Just a couple of random thoughts tonight:

First, from Mission Frontiers led by Ralph Winter, "Every year, Christian churches spend over $1 billion to collect detailed information on their membership." What every happened to old-fashioned relationship building?

Second, I came upon the question again today, "Why do we place so much emphasis on overseas missions in the church and neglect our own neighbors?" I get sick of this question, I really do. For one, it's not a matter of either/or, but both. We need to focus both on local and global missions. But second, no one is forcing these churches to choose one or the other, they do it on their own for their own reasons. And third, overseas is where the harvest is. As I quoted last week in this space, over 60% of the Church (and growing) is in non-Western, non white communities. Why not put the resources there as that is where the people are responding. Finally, fourth, we just think about missions in a totally wrong atmosphere. And I'm going to leave you hanging there and move on to another topic.

Finally, I put some words on paper today that express the yearnings of my heart of late. Feedback is appreciated.

Mission:
To bring a group of like-minded and mission-minded followers of Christ together to encourage and support one another, meet the needs of the local community, and spread the Kingdom of God throughout the world.

Practical Application:
This will be played out in 3 simple steps:

1) Step 1 will include weekly gathering of the believers to encourage one another and support each other in their walk with the Lord.
- Gatherings will consist of sharing what God has put on our hearts, study of His Word, and a time of fellowship and prayer
- “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:25
- “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…All the believers were together and had everything in common... Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42,44,46-47

2) Step 2 will consist of meeting the physical and spiritual needs of believers both locally and around the world
- A 501c3 organization will be formed to provide the opportunity for tax deductions for all funds donated
- The members of the Board of Directors of this organization will bring the needs of the community and world to the weekly meetings and funds will be distributed accordingly
- With few exceptions, only grass-roots organizations (i.e. Gospel for Asia) and individual people will receive the funds or the goods. Funds will not be used for the purposes of building buildings nor will they go to existing, large-scale organizations (i.e. World Vision, Campus Crusade, etc.)
- There will be no overhead for the organization initially, and if there is ever a need in that area it will be raised or covered separately. 100% of funds donated will go to their intended cause.

3) Step 3 will include the organization of trips to visit the people/places we support. Relationships with native missionaries via letter writing or personal visits will be greatly encouraged and developed as this process evolves.

Obviously, this needs to be further developed but it expresses where I believe the Lord is leading me in my journey with Him.