Mission Boards

[sword]

Are there any pros in being apart of a mission board? Or what are the cons of being on a mission board?

Some say that it is the job of the local church. 

On the other hand, I do know in some churches, the leadership can barely show up on time.  So, I can see the need for mission boards.

I don't have an opinion regarding boards, but I see no practical way to send missionaries all around the world without sending support with them. Most countries will not allow missionaries to work & if they could how much would they get done for God after 50 plus hrs. work at 3rd world wages.

My guess is those who criticize missionaries & their method of support give very little to missions and have not spent a lot of time visiting missionaries on the field. Most missionaries live well below our standard of living & give up a lot to follow Gods call. I suspect those who dislike supporting missions likely don't believe in tithing as well. Next thing you will be suggesting cutting off the pastors pay check & send him looking for a job as well.

I cannot go to Africa or Asia but I am glad to help the 100 or more missionaries my church supports. If you don't want to give to missions fine, but don't knock those who do.

 

[rsc2a]

Missionaries shouldn't be about maintaining our standard of living. They shouldn't strive to be above the people they are ministering to. For example, Jesus.

 

[Smellin Coffee]

Missionaries shouldn't be about maintaining our standard of living. They shouldn't strive to be above the people they are ministering to. For example, Jesus.

There you go again. Bringing a homeless guy into the picture as an example.

 

[16KJV11]

Missionaries shouldn't be about maintaining our standard of living. They shouldn't strive to be above the people they are ministering to. For example, Jesus.

There you go again. Bringing a homeless guy into the picture as an example.

The homeless guys around here would love one of their own being able to feed 5000 from a few loaves of bread and some fish sticks!

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Yes. Do missions in your own backyard. If you want to do foreign missions, plan on staying there, get a job and get started on citizenship.

You give that a shot...it is not that simple.
Of course, people who have actual knowledge of missions already know that! 

 

[RAIDER]

Missionaries shouldn't be about maintaining our standard of living. They shouldn't strive to be above the people they are ministering to. For example, Jesus.

That'll leave a mark!

There you go again. Bringing a homeless guy into the picture as an example.

The homeless guys around here would love one of their own being able to feed 5000 from a few loaves of bread and some fish sticks!

 

[rsc2a]

Yes. Do missions in your own backyard. If you want to do foreign missions, plan on staying there, get a job and get started on citizenship.

You give that a shot...it is not that simple.
Of course, people who have actual knowledge of missions already know that! 

I do fine with trying to be Jesus to my neighbours.

Oh...and my SIL lived in Ecuador for years. My nephews actually have dual citizenship. Neither her nor her husband had a problem getting in. Maybe you were referring to my coworker? But then he and his family only lived in Dubai for about ten years.

 

[Norefund]

There are quite a few people who feel that pastoring should not be a vocation. I'm not sure where I stand on this. I know many smaller church pastors supplement their income with a secular job. Do you have a problem with that?

Are there any pros in being apart of a mission board? Or what are the cons of being on a mission board?

Some say that it is the job of the local church. 

On the other hand, I do know in some churches, the leadership can barely show up on time.  So, I can see the need for mission boards.

I don't have an opinion regarding boards, but I see no practical way to send missionaries all around the world without sending support with them. Most countries will not allow missionaries to work & if they could how much would they get done for God after 50 plus hrs. work at 3rd world wages.

My guess is those who criticize missionaries & their method of support give very little to missions and have not spent a lot of time visiting missionaries on the field. Most missionaries live well below our standard of living & give up a lot to follow Gods call. I suspect those who dislike supporting missions likely don't believe in tithing as well. Next thing you will be suggesting cutting off the pastors pay check & send him looking for a job as well.

I cannot go to Africa or Asia but I am glad to help the 100 or more missionaries my church supports. If you don't want to give to missions fine, but don't knock those who do.

 

[Fresh Air]

There are quite a few people who feel that pastoring should not be a vocation. I'm not sure where I stand on this.

I have zero patience with the position which states pastors should serve without pay. Scripture is repeatedly and emphatically clear upon the point. The plainest passage in the Word of God in this regard has to be I Corinthians 9.

http://concerningjesus.blogspot.com/2015/02/help-what-should-we-pay-pastor-part.html

 

[rsc2a]

I noticed pastor (singular) showed up an awful lot in that blog post....

It's a lot more of a burden when you have one doing the work of many.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Yes. Do missions in your own backyard. If you want to do foreign missions, plan on staying there, get a job and get started on citizenship.

You give that a shot...it is not that simple.
Of course, people who have actual knowledge of missions already know that! 

I do fine with trying to be Jesus to my neighbours.

Oh...and my SIL lived in Ecuador for years. My nephews actually have dual citizenship. Neither her nor her husband had a problem getting in. Maybe you were referring to my coworker? But then he and his family only lived in Dubai for about ten years.

You and your experience obviously trump the reality that most mortals live with.
All you need is a table and a couple of chairs and you have instant church.
Forgive me....I keep forgetting who you are! 

 

[prophet]

There are quite a few people who feel that pastoring should not be a vocation. I'm not sure where I stand on this.

I have zero patience with the position which states pastors should serve without pay. Scripture is repeatedly and emphatically clear upon the point. The plainest passage in the Word of God in this regard has to be I Corinthians 9.

http://concerningjesus.blogspot.com/2015/02/help-what-should-we-pay-pastor-part.html

What about those who claim that "pastor" is an office, when the Scripture clearly calls pastor : a gift, and bishop : an office?
Do you have any patience with them?

Eph 4:11, ITim.3, and...well I know you own a concordance.

 

[bgwilkinson]

There are quite a few people who feel that pastoring should not be a vocation. I'm not sure where I stand on this.

I have zero patience with the position which states pastors should serve without pay. Scripture is repeatedly and emphatically clear upon the point. The plainest passage in the Word of God in this regard has to be I Corinthians 9.

http://concerningjesus.blogspot.com/2015/02/help-what-should-we-pay-pastor-part.html

What about those who claim that "pastor" is an office, when the Scripture clearly calls pastor : a gift, and bishop : an office?
Do you have any patience with them?

Eph 4:11, ITim.3, and...well I know you own a concordance.

If that is the case the person is more of an Anglican at heart, they had lots of paid offices in the Church of England.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

There are quite a few people who feel that pastoring should not be a vocation. I'm not sure where I stand on this.

I have zero patience with the position which states pastors should serve without pay. Scripture is repeatedly and emphatically clear upon the point. The plainest passage in the Word of God in this regard has to be I Corinthians 9.

http://concerningjesus.blogspot.com/2015/02/help-what-should-we-pay-pastor-part.html

There are a few here who are gifted to Pastor kitchen table congregations who won't like that.... ;D

 

[Norefund]

I respect your point of view and did not mean to touch a nerve. I have never been a pastor and have never experienced the financial challenges associated with that line of work. My comment in the prior post mostly speaks to those who feel that pastors who achieve a certain amount of financial comfort no longer can easily relate to the common parishioner that attends and donates to the church. Also, the separation of power and authority between a full-time pastor and a working member can probably get a bit stretched. Would Jack Hyles or Jack Schaap have become as arrogant had they needed to earn a living as the rest of us do? I recognize that is an extreme example, but it is one that I have heard mentioned.

I have no experience with lay pastors or bi-vocational pastors at any church I have attended. All of the pastors I have had were full time. I have given a fairly decent amount of money to these various churches I have attended and don't intend to stop. I'm not cheap in giving.

I read your blog entry. You write quite well and present a logical argument. Your statement in your post that you have zero patience with the no pay sentiment conflicts with the 2nd to last closing paragraph of your blog:

"In conclusion, let me say that I do not believe that I alone have the only valid opinion in this area. I do believe my experience gives me an understanding of such a situation but I do not claim to be the only person worth hearing on the matter. If you are a bi-vocational pastor or a member of a church with a bi-vocational pastor I am perfectly glad to hear your own thoughts even if they disagree with mine."

I salute you for recognizing that good people - good Christians even - can sometimes disagree. And I repeat, I'm not sure where I stand on this.

There are quite a few people who feel that pastoring should not be a vocation. I'm not sure where I stand on this.

I have zero patience with the position which states pastors should serve without pay. Scripture is repeatedly and emphatically clear upon the point. The plainest passage in the Word of God in this regard has to be I Corinthians 9.

http://concerningjesus.blogspot.com/2015/02/help-what-should-we-pay-pastor-part.html

 

[Fresh Air]

I read your blog entry. You write quite well and present a logical argument. Your statement in your post that you have zero patience with the no pay sentiment conflicts with the 2nd to last closing paragraph of your blog:

"In conclusion, let me say that I do not believe that I alone have the only valid opinion in this area. I do believe my experience gives me an understanding of such a situation but I do not claim to be the only person worth hearing on the matter. If you are a bi-vocational pastor or a member of a church with a bi-vocational pastor I am perfectly glad to hear your own thoughts even if they disagree with mine."

I apologize for my lack of clarity. I do not think I have the only answer when it comes to approaching the situation of being bi-vocational from either the pastoral or the church perspective. But I am quite positive I have the correct interpretation and application of I Corinthians 9. That point - that the pastor is supposed to be paid - is crystal clear in the Scripture. And it was to your lack of surety on that point I risked quoting myself.

...and thank you for your kind words.

 

[cast.sheep]

I am wondering if young men should learn a trade first before going into ministry.  Jesus was a carpenter until He started his earthly ministry at 30 years of age.  Maybe if they learned a trade, it would serve a couple of purposes:  1) they will have a way to make a living during the tough times, on the mission field, etc., and 2) they have a chance to mature a bit before jumping into ministry.  If that is the example Jesus gave us, why do we push our kids into ministry right out of high school?  Most don't have any idea who/what they are at 18 years of age. 

Just a thought. 

 

[bgwilkinson]

I am wondering if young men should learn a trade first before going into ministry.  Jesus was a carpenter until He started his earthly ministry at 30 years of age.  Maybe if they learned a trade, it would serve a couple of purposes:  1) they will have a way to make a living during the tough times, on the mission field, etc., and 2) they have a chance to mature a bit before jumping into ministry.  If that is the example Jesus gave us, why do we push our kids into ministry right out of high school?  Most don't have any idea who/what they are at 18 years of age. 

Just a thought.

Continuing your thought.

It is my belief that we should follow Jesus example of waiting till the age of 30 before ministry begins.

The years till thirty are for training and study. You would easily have enough time to obtain a legitimate doctor's degree. Then one would be better able to lead the congregation because of a more well rounded education.

Without a study of ecclesiastical history one does not know that his idea one version onlyism was in vogue in the Catholic Church of the 1500s.

So many wacked out ideas have been repeated over and over in history because the MOG thinks he discovered some new revelation.

Hebrew and Greek would be good too. In the past it was expected for the pastor to be able in both Hebrew and Greek.

With todays Bible colleges they scoff at the need to actually know the scriptures in the languages in which the the Holy Spirit choose to breath them out.

It is not uncommon for anti-intellectualism to reign in the Bible Colleges.

When the qualifications of a pastor are laid out in Timothy and Titus, it is understood that he is not a novice and that the man also has a family with children that are to be used as a gauge of their ability to lead the congregation. It would seem to me that a careful study of Timothy and Titus would indicate a man of 30 to 40 years of age with older children that may have some interest in what has been termed riot in our English version.

Gill says,
Not accused of riot; or chargeable with sins of uncleanness and intemperance, with rioting and drunkenness, chambering and wantonness; or with such crimes as Eli's sons were guilty of, from which they were not restrained by their father, and therefore the priesthood was removed from the family: "or unruly" not subject, but disobedient to their parents.

In order to have children that would be interested in this kind of behaviour they would at least be older teenagers. This man than would be close to 40.

 

[sword]

I am wondering if young men should learn a trade first before going into ministry.  Jesus was a carpenter until He started his earthly ministry at 30 years of age.  Maybe if they learned a trade, it would serve a couple of purposes:  1) they will have a way to make a living during the tough times, on the mission field, etc., and 2) they have a chance to mature a bit before jumping into ministry.  If that is the example Jesus gave us, why do we push our kids into ministry right out of high school?  Most don't have any idea who/what they are at 18 years of age. 

Just a thought.

Continuing your thought.

It is my belief that we should follow Jesus example of waiting till the age of 30 before ministry begins.

The years till thirty are for training and study. You would easily have enough time to obtain a legitimate doctor's degree. Then one would be better able to lead the congregation because of a more well rounded education.

Without a study of ecclesiastical history one does not know that his idea one version onlyism was in vogue in the Catholic Church of the 1500s.

So many wacked out ideas have been repeated over and over in history because the MOG thinks he discovered some new revelation.

Hebrew and Greek would be good too. In the past it was expected for the pastor to be able in both Hebrew and Greek.

With todays Bible colleges they scoff at the need to actually know the scriptures in the languages in which the the Holy Spirit choose to breath them out.

It is not uncommon for anti-intellectualism to reign in the Bible Colleges.

When the qualifications of a pastor are laid out in Timothy and Titus, it is understood that he is not a novice and that the man also has a family with children that are to be used as a gauge of their ability to lead the congregation. It would seem to me that a careful study of Timothy and Titus would indicate a man of 30 to 40 years of age with older children that may have some interest in what has been termed riot in our English version.

Gill says,
Not accused of riot; or chargeable with sins of uncleanness and intemperance, with rioting and drunkenness, chambering and wantonness; or with such crimes as Eli's sons were guilty of, from which they were not restrained by their father, and therefore the priesthood was removed from the family: "or unruly" not subject, but disobedient to their parents.

In order to have children that would be interested in this kind of behaviour they would at least be older teenagers. This man than would be close to 40.

Most young men began as an asst. pastor or youth pastor or even an unpaid assistant with another job. From my experience most men are at least 30 (with a wife & children) before they become pastor. The other positions should be looked at as training positions & most rarely carry any decision making authority.

I would have no problem limiting senior pastor candidates to men 30 years or older with a min of 5 years exp. in ministry.

 

[cast.sheep]

I am wondering if young men should learn a trade first before going into ministry.  Jesus was a carpenter until He started his earthly ministry at 30 years of age.  Maybe if they learned a trade, it would serve a couple of purposes:  1) they will have a way to make a living during the tough times, on the mission field, etc., and 2) they have a chance to mature a bit before jumping into ministry.  If that is the example Jesus gave us, why do we push our kids into ministry right out of high school?  Most don't have any idea who/what they are at 18 years of age. 

Just a thought.

Continuing your thought.

It is my belief that we should follow Jesus example of waiting till the age of 30 before ministry begins.

The years till thirty are for training and study. You would easily have enough time to obtain a legitimate doctor's degree. Then one would be better able to lead the congregation because of a more well rounded education.

Without a study of ecclesiastical history one does not know that his idea one version onlyism was in vogue in the Catholic Church of the 1500s.

So many wacked out ideas have been repeated over and over in history because the MOG thinks he discovered some new revelation.

Hebrew and Greek would be good too. In the past it was expected for the pastor to be able in both Hebrew and Greek.

With todays Bible colleges they scoff at the need to actually know the scriptures in the languages in which the the Holy Spirit choose to breath them out.

It is not uncommon for anti-intellectualism to reign in the Bible Colleges.

When the qualifications of a pastor are laid out in Timothy and Titus, it is understood that he is not a novice and that the man also has a family with children that are to be used as a gauge of their ability to lead the congregation. It would seem to me that a careful study of Timothy and Titus would indicate a man of 30 to 40 years of age with older children that may have some interest in what has been termed riot in our English version.

Gill says,
Not accused of riot; or chargeable with sins of uncleanness and intemperance, with rioting and drunkenness, chambering and wantonness; or with such crimes as Eli's sons were guilty of, from which they were not restrained by their father, and therefore the priesthood was removed from the family: "or unruly" not subject, but disobedient to their parents.

In order to have children that would be interested in this kind of behaviour they would at least be older teenagers. This man than would be close to 40.

Most young men began as an asst. pastor or youth pastor or even an unpaid assistant with another job. From my experience most men are at least 30 (with a wife & children) before they become pastor. The other positions should be looked at as training positions & most rarely carry any decision making authority.

I would have no problem limiting senior pastor candidates to men 30 years or older with a min of 5 years exp. in ministry.

My point is that young men could benefit greatly by following Christ's example of learning a TRADE before entering ministry, in whatever capacity.  Age wasn't my main point.