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occasional bulletin transformational cross-cultural partnership website www.emsweb.org the traditional sending structures and geographic orientation that have dominated missions since the nineteenth mobilizing mission resources for an urban context century are no longer tenable p.42 the challenge for africa where i roger l trautmann have served is a growing need for added networks and partnerships particuver the last ten years i have had contact with a number of larly in the area of leadership and comindividuals and organizations from other countries that are munity development in the united states seeking to form cross-cultural partnermichael pocock 2005 documents ships to resource ministries formation of cross-cultural partthe challenge in the african continent nerships is a major trend in missions and transformational cross-cultural mintheological and pastoral training programs istry partnerships may be an answer to the major shifts in the focus of missions in this article i would like to state why and how transformational cross abound at every level in africa though more are needed to keep pace with the rapid growth cultural partnerships can be effective o trends in missions that raise attention toward cross-cultural partnerships 1 a growing interconnection of the global church timothy c tennent 2010 points out that there is a shift from westreach-the-rest to multiple centers of christian vitality the statistical center of gravity refers to that point on the globe with an equal number of christians living north south east and west p 31-34 we are experiencing a time when ministry leaders are collaborating for missional purposes networks are formed in use of shared wisdom and resources to promote an interdependent strategy in obedience to the great commission one organization i have connected with has formed a partner organization in the united states to share resources for mutual mission ministry 2 globalization opening connectivity of global mission issues michael pocock 2005 writes globaliza tion matters because it fundamentally changes the contexts in which we minister the way people and cultures perceive each other how people think and of the christian movement at 3.2 percent annual growth christian growth outpaces africa s overall population growth more than 17,000 expatriate missionaries are still present and needed in africa but increasingly their roles are in partnerships with africans in education relief development and theological education people are more readily aware of human situations and have more individualized missional enterprising networks the means available to reach them we cannot dismiss the effects of globalization on ourselves as communicators of the gospel message p 5 people are more readily aware of human situations and have more individualized missional enterprising networks there is a trend toward decentralization and national corporate identity tennent 2010 writes globalization has fostered dramatic changes in immigration urbanization and technological connectivity the result is that missionaries deal with aids victims war-ravaged communities child soldiers and prostitution p 135 3 the rise of hands-on shortterm missional engagement there seems to be a new wine movement as churches and individuals are bypassing institutions and agencies and connecting mission work with direct involvement roger peterson executive director of stem short-term evangeli vol 25 no 1

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cal mission notes if we could point nasa s hubble space telescope back toward planet earth we d observe a steady flow of not less than two million people moving around god s globe every year on what has come to be called short-term missions stm 4 the presence of mission leaders from other continents going to resource rich continents seeking training and cultivating cross-cultural partners in recent years africans from these ministries have come to the west to solicit partners others have been sponsored to come to the united state to gain advanced theological education while at multnomah i have observed that many of these students if they choose to return to their homeland cast ministry vision among united states churches they form support organizations for example mbs graduate pastor charles buregeya founded africa new life ministries in 2001 www.africanewlife.org they cultivate partnerships to provide resources shared wisdom manpower and financial support for their rwandan based ministry 5 the changing motivation for missions the emphasis of missions has changed from concern for eternal destiny issues to demonstrating the glory of god in the human situation while the thrust of this paper is not to deal with the theological elements of eternal destiny it seems from this writer s viewpoint that currently greater emphasis is placed on contemporary real life as christ brought an incarnational gospel of healing help and hope to the new testament world contemporary christians are emphasizing a living apologetic in this troubled world demonstration precedes proclamation this has led to a greater emphasis on social justice and social engagement ministries the global church can be an amazing tool to make a difference in particular regions like east africa in the countries that i have had the privilege of serving with biblical training kenya uganda tanzania rwanda and burundi it is noted corruption and graft is by rulers and officials who enrich themselves and their ethnic group some estimate 25 of africa s com bined national income is lost through corruption amounting to $150 billion per year van rheenen 1996 p 31 it is noted by david a livermore 2006 americans make up 5 percent of the world population but consume 50 percent of the world s resources p 22 observing the wealth of the western church and the disparity of resources of their own ministry context it is only natural for african pastors to seek partnerships collaborative partnerships definitely enhance the capacity to implement their missions vision and strategies to deepen and expand the church cross-cultural partnerships a present reality as part of the missional mosaic partnerships are one of the emerging methods of cross-cultural missions cross-cultural partnerships are on the rise they have become a primary method in which churches and organizations are engaging in global missions partners from different cultures and contexts start working together with the hope of accomplishing great things the occasional bulletin is published three times a year by the evangelical missiological society ems for more information about ems or to apply for membership go to www.emsweb.org national officers occasional bulletin editor bob lenz 1385 w hile road muskegon mi 49441 231 799-2178 email boblenz2@cs.com dissertation series editor rich starcher 13800 biola ave la mirada ca 90639 562 903-6000 email rich.starcher@biola.edu web site content editor lloyd rodgers 16492 mlc lane rockville va 23146 804 620-3817 email lrodgers@imb.org north central vice president robert j priest 2065 half day road deerfield il 60015 847 317-8137 317-8128 fax email rpriest@tiu.edu south central vice president steve strauss 214-841-3688 email sstrauss@dts.edu northwest vice president geoff hartt 23215 sw newland rd wilsonville or 97070 503 381-9741 email ghartt@thetablepdx.com southwest vice president beth snodderly 1539 e howard pasadena ca 91104 626398-2356 email beth.snodderly@wciu.edu rocky mountain vice president dale wolyniak 19620 spring valley rd monument co 80132 719-271-3656 email:brooktrt2@msn.com canada vice president mark naylor ems canada 11523 23 ave nw edmonton alberta t6j 4t3 marknaylor@twu.ca occasional bulletin winter 2012 president enoch wan 5511 se hawthorne blvd portland or 97215 tel 503-517-1904 · fax 503-517-1801 email ewan@westernseminary.edu executive vice president administration j d payne 2825 lexington road louisville ky 40280 email jpayne@sbts.edu executive vice president constituency relations fred smith p.o box 800806 toccoa falls ga 30598 706 886-7299 ext 5424 email fsmith@tfc.edu national vice president finance membership timothy r sisk 820 n lasalle blvd chicago il 60610 312 329-4492 email tsisk@moody.edu national vice president corporate affairs scott moreau 501 e college avenue wheaton il 60187 630 752-5949 752-7125 fax email a.s.moreau@wheaton.edu national vice president publications mike barnett 7435 monticello rd columbia sc 29230 803 807-5355 email mcbar@pobox.com 2 regional officers northeast vice president john wang first baptist church of flushing ny 718-539-6822 x 210 email:fbcjohnwang@yahoo.com southeast vice president edward smither 1971 university blvd campus north 2500 lynchburg va 24502 434 592-4346 elsmither@liberty.edu

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for the kingdom of god lederleitner 2010 p 21 on the positive side these partnerships expand and sustain cross-cultural ministries partnerships multiply the missions impact of ever-expanding and extending the body of christ and create a new innovative paradigm for doing missions on the negative side these partnerships are met with cross-cultural and ethical challenges the challenges are articulated as creating dependency paternalism and ethical conflict leading to fractured relationships and broken promises gailyn van rheenen gives interesting insight in a series of monthly missiological reflections 2 #13 #15 on his website www.missiology.org he makes a distinction in the use of money in support of traditional church beyond that conversation the emphasis of this paper is developing relationally-based cross-cultural partnerships which are transformational in nature and developmental in purpose i propose we look past the western values system which focuses on task accomplishment and financial management douglas mcconnell 2005 writes a chapter in the changing face of world missions titled working together beyond individual efforts to networks of collaboration he emphasizes the relational core to ministry community when he writes as those who have been redeemed by god s divine plan of salvation found in christ jesus we are commanded to love one another on the basis of god s love for us it is difficult to dismiss this fundamental aspect of christian theology when asked about the greatest commandment jesus stated first that we are to love god above everything else and second that we task-transactional partnership may measure vision of success by numbers of baptisms and clean financial record this may not be a viable measurement of deeper issues within the partnership biblical/theological rationale biblical texts esv that lead us to a think in relational and collaborative terms for cross-cultural partnerships in mission ministry particularly applied to the global church are as follows · jesus prayed that his followers hearing the message from the apostles would be set apart by his truth and live harmoniously as one just as you father are in me and i am you that they also may be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me john 17:6 14-21 the father the son and the holy spirit are distinct personages but relate harmoni by transformation i mean a core change where each culture learns from the other leading to a new paradigm of missional engagement planting and partnerships i would like to quote van rheenen to help define the nature of this paper the partnership model is significantly different from both the personal support and indigenous models the partnership perspective recognizes that there are certain contexts in this internationalizing world where foreign money if appropriately used can empower missions without creating dependency this money however rather than going directly to the recipient should go through a local accountability structure of mature christian leaders effective partnerships require churches agencies or consortiums of national leaders who have the maturity to oversee the developing work the leaders within the partnership mutually decide the duration of the partnership accountability for use of money and methodologies for their specific mission tasks without such dialogue or mutual complementation partnership eventually breaks down because trust erodes and interest wanes 15 however the issue of this paper while related to the use of money goes occasional bulletin winter 2012 ously as one in the redemptive mission for which jesus was sent · the apostle paul emphasized relational qualities in his letter to the ephesians that was circulated among churches in asia walk in a manner in this paper i want to focus on the worthy of the calling to which you have value of relational aspects in the for been called with all humility and genmulation of cross-cultural partnerships tleness with patience bearing with one while the outcomes of these partner another in love eager to maintain the ships are to collaborate resources for unity of the spirit in the bond of peace cross-cultural ministries they are only these admonitions are based on indicaas effective as relationships are fostered tive statements of certainty that there that are transformational in nature and is one body and one spirit just as you redemptive in purpose by transfor were called to the one hope that belongs mation i mean a core change where to your call one lord one faith one each culture learns from the other lead baptism and one god and father of ing to a new paradigm of missional en all who is over all and through all and gagement by redemptive i mean the in all eph 4:1-6 paul at the start of aspect where god is at work bringing his epistles measured churches by their freedom from the bondages of contem expressions of faith hope love 1 cor porary culture that hinder his move 13:13 1 thes 1:2-3 2 thes 1:3-4 col ment among people for instance a 1:3-5 eph 1:15-18 3 are to love others matt 22:37-39 the reality of putting god above all else should be primarily observable in our relationship with other believers john 13:4-35 15:12 and shockingly with even our enemies matt 5:44 luke 6:27 35 p 268

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· peter emphasized corporate identity to those in diaspora residing in pontus galatia cappadocia asia and bithynia as you come to him a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of god chosen and precious you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to god through jesus christ but you are a chosen race a royal priesthood a holy nation a people for his own possession that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light 1 peter 2:5,9-10 these communities of faith existed in a common reality and purpose there is a strong relational component necessary for these passages to be exhibited in real life the church is global the whole church taking the whole gospel to the whole world the church is also a local contextualized ministry a living apologetic of the gospel newbigin 1989 p 152 as the church expands and matures in countries and local contexts and as it is united together in christ as his people globally it seems logical that we would partner together with our god-given resources in the mission of christ definitions transformational cross-cultural ministry partnership is a collaboration and cooperation of divinely given resources by two ministry entities individuals or organizations in differing cultural contexts that increase the capacity of each other to extend the gospel of christ beyond the limitations of each entity as individual units these partnerships are transformational through healthy relational attributes exhibiting those qualities and manifesting a union and communion with the living triune god sustaining these partnerships is only necessary for a viable demonstration and declaration of the gospel mission these partnerships are transformational as each entity brings their unique cultural ways to be blended 4 into a new paradigm of gospel expression and expansion daniel rickett 2003 defines partnership as a complementary relationship driven by a common purpose and sustained by a willingness to learn and grow together in obedience to god p 13 rickett further adds by focusing on development we are forced to ask whether our involvement makes our brothers and sisters better able to serve god according to their own gifts and calling p 15 challenge cultural realities conditioning cross-cultural partnerships cultural anthropologists studying the variations among people groups through interviews surveys and observations report a range of distinguishing features the following tables demonstrate a particular issue related to cross-cultural partnerships the issue of collectivism and individualism geert hofstede 1991 wrote the monumental work cultures and organizations software of the mind intercultural cooperation and its importance of group-oriented societies people are born into extended families or other in-groups which continue to protect them in exchange for loyalty identity is based in the social network to which one belongs children learn things in terms of we harmony should always be maintained and direct confrontations avoided high-context communication trespassing leads to shame and loss of face for self and group relationship of employer-employee is perceived in moral terms like a family link hiring and promotion decisions take into account employees in-group extended family group management management of groups relationships prevail over tasks survival p 21 the table below taken from that book adds understanding related to cultural challenges of sustainable cross-cultural partnerships cultural anthropologists point out nothing that we think say or do is exempt from the influence of our culture nothing we believe is exempt from the influence of our race class age and gender faith does not free us from culture because culture is the environment in which what we believe takes shape adeney 1995 p.21 mary t lederleitner 2010 writes what is fascinating to me is how we can find support for both worldviews in scripture when it comes to personal accountability and individualism there are parables that teach these themes with regard to collectivistic worldview we see passages supporting that way of thinking as well p.28-39 lederleitner also points out that both collectivistic and individualistic cultures are challenged to not live on the edge of the extreme but to learn from each other s perspective and appreciate centrist thinking individual-oriented societies everyone grows up to look after him/herself and his/her immediate nuclear family only identity is based on the individual children learn to think in terms of i speaking one s mind is a characteristic of an honest person low-context communication trespassing leads to guilt and loss of selfrespect relationship of employer-employee is a contract supposed to be based on mutual advantage hiring and promotion decisions are supposed to be based on skills and rules management management of individuals 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key interrelated issues for cross-cultural partnership formation transformational cross-cultural partnerships are a step to bringing our theological orthodoxy and orthopraxis to a living reality how do we move forward how do we create transformational partnerships that are truly living out the redemptive and restorative movement of christ how do these cross-cultural partnerships function with integrity regarding the nature and character of the incarnate son of god i want to propose seven critical topics for cultivating transformational cross-cultural partnerships 1 base partnership in a dialectical conversational model that creates a transformational partnership it is my hypothesis that each culture related through a cross-cultural part only exploitation fear and suspicion p.184 cross-cultural partnerships are a unique opportunity for theology to be worked out in praxis what we say we believe is lived out in real life now between promise and consummation we are broken people in the process of transformation rom 12:1-2 2 cor 5:17 through the word of god by the sanctifying ministry of the holy spirit in the context of the body of christ and in relation to the greater world of all humanity we labor with unquenchable optimism because of our living hope through the resurrected christ 1 peter 1:3-6 2 peter 1:3-11 the apostle paul admonished his partnering church to work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is god who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure do all things without grumbling or questioning that you may be tional in nature calling participants to move beyond their individualized capacity to a vista beyond themselves to a new capacity and synergy of collaborative performance that while defines a vision of success trusts the ultimate outcomes to the power of god 1 cor 3:6 god causes the growth the measurement is the ability to develop a core sense of mission and adjust the outcomes to the changing context how does this process work both parties must be connected to the redemptive work of christ and clothed with the attitude of christ doing nothing from rivalry or conceit but in humility count others more significant than yourselves phil 2:3 esv cross-cultural partnership becomes the greatest learning context where these words of god are actually lived out each person of the partnership joins together with others to develop a com people think about things have feelings about them and make judgments concerning right and wrong based on their thoughts and feelings nership learns from the other and recognizes god is at work in both god is supra-cultural the challenge effectively engaged becomes transformational to both cultural groups the trends of urbanization and globalization add another feature as multi-cultural realities have shaped many missional contexts the missional community has faced and will continue to face the realities of differing systems of thought forces at work and catalysts of change at an ever increasing pace nt wright 1999 writes our task as image-bearing god-loving christshaped spirit-filled christians following christ and shaping our world is to announce redemption to the world that has discovered its fallenness to announce healing to the world that has discovered its brokenness to proclaim love and trust to the world that knows occasional bulletin winter 2012 blameless and innocent children of god without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation among whom you shine as lights in the world phil 2:12-16 esv this transformation process takes time maybe a lifetime of engagement between partners when the objective is the creation of a sustainable partnership that is redemptive in process and transformational in nature it calls each partner to move beyond a transactional contract to a developing relationship with the partner bush and lutz use the metaphor of a marriage bush lutz 1990 p.44-54 this is critically important in working with a collectivistic culture that values relationships above tasks the transactional partnership is based on a contract generated and defined by quantifiable measuring instruments transformation is rela mon devotion to partner with the triune god in his redemptive work in a particular context with a particular group of people for a god-shaped mission they share a devotion to a common belief system accompanied by a holy devotion to christ each partner shares a common goal of glorifying god in common mission goals duane elmer writes if god connected with us as a servant that becomes the way we too connect with the people of this world while it runs counter to our natural desire we have no choice we are never more like jesus than when we serve others a relational dialogical process is established where the individualistic task-rational-oriented culture joins in a dialogue with the collectivistic relational-experience-oriented culture the individuals or groups meet in union 5

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and communion with the redemptivetransformational work of god through that interactive process a ministry partnership is formed in concert for the purposes of god the people involved form a unique relationship where by valuing each other equally and complimenting each other harmoniously they grow beyond their natural tendency and humbly live as servants of christ 2 cultivate conversational understanding of collaborating partnership for a common mission-vision i base my thinking on the scholarly work of the late paul hiebert he notes the three dimensions of worldview cognitive affective and moral which we distinguish for analytical purposes in reality all three operate simultaneously in human experiences people think about things have feelings about them and make judgments concerning right and wrong based on their thoughts and feelings the moral includes people s concept of righteousness and sin and their primary allegiance their god hiebert 2008 p 26 worldviews are shaped through the culture context beginning at birth the believer s life and odendaal presented a paper from kitchen table to boardroom table diversity issues in global missions leadership the paper impacted me regarding the type of relational conversations saddleback church forest lawn california learned to hold while doing community development through in-country partnerships in rwanda when implementing their peace plan initiative this dialectic requires three tables of conversation the kitchen table symbolizing interpersonal relational development of understanding and communication where relationships are cultivated the communion table suggested by dr richard white symbolizing the dynamic transforming union in christ where a community of christfollowers center cultivate and celebrate on redemption and transformation in the gospel and the board room table symbolizing policies procedures and processes where decisions are made regarding strategy for bringing the person and work of christ into a particular context for ministry-mission odendaal 2010 er as an offering unto christ in a particular context 4 maintain accountability without degenerating to paternalism accountability is a biblical reality 1 cor 3:11-14 2 cor 4:9-10 but understanding and communicating with accountability moves beyond training development processes and procedures it must also consider cultural intelligence issues in my experience i have observed that collision occurs between the western culture and the african culture regarding leadership power and position ralph schubert 2008 who served in tanzania with sil international studied the relationship of leadership ethics and the cultural issues between the western missionaries and leaders in tanzania related to the use of power and distance he notes that westerners relate to their subordinates in a friendly manner but keep some distance leaders in tanzania are expected to be always accessible and friendly in tanzania it is paternalistic as related to their tribal group p 150-151 areas of conversation in forming in my experience i have observed that collision occurs between the western culture and the african culture regarding leadership power and position relationships become reshaped by the redemptive transforming work of god through the ministry of the holy spirit utilizing the word of god and the community of faith when two cultures join together in partnership with god then that relationship becomes transformational over the process of time 3 form a relational dialectic connecting the work of the triune god through his word christian community in differing cultural contexts and the formulation of a transformational partnership for his mission purpose at the northwest ems regional meeting march 2010 dr gil 6 · begin with core basis of the crosscultural partnership common belief common sense of mission-vision and core values and virtues · bond together with partners as mutual servants of jesus christ see each other in an egalitarian equals in value and relationship with christ and complementarian unique in talents gifting and life-experience way · build a collaborative ministry model with common sense of outcomes · blend know and understand cultural realities in the context of relationships with partners that blend togeth and developing partnership understanding are · leadership accountability ethics and strategy · financial accountability systems and structure · educate train mentor coach develop systems and structure that meets contextual realities and stimulates growth and development in that development there are four features educate focusing on new information needed for mission-vision accomplishment train focusing on use of the information as related to common misoccasional bulletin winter 2012

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sion vision and strategy mentor focusing on experiential learning processes to implement education and training in relevant mission life coach focusing on progress development of the one trained to achieve desired outcomes of mission-vision 5 forge and foster dignity and mutuality each partner contributes to the partnership without it degenerating into dependency and paternalism this is the hardest challenge daniel rickett 2003 states that healthy dependency is characterized by reciprocity and responsibility each enters the relationship with a clear picture of what each has to offer and what ety of ordinary human beings resulting in a variety of outcomes · abide in the presence and power of christ as a branch to the vine john 15 6 develop capacity and sustainability capacity development happens when partners learn grow and are transformed through cooperative and collaborative engagement in the mission of christ it is both a process and an outcome when the partnership is no longer developmental it should be re-evaluated and then be renewed refocused or rejected because of globalization the world is coming together in ways never before imaginable multi-cultural realities knowledge chaffee qtd by elmer 2002 p.171 7 communicate through conflicts and misunderstandings normal interpersonal relationships sustain a certain amount of conflict when you add cross-cultural and or multi-cultural realities to the communication mix the potential for conflict escalates communion is critical silence adds to suspicion and division scripture admonishes the people of god to manage conflict differently peter writes finally all of you have unity of mind sympathy brotherly love a tender heart and a humble mind do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling but on the contrary bless for to this you were effective interaction means giving of yourself trying to see the world of others and respect their life ways it means not forcing your ways on them each stands to gain each maintains its independence and capacity to instruct correct and refuse the other each honors and upholds the unique and divine calling of the other each makes a distinctive and complementary contribution to the partnership each conducts itself in a manner that safeguards one another s integrity and honors christ p 27 in keeping with the dialogical process · affirm complementary roles and responsibilities · assess worldviews in relation to missional context be sensitive to issues of dominance and development · aim at a compelling vision that seems to be the best use of complementary assets determine what you could do better by being together rather than apart · accept the real outcomes with a pursuit of ideal outcomes remember this is a discipleship-based developmental relationship look at jesus and the disciples as a model jesus the ideal god-man worked with a varioccasional bulletin winter 2012 will become a common experience because of this dynamic partnerships in a formal sense need to be evaluated and processed in a way that is both honoring to christ and to the body of christ · create conversation that expands and extends assets within cross-cultural multi-cultural contexts · cultivate a process that communicates mutual ownership of a compelling vision · communicate with commitment to good understanding yielding capacity development · commit to a process that enhances partnerships recognize it takes time maybe even a lifetime effective interaction means giving of yourself trying to see the world of others and respect their life ways it means not forcing your ways on them yet at the same time it means being true to yourself and your ways to be really effective interaction must be a two-way street or of course it is not interaction at all that is all interacting individuals should be doing so from a basis of awareness understanding and called that you may obtain a blessing 1 peter 3:9-12 in a world of finite men conflict is inevitably associated with creativity without conflict there is no major personal change or social progress conflict management then becomes crucially important this involves accepting or even encouraging such conflict as is necessary but at the same time doing everything possible to keep it to the minimum essential to change to confine it to the least destructive forms and to resolve it as redemptively mine added and constructively as possible seifert clinebell jr 1969 p.174 · treat all parties with dignity and respect · train your ear to listen for understanding · track the critical nature of the conflict amoral moral programmatic etc · tune in to the emotions in the conversation seek to pursue wisdom or mediation · track the substantive issues of the conflict and be tender to the emotion7

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al issues · transact decisions based on the substantive issues yet be in tune to the emotional challenges · translate analysis into a process of redemptive understanding and character transformation through pathway formulation · triumph by an assessment process that fosters growth and accountability and partnerships with western supporters currently training sites are in nigeria kenya tanzania uganda and burundi the leadership has transitioned to african nationals through international director stephen miori a kenyan icmusa serves as a collaborative partner also seeking to develop educational resources and partnership networks for these training cen boardroom table diversity issues in global mission leadership in reflecting god s glory together diversity in evangelical missions eds a scott moreau and beth snodderly pasadena calif william carey library peterson roger 2009 missio dei or missio me using short-term missions to contribute toward the fulfillment of god s global purpose in perspectives on the word christian movement reader 4th edition eds ralph d winter and steven c hawthorne pasadena calif william carey library cultures creating a new paradigm through sustained partnership toward a common god-given mission the strength of this training mission is the transformation of two the organization i have worked with since 1994 is international christian ministries icm www.icmusa.org i began an association through a shortterm mission icm invited and facilitated short-termers to be involved in their training programs president and founder dr phil walker and cofounder dr myron goodwin moved to the rural city of kitale kenya east africa over twenty-five years ago this is a city with an estimated population of 220,000 in 2007 walker observed the flourishing indigenous church and their suspicion of biblical education he and myron goodwin formed relationships with pastors through itinerant teaching of walk-thru-the-bible materials to meet the need for biblicaltheological education for these pastors and ministry leaders the itinerant format brought biblically based leadership training to their context suspicions were abated and trust was gained the ministry flourished walker and goodwin developed an in-service cohort training model in kitale pastors and ministry leaders come to kitale for four to six weeks of biblical theological and practical training they return to their ministries to implement the training in their ministry contexts over the last ten years icm has multiplied teaching sites through african graduates of the kitale program 8 ters icm s mission is to train african leaders to create african solutions to african challenges the strength of this training mission is the transformation of two cultures creating a new paradigm through sustained partnership toward a common god-given mission references adeney bernard t 1995 strange virtues ethics in a multicultural world downers grove ill intervarsity press bush luis lorry lutz 1990 partnering in ministry the direction of world evangelism downers grove ill intervarsity press elmer duane 2006 cross-cultural servanthood serving the world in christlike humility downers grove ill intervarsity books hiebert paul g 2008 transforming worldview grand rapids mich baker academics hofstede geert 1991 cultures and organizations software of the minds new york mcgraw-hill lederleitner mary t.2010 cross-cultural partnerships downers grove ill intervarsity press livermore david a 2006 serving with eyes wide open grand rapids mich baker books mandryk jason 2010 operation world the definitive prayer guide to every nation 7th ed colorado springs colo biblica publishing mcconnell douglas 2005 working together beyond individual efforts to networks the changing face of missions eds michael pocock gailyn van rheenen and douglas mcconnell grand rapids mich baker academic newbigin lesslie 1989 the gospel in a pluralistic society grand rapids mich wm b eerdmans publishing odenaal gil 2011 from kitchen table to pocock michael 2005 globalization in the changing face of world missions engaging contemporary issues and trends eds michael pocock gailyn van rheenen and douglas mcconnell grand rapids mich baker academic pocock michael 2005 the disappearing center in the changing face of world missions engaging contemporary issues and trends eds michael pocock gailyn van rheenen and douglas mc connell grand rapids mich baker academic rickett daniel 2003 building strategic relationships a practical guide to partnering with non-western missions enumclaw wash winepress publishing schubert ralph 2008 leadership and partnership a dialogue between western and tanzanian christian leadership bonn germany vtr publications 2008 seifert harvey and howard clinebell jr 1969 personal growth and social change a guide for ministers and laymen as change agents philadelphia pa westminster press tennent timothy c 2010 invitation to world missions a trinitarian missiology for the twenty-first century grand rapids mich kregel publications van reenen gailyn monthly missiological reflection #15 using money and missions four perspectives www.missiology.org p=243 van reenen gailyn 1996 mission biblical foundations and contemporary strategies grand rapids mich zondervan publishing house wright n.t 1999 the challenge of jesus rediscovering who jesus was and is downers grove ill intervarsity press trautmann roger l b.a m.div d.min dean of students and director of mentoring-internships and associate professor of pastoral ministries multnomah university occasional bulletin winter 2012

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smither s review of the facilitator era a response tom steffen n that my good friend ed smither s book review is the first i have seen regarding the facilitator era i would like to respond to some of his critiques in that i believe he has missed the core question of the book bill and bev beaver had just returned to the u.s after two years working with a filipino church planting team in the philippines when they mentioned that they would like to return and work in a pioneer church planting setting the filipino team leader told the couple that that was not a good idea this confused the beavers they wondered if they or other westerners had any future role in pioneer church planting globally this is the question the beavers brought back to the states and the reason the 10 weekly sessions were set up with the professor pp 3 38 331 352 371 374-377 just how do westerners now serve in today s missions what is their role dr smither s call to expand the book to inc lude majority wor ld players to replace mcgavran and townsend and for majority world case studies hence goes beyond the scope of the book ralph winter s three eras deal specifically with missions launched from the west as does the fourth era developed in the facilitator era the book deals with the three mission initiatives launched from the west carey taylor mcgavran/townsend asking if the west has moved beyond these major players note the following quotes dr winter identified three eras of western protestant missions p 27 but for our current discussion i am focusing strictly on western missionaries who plant churches cross-culturally p 32 during our nine weeks together i ve tried to consider holistic church multiplication primarily from a north american perspective recoccasional bulletin winter 2012 i ognizing that the north and south are tightly interlaced in the global missions enterprise p.377 the fourth era redefines western missions p.378 if readers allow the book to set the parameters for the 10week discussions between the main characters dr nobley and the beavers it automatically limits the mcgavran s townsend s replacements to someones from the west it would be outside the scope of the book to suggest my longtime friend luis bush or any other majority world leader as key figures or include majority world case studies even though all of jority world missions we need answers written by majority wor ld christian workers and westerners from latin america asia and africa this would give the global missions community multiple leaders there will always be key leaders with multiple followers and followers becoming new leaders from around the globe who promote both pioneering and facilitating church planting as desired by dr smither may their numbers increase and also the number of majority world responses to the west s fourth era why choose warren over piper to replace mcgavran/townsend this certainly is up for debate and a legitimate critique in the review as we are still early in the era as noted in the book p 36 i went with warren the purpose of the facilitator era is not necessarily to propse a new era for the west even though it does but to describe one that is already upon us the fourth era the 16 case studies include global aspects of missions compassion compromise critique cooperation collaboration note also the sudanese return to their home country and latin americans go to the mediterranean area my hope along with dr smither s is that this work will be a catalyst for further reflection for the global church but to do so it must be tied back to the core question of the book i would script a follow up question this way assuming the fourth era is alive and well in the west what are the implications for the ma why while piper definitely has major missions influence in the west it pales to that of warren s holistic model encapsulated in the peace plan and his ability to network churches to participate in its proclamation mainly through short-termers saddleback and associates have already put teams into every country of the world no church growth book comes close in sales to his purpose driven church you will find other reasons mentioned in the book we should have a firm answer to this in another decade warren personifies a major missions shift from the previous era support majority 9

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as seen through the lenz continued from page 9 r oger trautmann brings to the table a methodology for integrating cultures primarily western and non-western that become partners both of whom are transformed to carry out the great commission after presenting the framework for his thesis he gives us seven key interrelated issues to lay this foundation for this approach of cross cultural partnerships to succeed roger does an excellent job in presenting the why and how transformational cross cultural partnerships can be effective in our last issue of occasional bulletin ed smither s reviewed tom steffen s new book the facilitator era we have given tom an opportunity to respond to ed s comments the ideal would be to have them both side by side in the same issue and not have to peruse the previous edition missions is moving into the paradigm of facilitating the work of god abroad and tom`s book has some significant insights into this model thanks to both ed and tom for their friendly interaction bob lenz editor world churches in other words facilitate so they can pioneer the purpose of the facilitator era is not necessarily to propose a new era for the west even though it does but to describe one that is already upon us the fourth era the 16 case studies demonstrate the breadth of this new phenomena this is what makes the book groundbreaking it articulates what is transpiring in western missions but nowhere articulated in print from this perspective or depth missions has shifted again for the west in relation to holistic ministry as outlined in the chart on p 30 yes this is a bold claim and meant to be so in relation to definitions it seems dr smither has read his definition of facilitator into mine and therefore found it wanting he rightly notes that the roles of a facilitator are quite varied key to the difference between a pioneer third era and a facilitator fourth era is the goal the west has moved from reaching the unreached to reaching the reached to reach the unreached pp 30 chart 31-32 39 41 47-48 charts on pp 66 71 101 110 150-151 298-304 this is the major paradigm shift that the west finds itself something that includes but is much more than a spirit attitude or perspective on missions moving from pioneering starting churches to facilitating working with existing churches is a paradigm shift that moves the west from one era to another right or wrong good or bad and there definitely some of each this is what is happening in western missions because as jenkins notes we and others were successful see the charts on pp 66 and 71 that contrasts pioneers from facilitators this is new news the era of the western missionary is not dead but it has changed facilitate follow and support majority world believers so they can pioneer new church planting efforts this paradigm shift or era shift has multiple implications for selec tion training evangelizing discipling community development translating creation care partnering and so forth many agencies now find that they must reset but find little help in the existing church planting literature why because it focuses primarily on pioneer church planting and often lacks a holistic focus week 1 so what do the books say by missing the perspective of analyzing missions from the west and not using the definition of facilitator presented in the book dr smither would naturally struggle to follow steffen s logic or grasp the relevance of the discussion of past and present short-term missions and the movement promoted through the peace plan pp 74-99 week 5 who unleashed the megachurch this chapter begins to highlight some of the issues short-term facilitators will run into and possible consequences throughout this chapter and others an underlying critique of the fourth era can be found some of which are not so subtle and do not overlook week 9 so why do you still teach pioneer church multiplication dr smither s review makes me wonder if propositional trained reviewers most of us who are use to finding things laid out sequentially in books find textbooks written in the narrative genre may they increase harder to catch things embedded in the ongoing discussions i agree that the book is over priced let w ipf stock know even though the sixteen case study chapters alone were worth the price of the book to help with cost do not overlook the free powerpoint presentation of the facilitator era see p xvii https sites.google.com/a/biola.edu the-facilitator-era dr tom steffen professor of intercultural studies director d miss program cook school of intercultural studies biola university tom.steffen@biola.edu 10 occasional bulletin winter 2012

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