Midwestern Magazine - Issue 33

M I D W E S T E R N B A P T I S T T H E O L O G I C A L S E M I N A RY A N D C O L L E G E

ISSUE 33

PREACHING IN A MISSIONARY CONTEXT | THE FUTURE OF THE IMB | INTERVIEW WITH MATT CARTER

INTRODUCING THE TIMOTHY TRACK.

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RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION MEETS MINISTRY EXPERIENCE

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CO NTENTS

Midwestern Magazine Issue 33

AT A G L A N C E

24

HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR CHURCH’S HEART FOR MISSION J.D. Greear

25

AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. ROBIN HADAWAY

34

STUDENT HIGHLIGHT Allyson Todd

36

IN FOCUS: Faith Community Church

37

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT Marty Beamer

38

AROUND CAMPUS A review of news and events

at Midwestern Seminary

44

BOOKS IN BRIEF Recently published books by Midwestern faculty and staff

46

RESOURCES FOR THE CHURCH A selection of articles from the For The Church resources site at ftc.co

FROM THE PRESIDENT

4 Six Tips for Preaching in a Missionary Context

ESSAY

Q&A

HISTORY

8 The Future of

20 Leading a

26 Charles Spurgeon’s Dangerous Mission

the IMB & Our Collaborative Great Commission Work

Church on Mission

David Platt on working to mobilize Christians for the nations.

An interview with Matt Carter, Pastor of Preaching and Vision at The Austin Stone Community Church.

12 So Others May

16 Can You Be a Sold-

Hear and Live

Out Christian in the Suburbs?

Learn about the four times someone tried to kill the Prince of Preachers.

30 The Mission Field Under My Roof MBT S .EDU

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Dear Friends: At Midwestern Seminary, we are absolutely committed to training pastors, ministers, and evangelists for the church. Yet, for Midwestern Seminary to exist for the church also means we are for the nations. These two descriptors do not contradict one another. On the contrary, they cannot rightly exist without coexisting.

The New Testament teaches us the church is to be not only domestic but global, and herein is, for me, an exhilarating reality. God’s work through His church — and around the globe in the 21st century — is unlike any previous era. Through technological advances, the wide availability of theological education, and a host of other innovations, Midwestern Seminary is able to train ministers not only for the mission field but on the mission field. As we do, we are able to see the Great Commission furthered and countless churches strengthened and enriched.

My wife and I had opportunity to see this work up close and personal earlier this year as we traveled to the Middle East to partner in ministry with several of our Fusion teams. Fusion, as you’ll see in the pages of this magazine, is a unique partnership between Midwestern Seminary and the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Fusion combines the fall semester of academic study on campus with a spring semester of overseas, hands-on missions work.

As Karen and I traveled overseas, we were able to experience firsthand our students fulfilling the Great Commission on a daily basis in some of the most austere and culturally difficult environments on the planet. We saw our students teaching English classes to refugees, sharing the gospel in war-torn areas, and living on mission for the Lord Jesus Christ. As a seminary president, it was humbling for me to see our students in gospel action. As a Christian, it was invigorating for me to partake, in just a small way, with them in their noble work.

As you read this magazine, I pray that the urgency of the Great Commission, as well as your personal evangelistic passion, will pulsate anew. May this magazine, and the broader ministry of Midwestern Seminary, be used to strengthen your faith and the church, both domestically and globally.

To God be The Glory,

Jason K. Allen, Ph.D. President Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

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Readers can visit DR. JASON K. ALLEN’S BLOG at jasonkallen.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE ISSUE 33

By God’s grace, I’ve been granted the wonderful privilege over the last several years

ADMINISTRATION

of traveling to visit churches and ministries all over the country and even a few

Jason K. Allen

places overseas. The biggest blessing I’ve received in all these first-hand encounters

PRESIDENT

Gary Crutcher

VICE PRESIDENT FOR

with the Lord’s work in diverse and various contexts is a joyous optimism about the state of the church. I know it’s easy these days, looking at the latest church growth

INSTITUTIONAL ADMINISTRATION

statistics or even just watching the daily news, to get caught up in a spiritual sort of

Jason G. Duesing

cynicism about “the state of the world.” But everywhere I go, I meet young believers

PROVOST

Charles W. Smith, Jr.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR

firmly committed to the inerrant word of God, the powerful gospel that word proclaims to us, and the wondrous glory of the Christ that gospel gives us. How

INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS

could I not be optimistic?

EDITORIAL

One thing this recovery of the gospel inevitably brings with it among the younger

Jared C. Wilson

generation is a recommitment to the work of evangelism and mission. It’s to that

CHIEF EDITOR

subject we’ve dedicated this latest edition of the Midwestern Magazine. We are pursuing the vision cast by Habakkuk 2:14, that God’s plan for the world is to fill the

ART

earth with the knowledge of his glory “as the waters cover the sea.” God’s vision is

Jason Muir

for global glory, and therefore, so is ours.

Liz Stack

We asked Midwestern Seminary’s missions prof, Dr. Robin Hadaway, if we are

LAYOUT & DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHER

living in the greatest mission sending era of all time. In our Alumnus Spotlight, we asked pastor Marty Beamer to share about his experience in Midwestern College’s

Special thanks to: DAVE WRIGHT

PAT HUDSON

missions process, Fusion. We asked pastors Matt Carter and J.D. Greear what it looks like at their churches to develop in people a heart for God’s mission—both abroad and around the corner from their house.

From beginning to end, we’ve decided to fill this magazine issue with thoughts deep and rich, but also personal and practical, about global and local missions. And my personal prayer is that, as you read through articles by our president Dr. Jason K. Allen or by the director of Fusion, Erik Odegard—among others—or peruse the similarly themed resources from our For The Church web site (ftc.co), that you’ll catch a bit of that gospel optimism too. Christ is indeed filling all things. Let’s commit to pray, worship, and work together, that others may hear the good news

© 2017 Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.

and contribute to the global vision of this seminary and

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SIX TIPS for

PREACHING in a

MISSIONARY

by JASON K. ALLEN

CONTEXT

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

Recently, I had the opportunity to minister in the Middle East, including time in Israel and Egypt. One of the highlights of my trip was preaching in the First Baptist Church of Cairo—yes, there is a congregation so named.

Egypt is an ancient civilization, with standing ruins dating to thousands of years before Christ.

Of course, the land is rich with biblical history too.

Currently, the vast majority of Egyptians (90%) are Muslim. According to the Joshua Project, 3.4 % are evangelical. However, there are just under 2,300 people in the Egyptian Baptist Convention, which makes Baptists a microscopic minority.

To be candid, preaching to believers in a context like Egypt is a bit intimidating. In many ways, they have paid a greater price for their faith than I have for mine. They know what it means to leave father and brother to follow the Messiah in ways we do not. We American Christians curse the darkness; they live in it.

Yet, as I preached, I felt the pleasure of God and sensed anew the power of the Word, the universality of the Great Commission, and how all believers— regardless of locale—exude a kindred spirit.

Throughout my time in the pulpit, I was mindful of my context and of the unique circumstance in which I ministered. I worked to honor the Lord by being mindful of these six tips:

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“The Word supplies the power, not our eloquence, force of personality, or personal connection. If you get nothing else right, get this right—preach the Word.”

1

PREACH THE WORD

The Word is powerful to transform lives, regardless of one’s cultural or ethnic affiliation. Is this not the story of Acts and the broader story of church history? The Word supplies the power, not our eloquence, force of personality, or personal connection. If you get nothing else right, get this right—preach the Word.

2

FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH YOUR AUDIENCE

This is important in any preaching context but especially overseas. Are you preaching to believers?

Are they facing persecution, scarcity of resources, or some other hardship? Are they unbelievers? To what religious system are they most likely adherents? It is impossible to hit your target if you do not know where it is or who they are. Much of this fact-finding can be accomplished by searching the Internet or by simply speaking ahead of time to someone familiar with the context of the location where you’ll be preaching.

3

FOCUS ON THE GOSPEL

The power of the gospel is why you are there and why you preach. Do not travel around the world to preach only to show up with a self-help sermon.

The gospel is the message every person needs to hear; it is the message every faithful minister is to preach. Remind the believers of all they have gained through Christ. Lift high the Son of God to unbelieving audiences.

4

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Preaching overseas involves multiple vulnerabilities or opportunities for error. Speaking through a translator presents its own challenges, and then through the translator to the gathered crowd even

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more. Western quips, cumbersome words, angular concepts, American slang, all can trip up the translator. Even if he can follow you, those listening to him—who are likely less educated than he—probably can not. Do not gunk up the message with complexities. Keep it simple, direct, and punchy.

5

REMEMBER THE UNIVERSALITY OF BIBLICAL TRUTH

Preaching overseas reminds you of the limits of illustrations, cultural referents, and anodyne preacher stories. That is all fine anyway because that is not why you are there. The great, grand truths of Scripture are also the great, grand needs and longings of the human heart. Sin, repentance, forgiveness, atonement, eternal judgement, the Lordship of Christ, and other grand truths are the mountain peaks of Scripture. Make sure they flavor your sermon.

6

BE MINDFUL OF CULTURAL NORMS

Is there a particular Bible translation they use? Are there cultural dress expectations? Is the congregation inclined or disinclined to receive an American? Asking your host a few questions beforehand is well worth your while.

It may well save you some embarrassment and, more importantly, position your sermon to be better received.

“The great, grand truths of Scripture are also the great, grand needs and longings of the human heart.”

Preaching, in the words of Martyn Lloyd-Jones, is “the highest, most glorious call one can ever know.” I resonate even more with Lloyd-Jones’ assessment when I preach in an overseas context. As I do, I feel the majesty of the gospel and the weight of the Great Commission. All of this is too important to flub the sermon. Too much is at stake. That is why we should strive to preach our best sermons in overseas contexts. I trust these six tips will further that end.

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THE FUTURE

of the

IMB

A N D O U R CO L L A B O R AT I V E GREAT COMM I SS I O N WO R K

By David Platt

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As the IMB purposes to exalt Christ among the nations, we must subsequently work to mobilize Christians for the nations.

With more than 2.8 billion people in the world who still lack access to the gospel, the IMB cannot settle for anything less than aggressive calls for all Christians to pray passionately, give sacrificially, and go intentionally for the glory of Christ among all peoples.

Looking out across over 15 million Southern Baptists today, just imagine if that ratio was present among us. Instead of 4,000–5,000 missionaries, we would have well over 100,000 missionaries spreading the gospel around the world. The key for these Moravians, though, was not a commitment to a sophisticated well-financed mission board. Instead, they were consumed by a mission mind-set. They looked at their lives through the lens of mission, and they were leveraging the opportunities God had given them for work around the world to live in other countries for the spread of the gospel.

If the Moravians were doing this centuries ago, how much more are such opportunities available to Southern Baptists in view of the globalization of today’s marketplace? Opportunities abound today for Southern Baptists not only to leave their jobs to serve as missionaries in other countries but also to leverage their jobs to serve as missionaries among unreached peoples.

For far too long, Christians in Southern Baptist churches have seen global mission as a compartmentalized program in the church for a select few people who are “Envision men and women rising called to this purpose. Yet when one looks from cover to cover through every morning to take their place Scripture, one realizes that global mission is the purpose for which every one on their knees as partners with God of us has been created. We have all been created, called, and commissioned to be in the work he is doing around the part of making disciples of all nations. world through prayer.”

This call to mission most assuredly means making disciples right where we live among neighbors, coworkers, and acquainSo what might happen if this mission mind-set tances in our communities and cities. At the same marked not just a few extraordinary people, but time, Christians work on mission wherever we live everyday, ordinary members across Southern Bapwith a continual openness to go on mission whertist churches? Envision such members passionate ever God leads. about praying for the nations. Envision men and women rising every morning to take their place on This is the kind of mind-set that marked the Moratheir knees as partners with God in the work he is vians in mission history. It was said of the Moravians doing around the world through prayer. Imagine centuries ago that one out of every 92 of them them joining with what God is doing in Central were crossing cultures for the spread of the gospel.

Asia, North Africa, and Eastern Europe in personal

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time with the Lord on a daily basis and then through corporate time with the church on a weekly basis.

‘What might happen if our churches were marked by Acts 13, Antioch-like pictures of concentrated prayer and fasting for the glory of God among the nations?

Moreover, what might happen if God’s heart for the nations was reflected in sacrificial giving among our churches? God has given American Christians unprecedented wealth in the history of the world for a reason: he wants his praise known among all peoples. God gives his people wealth in the world for the sake of his worship throughout the world.

May we not, then, waste our wealth on the pleasures pursuits, and possessions of this world but instead spend our wealth for the purposes of God among the peoples of the world.

Finally, what might happen if more people were going to the nations? When I look at the history of the IMB, I praise God for 25,000 missionaries who have served over these last 170 years. However, we need 25,000 now. Such a number necessitates, then, that the IMB think through creative ways for as many God-called missionaries as possible to go the nations, optimizing all the opportunities God has afforded us. Imagine students studying overseas, professionals working overseas, and retirees moving overseas, all doing so intentionally for the spread of the gospel among unreached peoples.

in the mission. When we look at the world, then, we must not only view unreached people as a harvest field but also as a potential harvest force. For when unreached people are reached, they become an entirely new force now filled with the Spirit and focused on the spread of the gospel to more unreached people.

In the days to come, the IMB must lead the way in mobilizing Christians here and around the world to see the countless doors God has opened wide for the spread of the gospel to the nations through our praying, giving, and going. Indeed, may God bless the IMB in such a way we might be a part of a Moravian type missions movement in our day that sees tens of thousands of God-exalting, Christ-following, Spirit-led, biblically faithful, people-loving, high-quality missionaries running to the nations for the sake of God’s fame.

This article is an excerpt from The SBC and the 21st Century: Reflection, Renewal, and Recommitment, ed.

Jason K. Allen (B&H Academic).

Keep in mind, also, that as Christians are mobilized from Southern Baptist churches to go to the nations through the IMB, the work they do overseas will be deliberately focused on mobilizing more Christians.

The work of the missionary involves proclaiming the gospel, making disciples, gathering those disciples together into churches, and then raising up leaders who will shepherd those churches on mission in the world. The missionary task is not fully complete until new churches planted are now joining

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Learn more about THE IMB at imb.org.

SEPTEMBER

FOR THE CHURCH

25–26

CONFERENCE

2017 | KANSAS CITY

FEATURING

JASON K. ALLEN

MATT CARTER

MATT CHANDLER

RAY ORTLUND, JR.

JARED C. WILSON

AND OTHERS

EARLY BIRD

GENERAL ADMISSION

75

100

(UNTIL JUNE 16)

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Register at mbts.edu/ftc17

I NT R O DUCIN G A N E W R E SOUR CE F R O M M I D W E S T E R N S E M IN ARY

FOR THE CHURCH PODCAST

with Jared C. Wilson

Subscribe now: iTunes | Android | RSS | ftc.co/podcast

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BY ER IK O DE G A RD

M I DW E S T E R N M A G A Z I N E

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“Oh God, please do whatever it takes to make me happy.”

This was the cry of a sixteen year-old unconverted boy we encountered on one mission trip. And while this statement may elicit a number of theological concerns, one thing it preeminently displays is a subtle distortion of man’s central need for God. Unfortunately, this error of self-orientation is repeated in the heart of every person who has sinned against God; it is in every single one of us. It comes as no surprise, then, that our young people are repeating this same cry day after day, in a million different ways expressing their inner longing for ultimate purpose in life. This is why Midwestern College’s Fusion program aims to help young believers answer this ultimate question of purpose, largely by reframing it.

GLORY

Fusion walks adolescents through a directed process leading toward biblical adulthood. We believe that the distinguishing mark of a biblical adult is his or her living for the glory of God in every thought, word, and action. We understand that God’s ultimate purpose in all that he does is to exalt his glory; therefore, man’s purpose is to exalt him in all that he does. Fusion helps young believers to take personal ownership of a transcendent cause that motivates everything that they do. The greatest cause in all the world is the exaltation of God’s glory!

our own happiness, and we think God should get on board that agenda. God then becomes a kind of genie to us, existing to grant our wishes and serve our whims. This is the root of sin against God. And such disrespect of God has terrible consequences.

The glory of God shines most brightly in the gospel. While God should rightly punish such insubordination, he has demonstrated gracious love by sending Jesus to bear our consequences.

Through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are converted to be in right relationship with God. He is our loving Master, and we are his happy servants.

Fusion recognizes that disciples will only live for God’s glory if they are compelled by the gospel. So, we find means to constantly remind young believers of the gospel so that they will live sacrificially for God’s glory. Fusion “candidates” (first-year Fusion students) are placed into “cohorts” (teams) in order to practice life-on-life discipleship.

Cohorts live, eat, sleep, work out, study, and train together for 120 days on campus. This has proven to be a powerful context in which to apply the gospel to every square inch of life.

GOSPEL

The problem, of course, is that we have subverted our relationship with God. We would prefer our purpose be our own praise and glory. Like the cry of that sixteen year-old kid, we are aimed first at

Learn more about THE FUSION PROGRAM at midwesterncollege.com/fusion.

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Each cohort is given an “advocate” (team leader) who has a track record of living for God’s glory in all of life. The advocate mentors each candidate, leading by example and providing encouragement, direction, and gentle correction. Providentially positioned in Kansas City, Fusion teams have the privilege of receiving formal instruction on the gospel at Midwestern College, hearing and seeing it weekly in healthy church partnerships, and proclaiming it boldly throughout the city.

GLOBE

The greatest need across the globe is the arrival of the gospel. This gospel must not be hoarded for ourselves, but must be heralded among the nations. Jesus commanded, as his final assignment for His devotees, that disciples be made through the witness of His church among all the nations. And so the church will continue, trusting in Jesus’ promise that a number from every people group on the planet will believe, until this age ends at Christ’s return.

are trained in new languages, world religions, Bible interpretation, and evangelism strategies in order to aptly communicate the gospel cross-culturally. Students become equipped to navigate public transportation systems, implement first aid and survival tools, maintain physical conditioning, and utilize security principles in order to cope with the harsh practical realities of life in hard places. The Fusion process is consummated in a 120-day deployment to faithfully use their training to enter tough places, proclaim the gospel, disciple those who believe, gather them into healthy churches, raise up biblically trained leaders, and entrust these people to their Overseer.

SOMHAL

I should tell you that the Lord graciously answered that teenager’s cry. After his conversion, he learned that his life was to be lived for the One who died for him and rose again (2 Cor. 5:15). It certainly made him happy, but only through his realizing that everlasting life brings a greater joy than circumstantial happiness could ever give! It was through the Fusion process that he was trained to live So Others May Hear and

Yet global realities 2000 years later imply that this assignment has not been completed. The glory of “ONLY DISCIPLES WHO WORSHIP THE ONE WHO God is not known nor appreciated LAID ASIDE ALL COMFORTS AND RIGHTS TO SAVE among the 3.1 billion people of the world who have few, if any, ChrisREBELS WILL BE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT tians among their people. And it’s obvious why these people are still TAKES TO REACH THE UNREACHED.” unreached. Unreached people groups are hard to reach. They Live. That has become Fusion’s motto, our primary are insulated from Christian witness due to resistant objective and directive, summed up in our commonly cultures, oppressive governments, harsh living enviused acronym SOMHAL. But this directive shouldn’t ronments, or national instability. Therefore, only just belong to us; rather, it ought to be the transcendisciples who worship the One who laid aside all dent cause of every believer—to enjoy God and glorify comforts and rights to save rebels will be willing to do him, especially through making disciples among all whatever it takes to reach the unreached. nations until Christ returns. This is the cause we were created for and the only one worth living for.

Fusion is raising up a generation of young believers Our young believers are crying out for this ultimate who are compelled by the gospel to do whatever it purpose for their lives. Are we training them to live takes to bring the light of the glory of God into the So Others May Hear and Live? darkest places in the world. In a word, Fusion trains hard for hard places. Over the course of one semester, teams commit to a disciplined lifestyle to be sharpened in order to penetrate insulated nations. Teams M I DW E S T E R N M A G A Z I N E

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GOD CALLS. WE TRAIN. YOU GO. OUR LOCAL CAMPUS PREPARES YOU FOR THE GLOBAL CALL. Fusion combines cultural engagement, physical training, and

academic studies, preparing students to embrace the cost of

discipleship. Spend a semester training in Kansas City and the next overseas. All while earning 28 credit hours toward the BA in Christian Ministry with a Missions emphasis.

Take the next step. midwesterncollege.com/fusion

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Can You Be A Sold-Out Christian in the

Suburbs?

by Owen Strachan

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Evangelicals taking seriously the call of Christ to the life of the kingdom are asking themselves the question in my title in increasing numbers.

And, like me, many are arriving at the answer of a simple “yes.”

I recently published a book called Risky Gospel on “ordinary” Christianity. But here’s the thing: I don’t simply want Christians to accept that it’s okay to live in the ‘burbs. I want to call them to infuse all of life with gospel passion driven by what I call “gospel risk:” because of Christ, trading a small way of life for a big vision of your existence.

light-foam caramel macchiatos at Starbucks; they don’t have to quit their job, but can keep working at their vocation, whether that means barista in Brooklyn, stay-at-home mom in Des Moines, financial planner in Chicago, pastor in Bangor, Maine, or most anything in between. I want to infuse “ordinary,” everyday Christianity with gospel purpose.

I want to infuse ordinary, everyday Christianity with gospel purpose.

On the surface, the book fits with the “new radicalism,” but I have a different focus in Risky Gospel than found in books like David Platt’s Radical, Francis Chan’s Crazy Love, and Kyle Idleman’s Not a Fan. (I appreciate all three books, by the way, and reference them in my writing; Idleman, incidentally, kindly wrote the foreword to my book.) But I have three particular concerns in Risky Gospel that I think makes them different from these and other titles:

1

TO CELEBRATE THE GOD-ROOTED GOODNESS OF THE SO-CALLED “ORDINARY CHRISTIAN LIFE.” I want believers to see that they can lead a big, God-glorifying life in the suburbs, the country, and the urban core. They can drive an SUV; they can buy venti two-shot

Learn more about THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC THEOLOGY at cpt.mbts.edu.

I want people to leave everything they have and go to closed countries and share the gospel. That’s glorious! But it’s also glorious when you keep going to your church, you keep teaching Sunday School to third graders, you keep building a vocation for yourself by which to honor Christ, you keep sharing the gospel with your FedEx driver, and so on and so forth. We’re a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), and we all serve the Lord. We sorely need to recover this truth today. We’ve embraced a new sacerdotalism that is leaving many of us without missional purpose. God wants us all plugged in and serving in his name, not just pastors and missionaries, important as these roles are.

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2

TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT BUILDING INSTITUTIONS (HOME, CHURCH, WORK).

In Risky Gospel, I make a strong case for “building” and strengthening institutions.

We must see the continuity between the foundational creation mandate in the Bible about taking dominion and our own God-shaped visions to build something awesome: a godly home, a God-glorifying career, a stronger local church. In an age that shows hostility to the gospel, we need institutions more than ever. Young evangelicals are especially tempted to be overly mystical, non-committal, and indifferent to larger works. I’m winsomely going after them in the book so that they’ll see how satisfying and important involvement in home, church, and work truly is!

3

TO FULLY EMBRACE OUR IDENTITY AS “MORE THAN CONQUERORS” IN CHRIST (ROMANS 8:37).

I’m tired of “miserable worm” Christianity.

I’m tired of hearing believers mope about how defeated and weak they are. I wrote this book for believers who want a bigger, stronger, thicker faith. They can see where they want to go, but they don’t necessarily know how to get there. The best way to go from A to B is to know who we are in the power of the Spirit. Chapters 2-4 give this foundation. Evangelicalism today needs a pep talk. We need to get pumped up in Christ. Jesus deals death to sin. Jesus makes us alive. Jesus makes us more than conquerors. We’re all sinful. But we’re fundamentally a “new creation.” I celebrate and apply this reality in Risky Gospel.

It’s my hope that calls like these will propel a generation of believers to embrace everyday faith while kissing a weak, wussified Christianity goodbye. Whether you live in the country, the ‘burbs, or a global city, you have the opportunity to honor the Lord and taste the enthralling power of his gospel. So what’s stopping you?

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LEADING A CHURCH ON MISSION

M I DW E S T E R N M A G A Z I N E

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5 Questions with The Austin Stone’s

MATT CARTER

an interview by Jared C. Wilson

Matt, we’ve watched from afar how The Austin Stone, which you planted in 2002, has not just grown numerically but in its beating heart for mission at home and abroad. Can you give me some sense of the Austin Stone’s missional calling? What are some areas where you feel like you guys are really “killing it” in terms of local mission?

ONE:

From the very beginning of the church, we have attempted to convey to our people that the responsibility for mission doesn’t fall on the shoulders of the pastors, but every person in the church that claims the name of Christ. In the early days of the church, I often taught from Ephesians 4:11-12 where Paul speaks of the responsibility of church leadership to “Equip the saints for the work of the ministry” and how the church won’t grow in a biblically healthy way unless each part of the body is fulfilling their personal calling to the Great Commission.

I would say that we have seen this played out in many ways, but one particular aspect of our church that I am proud of is the impact our college students have had on the University of Texas. One study showed that the number of “reached” students at UT doubled during the last 15 years. While I am fully aware that The Austin Stone, by no means, can take credit for that, I have no doubt that God has sent forth an army of college students from our church to live as missionaries for God on that university and has impacted it tremendously.

I remember how, even when I was pastoring all the way up in Vermont, some folks in my church identified some orphans in Austin they wanted someone to look into, and when I contacted you, folks from your church immediately inquired as to what could be done on their behalf. I was so impressed by that, and my church was too.

What would you say are some important things you’ve learned in local church training for winning hearts to missional living?

TWO:

One of the most important aspects I’ve learned in training people and winning hearts toward local mission is to do it through the lens of the gospel.

For example, I used to motivate people to live on mission by basically convincing them that is what obedience to God looks like. If you’re a good communicator, that can be a pretty effective strategy for a little while. The problem with that method of influencing people to mission, is that it’s never sustainable. I found out the hard way that motivation by guilt always leads to burnout. On the other hand, If you call people to live on mission out of an

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overflow of the reality that Christ died for them and lived on mission for them, it produces a radically different kind of sustainability.

One thing I think a lot of evangelical churches and seminaries are discovering is just how many more Christian women seem to be experiencing the call to missions than men. It’s hard to wrap our minds around that phenomena, and I’m sure the reasons for it are somewhat complex. How would you say missional training can help with the church’s development of young men in particular?

THREE:

I believe with all my heart that young men, especially from the millennial generation, are longing to be a part of something significant. I see in them a longing to be tested, proved, challenged and stretched beyond the boring and mundane existence that society now offers them. I may be stepping out on a limb here, but it is a theory of mine, that this longing is one of the main reasons for the rise in the popularity of Crossfit and similar programs. It affords young men (and women) the opportunity to push themselves to the limits of their physical and mental capacity, and to do it in the context of a team. Without battles to fight and mountains to conquer, men will find ways to test themselves. I believe that calling men to live radically on mission for the Kingdom of God, regardless of their life circumstance, just might be the missing link to helping men find meaning and relevance in today’s church.

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There’s no denying the appeal of “all-out” lifestyle in the younger generation. I think we’ve been seeing the (good) fruit of that for a few years now in some of the ways the church has recovered the missional mandate and zeal for evangelism and missional living. Zeal always comes with some particular temptations, however. How do you move a church toward more of an outward-looking posture without promoting or seeding a kind of legalism in the church?

FOUR:

Again, I think this comes back to whether or not we are motivating people from the gospel, or some other message. Why do we go to the people with the message of the cross? Because they are sinners in need of grace? Or, because we were sinners who have experienced God’s grace and can’t help but share it with the world? The former produces legalism; the latter does not.

I probably wouldn’t have on my own. This was especially true in the area of systematic theology and the languages. I’m not sure I would have had read important texts cover to cover or studied years of Greek apart from somebody making me. I am a better pastor and preacher today because of the disciplines developed in the seminary context.

How do you see the role of seminary education helping the local church in pursuing God’s call to mission?

FIVE:

I’ve come a long way on this subject. I’ve gone from thinking a pastor should avoid seminary at all costs, to becoming one who has a master’s and a doctorate from two seminaries. I think ultimately, seminary is helpful in different ways for different people. For me, it forced me to read at a volume and a level

Learn more about THE AUSTIN STONE COMMUNITY CHURCH at austinstone.org.

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your Church's Heart

H OW TO D E V E LO P

FO R M I S S I O N

by J.D. GREEAR

N

othing develops a church’s heart for mission like people actually seeing it firsthand and experiencing it. One thing we’ve sought at The Summit Church is seek to transfer ownership, so to speak, from the church offices down into each small group or Sunday school class, into the hands of the body. And each group or class owns two things: ministry to our city and commitment to one of our overseas works. (We call them “sponsors.”) So every one of our groups take trips together to go see these church planters and we encourage small groups to take their own initiative in doing community ministry and mission.

Now, what happened when we did that, of course, is that we lost a little control! You have to be careful, because you want to make sure everybody’s going the right direction. But doing this also multiplied the ownership of the ministry. And it led to all kinds of new and fresh ideas. We have people engaging in the community in ways that we couldn’t have come up with ourselves. It’s amazing.

A few years ago I was asked to speak at our city’s annual MLK rally. Durham is a very racially charged city, so I’m not the typical candidate for an MLK rally! But it’s a big deal. The city hosts it. It’s televised. The mayor and all the county officials are there. And I asked them, “Why did you choose me?

I’m a pastor of a conservative Southern Baptist M I DW E S T E R N M A G A Z I N E

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Church.” And they said, “Well, everywhere we looked in our city where something was broken or something needed attention, there was always someone there from The Summit Church trying to fix it.”

They said, “We can’t think of a better representation of the spirit we want to see honored on MLK Day than that.”

And that’s not the result of me as a pastor coming up with a bunch of ideas and saying, “Let’s do this or that.” It’s the result of saying “The Spirit of God is in you.” Thirty-nine out of forty miracles in the book of Acts happen outside the church walls, which means I’m not supposed to be the one doing them all! You are to be seeing with the Spirit’s eyes and owning the mission.

Internationally and domestically, we think similarly.

We send people. We’re a big believer in short-term trips. I know sometimes people say that’s a colossal waste of money, but I know that for every one dollar we spend on a short-term mission trip, we get ten times that back, whether that’s in dollars given to missions or personal engagement in missions. So it’s like seed money.

Our belief is that to develop a heart in a church for mission, the pastors and the church leaders have to transfer the ownership.

Learn more about THE SUMMIT CHURCH at summitrdu.com.

An Interview with

Dr. Robin Hadaway Professor of Missions, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

What began your heart for mission work?

Growing up in Tallahassee, Florida, I wanted to live elsewhere, so I went to college at Memphis State where I became a believer in Christ my senior year.

I had been an atheist but the Lord brought me to himself, and I have followed him since that time. My journey took me to Dallas, Texas, where I worked for Dallas Seminary for a few years and graduated from Southwestern Seminary. But I wanted to work in a pioneer area so I went to Los Angeles County, where I pastored for four years in a multi-ethnic congregation—with Chinese, Hispanics, Egyptians, Persians—and I led that congregation in missions.

But I found out that my worldview was a little small!

I went to a missions conference in Glorieta, New Mexico, and I heard about the need for missionaries in the uttermost parts of the earth, in places where I’d never thought about. I heard about a church planting project taking place in Tanzania, and God eventually called us to work there, which began my missionary career. I raised my children all on the mission field, all of them graduating from high school overseas.

What are the particular strengths of the SBC’s Cooperative Program?

In my opinion, this is the best way to send missionaries both here in North America and throughout the world. The International Mission Board receives just over 50% of Cooperative Program allotment and the North American Mission Board receives about 25%, so Southern Baptists have decided that 75%, more or less, of the Cooperative Program should go to missions. I tell my students that the Southern Baptist Convention was really founded only to send missionaries. Other things

were added later, but the primary reason the Southern Baptists formed their convention and stayed together is because of missions.

And the CP allows our missionaries not to have to raise their support but to focus solely on the mission task before them overseas. Other missionaries spend an inordinate amount of time raising funds, sometimes they run out of money and have to come back to the states. And the retention rate of missionaries is much higher in the SBC because that’s one part of their lives they don’t have to worry about. They can stay focused on missions and evangelism and not worry about how they’re going to support their families. The funding looks a little differently for NAMB missionaries, but the Cooperative Program is still a great way to support our missionaries at home and abroad.

Are we living in the greatest mission sending era of all time?

I think it’s hard, in the middle of an era, to determine if it’s the greatest or the worst. I know in 1900, they thought the previous century, which is called the great century of missions today – the days of William Carey and Hudson Taylor and Adoniram Judson – was the greatest era. But today we’re able to send more people throughout the world. I don’t know if we’re doing it better. That’s one reason why I tell prospective students who are interested in missions to come study. Because in some instances the missiology of the older missionaries is better than the missiology that is being practiced by some of the mission boards today. I think we have to allow the next generation to decide if we’re doing a good job.

But my goal and thrill at Midwestern is to teach missionaries and to send them out so they can do the best job possible, so we can indeed be living in the greatest mission sending era.

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David once said, “There is only a step between me and death” (1 Samuel 20:3).

Charles Spurgeon almost took that step many times.

His mother, Eliza, gave birth to sixteen children after Spurgeon was born. Half of them died.

Diseases like the plague that shut down Spurgeon’s school in Newmarket could have easily killed the preacher before his ministry even began. A massive cholera pandemic killed ten thousand Londoners during Spurgeon’s first year in the city. Many of those who died were members of his church.

“All day, and sometimes all night long, I went about from house to house, and saw men and women dying, and, oh, how glad they were to see my face. When many were afraid to enter their houses lest they should catch the deadly disease, we who had no fear about such things found ourselves most gladly listened to when we spoke of Christ and of things Divine” (Autobiography 1:371).

Spurgeon was once walking beneath a construction site and a large boulder fell from the scaffold above, missing the preacher’s head by a distance of only a few feet. Three years before his death, Spurgeon tumbled down a flight of stairs and, according to one witness, did a “double somersault” in the air before smacking his head against the marble floor.

With his failing health and fragile joints, the landing could have easily broken ribs, bones, or worse.

Instead, he only lost a few front teeth.

As bizarre and seemingly coincidental as these incidents were, there were also assassination attempts made on Spurgeon’s life. It should not surprise us that the massive impact of his mission of gospel proclamation made him a target. Here are four times someone tried to kill the Prince of Preachers:

1

“IF YOU ARE NOT OUT OF THIS HOUSE THIS VERY MOMENT, I’LL BREAK EVERY BONE IN YOUR BODY.”

One night, Spurgeon was walking near the entrance of his “Helensburgh House” when he heard a loud banging on the front door. As soon as he opened the door, “a wild-looking man, armed with a huge stick, sprang in, slammed the door, stood with his back against it, and in the most menacing manner, announced that he had come to kill Mr. Spurgeon!”

“You must mean my brother,” the preacher said.

“His name is Spurgeon.”

“Ah!” said the madman, “it is the man that makes jokes that I mean to kill.”

“Oh, then you must go to my brother,” said Spurgeon, “for he makes jokes!”

“No,” he said, “I believe you are the man.” Then the madman exclaimed, “Do you know the asylum at —-? That’s where I live, and it takes ten men to hold me.”

“Ten men!” Spurgeon said. “That is nothing; you don’t know how strong I am. Give me that stick.”

Seizing the “formidable weapon,” Spurgeon opened the door and with “most impressive tones” screamed, “If you are not out of this house this very moment, I’ll break every bone in your body.”

“The stranger left the house, and after a few days he was taken back to his asylum” (Autobiography 3:196-97).

2

ALMOST STABBED BY A KNIFEWIELDING FRENCH MADMAN

During Spurgeon’s vacation in Mentone, France, a madman wielding a knife barged into his room at

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the Hotel des Anglais. Spurgeon, who was suffering physically that day, was resting on the bed when the madman entered. ”I want you to save my soul,” the stranger exclaimed.

Spurgeon tried to calm him by instructing him to kneel by the bed. The preacher prayed and then told him to go away and return in thirty minutes.

The authorities tried to subdue the man when he left the hotel, but he managed to stab someone in the street before meeting “a terribly tragic end” (Autobiography 4:209).

Every time Spurgeon visited Mentone, “he never passed that spot without looking at a certain room, and thanking God for the merciful deliverance which he there experienced” (Autobiography 4:209).

3

“WE TRUST THAT A STOUT CORD MAY SPEEDILY FIND ITS WAY AROUND HIS ELOQUENT THROAT.”

In the years leading to the Civil War in the United States, Spurgeon’s stance against slavery ruined his reputation in the Southern states. His sermons, books, and tracts were censored and burned.

Character assassinations were published. Many wished his demise.

If Spurgeon had toured the Southern states as he planned on doing in 1859-1860, he would have likely been assassinated. Death threats like this one were common: “If the Pharisaical author should ever show himself in these parts, we trust that a stout cord may speedily find its way around his eloquent throat” (“Mr. Spurgeon’s Sermons Burned by American Slaveowners,” The Southern Reporter and Daily Commercial Courier [April 10, 1860]).

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4

AN IRISH BOMB AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE.

For Spurgeon’s 50th birthday, a Jubilee service was held at the Metropolitan Tabernacle on Wednesday, June 18, 1884. Thousands of people attended the event, including D. L. Moody and Archibald G. Brown.

If Spurgeon had toured the Southern states as he planned on doing in 1859-1860, he would have likely been assassinated.

“Such vast numbers of people were anxious to be present, that two evenings had to be set apart for the meetings; and, even then, hundreds of applicants for tickets had to be refused, for so many applied that, if the building had been twice as large, there would have been no difficulty in filling it on both nights” (Autobiography 4:241-42).

Little did Spurgeon know the Irish Republican Brotherhood planned to bomb the event.

During the Great Famine in Ireland between 1845-1852, thousands of Irish poured into England. Anti-British sentiment led to the formation of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, or “Fenians” (Fianna Eireann was the name of a legendary Irish warrior tribe).

“I suppose a Fenian never feels right except when he feels his wrongs, and is never at peace except when he is at war” (ST September 1870:432).

The police were notified of the Irish bomb threat and attended the event to make sure the “awful reality” did not go according to plan.

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“There probably had never been so many detectives and policemen in the building before.”

Only a small handful of officials knew the “terrible secret.” At the time, not even Spurgeon was informed of the impending disaster.

“With thoughtful and tender solicitude, all knowledge of the threatened explosion was kept from the Pastor; and it was only when he was in the carriage, on his way home, that Mrs. Spurgeon told him the alarming news which had occupied her thoughts; during the evening, and together they gave thanks that the evil had been averted” (Autobiography 4:242).

Spurgeon’s Tabernacle would later be bombed, first by suffragettes in 1914 and later by the Germans in 1941. Yet during Spurgeon’s Jubilee ceremony, the plot was foiled and the pastor lived to preach another day.

Spurgeon was almost stabbed with a knife, killed by cholera, bludgeoned with a stick, crushed by a boulder, hung from the neck, and blown up by a bomb.

It is a remarkable testament to the providence of God that Spurgeon outlived his life expectancy by seventeen years (he was only promised forty years of life when he was born on June 19, 1834).

In his sermon “My Times Are in Thy Hand,” Spurgeon reflected on David’s statement in Psalm 31:15: “The close of life is not decided by the sharp knife of the fates; but by the hand of love. We shall not die before our time, neither shall we be forgotten and left upon the stage too long. . . . [M]y times are in those hands which were nailed to the cross for my redemption” (MTP 37:278, 280).

In 1857, Charles Spurgeon - the most popular preacher in the Victorian world - promised his readers that he would publish his earliest sermons. For almost 160 years, these sermons have been lost to history. Beginning January 2017, B&H Academic will start releasing a multi-volume set that includes full-color facsimiles, transcriptions, contextual and biographical introductions, and editorial annotations. Written for scholars, pastors, and students alike, The Lost Sermons of C.H. Spurgeon will add approximately 10% more material to Spurgeon’s body of literature and will constitute the first critical edition of any of Spurgeon’s works.

Buy now from B&H Academic at

bhacademic.com

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the MISSION FIELD UNDER my ROOF

by Ashley Smith

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The home where our family lives was built fifty years ago. Its exterior wears a murky shade of cream, with the slightest tinge of peach peeking through. The shutters and doors are a bluegrey that looks somber even basking in the glow of fresh snow on the ground.

It’s certainly not the modern marriage of bright cream and warm grey that I envisioned in my mental sketchbook. But I often have to remind myself that the brightness of my home isn’t measured by a paint chip, but rather how the true Light of Christ is reflected in the lives that come and go through our doors. To this end, my husband and I set aside a couple of checkpoints throughout the year to evaluate how we are cultivating a sense of gospel mission in the lives of our children, our neighbors, and our extended community.

from that which was accomplished on the cross.

When we succeed, Christ is the victor. When we fail, Christ is our mercy. When we are confused, Christ is our wisdom. When we are discouraged, Christ is our hope. When we despair, Christ is our joy. This isn’t just “an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory.” This is our story; and by God’s grace, this can become their story.

Wherever we are, we want our children to know we cannot move forward in hope apart from Christ.

We aren’t called to model law-laced lives by living perfectly before our children, nor are we to cultivate anxiety in their hearts as we fear the culture “crumbling” outside. Christian parents are called to teach their children day-by-day and face-to-face relentless dependence on the Rock who will never be moved. From the minute we hear their feet hit the ground in the morning to the final bidding of goodnight, we are composing a living rhythm of faith before the eyes our children.

“Take opportunities with your children, then, big and small, to read of Jesus, sing to Jesus, bow to Jesus, and even cry to Jesus.”

Our Children Our children are the first priority as we seek to be on mission in our home. We are commanded in Deuteronomy 6 to share the Truth of Jesus with our children, “talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

As a Christian, our identity cannot be separated

Take opportunities with your children, then, big and small, to read of Jesus, sing to Jesus, bow to Jesus, and even cry to Jesus. As broken vessels, our testimonies will never be perfect; but we are surely commanded—and therefore, responsible—to testify to one who is perfect. We are to be Light to our children so that when shadows of darkness drift in, our children will stand firm in the faith of what they have seen in the Light.

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Our Neighbors Beyond the front doors of our homes, our neighbors are the next line of missional engagement. We can begin to see them through God’s eyes when we remember that we’ve been placed together by Providence. As G.K. Chesterton points out, “We make our friends; we make our enemies; but God makes our next-door neighbour.”

In other words, God had much more than that perfect floor plan in mind when he led you to your home. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus calls Christians to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” This is a call to live out our faith in public view so that others may know and enjoy Jesus as we know and enjoy Him. Some of our personalities may seem more adept at this task, but the command is for all of us. Wherever you find yourself, the best way to start is in prayer for your neighbors. Beg the Lord to give you compassion for those he has placed around you, and then walk toward them in faith.

Trust the Lord one conversation at a time. Those awkward moments in time may yield the most beautiful fruit of friendship, or by God’s grace, a new brother or sister in Christ. Also, look for opportunities to serve your neighbors by assisting them in small ways. This could be as simple as helping them move heavy items or shoveling their snow-laden driveway. The call to love our neighbors may seem costly, but God answers that concern in 1 Corinthians 10:24 when he says, “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”

“Wherever you find yourself, the best way to start is in prayer for your neighbors. Beg the Lord to give you compassion for those he has placed around you, and then walk toward them in faith.”

When you see them in the yard, don’t merely wave from across the property line. Cross that line and go speak a complete sentence to them. One sentence might turn into two, and two might turn into a ten-minute conversation. As you take family walks on your street, make eye contact with those you pass; take the time to engage them in conversation.

If initiating conversation with strangers isn’t comfortable for you, take some time to establish a list of questions that you can remember for these impromptu encounters. And don’t forget to listen as they talk and to follow up with them if they’ve expressed a need. Pick up a small gift that made you think of them while you’re running your daily errands or invite them over for dinner or to watch their favorite team play on TV.

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Extended Community Two other spheres of our life that intersect with our home are our church family and our extended community. Hebrews 13:16 encourages us “to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Our home is a simple way we’ve been able to share what we have with others and doing so has been one of the greatest joys to us as a family. Furthermore, it delights the Lord, as He is the giver and sustainer of our home.

Within our church community, we lead a small group each week. I’ll admit, sometimes this gathering feels like mass chaos given the awkward layout of our home and the sheer amount of adults and children we host each week, but it forces us to consistently seek the Lord together beyond the walls of our church sanctuary. Our home provides the space for the people in that room to wrestle with and testify to Christ’s transforming work in their lives each week. On a more personal level, this

“The home is where stories are taught, faith is worked out, neighbors are heard, plates are filled, and where sojourners can find rest. ”

weekly meeting also provides our family with a tangible reminder of our need for the local church. These people have become a critical rhythm in the life of our home.

Finally, our family seeks to use our home within our extended community at Midwestern Seminary. Four and a half years ago, we moved to Kansas City and very strategically chose a home less than two miles from the seminary so that we could exercise hospitality among students and staff.

Personally, I enjoy cooking for others, so I see my kitchen as a port of blessing. Whether that means sending food to work with my husband or inviting students or co-workers over for dinner, it’s a way that I can personally share what I have with others. There are seasons where we accomplish this more readily than others, but it’s always a blessing to us

to slow down and enjoy the fruit of fellowship we have with our co-laborers in Christ.

But even if cooking is not a joy to you, there are still ways to use your home for the good of your extended community. If you have an extra room in your home, keep an eye out for those who might be in short-term need. If you have college students in your life, give their bank account a break by offering your washer and dryer to them on occasion.

If you’re seeking to get rid of furniture, consider texting a college graduate or newlywed just starting out. You have much to give in the way of your home. Look around you, consider the needs of others, and share what you have.

Light of the World True, our homes are made of but brick and mortar, with paint colors that rotate in and out of season.

But our homes are meant for more than a never-ending to-do list. The home is where stories are taught, faith is worked out, neighbors are heard, plates are filled, and where sojourners can find rest.

The home is a gift, rich with missional possibility, meant to be shared so that others might be drawn toward the glory of our more perfect Home with the Father.

Ashley Smith lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where her husband Charles serves in leadership at Midwestern Seminary.

Ashley is a mother to three daughters, whom she homeschools part-time. She also serves as an instructor in the Midwestern Women’s Institute and as a member of the Leadership Council of the ERLC.

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STUDENT HIGHLIGHT

MEET

ALLYSON TODD

A natural leader with multiple talents, Allyson Todd has had her capable hands in many of Midwestern Seminary’s most notable efforts within our own community and even in the public sphere. A graduate of Midwestern College, where she participated in the Fusion missions program, she has also served as a Spurgeon Scholar under Dr. Christian George and participated in the Student Leadership Program, and she currently serves on the staff of the Student Life and Events office, as a research assistant, and as an editorial assistant and director of women’s initiatives with For The Church. We had the opportunity to sit down with Allyson and ask her about her time at Midwestern.

What drew you at first to Midwestern Seminary?

My original draw to MBTS was in 2010 when I heard about Fusion. The uniqueness of the process of Fusion is what brought me here for my undergrad. However, my draw to Midwestern was different after I received my undergraduate degree. I came back to pursue my Master of Divinity here because of our school’s vision of “for the church.”

Tell me about your time in the Fusion process.

Christian men and women often leave high school unable to articulate what they believe and how it bears fruit in their lives. Fusion forces students to come face-to-face with the reality that the gospel demands every part of your life, rigorously trains them in a practical and spiritual way to believe and obey the truth of the gospel, and then sends them to unreached and unengaged peoples in the hardest parts of the world to boldly proclaim Jesus’ name.

One of the greatest lessons I learned was that this obedience to God was worth giving your life to, even if you never see fruit from your obedience. Both times that I was a part of Fusion, I went to India, which has the largest concentration of lost people in the entire world. The first time I went, we labored for four months and saw no church planted, no convert, and no real evidence of fruit. But God was gracious to me and reminded me that I am called to “sow the seed” and he is the one who makes it grow (Mark 4:26-29).

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How would you say your studies are shaping you today personally and spiritually?

I’m thankful that though it is hard work, seminary truly teaches me to love and exalt God above all else. I think it also helps to have professors that continually remind you that everything you do is for the church. I don’t see my studies as a means to add stacks of knowledge to my mental repertoire.

Rather, they are a means by which I can love God and build up my church family. Seminary is useful knowledge, so the chance to apply what I’ve learned when I read my Bible, talk with a friend in my small group, or share the gospel with a coworker is a tremendous blessing.

What has been the most challenging part of your seminary experience?

It has been challenging for me to work through my convictions of women in ministry. It’s no secret that seminary is traditionally a male-saturated environment since it mostly serves to train pastors and other ministry workers. I am usually one of three or four women in my classes, which is sometimes intimidating.

I have had to work really hard to understand what the woman’s role is in the church and in ministry.

What has been the most surprising part of your seminary experience?

What serves as the most challenging part of seminary has also been the most surprising. I never expected that going through seminary as a woman would be so well-received or that everyone at Midwestern would support me like they have. My professors and fellow male students always treat me as an intellectual equal. They believe in my ministry and many of them were influential in my decision to pursue the M.Div. Our school creates opportunities for women to study hard so that they can serve their churches faithfully.

What are your plans for after seminary?

I know that I love to equip women to know and understand the Bible and I know that I love to write. I have received enough encouragement from those around me to know that I need to use these two gifts and desires for God’s glory.

That could look like several different vocations, but I will at least find a way to make disciples and to write wherever God plants me.

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Our dual degree option grounds students in the truth while getting them ready for the marketplace. So whether you’re joining us for residential studies in Kansas City or taking your courses via our online virtual classroom, Midwestern is the sensible option to prepare and equip you for leadership today and tomorrow.

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IN FOCUS: FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH

FROM SUBWAY TO GOD’S WAY Faith Community Church

| Kansas City, Missouri

You could say that Pastor Tim Juhnke really began his ministry offering nourishment of a different kind.

A natural entrepreneur, he began opening franchises of the Subway sandwich shop chain even before graduating college. But the Lord saw fit to lead him into “feeding the sheep,” and the ensuing shift in life trajectory has provided ample opportunity for spiritual growth and discipleship from Faith Community Church’s location on Prather Road in the Kansas City Northland.

“From my earliest recollections,” Juhnke says, “I remember thinking I was going to be a pastor someday. But growing up in a pastor’s home, I had a firsthand look at the ministry, and by the time I was a young adult the desire to be a pastor vanished. I honestly thought someone would have to be crazy to want to do that.”

Over the next years, as Juhnke built his family and his career, however, he found God’s call to vocational ministry becoming more and more undeniable. “It was my longing for something of eternal significance that eventually led me to surrender to the call to ministry in 1994,” he says.

At the time, resources on church planting were not as abundant or accessible as they are today, but Juhnke enrolled at Midwestern Seminary to pursue training for ministry. And in September 1995, thirteen people, his family included, met in his living room for the first time as Faith Community Church.

“Most of those with whom we began had been leaders in the church my father pastored,” Juhnke says. “And since that time I have watched a number of churches start and fail. What made the difference with FCC? Apart from God’s sheer mercy and grace, I am convinced that one of the most essential elements of the plant was that it started with a very strong core of leaders and mature believers—many of whom are still serving with me to this day.”

Today Faith Community Church is a pillar of the Northland’s Christian community. With average attendance running 417, including 233 members, M I DW E S T E R N M A G A Z I N E

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they are a model of church health, practicing biblical church membership and discipline, expositional preaching, and God-centered mission at home and abroad. “We have a passion to nourish and equip God’s people to do the work of the ministry,” Pastor Juhnke says, “What is exciting to see is a body of equipped believers going out into the world and making Jesus known. I believe the lifeblood of the church is new birth and the most wonderful part of my ministry is watching new believers come into the fellowship and grow into the likeness of Jesus.”

Besides Pastor Juhnke himself, Faith Community Church is home to quite a few other members of the Midwestern Seminary community, including current students training for ministry under Juhnke’s shepherding and alumni serving in a variety of roles, including elders, deacons, Associate Pastor (see Alumnus Spotlight on Marty Beamer), and Sunday School teachers. In addition, Midwestern Seminary’s Professor of Worship Arts, Dr. Matthew Swain, serves as an elder at Faith and as their Sunday service worship leader.

FCC also supports two International Mission Board missionary families who are graduates of Midwestern Seminary. In addition, they contribute to God’s mission at home, as well, operating a growing classical Christian school—Faith Christian Academy, overseen by headmaster Matt Greco, himself a former foreign missionary—as well as hosting a local counseling ministry called Reigning Grace and operating a local addiction recovery home for men called The Anchor House.

Twenty-two years since its planting, Faith Community Church continues to thrive and hope in the sometimes surprising will of God, which includes joining the mission to proclaim God’s grace in every square inch of creation: “We are inspired by the gospel,” FCC’s vision statement reads, “to send men, women, and resources to the ends of the earth in our desire to be a means through which people are gathered through Christ’s blood from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”

Learn more about FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH at fcckansascity.com.

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT

MARTY BEAMER

B.A. in Christian Ministry and Cross-cultural Studies | 2014

For this edition’s alumni focus, we visited with Marty Beamer, who is the Assistant Pastor at Faith Community Church and a part-time teacher at Faith Christian Academy, both in Kansas City. Marty graduated from Midwestern College in 2014 with his B.A. in Christian Ministry and Cross-cultural Studies, and he is currently pursuing his M.Div. He was also a participant in Midwestern College’s missions program, Fusion, from 2010 to 2013.

Give me a sense of your calling in relation to missions and what drew you initially to the Fusion program at Midwestern?

My first year of college was at William Jewell College where I received a scholarship to play baseball. At the end of year, when I returned home, I became a Christian while trying to understand the Bible. Thanks to the Scriptures, and some intensive discipleship by Fusion leaders, I knew I could not return to my same environment and remain faithful. After long hours of prayer, I quit.

For months I didn’t know what I was to do. One thing I did know: God had called me to glorify his name by making disciples. I began asking myself, “How can I best accomplish what I know I have been called to do?” I was showed the Fusion program and I saw how it could train me to be obedient to God’s call.

What was the most meaningful, helpful, or shaping experience within your time with Fusion?

We went into the house and she took out a piece of paper and a pen to draw the story. She was so nervous that the paper was shaking in her hand. She repeatedly scratched out a portion of drawing and apologized to the other woman and me for messing up. It took her twice as long as it did me to stumble through the gospel. Then, when I looked up, I saw that the person she was sharing to was crying. At the end of the gospel presentation the feeble, weak, small, scared woman asked if she wanted to confess her sins and believe. To my amazement, she said yes. She repented and believed the gospel.

I was humiliated and in tears. We had been frustrated about having to go to this village. We were angry that no men had shown up. We were wondering why God would allow only the weak women to show up and care about sharing the gospel. Little did we know, God had appointed the salvation of someone in that village. I learned that day one of the most valuable lessons (if not the most valuable): God doesn’t need me.

Once on a trip to India, we went to share the gospel in one particular village, and only three women showed up. No men. We became discouraged and angry with the people. We thought, “We spent all of this time with them and they didn’t even care!” We even talked about not going on at all because one of the women’s villages was a 45-minute hike into the mountains. Reluctantly, we decided to go. After the hike, we arrived in the village cold, tired, and frustrated. I told one of the women I would share the gospel at the first house and she could watch how I did it. I went through the presentation, still angry at how the day unfolded. The person I was sharing with argued with me and wanted nothing to do with the gospel, so we went to the next house.

What was the most challenging part of pursuing your degree and why?

On the way there I told the woman it was her turn. She immediately stopped and said she couldn’t do it. She didn’t think she could do it well enough. I told her that the whole purpose of the training was to teach her how to do it and now it was her turn.

Third, be obedient now. Some people think that once they get on the mission field a “spirit of obedience” will rush upon them. It doesn’t work that way. Thankfully, I had a wise man tell me that if I couldn’t be obedient and faithful in the training, why should I be expected to be obedient in the work? Be obedient now.

My pride. Being in an academic setting can really puff you up if you are not careful. In the midst of study I frequently lose sight of my original call to be faithful.

What advice would you give to a young man or woman considering a call to missions?

First, don’t ever consider going to the mission field (or any Christian ministry) as a last option. The call to obedience isn’t your last option; it’s your best option.

Second, don’t forget the local church. Missionaries are just a part of the whole. Get involved in the local church.

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AROUND CAMPUS

Midwestern Seminary launches innovative residential M.Div. program, Timothy Track

by T. PAT R I C K H U D S O N

“Not only do students receive

assistant to the pastor as he develops his sermons.

Students will also be encouraged to “lead” from time-to-time in areas such as teaching in Bible studies or Sunday school environments, spearheading a mission trip, or leading a worship time.

“Learning” will take place in a variety of formats, including opportunities for students to regularly attend and observe church staff and business meetings, and to have set meetings with their ministry mentors to discuss theology, the practice of ministry, areas for growth, and many other topics.

From an academic standpoint, Midwestern Seminary will walk alongside each Timothy Track student throughout his or her internship. The director of church partnerships at Midwestern will regularly be in contact with these students and hold set debrief sessions to answer questions and to ensure the interns are maximizing their experience. Students will also receive the in-class mentoring and support of their professors as they work toward the academic portion of their degrees.

The Timothy Track internships will begin in the fall semester of 2017. Qualifications for students include: hold a 3.0 GPA; maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the internship; be recommended by both their church’s pastor as well as by a

Midwestern Seminary launched a new Master of Divinity track on Feb. 13 with the intent of enabling residential students not only to study for ministry in the classroom, but also to obtain hands-on, in-the-field training as well.

The new program, known as Timothy Track, will partner select incoming M.Div. students to serve as interns with local churches during their first two semesters in Kansas City.

The intent, according to Midwestern Seminary President Jason Allen, is to give these students practical experience in a ministry environment while studying toward their M.Div. degree on campus.

“Our mission at Midwestern Seminary is to exist for the church,” Allen said. “And yet, there is a sense in which the best way to train leaders for the church is to train them with the church. With that in mind, that’s the reason we’ve developed the Timothy Track.”

Allen further noted that this concept benefits both the students and the local churches.

“Not only do students receive direct, hands-on mentorship in a healthy local church, but they will receive a 50-percent tuition scholarship for their first year of studies,” Allen said.

“From the local church’s vantage point, they get the opportunity to invest in the next generation of ministry leaders, benefit from

those students’ spiritual gifts and talents, identify potential future staff members, and share in the privilege of helping strengthen the church throughout the Kansas City metro area,” he added.

The primary difference between the Timothy Track program and Midwestern’s other M.Div. offerings is that the internship takes the place of the elective courses required in the other tracks.

As interns, students will immerse themselves in the local church environment, regularly attending their partner church’s worship services and serving at least eight hours weekly. Their time will be spent focusing on three areas: serving, leading, and learning.

In the area of “serving,” Timothy Track students will interact with the partner church’s staff and membership in supporting various programs such as food pantries or clothes closets; managing the church’s website, bulletin, or other communications pieces; or providing support as a research

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direct, hands-on mentorship in a healthy local church, but they will receive a 50-percent tuition scholarship for their first year of studies.” ~ JASON K. ALLEN

member in good standing; uphold biblical conduct as required in Midwestern Seminary’s handbook; and remain a member in good standing with their partner church.

Partner church qualifications include: membership in the Southern Baptist Convention; adherence to the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, the “Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood,” the “Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy;” and dedication toward biblical, expositional preaching. Additionally, churches must be located within 40 miles of Midwestern’s campus, and have a senior pastor who has led the congregation for at least three years.

“It thrills me that Midwestern Seminary can partner with our local churches in such a way as to provide this sort of experience for our incoming M.Div. students,” Allen said. “This program is truly unique in that it offers layers of investment, by both Midwestern and the local church partners, in the spiritual and ministry growth of these interns.

“Of course, we are excited that this program provides our students with the opportunity for practically applicable ministry experience, but the hands-on mentorship of the student from the church’s pastor and staff, as well as Midwestern’s director of church partnerships, makes this program really stand out. We greatly look forward to seeing the results of these partnerships bearing much spiritual and ministry fruit in the years ahead.”

To learn more about Timothy Track, or to apply for the program, visit mbts.edu/timothytrack. •

Midwestern College Adds Six New College Degrees

by T. PAT R I C K H U D S O N

Midwestern College announced the new expansion of its undergraduate curriculum to further equip students for service in the church, in not-for-profit organizations, and beyond.

In addition to its current Bachelor of Arts degrees in Biblical Studies, Christian Ministry, and Intercultural Studies, the school has expanded its curriculum to include Bachelor of Arts degrees in Student Ministry, Worship Ministry, Theology, Philosophy, Counseling Psychology, and Business Leadership.

“Announcing the expansion of our bachelor’s degree offerings at Midwestern College brings me great joy, knowing that it will benefit the next generation of pastors, ministry leaders, and missionaries for Christ’s kingdom,” said President Jason Allen. “These programs add significantly to our existing curriculum—opening opportunities in fields of study that will be vital for those serving within the local church and conducting ministry in the workplace.”

John Mark Yeats, the college’s dean, added, “At Midwestern College, we live out the reality of ‘For the Church’ in our curriculum.

Each of these new programs connects students to high-quality, affordable academic training that creates a foundation for serving congregations and engaging our community with the Gospel.”

The new tracks of study will begin in the fall semester of 2017, and students can apply immediately.

In other curricular moves at the college, the faculty approved an update to Midwestern’s Adult Degree Completion Program, which aids adults who are seeking to finish their undergraduate program.

“The new structure of our Adult Degree Completion Program allows us to serve more students as they continue to serve their in local churches,” Yeats noted. “The degree, the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, will help people who are ready to finish the degree they started in the past, but never finished. It also enables Midwestern to maximize these students’ college-level learning earned in the military or in government service.”

Yeats noted that many of these degree tracks are available fully online or at Midwestern College’s Kansas City campus, enabling students to reach the finish line and earn their bachelor’s degrees.

The college is Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s undergraduate arm, located in Kansas City, Mo., and was established in 2004.

Students interested in applying or exploring how Midwestern College might be a good fit can visit midwesterncollege.com •

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AROUND CAMPUS

Midwestern Seminary Launches “The Residency” Ph.D.

by T. PAT R I C K H U D S O N

Midwestern Seminary announced on Nov. 1 the launching a new facet of its doctoral program which is intended to provide students an experiential context of campus life for immediate application of their academic training.

Starting in the fall of 2017, “The Residency” will serve Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) students who have the freedom to pursue their degree within the community of Midwestern Seminary’s Kansas City campus.

According to President Jason Allen, the program combines the best aspects of the American Ph.D. program and the tradi-

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tional United Kingdom doctoral model by merging independent advanced theological research with cohort-based mentorship and oversight by adding regular, intensive engagement with faculty and other theological leaders within the everyday rhythm of the unique on-campus ministry culture of Midwestern Seminary.

“The Residency is a new feature to our Ph.D. program which really complements and expands our current Ph.D. offerings,” Allen said.

“The program is limited to 25 students per year, and it affords students who can relocate to campus key offerings such as mentorship,

community, and experience.

“In all, this experience will get them on a trajectory of study that qualifies them specifically for a future in theological education or Christian higher education,” he added.

Allen further noted that Ph.D. students participating in The Residency will be able to accomplish their degree in an expedited timeframe.

“The Residency is for those students who want to come and move through the program,” Allen said.

“They are not working two jobs or three jobs, or even one full-time job, but they are coming here with the expressed intent of moving through

Learn more about THE RESIDENCY PHD at mbts.edu/theresidency.

the Ph.D. program quickly and to be well-equipped along the way.”

Provost Jason Duesing noted that many students who applied or participated in the school’s modular-based Ph.D. program often asked if attending in residence was an option. He said the answer has always been, “Yes,” but now The Residency enhances the existing program by providing on-ground opportunities for these students.

One significant enhancement for students in The Residency is that they will earn a graduate certificate in theological education as part of the program, Duesing said.

The Graduate Certificate in Theological Higher Education is a 12-hour certificate students earn as part of their studies, which formally signals the training they’ve received for teaching in institutions of higher learning. This includes classroom experience in lecturing and grading, administrative equipping, and preparation for writing, publishing, and other content-based resourcing that will give graduates of The Residency an advantage in consideration with academic employers.

MENTORSHIP

Stressing the program’s emphasis on mentorship, Duesing noted, “The students in The Residency program will have opportunity for mentorship with a faculty member. It seeks to provide these students the things that a traditional Ph.D. program cannot teach you.”

Things like, “What is it like to serve as a faculty member? What do you have to think through in terms of accreditation? How do

“In all, this experience will get them on a trajectory of study that qualifies them specifically for a future in theological education or Christian higher education.” ~ JASON K. ALLEN

you structure reading, writing, research, and teaching? How do you teach classes?”

He added that The Residency will fill in several gaps for Ph.D. students, as oftentimes, Ph.D. studies don’t go so far as to teach students how to manage and teach seminars and classes.

Allen explained that The Residency students will attend the same seminars, follow the same curricular path, and have the same tuition costs as non-residential Ph.D. students, but the format provides the benefits of personal interaction with faculty, administration, theological and pastoral leaders, and fellow students.

“Campus life at Midwestern Seminary provides an exciting and gracious culture within which to pursue your studies in a way that is both academically rigorous and spiritually enriching,” Allen said.

COMMUNITY

In the area of community, Duesing said The Residency students will engage in weekly forums for a minimum of four semesters.

During this time, students will meet with the president, provost, and key faculty members for direct oversight and academic coaching. Then, once their first

four semesters are complete, The Residency students will begin to serve as Ph.D. student mentors themselves.

EXPERIENCE

In addition, Allen said The Residency supplies an enculturated experience that better prepares doctoral students in the management and leadership skills and professorial aptitude necessary for service in the academy.

“The Residency will build our students’ capabilities in the classroom and help them capitalize on Midwestern Seminary’s high rate of placement of doctoral grads in teaching positions,” Allen noted.

Program Requirements for the residency include meeting current enrollment standards.

Additionally, prospective students must hold an accredited M.Div. or M.Div.-equivalency of at least 72 or more credit hours, have a minimum GPA of 3.4, undergo a substantive interview with an MBTS faculty member, and they must be free to relocate to Kansas City.

“We want to bring the very best this institution has to offer and funnel it toward these students who want to come and get a Ph.D. in an expedited timeframe, and with an understanding in their heart that they feel a calling to theological education or toward Christian higher education,” Allen said.

Applications are now being accepted for fall semester of 2017.

To learn more about The Residency, visit mbts.edu/ theresidency, or contact Mindy Akright in the Doctoral Office at makright@mbts.edu. •

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CAMPUS LIFE

JAMBOREE - FALL FESTIVAL | OCT. 21

SPURGEON LECTURES WITH ALISTAIR BEGG | OCT. 18-19

FALL COMMENCEMENT | DEC. 9

PING PONG TOURNAMENT | FEB. 24 M I DW E S T E R N M A G A Z I N E

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MIDWESTERN BOWL | NOV. 5 For MORE CAMPUS EVENTS AND PHOTOS visit our events page at mbts.edu/events.

READY17 YOUTH CONFERENCE › Nearly 1200 students aged 12 to 19 attended January 2017’s first annual READY Conference at Midwestern College and Seminary. Aimed at equipping the younger generation with a foundation in Christian distinctives and apologetics, keynote speakers included Christian hip hop artist Trip Lee, who also headlined a late-night concert for conference-goers and other attendees, as well as Midwestern’s own John Mark Yeats, Owen Strachan, and Jared Wilson.

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RECENT PUBLICATIONS

BOOKS IN BRIEF New and Upcoming Releases from the Midwestern Seminary Community

THE LOST SERMONS OF C.H. SPURGEON, VOLUME 1

DISCERNING YOUR CALL TO MINISTRY

AWAKENING THE EVANGELICAL MIND

by Christian T. George (B&H Academic)

by Jason K. Allen (Moody Publishers)

by Owen Strachan (Zondervan)

The first of a planned 12-volume series, this book represents the landmark discoveries and research of George, curator of Midwestern’s renowned Spurgeon Library. Written for pastors, scholars, and students alike, The Lost Sermons will add approximately 10% more material to Spurgeon’s body of literature and will constitute the first critical edition of any of Spurgeon’s works.

This handy manual, subtitled “How to Know for Sure and What To Do About It,” is chock-full of wisdom and practical counsel to help aspiring pastors and ministers sort through the sometimes confusing and often ambiguous sense of God’s calling on their lives. This latest entry in Midwestern’s For The Church partnership with Moody, is sure to become a reliable guide for young ministers for years to come.

This intellectual history of the neoevangelical movement is the first major study to draw upon unknown or neglected sources, as well as original interviews with figures like Billy Graham. Strachan shows how Harold Ockenga brought together a small community of Christian scholars at Harvard University in the 1940s who agitated for a reloaded Christian intellect.

THE IMPERFECT DISCIPLE

by Jared C. Wilson (Baker) May 2017 This latest release from Wilson is a discipleship book for people who are tired of the typical discipleship books. Here is a book on the spiritual life that isn’t afraid to be honest about the messes and brokenness we all deal with. With incisive wit, warm humor, and moving stories, Wilson shows readers how the gospel works in them and in their ordinary lives.

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PORTRAITS OF A PASTOR: THE 9 ESSENTIAL ROLES OF A CHURCH LEADER

Edited by Jason K. Allen (Moody Publishers) September 2017 Inspired by the most recent For The Church Conference, this book, the next release on Midwestern’s FTC imprint with Moody, features contributions

by Danny Akin, Jason Duesing, Ronnie Floyd, Christian George, Owen Strachan, Donald Whitney, Jared Wilson, John Mark Yeats, and Midwestern President Jason Allen, who also served as general editor.

BOOK REVIEW

BACK TO JERUSALEM: THREE CHINESE HOUSE CHURCH LEADERS SHARE THEIR VISION TO COMPLETE THE GREAT COMMISSION

by Paul Hathaway, Brother Yun, Peter Xu Xongze, and Enoch Wane (UK: Piquant, 2003).

Review by Camden Pulliam, Director of Admissions at MBTS Back to Jerusalem chronicles the story of an astounding missions movement among the Chinese underground church. Paul Hattaway writes on behalf of three underground pastors and explains how their numbers have exploded in growth under the torture of state persecution in the back-half of the twentieth century – from roughly 700,000 Protestant believers in 1949 to an estimated 80100 million at the time the book was published in 2003. As the Chinese have watched God spread his fame against all odds, they have taken responsibility for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

In their perspective, Christianity has spread westward since Jesus’ ascension – from Jerusalem, throughout the Mediterranean and Africa, to Europe, then the Americas, and now to China. Now that the gospel has flourished in China, they believe it is their responsibility to take it back to Jerusalem through the 10-40 window. They understand the monumental hold that Satan has over the region; the houses of Buddha, Hinduism, and Mohammed will not easily fall. But, in their words: We are an army of little ants, worms and termites who know how to work underground, because that is how we have learned to work in China for decades….We believe God wants to send an army of insects and crawling creatures to cause the collapse of [these houses].

They have seen God do it before, and they expect him to do it again.

This book will undoubtedly challenge the presumptions, philosophy, and practices of many Western believers. To be sure, the Chinese church is different, and they are happy to be. For example: they are opposed to establishing denominations; they refuse to meet in church buildings; they consider a church to be healthy by the number of new believers, not by sound doctrine alone; they assume a minister is qualified if he’s been to prison, not seminary; they teach prospective missionaries how to escape from hand-cuffs,

not how to fund-raise.

Westerners reading will have their toes stepped on.

But it is important to be open-handed rather than tight-fisted. The Chinese church has much to teach us in the West, even if all of their practices are not adopted immediately.

One aspect of the book that is sure to elicit both amazement and alarm is the apostolic sense of the “Back to Jerusalem” movement. The book regularly cites visions, dreams, and miracles occurring among the underground leaders.

For some, this is cause for serious concern, while of course others will be enamored. Nevertheless, regardless of where the reader stands on the cessationist-continuationist spectrum, the impossible transformation of the Chinese church cannot be ignored. It would be hard to classify the work of the Spirit in China as anything less than a miracle. More than amazement or alarm, the reader should be drawn to adoration of Christ Jesus, whose Spirit continues to enliven dead hearts and closed countries.

The book fittingly ends not with a victory lap celebrating the accomplishment of the Chinese church but rather with a clarion call to all Christians who have yet to engage in true discipleship. The author points his reader back to the Bible, which demands we follow Jesus and promises persecution for those who do. The author explains that persecution does not come upon the underground church merely because they hold a different faith than the established religion of the land. Rather, he explains that persecution comes because they share their counter-faith. What does this mean for Westerners? We cannot claim that we are not persecuted because our faith is shared by the masses.

That is not true. Rather, if we are not persecuted, it is only for one reason: we are not sharing the gospel. When Jesus is announced to a lost, dead, and hostile world, there are only two reactions: riot or revival. Of course, we pray for the second, but need to be ready for the first.

Back to Jerusalem cites G. Campbell Morgan, who states, “Satan’s first choice is to cooperate with us. Persecution is only his second-best method.” When it comes to the Western church, let Satan no longer lean on his first tactic. Like those from the Back to Jerusalem movement, let’s make him bring the reinforcements.

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RESOURCES | FTC.CO

A Story of Faithfulness in the Middle East

by Anonymous Fusion Alumnus

Our story begins with the God who became a man and lived among us.

Our story is about that Man who died at the hands of men, so that His blood could ransom men for God. Our story has little to do with us, but is immersed fully into the story we heard and believed of that Man who rose again and lives today in us, and will reign. Our story, while we breathe, will be about our King Jesus, who won an inheritance from all nations. This story is not ours, we did not write it. We are characters in it only. We have been grafted in as children and as workers, and I’m happy to report that Jesus has won souls from every tribe. Our story is about that Day we have heard rumors about - one where every knee will bow and every tongue confess. That Day is coming soon.

He lived as God’s beloved Son, pleasing the Father and persevering at all times in the Spirit. He ate Obedience bread and drank the living water daily, manifesting His Love to the created order through signs and miracles. The paralyzed man walked in the confidence given by the gracious news of, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” He loosed the bonds that the demons called Legion had on that outcast from Gethsemane.

The unclean woman and the dog now eat happily as sisters and daughters at the Master’s table. All these and more clearly testified that God was in the world. He spoke of His suffering that would come soon, but when it came, the sheep were scattered. He commanded those to listen, but their

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ears were stopped. He shined a light on the Truth, but the ones who saw shut up their eyelids. He was arrested, and condemned to die. No justice was found for the One who secured justice for the poor and needy. Honor could not be gathered for the One poured it freely from His own cup.

The Love of God was culminated in this true moment of history, when Jesus Christ breathed His last and died to save.

The women at the tomb heard the news from the angel. This same news is the news that the five of us have heard and believed in at different times. This news is the Good news we have been broadcasting to all who will listen; Jesus has risen, He is not in the tomb. Jesus has risen; He is not in the tomb!

Oman is a country thrust deep into the dark kingdom of Islam. YHWH is not their king, but they serve some other god. They are deceived into believing this god is true and loving.

My friends and I were given the opportunity to spend four months in this country, being obedient to what we know and learning more of the gospel that saved our own souls. We lived and worked together, constantly facing unbelief on all sides. January flew us into a bright, warm country with hearts full of excitement and hope. February began to reveal to us the apathy of our friends.

March taught us to endure with love and the hope we had before, but

began to teach us to season that hope with a renewal of the truth about Jesus. April moved swiftly, and we tried to keep up and run the race we had become accustomed to running together. May was a blink. Now, my friends and I are home in various places.

Summer stayed and taught us how to think about our past, and the fall ushered in new roles for each of us.

Our friends in Oman are still there, and to our knowledge, are still without the hope that had to become our food. I have so much I want to write, my friends, but I want to at least share with you the hope I’ve been given from the Father. He has been good to me, to offer His Son in my place, to teach me truth when I doubt, and to have always reminded me that Jesus has won an inheritance from every tongue.

Our job was to sow seeds of the gospel message far and wide. We’ve been given the promise that those who hear and believe will be saved.

I became most discouraged when I doubted what God Himself promised. Retrospectively, I recognize His providence and my faithlessness.

Funny how that pattern characterizes much of my memories. We shared the message that we knew and are always learning, the gospel, that Jesus was the only way, the truth, and the life. Our Omani friends would invite us into their homes, they would take us on trips, and they would listen to our stories as they made sure we

were well fed and had plenty of coffee and dates. We could find common ground with one another in our service to God, but Jesus, our Messiah, our life and truth and only way to God, our victory, and our only hope - we disagreed on Jesus.

We learned and relearned together that our anchor is secure, that our reason to hope was not in vain. Jesus promised, and He won the victory.

We shared, but understanding never flooded our friends’ bodies and minds. We never had the privilege of seeing Omani eyes opened. They kept the bracelets that we saw as their chains, and we wept together, hoping they wouldn’t forever adorn themselves in darkness.

We have all gone from Oman, but faithful sowers remain.

From these friends that have an inheritance with us in the Kingdom, we heard of the message penetrating hearts that we did not know. They were like whispers to us, and the more I heard the whispers, the more I became convinced the confession, “Jesus is Lord!” would be on the lips of Omanis and other Gulf Arabs soon.

We stood on a mountain overlooking a village where we prayed for a group of believers secretly meeting together. We rejoiced hearing about our friend’s neighbor who, after hearing and seeing the gospel from our

friend for three years, began to find fulfillment and rest in Jesus. We heard of two sisters who believed at different times and were now under persecution from their families. They don’t share in community with each other or other believers much, but we’re confident that they are in direct relationship with God, and He is all their hope and stay.

What is a GospelCentered, Missional Church?

Speaking and sharing could sometimes feel like shouting through a thick glass window to our friends. But the whispers that God is speaking there, calling His people out of darkness, convinced me that the glass was much more like cellophane. Once it breaks, the breath of Life will flood in, as the waters cover the sea. The glory of the Lord fills the earth like the water covers the sea, and I’m convinced that soon Arabs will confess with their mouths, believe in their hearts, and find salvation in our gracious King.

by J O E L L I N D S E Y

I forgot our hope often, and I often forget now. But the victory is sure. The message is not mine; this story is not ours.

We are characters in it only, and this is the good report that I have to give. •

A gospel-centered church is so because the gospel is the engine that propels its mission. The gospel is the good news that God, the only perfect and righteous being, lovingly entered a broken, sinful world in order to bring us into right standing with himself. God has revealed himself to us through the person of Jesus and the Bible.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This post was

originally sent as a final update to supporters of Fusion Alumni serving in the Middle East. It remains anonymous for the protection of future work in Oman.

Simply put, a gospel-centered missional church is one that recognizes that: 1. Authentic heart-transformation cannot happen apart from the gospel; and 2. Culture is not the enemy of the church; rather it is a broken treasure God has gone to great lengths to restore.

GOSPEL-CENTERED

The holistic purpose of the Bible (both the Old and New Testaments) is to glorify God by telling the story of Jesus (Luke 24:25-27; 1 Corinthians 1:22-24; 2:2): his life, ministry, death and resurrection, and to communicate God’s desire for people to

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experience him through Jesus. It is entirely accurate to say, then, that the gospel is Jesus himself (Luke 24:4447; John 1:1; 14:6).

Since Jesus is the gospel, and since all things find their purpose and meaning in him, we recognize that we are only accomplishing “ministry” when Jesus is the driving force of our efforts.

The gospel is the primary lens through which to view the world and the people and things in it.

The Bible, which is the gospel story, is our ultimate authority on matters concerning the world and everything and everyone in it. This means that a right understanding of the world and the people in it, and how to address all needs and problems, will emanate from the gospel.

The gospel is the only message the church is called to teach.

Being a gospel-centered missional church is not a strategy for growth or a self-help philosophy aimed at being a “better Christian.” It is in large part an awareness that the only hope we have for transforming the world is Jesus and the gospel that bears his name. The fundamental need of every person, Christians and non-Christians, is to hear and know the gospel at each moment in their life. Therefore, the church’s job is to uphold the essentiality of the gospel both as the means to salvation and the pathway to sanctification.

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MISSIONAL

A gospel-centered church is missional because it considers the needs, dreams, and hopes of culture, and engages culture in these areas as it communicates the gospel. A missional church finds the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to be so compelling and life-giving that it is willing to let it shape everything it does—its methodology—in order to communicate the gospel in a way that makes sense in its cultural context.

Primarily, a missional church recognizes the centrality of the gospel as its people live out the calling to be “for” the culture. This means a church must derive its purpose from the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4); it must be a servant of the gospel that glorifies God by telling people the story of Jesus through word and action (1 John 3:16-17). A gospel-centered church’s ministry cannot be separated from the person of Jesus, nor can its mission be defined or performed apart from the gospel. The gospel is the ultimate guide and authority for how the church functions and ministers.

Said another way, a missional church embraces God’s call to be a sender of missionaries to its own culture (Matthew 4:19; Acts 16:20; 17:6).

Because the relationship between “the world” and the church can be difficult to navigate, a missional church absolutely must be grounded in the authority of the inerrant and inspired Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:14-17). Indeed,

the Scriptures provide the foundation for and inform all God-honoring mission work. After all, what is it except God’s truth that we are communicating to culture anyway?

A missional church is willing to boldly adapt its methodology, while holding firmly to the core truth of its message, in order to participate in God’s transformation and redemption of culture (Luke 7:34; Acts 16:2021). Note the distinction: the method does not drive the message; rather the message propels the method.

A missional church expects every member to be a missionary to the people they come into contact with (family, friends, co-workers, etc).

Therefore, a missional church spends a large amount of time and resources equipping members through Bible study, community groups, worship services and forums so that they can engage their specific contexts with the gospel (Ephesians 4:11-16).

One of the primary ways a missional church honors God is by creatively and fearlessly taking Christ into the broken world that needs Him most (Matthew 28:18-20). It does not see church as an end in itself, but rather a means to an end. That end is “Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). •

JOEL LINDSEY is the Lead Pastor of Grace Church in Racine, Wisconsin.

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