast, Jonah enjoyed overwhelming response (Matthew 12:41). Is it possible today, were Noah traveling the country seeking financial support, that he would be turned away empty-handed, because his work was “just not showing the numbers.” What about the ministry of the Son of Man? His primary focus while upon earth was to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  En masse He was rejected!

Please listen. We are not suggesting that numbers cannot be considered. I am not unaware of the principle forbidding casting “pearls before the swine”(Matthew 7:6). However, I know the “pressure to produce” has been a mighty temptation behind many skewed numbers and many an inflated presentation. The problem goes deeper than most know, and it troubles me more than I can herein describe. Furthermore, a desire to retain support from number-minded supporters has also led to a laxity in the second part of the great commission. After making disciples, we are commanded to also give attention to teaching these new converts to observe all that Christ commanded (Matthew 28:19, 20). How sad when a missionary can be in a place for many years, and report “great success” (numbers of baptisms), only to have the work collapse after his departure.

God desires “all men to be saved, and come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). It would be another discussion to address what it takes to bring someone “to a knowledge of the truth.” But I have no doubt it cannot be done by hastily uttering five steps conjoined with five verses and then urging one to the water. Many of the reported “baptisms” are not conversions at all.

The word of God is likened unto seed (Luke 8:11). When the farmer plants the seed, it takes time to grow. Personal evangelism requires patient teaching. I recall years ago when the Crossroads/Boston movement was in its heyday. One brother fell into their trap, thinking they had found a way to make converts quickly. I had no doubt about his motive.  However, there are no shortcuts to reaping a healthy harvest.     George 2011

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