Strategy for Reaching Your Mission Field Tim Ahlen Pastor, Forest Meadow Baptist Church, Dallas

Cleveland Cnty. Realities 2010 Population: 255,755 29.7% speak a language other than English at home At least 45 total languages Total # evangelical religious adherents increased by 2,078 while population increased by 47,739 in the past decade. Cleveland County Oklahoma Context

Cleveland County OK 1990 2000 2010 Population 174,253 208,016 255,755 Adherents All Religions 69,666 (40.0%) 92,122 (44.3%) 110,195 (43.1%) Unclaimed by Any Religion 104,587 115,894 145,560 EVANGELICAL 46,060 (26.4%) 57,299 (27.5%) 59,377 (23.2%) Unclaimed by Evangelical 128,193 (73.6%) 150717 (72.5%) 196,378 (76.8%) # of Churches Needed (membership of 100) 1,281 1,507 1,964 TOTAL COST ($2 million per church) $2,562,000,000 $3,014,000,000 $3,928,000,000 Years to Reach 400 (3.2/yr) 457 (3.2/yr) 595 (3.3/yr)

Great Commission Challenge panta ta ethne

Our choice Deep change Slow death

Arrange in a recognizable shape that can be described to someone who cannot see the shapes.

Arrange in a recognizable shape that can be described to someone who cannot see the shapes.

Arrange in a recognizable shape that can be described to someone who cannot see the shapes.

Conventional thinking patterns dominate our thinking making it difficult for us to think outside the box. Arrange in a recognizable shape that can be described to someone who cannot see the shapes.

London January 2003

Great Commission Initiative (GCI) Purpose - igniting CPMs in North America Principles Penetrating lostness (people groups, people group segments) Work within their worldview Rapidly multiplying, healthy churches (easily reproduced) Retreat in order to return (Celtic monasticism) New Wineskins for New Wine (Leave the old wineskins alone!)

Great Commission Initiatives (GCI) Purpose - igniting CPMs in North America Principles Particularities Missiology- Great Commission, panta ta ethne Ecclesiology- Simpler, easily reproducible, NT churches Discipleship- Obedience based, 2 Tim. 2:2 Communication- Oral and literate forms

Always. Luke 15:1-10 Even if 99% are saved, the 1 gets priority. It is all about penetrating lostness. Even if 99% are saved, the 1 gets priority. Always.

The Great Commission As you are going, as you are sent, Live in Immediate, Radical, Sacrificial Obedience to Jesus Christ Make Christ followers Baptize them Teach them to obey everything Jesus commanded In the context of their culture and heart language Make Christ followers of panta ta ethne All ethne- ethnolinguistic people groups All ethne- 11,500 of them- ½ have never heard the name of Jesus Christ. All ethne- wherever you find them

Expressed in all Four Gospels and Acts The Great Commission 21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." John 20:21-23NIV 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:6-8 NIV 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:45-49 NIV 15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." Mark 16:15-18 NIV 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:18-20 NIV Expressed in all Four Gospels and Acts Matthew 28:18-20 Mark 16:15-19 Luke 24:44-49 John 20:21 Acts 1:6-8

Biblical Terms for People Groups Hebrew (OT) Greek (LXX and NT) Am– the People of God Goyim– Everyone Else The nations The heathen The ethnic peoples Laos– the People of God Ethnos– Everyone Else The nations The heathen The ethnic peoples The Bible uniformly tells us that we are to make disciples of the ethne– those people who do not belong to God.

History of American Immigration and Evangelicalism From the 1500’s to 1775 By 1775 Congregational (745 churches) Anglican/Episcopal (405 churches) Presbyterian (490 churches) Lutheran (235 churches) Methodist (Less than 200 churches) Baptist (About 200 churches) Immigrants (ethne) from all over Europe moved into colonies and established their faiths Usually as a State Church. Highly ethnic in their orientation

History of American Immigration and Evangelicalism From 1775-1850 From 1850-1950 Methodist Baptist Presbyterian Lutheran Congregational Episcopal Baptist Methodist Lutheran Presbyterian Episcopal Congregational

History of American Immigration and Evangelicalism How did this happen? Lutherans prospered on the frontier because they never developed a strong colonial base and thus were persecuted. Congregationalists had polity fitted to the frontier, but fractured with theological controversy, died out after 1900. Episcopals were wealthiest, most traditional, episcopal polity required highly trained clergy, tied to cultural centers Methodists relied on circuit riding lay preachers who served God at great sacrifice (Endless Line of Splendor, by Luccock) Baptists relied on lay led congregations, taught their frontier members to start a church wherever they moved. (Sandy Creek Assoc.) Presbyterians required trained and ordained clergy, ruled by presbyterial polity.

US Religious Scene from 1775-1950 By 1910 church members had grown to 43% By 1960 church members had grown to 60% (pp.33ff, Herberg) Beyond the category of “church members” at least 75- 80% of all Americans said they were adherents of Christianity In 1775 church members were from 10 to 12% of the US population By the 1950s denominationalism was clearly established, active and very strong in term of loyalties and influence in America Denominational solidarity split along Protestant/Catholic/Jewish lines.

Immigration from 1820-2003 From 1820 through 1924 = 35,999,402 In 2000 A.D. the projection prior to the Census was 26,800,000 foreign-born persons in the US in July of 2000 Actual foreign-born enumerated in 2000 Census was 31,100,000 persons

What’s Happened Since 1950 A New Wave of Immigration (1965) Africa Asia Middle East Latin America Eastern Europe These immigrants aren’t assimilating like the Western Europeans did

Projections of Legal Annual Immigration into USA 2000 = 964,000 (Medium Assumption) 2005 = 872,000 (Medium Assumption) 2010 = 713,000 (Medium Assumption) 2030 = 1,100,000 (Medium Assumption) Notes: There are legal quotas by country that set restrictions on immigration into the USA There are no limits upon family members petitioning for others in their family to immigrate into the USA There are no limits upon the number of persons who can come into the USA through their seeking and being granted political asylum

Church Planting Process TA ETHNE (Scripture) SEGMENTATION S.C. Selection & Mentoring RESEARCH ENDVISION MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION Often known as Jim's Tube.

The Priority of Scripture Scripture forms the strategic foundation Great Commission Penetrating Lostness Scriptural mandates, patterns and principles determine our praxis. Making disciples, teaching them to obey Jesus Training trainers Heart language Scriptural outcomes comprise endvision. Revelation 7:9

The Task of Segmentation Who Are the Lost? Ethnolinguistic People Group Segmentation Distinct ethnic groups= first line of demarcation Sociological Segments identified under EPG’s. Where Are the Lost? Mapping physical location Mapping spiritual location

The Task of Strategy Coordination WIGTAKE? What’s it going to take to ignite a CPM in this people group? What is our current reality? What needs to be done to get us to our destination? What resources are needed to get there? Who is responsible?

The Task of Research Harvest Force Mission Team Other Resources Harvest Facilitators Persons of Peace Gatekeepers Harvest Field Ethnolinguistic People Group

The Task of Research Characteristics of the People Group History Culture Language Religion(s) Access Communication Preferences- Literacy Worldview Analysis Bridges to the Gospel Barriers to the Gospel

The Task of Endvisioning Begin with the end in mind! A detailed narrative description of what the CPM will look like in that people group when it occurs. Based on compilation of SC’s research Becomes the “north star” for all subsequent planning.

The Task of Master Planning A detailed, stepwise strategic plan Starts with the endvision Works its way back to your current realities Includes several components Endvision Objectives (or, Pillars) Goals Action Plans

The Task of Implementation Starts With Current Realities Develops and Deploys Resources Carries Out the Master Plan Evaluates Progress Makes Needed Adjustments “Sets the Sails” for the CPM “Passes the Baton” as soon as possible

Phase 2 Objectives- Strategy Coordination Identify the Dynamics of EPG Strategy as It Applies in Your Ministry Field. Your Ministry Field- Segmentation Your Ministry Field- Research Your Ministry Field- Master Plan Your Ministry Field-Implementation Begin to Do Worldview Analysis Understand Discipleship that Multiplies

Oral Strategies Learn to Communicate the Gospel by Telling Bible Stories Use Your Previously Done Research to Identify Bridges and Barriers to Communicating the Gospel Learn to Select and Craft Bible Stories and Bible Studies for Effective Evangelization and Discipleship.

Church in Antioch The Antioch Church was Multiethnic Greeks (Lucius) Acts 11:19-30 (NIV)  Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.  News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. The Antioch Church was Multiethnic Greeks (Lucius) Hebrews (Paul, Barnabas) Africans (Simeon)

Church in Antioch The Antioch Church was Missional Acts 11:19-30 (NIV)  Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.  News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. The Antioch Church was Missional They took up a famine offering They sent Paul and Barnabas on a church planting mission trip.

Church in Antioch The Antioch Church was Multiplying Acts 11:19-30 (NIV)  Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.  News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. The Antioch Church was Multiplying Internally by multiplying groups within the church Externally by multiplying churches in Asia

Church in Antioch The Antioch Church was Mature Acts 11:19-30 (NIV)  Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.  News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. The Antioch Church was Mature It was at Antioch that Christ followers were first called Christians After one year, they were SOARing Christ followers

Incremental Growth v. Rapid Multiplication Elephants Wabbits Only fertile four times per year. Only one baby per pregnancy. 22 month gestation period. Sexual maturity: 18 years. 3 years: 2 -> 3 Practically continuously fertile. Average of seven babies per pregnancy. 1 month gestation period. Sexual maturity: 4 months. 3 years: 2 -> 476 million (ideal potential)

Reproduction rate matters! Reproduction rate in months 60 36 24 18 12 9 6 4 1 2 8 3 16 64 512 5 32 1,024 32,768 10 8,192 1 million 1 billion 15 128 --- 20 67 million 30 Years

Reproduction rate matters! Reproduction rate in months 60 36 24 18 12 9 6 4 1 2 8 3 16 64 512 5 32 1,024 32,768 10 8,192 1 million 1 billion 15 128 --- 20 67 million 30 Years

Reproduction rate matters! Reproduction rate in months 60 36 24 18 12 9 6 4 1 2 8 3 16 64 512 5 32 1,024 32,768 10 8,192 1 million 1 billion 15 128 --- 20 67 million 30 Years

In 2003, FMBC was one congregation. . . . . .averaging less than 30 in attendance

In the last eight years, we’ve planted 17 congregations I.B. Forest Meadow Sudanese Community Church The Well TEAM Church Zambian Light Rockwall House Church 7 Nepalese House Churches 1 Ethiopian Mesquite House Church Pleasant Woods Apts. In the last eight years, we’ve planted 17 congregations Oromo Baptist Fellowship

That have planted 62 congregations. . . I.B. Ivy Dinka Anglican Hurst Sud. Bedford Sud. Arlington Sud. Uduk Sud. Me’en Sud. FBC Sud. Stone bridge Journey Crossing Key stone Life Pointe Life House Break through Gate way Stone water Rock bridge East Meadows Guatem alan House Church 2 Nepalese House Church Indian House Church I.B. Luzy Verdad I.B. Indigo I.B. Hebron 29 H.C. Verde Valley AZ I.B. Forest Meadow Sudanese Community Church The Well TEAM Church Zambian Light Rockwall House Church 7 Nepalese House Churches 1 Ethiopian Mesquite House Church Pleasant Woods Apts. 6 Flint MI TEAM Church Plant That have planted 62 congregations. . . Oromo Baptist Fellowship

. . . That Planted 32 congregations 7 H.C. Verde Valley The Spring High land Malek Sud. Aliet Sud. Amookm Sud. 4 Nepalese House Church Park land House Church Guatem alanHou se Church I.B. Ivy Dinka Anglican Hurst Sud. Bedford Sud. Arlington Sud. Uduk Sud. Me’en Sud. FBC Sud. Stone bridge Journey Crossing Key stone Life Pointe Life House Break through Gate way Stone water Rock bridge TEAM Church Chicago Guatem alan House Church 2 Nepalese House Church Indian House Church I.B. Luzy Verdad I.B. Indigo I.B. Hebron 19 H.C. Verde Valley AZ Woodla nd Trails I.B. Forest Meadow Sudanese Community Church The Well TEAM Church Zambian Light Rockwall House Church 6 Nepalese House Churches Mesquite House Church Pleasant Woods Apts. Flint, MI . . . That Planted 32 congregations Hisp anic Plant Chicago Bulgarian Chicago Oromo Baptiist Nepalese Iraqi Bayview Stonewater Church Plant Summit Hurst

That planted 2 Congregations The Spring High land Malek Sud. Aliet Sud. Amookm Sud. 4 Nepalese House Church Park land House Church Guatem alanHou se Church I.B. Ivy Dinka Anglican Hurst Sud. Bedford Sud. Arlington Sud. Uduk Sud. Me’en Sud. FBC Sud. Stone bridge Journey Crossing Key stone Life Pointe Life House Break through Gate way Stone water Rock bridge TEAM Church Chicago Guatem alan House Church 2 Nepalese House Church IndianH ouse Church I.B. Luzy Verdad I.B. Indigo I.B. Hebron 29 H.C. Verde Valley AZ Woodla nd Trails I.B. Forest Meadow Sudanese Community Church The Well TEAM Church Zambian Light Rockwall House Church 7 Nepalese House Churches 1 Ethiopian Mesquite House Church Pleasant Woods Apts. 6 Flint, MI That planted 2 Congregations Hisp anic Plant Chicago Hispanic Fla. Bulgarian Chicago A Total of 113 Congregations Averaging more than 9000 in attendance!! Bulgarian Oromo Baptiist Nepalese Iraqi Bayview Stonewater Church Plant Summit Hurst

GCI FMBC CSI Lausanne Neil Cole ION Soma Real Life Associations Conventions Lausanne Neil Cole ION Soma Real Life

Challenges Lack of awareness Mental models Social complexity Baptist systems Lack of urgency Resistance to change

Cost Spiritual warfare To the church To the association To individuals

Benefits to Existing Churches Disciples who SOAR Units that multiply like rabbits A church that transforms A Kingdom that grows

Benefits to New Churches A tailored approach for evangelism/ discipleship/gospel communication Disciples who SOAR Units that multiply like rabbits A church that transforms A Kingdom that grows

Learning more GCI www.mygci.org training offered around the country imb.org (Global Research) usapeoplegroups.com peoplegroups.org peoplegroups.info namb.net ubahouston.org