November 2007

We recently invited a consultant, Dr Linda Williams, to interview a number of mission organizations who are engaged in church planting and community transformation in "creative access countries." Her recent report to the MB Mission board was a fascinating look at current realities and best practices amongst agencies currently focused on the "least reached." Here are some highlights:

- "Business as Mission" has replaced the "community development" model as the most common entry platform for workers going into creative access countries.
- Integrity and authenticity are essential. Missionaries must never claim to be doing something they are not doing.
- Partnerships, alliances, networks and coalitions are the best way to do holistic ministry in creative access countries.
- The screening and selection of workers is very important. The challenges of life in creative access countries require spiritual maturity, flexibility and holiness.
- Church planting in creative access countries looks different. The house church model prevails and leadership often lacks formal theological education.
- The primary goal is not staying in the country but sharing Jesus.
- It is difficult to communicate Kingdom fruit in creative access countries to donors.

Our work in a number of creative access countries is too sensitive to publish. We continue to pray for workers for the least reached who are spiritually mature, trained professionals, flexible, and team players. We are praying for workers like the apostle Paul, who said "our hope is that...our area of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory." (2 Cor. 10:15-16)

Ministry Highlights

- There are many opportunities for ministry through satellite TV programs in creative access countries in North Africa and the Middle East. Our missionaries are actively involved in producing programs that present the Gospel in this way and are seeing lives transformed by the power of Christ!
- Laurence and Leona Hiebert, missionaries in Japan, recently reported that they have had the joy of welcoming several individuals into the Kingdom of Christ in the last few weeks. Praise the Lord for the life that He alone can give.

Items for Prayer

- A number of our missionaries all over the world are in language study right now, learning to communicate in the heart language of the people they serve. Pray that they would progress steadily and be encouraged as they press on.
- MB Mission will host its final four Celebration Missions Nights of 2007 this month. Please pray for many individuals to respond to our invitation to join us in holistic church planting around the world through their gifts, prayer and service.

Randy Friesen