Mostly because cost of living in these places is much lower. Of course we couldn’t in the West, but in most of the developing world, this kind of an income is a reasonable living, as it is not their only source of support. The vast majority of these people live a subsistence lifestyle. Their income in this pop quote, at $1.25 a day, is more a measure of them not being connected to the global economic system, rather than a measure of poverty.

If we use other indicators of poverty, such as child mortality, I think this is a far more meaningful statistic. It might comfort you to know that child mortality rates are lower in most developing nations now than they were in Europe only a few hundred years ago. However, you might find that small comfort when realising that there is still a very significant difference between developed and developing nations in the present day.

LOve it.

Coming to you from the land of OZ is your brother in Christ Nathan Matthews. Congrats on all your endevours and success`. Just listening to your album Lucas Parry Alive - man it’s awesome. It’s amazing the places God has taken you so and I’m sure he has much more in store for.

All the Best.
Love Nathan, Becky, Gabby, Tiffany & Olivia

Thanks for you insights. Its great to hear that as a church you guys are discussing what this means to your faith community. Awesome!

Yeah, I agree with you that the purpose of us gathering as a body is to be edified, taught and equipped with the tools needed for the work of the ministry. In-fact , we are exhorted to ‘not give-up’ meeting with one another. I think its a vital part of what we the church need to do. I just get concerned when I see so much activity and discussing the topic of “being missional” rather than just getting out there and doing it.
The end goal is that we want to see people walking in relationship with the father. Thats why we love, thats why we care and have mercy, compassion and all the fruits of the spirit Jesus listed. But, it seems that the ‘unchurched’ today know us more for what we stand against, than what we stand for; they see us more concerned about self-preservation than world restoration. There is a great disconnect here. I recently read the book “unChristian” by David Kinnaman (Barna Group) - its a great read and he discusses this further….. if you like to read, its a very thought provoking one.

As an elder, you are in such a key role to help your faith community….. I get excited when I meet guys like you who are truly passionate about equipping believers to “go out” and be Christ to a hurting and dying world. If only our churches were filled with awesome men like you who actually get this stuff.

Good on ya bro! I pray continued blessings on your ministry. Thanks for dropping by here

A fellow elder at my church used your points on becoming missional in an e-mail to all of the elders at our church today.

I agree wholeheartedly about the absolute NEED for the individual body members to be “missional” in the world today. I disagree with the goal of your list of “becoming missional,” though, and here’s why: Nowhere in your list do you state WHY we should be missional other than the relationships which would be improved. The mission of the church is to communicate the gospel - a great place to get a grasp of what the gospel is would be 1 Corinthians 15. Relationships are not the goal of the mission - it is that men and women will be saved. THAT is what the individuals in the church should be working toward. If you shore up that hole in your list, I think that we can agree!

The reason that I am responding under THIS blog entry is because you are expressing frustration that the church is still discussing the issue still instead of doing. Let me be as precise as possible - the mission of the “gathered church” (believers coming together for a meeting let’s say) is NOT to be missional. The purpose of the church coming together can be easily described by reading the Book of Acts and all of the Epistles. It is for the edification of the body and the building up of the saints FOR the work of ministry (Eph. 4). As an Elder I am responsible to EQUIP my fellow believers so that they can go out and BE missional.

Where we as elders have failed is in kicking the believers out of the door as they are being equipped. Where the individuals have failed is that they are not bold enough to communicate the gospel to a lost and dying world.

So, as to responsibility, I will stand in judgment one day for how well I equipped and got the believers out of the door and will also be judged for how well I personally communicated God’s gospel to a dying world.

I look forward to any further communication you may wish to have. I’ll look for your music to see if I can pick some up - just to do my part to support you!

Thanks,
Todd Thielen