Oliver Phillips Quote: U.S./Canada: God's New Mission Field

[Barb Bouldrey]

I recently received the winter issue of missionstrategy.org magazine. The editor is Oliver Phillips. In his editorial, entitled, "U.S./Canada: God's New Mission Field," he says on page 3:

"Why has the church become content on boasting of accomplishments in Judea and Samaria while there has been silence in Jerusalem?

And then he quotes Thom Rainer from his book The Unchurched Next Door:
"...the answer to most of these questions can be found in the mirror."

This is a wonderful magazine and I have just finished reading it cover to cover. I do not know if all pastors received this or if you can subscribe to this challenging magazine. Perhaps Dr. Phillips will read this and respond, telling you how to subscribe.

Every one of us who care about the future of our church should read this fine magazine.

This editorial really spoke to my heart in an area that has concerned me greatly in recent years. As District NMI president I have watched our church grow by leaps and bounds (and not just because of the Jesus Film) in other areas of the world while my own local church declines and has barren altars.

Thanks, Dr. Phillips.

Barb

P.S. on the index page of this magazine it states: "This publication may be freely copied and/or distributed in part or in its entirety."

Another P.S. I did mean Oliver Phillips, but do not know how to change his name in the title of this thread.

[Steven Martinez]

I think you mean Oliver Phillips.

[Barb Bouldrey]

Thanks for the correction.

I looked right at his name to spell his last name correctly all the while typing the wrong first name..

OOOOPPPPPSSSS!!!

Barb

[Dennis M. Scott]

Impressive edition.

[Gary Lee Parker]

I wonder when the Global Church of the Nazarene will begin to develop a ministry to include people with disabilities with their families into full and active participation of the local congregation allowing each person to use their God-given gifts to reach people for Jesus.

http://www,globalnazarenelambshope.blogspot.com

[Gary Swartzlander]

I wonder when the Global Church of the Nazarene will begin to develop a ministry to include people with disabilities with their families into full and active participation of the local congregation allowing each person to use their God-given gifts to reach people for Jesus.

http://www.globalnazarenelambshope.blogspot.com

the link above is corrected with the period after www.

[Oliver Phillips]

Thanks for your kind remarks Barb.

A digital copy could be found with this link:
http://www.missionstrategy.org/missionstrategy/portals/0/pdf/mspdf/msorgwinter2008.pdf

[Barb Bouldrey]

Thank YOU Dr. Phillips, for forgiving my name mistake in my title. I could not figure out how to change it once it was posted.

Barb

[Barb Bouldrey]

Gary Parker,

I am not trying to make excuses, but just give some logical thinking on your question.

Since 75% of all Nazarene churches average less than 75 in attendance, I have to believe that most of these churches do not have a lot of contact with special needs children and adults and people with disabilities. And after pastoring with my husband in 6 of those small churches, I have to tell you that it has always been a struggle to have enough Sunday School teachers, enough board members, enough people to play instruments.

I have seen and heard of churches that become aware of handicapped or special needs people in their communities and found ways to incorporate them in the life of the church. Some small churches has seen a vision for reaching and helping the disabled as well as some large churches.

We can have a global program for this, but it will get nowhere without a vision in the local church...whatever the size of the church.

As with a Singles Ministry, a Women's Ministry, a Men's Ministry, Caravans, or any thing beyond Sunday and Worship, it takes people with a vision and a commitment to promote a program for handicapped people.

And, I am sorry to say, and sorry to believe, but the commitment level of most of our church members is at an all-time low.

As Dr. Phillips article says, "It begins in the mirror."

Barb

[Genevieve Boller]

Thank you, Dr. Phillips - I just read almost the whole magazine. I am going to go now and see how to subscribe. :)