Conservatism and Progressivism - It's impact on missions.

[Ernie]

So what could be done to help more people be willing to do this?

I heard of some parents who raised their children with such simple living, that for them to move anywhere in a developing country would be very natural or maybe even a step up.
This is not how our church planter friends in Mexico lived while they were in the US. So I don't think this is the only answer. But living simply all through life is a good help.

Another thing might be to prepare for such a prospect all one's life. The couple in Mexico did this for years.

I would also add that tearing oneself out of a community is very difficult later in life. To find 500 couples with no children at home, in good health, the means and ability to permanently migrate, and with the vision and skill set that could help them be successful in such a venture, seems like an impossible task. What could be done to make it happen? About the only thing that comes to my mind would be a massive upheaval for American Anabaptists in terms of their economic situation or most likely some form of religious persecution, where they are motivated to move for what is in some way a better situation for them. That's why Anabaptists migrated to America, I believe.

But the folks that moved to America were NOT interested in planting churches among the Native American population or other European immigrants. That was the Moravians and Methodists.

[Ernie]

So what could be done to help more people be willing to do this?

I heard of some parents who raised their children with such simple living, that for them to move anywhere in a developing country would be very natural or maybe even a step up.
This is not how our church planter friends in Mexico lived while they were in the US. So I don't think this is the only answer. But living simply all through life is a good help.

Another thing might be to prepare for such a prospect all one's life. The couple in Mexico did this for years.

I would also add that tearing oneself out of a community is very difficult later in life. To find 500 couples with no children at home, in good health, the means and ability to permanently migrate, and with the vision and skill set that could help them be successful in such a venture, seems like an impossible task. What could be done to make it happen? About the only thing that comes to my mind would be a massive upheaval for American Anabaptists in terms of their economic situation or most likely some form of religious persecution, where they are motivated to move for what is in some way a better situation for them. That's why Anabaptists migrated to America, I believe.

A thought: would it be about as easy, and as profitable for the Kingdom to get 500 anabaptist couples to move here from Central America or Ethiopia to minister in our cities and isolated rural areas with no anabaptist presence? Why or why not?

Now that is an interesting thought.

[Ernie]

A hybrid idea might be shotgun colonization (pardon the non-nonresistance of the term) where the transplants are spread across a region with a small group in each town.

This is the model I have been promoting the last number of years at church planters events as it relates to planting churches in American cities. I think the model could work elsewhere.

[Wesleyb]

A thought: would it be about as easy, and as profitable for the Kingdom to get 500 anabaptist couples to move here from Central America or Ethiopia to minister in our cities and isolated rural areas with no anabaptist presence? Why or why not?

I like the concept. Getting them here legally could be an obstacle, unfortunately. And you'd have posts on MN calling them "those people" and labeling them criminals.
It would not have to conflict with Ernie's idea; both could be useful.

Yes, this is becoming a hard country to get into, but mission agencies get into other countries using creative methods. Maybe these people could masquerade as tech workers or Spanish teachers? And yes, they would face prejudice and opposition even from fellow Christians, but I assume that would also be true of Americans going to other countries, especially with our reputation in the world right now.

[Neto]

So what could be done to help more people be willing to do this?

I heard of some parents who raised their children with such simple living, that for them to move anywhere in a developing country would be very natural or maybe even a step up.
This is not how our church planter friends in Mexico lived while they were in the US. So I don't think this is the only answer. But living simply all through life is a good help.

Another thing might be to prepare for such a prospect all one's life. The couple in Mexico did this for years.

I would also add that tearing oneself out of a community is very difficult later in life. To find 500 couples with no children at home, in good health, the means and ability to permanently migrate, and with the vision and skill set that could help them be successful in such a venture, seems like an impossible task. What could be done to make it happen? About the only thing that comes to my mind would be a massive upheaval for American Anabaptists in terms of their economic situation or most likely some form of religious persecution, where they are motivated to move for what is in some way a better situation for them. That's why Anabaptists migrated to America, I believe.

But the folks that moved to America were NOT interested in planting churches among the Native American population or other European immigrants. That was the Moravians and Methodists.

The Mennonite Brethren (as well as the Gross Gemeinde) were already involved in missionary efforts while still in the Russian Empire (most were going to India).

After coming to North America, ministries were started on Indian reservations in at least Oklahoma Territory, Indian Territory, and in Montana. There was also an MB mission started in Minneapolis, to German-speaking Lutherans.

[Ernie]

I would also add that tearing oneself out of a community is very difficult later in life. To find 500 couples with no children at home, in good health, the means and ability to permanently migrate, and with the vision and skill set that could help them be successful in such a venture, seems like an impossible task. What could be done to make it happen? About the only thing that comes to my mind would be a massive upheaval for American Anabaptists in terms of their economic situation or most likely some form of religious persecution, where they are motivated to move for what is in some way a better situation for them. That's why Anabaptists migrated to America, I believe.

But the folks that moved to America were NOT interested in planting churches among the Native American population or other European immigrants. That was the Moravians and Methodists.

The Mennonite Brethren (as well as the Gross Gemeinde) were already involved in missionary efforts while still in the Russian Empire (most were going to India).

After coming to North America, ministries were started on Indian reservations in at least Oklahoma Territory, Indian Territory, and in Montana. There was also an MB mission started in Minneapolis, to German-speaking Lutherans.

Thanks for that history. I was thinking more of my ancestors and their friends who moved to Pennsylvania in the 1700's.

[Neto]

But the folks that moved to America were NOT interested in planting churches among the Native American population or other European immigrants. That was the Moravians and Methodists.

The Mennonite Brethren (as well as the Gross Gemeinde) were already involved in missionary efforts while still in the Russian Empire (most were going to India).

After coming to North America, ministries were started on Indian reservations in at least Oklahoma Territory, Indian Territory, and in Montana. There was also an MB mission started in Minneapolis, to German-speaking Lutherans.

Thanks for that history. I was thinking more of my ancestors and their friends who moved to Pennsylvania in the 1700's.

Understood. I should have acknowledged that factor.

[Ernie]

I would also add that tearing oneself out of a community is very difficult later in life. To find 500 couples with no children at home, in good health, the means and ability to permanently migrate, and with the vision and skill set that could help them be successful in such a venture, seems like an impossible task.

Leaving community weeds out about 80% of empty nesters.
Health weeds out about 10%.
Vision and skill set weeds out about 7-9%
That leaves 1-3% who might be an option.

These are all guestimates of course.

I think there would be 500 willing and able Plain Anabaptist couples who would do this if they had the full blessing of their church and family to do so. I think this final factor is what will keep 450 couples from doing this. So this leaves us with 50. Where are they and what can we do to help the process?

In the meantime, let's start planting the vision in the minds of 20, 30, and 40 year olds so that we can see 500 couples mobilized every decade in the near future.

[JohnH]

I would also add that tearing oneself out of a community is very difficult later in life. To find 500 couples with no children at home, in good health, the means and ability to permanently migrate, and with the vision and skill set that could help them be successful in such a venture, seems like an impossible task.

Leaving community weeds out about 80% of empty nesters.
Health weeds out about 10%.
Vision and skill set weeds out about 7-9%
That leaves 1-3% who might be an option.

These are all guestimates of course.

I think there would be 500 willing and able Plain Anabaptist couples who would do this if they had the full blessing of their church and family to do so. I think this final factor is what will keep 450 couples from doing this. So this leaves us with 50. Where are they and what can we do to help the process?

In the meantime, let's start planting the vision in the minds of 20, 30, and 40 year olds so that we can see 500 couples mobilized every decade in the near future.

From what groups? Obviously a BMA type group and pilgrim, nationwide etc won’t be able to work together. Old Orders woman either. The Holdemans already have extensive missions established in Mexico, American cities and other places and other groups wouldn’t want to work with us anyway.

So are you sure would really be 500 available? A decade in the future many of these individuals won’t be plain Anabaptist anymore.

[Neto]

I would suggest starting to create a vision for missionary work will nearly always involve exposure to existing missionaries. Invite them to your congregation, and if they working through are 'faith missions', support them. When missionaries are in your area over a period of several days or more, invite them over for a meal. (This will expose your children to mission work, and will demonstrate to them that it is something you care about.)

My personal experience of a growing interest in missionary work started at a young age, with missionaries coming to our congregation and presenting their work. Some of my Sunday School teachers during in my younger years were people who had a burden for lost people everywhere, including in the far-off places. A missionary came from South America and was willing to spend time talking with me, a child at the time. One of our pastors gave me books about missionary work. (Do your congregations have 'church libraries', and do they have children's books in them? Put mission related books for all age levels in the library.) If the pastor has a vision for missions, then he will preach about it at times, and also freely talk to people about prayer needs he knows about.