Foreign missions, per se, is a topic we haven't treated with any frequency here. My purpose in bringing it up now is brief and specific. It's to ask this:
What missions do you personally know (A) that specifically target unreached people or Muslims, and (B) that do so with pure Gospel preaching (preferably Calvinistic, cessationistic, baptistic), and (C) that do so with any effectiveness?
In your answer, please identify who, how (and how deeply) you know them, anything you can about them (including contact info), and why you think they merit support.
Bonus question: anyone know anything good/bad, from our perspective, about Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse? Including their Operation Christmas Child?
24 comments:
The ones I know of that my local church supports meet your qualifications and due to the location and nature of their ministry would prefer I don't print their names in a comment on the internet.
We've heard some excellent testimonies of muslim converts and the patient suffering of saints through their letters.
PM me for more information.
Middle East Reformed Fellowship
Westminster Biblical Missions
Both of these groups work with local missionaries to support church planting, training of pastors and evangelism throughout the Middle East and North Africa. WBM has a large work among the nominal Christians in Pakistan (seminary, church planting, Christian schools, medical clinic, literacy program).
I know of these works as my husband is the treasurer of WBM. WBM works closed with MERF. These two organizations are not baptistic, though; but in every other way fit your requirements.
Two reformed missionary groups I can recommend are:
Westminster Biblical Missions
Middle East Reformed Fellowship
While not baptistic, they fit your requirements in every other way. MERF has a large radio ministry that broadcasts throughout the Middle East and North Africa. WBM has a large work in Pakistan among the nominal Christians - seminary, church planting, Christian schools, medical clinic, and literacy village ministry.
I've got two:
SEND INTERNATIONAL
In the interest of full disclosure; I actually do media related work for SEND, but have known SEND missionaries from my church my whole life. This is purely my own semi-objective personal recommendation.
SEND International a very focussed mission. The tag line is Church Planting Among the Un-Reached. This takes place in a variety of ways: education, theological schools, medicine, business—and in a variety of contexts: remote villages, big cities, etc. They do a good deal of Muslim ministry as well (and not just in the middle east).
Non-denom on paper but the makeup of the organization is functionally Baptist and cessationist.
And I can say from personal experience they are actually doing it. One of the advantages of being in the U.S. Office is hearing the stories every week of people repenting and turning to Christ as Lord. Many of the pastors leading churches that SEND helped planted are nationals who heard the gospel from a SEND missionary, were discipled, and eventually took over the reigns of that congregation.
Contact info: send.org
TO EVERY TRIBE
I'm not as familiar with this group, but looked in to them when I was pursuing international missions myself.
They are unashamedly reformed and baptistic. And they focus on church planting in unreached groups. They also have a bit of a "hard-core" edge to them. Martyrdom is a core value!?! They are very John Pipery if I can coin a phrase. I'm fairly certain they are continuationists but I'm not absolutely sure (perhaps more of the 'open-but-cautious' category).
Their president David Sitton is a solid dude, very passionate about the fact that reaching hard-to-reach people groups will take serious sacrifice, even death.
Contact info: toeverytribe.com
I've got two:
SEND INTERNATIONAL
In the interest of full disclosure; I actually do media related work for SEND, but have known SEND missionaries from my church my whole life. This is purely my own semi-objective personal recommendation.
SEND International a very focussed mission. The tag line is Church Planting Among the Un-Reached. This takes place in a variety of ways: education, theological schools, medicine, business—and in a variety of contexts: remote villages, big cities, etc. They do a good deal of Muslim ministry as well (and not just in the middle east).
Non-denom on paper but the makeup of the organization is functionally Baptist and cessationist.
And I can say from personal experience they are actually doing it. One of the advantages of being in the U.S. Office is hearing the stories every week of people repenting and turning to Christ as Lord. Many of the pastors leading churches that SEND helped planted are nationals who heard the gospel from a SEND missionary, were discipled, and eventually took over the reigns of that congregation.
Contact info: send.org
TO EVERY TRIBE
I'm not as familiar with this group, but looked in to them when I was pursuing international missions myself.
They are unashamedly reformed and baptistic. And they focus on church planting in unreached groups. They also have a bit of a "hard-core" edge to them. Martyrdom is a core value!?! They are very John Pipery if I can coin a phrase. I'm fairly certain they are continuationists but I'm not absolutely sure (perhaps more of the 'open-but-cautious' category).
Their president David Sitton is a solid dude, very passionate about the fact that reaching hard-to-reach people groups will take serious sacrifice, even death.
Contact info: toeverytribe.com
I have a friend here in Texas who is a stateside mobilizer/equipper for a small missions organization working in China that has a two-fold focus: (1)To evangelize/disciple Chinese university students. (2)To mobilize local churches and leaders to minister to the unreached people groups of China, especially Chinese Muslims. They have been effective at both. They have an institute of sorts that focuses on training Chinese Christians for this type of frontier missions work.
I have gone on a very short term trip through this organization recently and I was very encouraged by the work that I saw and the fruit that God had been providing. I believe their strategy is sound. They are small enough not to attract attention but growing to meet the expanding opportunities they are receiving.
I can furnish the organization's name and contact information upon request.
REMINDER: want to email me? It's easy, and you're welcome to. Click on my name in the column to the right. That takes you to my personal blog. Click on my profile, there. There's my email.
A good thing about New Tribes Missions is that you support the specific missionaries you want -- you can keep in touch with them (as much as location allows) and know what they are teaching. We like their "Creation to Christ" curriculum, which doesn't presuppose familiarity with monotheism or anything else. They invest time translating scripture into the local's "heart language". They also aim, given time, to raise up local mature believers to be leaders; so it will truly be a local church.
A quick example of their approach: http://www.ntm.org/news/srclear_01.php?page=syncretism
I don't know if they are strictly cessationist all around, but you will like their approach to spiritual warfare, illustrated in the video "Delivered From the Power of Darkness". (When demons are messing with you the correct response is ... stand on one foot under a full moon and chant "Hail Mary" seven times ... *not*... you pray, preach the gospel, and teach the Bible.)
http://www.amazon.com/Taliabo-Story-Delivered-Darkness/dp/B003LI7ARE/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1380039069&sr=1-1&keywords=taliabo+story
Effectiveness: Over several years we have watched a remote tribe in Papua New Guinea hear the gospel, establish a church, and then meet persecution in the form of seized property. The result of being looted and driven off their property was to have people from other area tribes who heard about it come and ask questions and express an interest in what the missionaries had taught. They are planning to start the process again with another tribe.
Samaritan's Purse is, I think, fantastic. And our kids LOVE helping to do it; they ask about it every year. It's awesome. Now: I post this as a double agent, as it were, a friend of Calvinists embedded in the dazed and confused ELCA, fighting the good fight. So I'm not sure how to analyze Samaritan's Purse from your POV, I guess. But it sure looks good from where I sit.
#2 Bended Knee International, out of AZ, led by Tom Watson, former pastor of Countryside Bible Church in Southlake (Dallas area). Cessationist. Goes to remote Siberia, Tuva.
http://www.bendedknee.org/bki/BKIMinistry/Russia/Evangelism.aspx
Middle East Reformed Fellowship (MERF)
Dan and everyone else,
Just to warn you, this is a potentially harmful post to respond to publicly. What I mean is many missionary groups evangelizing Muslims do so in closed countries, and hence security is a real concern for them. Public exposure could mean deportation or worse.
PLEASE make sure you are at liberty to publicly identify missionaries or mission organizations to Muslims before posting a reply here, for the sake of your brothers in the field.
I can't give names for Muslim ministries or my direct connections to them online. I'll only mention the IMB and Cru.
Most of the ministries to Muslims are necessarily outside of a preaching setting. However, I know of a new Syrian church made of MBBs that has been planted since the recent fighting that has Muslims lined up to hear the gospel preached. I don't know if it is explicitly Calvinistic.
Thanks, Aaron. Indeed, I've rec'd a few emails, off-camera, as it were. Hence my repeating how easy it is to email me.
A old pastor of mine, who is a good friend, and the other Grandfather of my 4 grandsons, is a fine teacher of the Holy Writ with this Christ-centered mission focused ministry: http://www.perspectives.org/site/c.eqLLI0OFKrF/b.3222959/
I'll ask him how they are connected to missions with the Muslim world.
I know he has been to many different people groups as they say.
Seems some God calls to equip those He calls to go.
Propempo is a ministry that our church supports that is sound theologically and also focuses on unreached people groups and Muslims.
They also focus on building local, national-led churches to nurture new believers. Good ministry
Propempo International
Propempo International is a ministry that focuses on unreached people groups but especially on Muslims. They are sound theologically and are church planters in the places where they minister.
I have a friend serving in an openly hostile Islamic region. He is solidly Reformed, Paul Washer trained, and his gospel presentation is sound. I can get you in touch with him but would prefer not to post his contact info or name here where it would be open for any and everyone to see it... you are, however, free to email me and I will get you his info. faithbcpastor@att.net
Ken Ham endorses OCC so it must be OK. ()0(p) <-- that's my tongue in my cheek
AIG and OCC
You may want to check out Heart Cry. Paul washer is the founder and director. It certainly meets the doctrinal requirements that you mention. http://www.heartcrymissionary.com
I'm a worker to Muslim's in the Middle East. Reformed Baptist(1689'er) and Cessationistic. We do EV with straight Gospel preaching, albeit it's all relational. I'm in a closed country so we can't "preach" in the true sense of the word. We would get kicked out or worse. But it certainly hasn't stopped me from preaching boldly in a relational context. Been here for almost two years and seen some relative "success". I've seen three M's come to faith in my two years which is actually unheard of, and many more who are open and being watered. Most nights though, you go back home tired, dirty and frustrated, wondering if it's worth it. Just being honest. I come home in three short months but a couple companies(not mine) I trust here are:
-Pioneers
-Middle East Reformed Fellowship
They preach the pure Gospel and do the hard work of missions. Learning the language and culture, preaching Christ in Arabic to the culture, and Lord willing, planting churches. You NEVER have to worry about them getting sucked into Insider Movement methodology(which is a disaster I've had to deal with, I can tell you first hand).
Paul Washer's organization, Heart Cry, is great as well. It's usually indigenous workers- which is even better imo. The local workers(which is only a handful) are usually far more effective than westerner's.
If you're interested in an individual who could use support, let me know. My roommate has been in the Middle East for almost 5 years- 2 yrs in Syria before he was kicked out, and now 3 yrs where we're at now. He is one of the best "workers" I've ever seen. Theologically sound, bold, speaks the language fluently, knows the culture in and out, and doesn't get caught up in all the new methodologies that come down the pike every couple of years.
But to answer your question, the two I mentioned are extremely solid. You can trust them.
I know some Samaritan's Purse workers who aren't even believers. They're more like an NGO from my understanding. They don't do missions in the true sense. I might get panned for that, but it's true.
The problem you're going to run into is a lot of organizations aren't fully baptistic, reformed, cessationist, etc. There's not exactly a line of people wanting to come out here so organizations tend to be more lose in their theological requirements. They're simply looking for workers who are willing to come out- which creates a horrible mixed bag. I could write a book..
Anyways, hope that helps. Soli Deo Gloria from the Middle East.
I am familiar with the ministry of Samy Tanagho which is called Glad News for Muslims. I have heard him speak twice and am familiar with his book. He's been sharing the Gospel with Muslims for 30 years.
I am familiar with Samaritan's Purse as they are the volunteer service arm for disaster areas and are active in CO right now in the flood areas. I volunteered for a day with Operation Christmas Child at the processing center and was impressed as the day opened with teaching and prayer. Also have attended classes with The Rapid Respone team and the classes were really good at teaching you how to handle people in crisis.
Karen Christian Education Foundation
http://karenchristianeducation.org/
While not baptistic, KCEF is a confessional reformed organisation witnessing to the Karen people in Northern Thailand.
I'm a missionary in Peru who is reaching to an unreached people group called "Urarina". I'm cess/bap/calv as well. As per efficacy: Not sure just yet. Been here a year and a half. Plan is to stay here for a VERY long time. I try not to think much in terms of efficacy, but more along the lines of "am I being faithful".
-Sean
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