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I remember some harrowing times teaching my children to drive. Explaining how a car works was not difficult, modeling how to drive with commentary was simple; sitting in the passenger seat saying, ‘Slow down, slow down, SLOW DOWN!” … Continue reading “126. Why Discovery is Essential for Disciple-Making”

Responding to Theological concerns about Disciple Making Movements #3 Preamble:This article on People of Peace (POP) is the third in a series responding to concerns about Disciple-Making Movements principles and practices (DMM P&Ps). Previous articles addressed Obedience-Based Discipleship … Continue reading “125. People of Peace (POP)”

Responding to Theological concerns about Disciple Making Movements #2 Preamble:Critics of Disciple Making Movements (DMM) have raised biblical and theological concerns about some DMM principles and practices (DMM P&Ps).  Because Fellowship International (FI) has adopted and adapted DMM … Continue reading “124. Discovery Bible Study (DBS)”

Responding to Theological concerns about Disciple Making Movements #1  Preamble:Disciple Making Movements (DMM) have made a significant impact in evangelical missions efforts over the past few decades, both in terms of kingdom growth and as a challenge to … Continue reading “123. Obedience Based Discipleship (OBD)”

The Atonement Metaphor Evaluation Tool introduced here has been developed from the course “Contextualized Communication of the Cross” which I have taught since 2012. It is not uncommon to hear gospel presentations that are either incomplete (e.g., “Jesus … Continue reading “122. Evaluating Atonement Metaphors”

Response to a Sept 13, 2022  Gospel Coalition article by Matthew Bennett, Jeff Kelly and Joshua Bowman One of the practices of Disciple Making Movements (DMM) is to look for a “person of peace,” a gatekeeper who is … Continue reading “121. Jesus’ Expectation that We Will find “People of Peace””

Reprinted from  NBSeminary.ca “Oh, we don’t use that New Testament translation in our work.” It was 1990, early in my work with the Sindhi Old Testament translation team when an evangelist to his own people among the Hindu … Continue reading “120. Sindhi Bible Translation: A Translation that Resonates”

“The most significant change comes when there is a paradigm shift.” Ken Jolley

NOTE: A video overview of the significance of paradigm shifts in disciple-making ministry is available. In a previous blog post I made the claim that “DMM principles and practices are a recognition that there are ways and means … Continue reading “118. DMM P&Ps Described as Paradigm Shifts towards Fruitful Ministry”

DMM = Disciple Making Movements My understanding of apple orchards comes from my youth. I remember walking through an orchard – large trees were spaced far apart with foliage and branches providing great shady areas. Harvesting the fruit … Continue reading “117. How DMM is like a High-Density Apple Orchard”

Reprinted by permission from NIMER NIMER: Northwest Institute for Ministry Education Research Introduction During my years as an evangelist and church planter among an unreached people group (1985-99), I struggled because of misconceptions I had about my role … Continue reading “116. Reflections on the Theological Validity of Disciple-Making Movements (DMMs)”

Reprinted from Northwest News November 2021 Celebrating the completion of a Bible translation “Oh, we don’t use that New Testament translation in our work.” It was 1990, early in my work with the Sindhi Old Testament translation team … Continue reading “115. Sindhi Bible Translation Celebration!”

DMM principles and practices rely on the concept of “fruitful practices.” Is it biblically and theologically appropriate to assume that there are certain practices that will lead to spiritual fruit in the form of people coming to faith … Continue reading “114. Does DMM suffer from NA pragmatic arrogance?”

Ken Yinger is a colleague with Fellowship International with many years of cross-cultural experience in Latin America and now Spain. He has agreed to be a guest author in the ongoing discussion about the legitimacy of the Disciple … Continue reading “113. We are all Heretics”

Overcoming Obstacles in Disciple Making Movements (DMM) In their book, TerraNova: A Phenomenological Study of Kingdom Movement Work among Asylum Seekers in the Global North – which provides an overview of DMM critiques in chapter 3, Cocanower and … Continue reading “112. DMM Critiques addressed at FI Summit 2020”

Kenneth R. Jolley is a colleague with Fellowship International with many years of cross-cultural experience in Latin America. He has agreed to be a guest author in the ongoing discussion about the legitimacy of the Disciple Making Movements. … Continue reading “111. Exploring Vegas’ Critique of DMM”

Response to Mack Stiles’ article “What Could Be Wrong with ‘Church Planting’? Six Dangers in a Missions Strategy” I appreciate Stiles’ irenic tone in which he seeks to point out “weaknesses” and give “cautions” for “Church Planting Movements” … Continue reading “110. Response to Stiles’ Critique of DMMs”

A response to Chad Vegas, A Brief Guide to DMM Using critique to support, correct and build up ministry I would like to raise a caution about criticizing those who do ministry in a way that is different … Continue reading “109. Defending DMMs”

Move from where you are to where you want to be Downloads: powerpoint, handout In my role of coaching churches to do missions well, five transitions have proven effective for churches to make an impact as missionary sending … Continue reading “108. Five Transitions to Participate as Senders in God’s Global Mission”

When engaging in evangelism and Discovery Bible Studies (DBS), it is important to be mindful of our posture towards other belief systems. The assumptions we hold and how we present our perspectives can either build bridges towards or … Continue reading “107. Developing an Appropriate Posture towards Followers of other Religions”

Theologizing is the personal rational exploration, development, and reflection of theological understanding. It is “faith seeking understanding” (Anslem of Canterbury). We all do this because we are constantly making sense of our world.  We all do this differently … Continue reading “106. Theologizing Map”

At the Fellowship National Convention 2018 in Richmond BC, Paul Watson provided an intriguing story about research done on the disciple making movement (DMM) occurring among the Bhojpuri people during 1990-2010.  The one fruitful practice identified from the … Continue reading “105. Is God more inclined to answer when more people pray?”

Jesus’ parable retold with the True Older Son bringing the Father’s redemption. Luke 15. Every day the son worked in the vineyards alongside his older brother and the other workers. At first, he enjoyed the smells, the connection … Continue reading “104. A Retelling of the Prodigal Son”

In the article Baptism and Jesus’ orientation to the law I cited Luke 11.39-42 as evidence that Jesus’ concern is with the purpose or heart of God’s commands that can often be fulfilled without word for word compliance. … Continue reading “103. Religious Preciseness and Baptism”

“Immersionists” believe that baptism by any other mode than immersion is not adequate because it does not conform to the literal meaning of the Greek word baptizo nor does it follow New Testament practice. Therefore those who are … Continue reading “102. Baptism and Jesus’ orientation to the law”

The “Immersionist” position is that any act of baptism that is not by the mode of immersion cannot be accepted as fulfillment of Jesus’ command to baptize.[1] Their rationale stems from a deep and admirable desire to radically … Continue reading “101. Why I am a Baptist, but not an “Immersionist””

It is fascinating to consider how a literalist application of Scripture, as evident in the teaching and practice of the Pharisees, was challenged by Jesus and the New Testament writers. The apostle Paul is the premier example of … Continue reading “100. Interpretation and Baptism”

I appreciate the passion for obedience from those who are “Immersionists” and their desire to see that passion reflected in God’s people. I also promote the importance of obedience, but from a different angle. When I was fresh … Continue reading “99. Baptism and Obedience”

The National Fellowship is considering a motion that would allow those who have been baptized as adults through a mode other than immersion to be accepted as members of Fellowship Baptist churches.  Immersion would continue to be the … Continue reading “98. Baptism and a Painting analogy”

Note: This article has been simultaneously published in Nexus of the Fellowship Pacific region. The Importance of Intercultural Partnerships In today’s world, many partnerships involve people from different cultural backgrounds.  Each group comes to the table with a … Continue reading “96. Navigating Intercultural Partnerships”

Draw your “Personal Jerusalem” Take 5 minutes and draw your “personal Jerusalem.”  This is a concept I introduce to churches when coaching them to practice methods of effective evangelism using “Significant Conversations.”  Based on Acts 1:8, “you will … Continue reading “95. Expand your “Personal Jerusalem””

In the Beginning: the Word When I was a young boy, one of the mysterious verses in the Bible was John 1:1, “In the beginning was the word.”  I remember puzzling over this phrase and thinking it must … Continue reading “94. God as Artist: Expressions of Goodness”

NOTE: Articles 90 – 93 on Navigational tools for Church Missions have been revised and incorporated into a single article through Catalyst Services. The transitions and tools described in this series of articles are used as the framework … Continue reading “93. Navigational tools for Church missions: A Decision Making Process”

NOTE: Articles 90 – 93 on Navigational tools for Church Missions have been revised and incorporated into a single article through Catalyst Services. The transitions and tools described in this series of articles are used as the framework … Continue reading “92. Navigational tools for Church Missions: Own the Task”

NOTE: Articles 90 – 93 on Navigational tools for Church Missions have been revised and incorporated into a single article through Catalyst Services. The transitions and tools described in this series of articles are used as the framework … Continue reading “91. Navigational tool for church missions: Identify Significant Activities”

NOTE: Articles 90 – 93 on Navigational tools for Church Missions have been revised and incorporated into a single article through Catalyst Services. The transitions and tools described in the following articles are used as the framework for … Continue reading “90. Navigational tools for Church Missions”

A Model for developing a Contextualized presentation of the Gospel In the previous articles of this series, I argued that there are cultural reasons why one biblical picture of the atonement may resonate1 with a people group, while … Continue reading “89. Fear, Shame and Guilt:”

  Contextualization is Inevitable A 10 year old Canadian boy squats by the bank of a river in Borneo and watches the Prayer Man of the Dayak tribal group prepare the Beranyut ceremony.  The son of missionaries to … Continue reading “88. The significance of metaphor in communicating the Cross of Christ”

Searching for a Metaphor that Connects “Give me my share of the inheritance” (Luke 15:11). With one small phrase the son callously declares that his Father is more valuable to him dead than alive.1 He dishonors his father, … Continue reading “87. Making the Gospel Understandable”

This article tries to explain why a contextualization of the gospel, such as described in Shaping the Gospel Message so that it Resonates, does not compromise the Bible or the gospel message. It argues that one universal explanation … Continue reading “86. Contextualization and the Essence of the Gospel”

A Shift in Communicating Salvation There was a pause in the conversation.  My visitor considered seriously the illustration I had presented to him.  He then spoke words that became a critical turning point in my ministry in Pakistan … Continue reading “85. Shaping the Gospel message so that it Resonates”

Cross-Cultural Confusion Early on in my attempts to deepen my ability to converse in the Sindhi language, I learned a new idiom for “dying,” which is similar to the English “to pass on.”  I decided to use it … Continue reading “84. Learning to talk ENGLISH”

This is the fourth in a series of articles on the importance of dialogue as the basis of Significant Conversations: Evangelism that resonates with our Canadian context.  The first two articles provided theoretical support for dialogue, in contrast … Continue reading “83. Further Tools for Talking about Jesus”

This is the third in a series of articles on the importance of dialogue as the basis of Significant Conversations: Evangelism that resonates with our Canadian context.  The first two articles provided theoretical support for dialogue, in contrast … Continue reading “82. Tools for Talking about Jesus”

This is the second in a series of articles which provide both theoretical support as well as practical application for the concept of Significant Conversations: Evangelism that resonates with our Canadian context.  In the first article, Talking about … Continue reading “81. In Defense of Dialogue”

This series of articles provide both theoretical support as well as practical application for the concept of Significant Conversations: Evangelism that resonates with our Canadian context.  Mark provides Significant Conversations coaching to FEB churches with the goal of … Continue reading “80. Talking about The Gospel in a Pluralist Society¹“

Shortly after writing the Cross-cultural Impact article on Expressions of Church, I was intrigued to read the following comment by Peter Shaukat in a Catalyst Interchange posting: I think there is a critical need in a larger theological/ … Continue reading “79. Rethinking what we mean by “church””

Meaning is Determined by Culture I recently gave a message from the book of Ruth focusing on the meaning of the Hebrew concept of go’el, the “kinsman–redeemer” (NIV), which is one of the key themes of the book.  … Continue reading “78. Gamble on the Redeemer: Culture and Bible Translation”

see also The Pastor as Spiritual Coach (Part I) From Programs to Contextualization Who is to blame: the Congregation or the Leadership? In my responsibility of providing outreach and missions resources to churches, I have come across a … Continue reading “77. The Pastor as Spiritual Coach (Part II)”

Terrorism as “lashing out” In one section of a popular book on globalization, The World is Flat, Thomas Friedman explores the impact of globalization on the Arab-Muslim world and how this relates to the rise of Muslim based … Continue reading “76. What Motivates Suicide Bombers?”

Continue the Conversation This past week I had a discussion with a couple of fellow believers who had had a significant conversation with an elderly person who was in the last days of his life.  They were talking … Continue reading “75. “God will not let me into Heaven””

Every year I enjoy teaching the “Pioneering Church Planting” lesson for Perspectives on the World Christian movement in the  Lower Mainland, Vancouver.  Perspectives is a very popular and highly recommended course for any believer who has an interest … Continue reading “74. Influencing from Behind”

“Church” is a word that I am frustrated with.  It is often used without clarity concerning what is being referred to.  We construct buildings that we call “churches.”  We attend a service on Sunday morning by “going to … Continue reading “73. Expressions of church”

Both literal or “word for word” translations as well as meaning-based or “thought for thought” translations are legitimate representations of the original biblical manuscripts. Each style of translation has strengths and weaknesses in providing readers access to the … Continue reading “72. Which Bible Version is Superior? 3. How Culture Affects Bible Translation”

NOTE: Mark is available to work with our FEBBC/Y churches to coach missions committees in their role in leading their local church in the area of missions.  Please contact Mark via the Contact Me form or view Mark’s … Continue reading “71. Balancing your Missional portfolio”

NOTE: Mark is available to work with our FEBBC/Y churches to coach missions committees in their role in leading their local church in the area of missions.  Please contact Mark via the Contact Me form or view Mark’s … Continue reading “70. If every activity is “missions,” how do we set priorities?”

NOTE: Mark is available to work with our FEBBC/Y churches to coach missions committees in their role in leading their local church in the area of missions.  Please contact Mark via the Contact Me form or view Mark’s … Continue reading “69. The Difference between Missions and Outreach”

passion for the Great Commission From the outset of this article, I want to be clear that I believe in and promote evangelism.  One of my ministries offered to our FEB churches through Northwest and Fellowship International is … Continue reading “68. Deflating Bouncy Castles: a critique of evangelistic methods”

What kind of God commands people to strap bombs to their bodies and blow up crowds of people?  What kind of God tells people to drive passenger planes into the sides of buildings?  What kind of God commands … Continue reading “67. What kind of God is that?!”

An Incomplete Wedding Shower I remember a friend relating to me the story of a mentally handicapped young woman who lived with her parents.  Every time there was a wedding shower for a bride-to-be at the church, the … Continue reading “66. Uncomfortable with Gospel Presentations”

Both literal or “word for word” translations as well as meaning-based or “thought for thought” translations are legitimate representations of the original biblical manuscripts. Each style of translation has strengths and weaknesses in providing readers access to the … Continue reading “65. Which Bible Version is Superior? 2. Weaknesses of translation styles”

Both literal or “word for word” translations as well as meaning-based or “thought for thought” translations are legitimate representations of the original biblical manuscripts. Each style of translation has strengths and weaknesses in providing readers access to the … Continue reading “64. Which Bible Version is Superior? 1. Two Styles”

NOTE: A companion workshop to these articles is available to multi-ethnic churches that provides information, exercises and interaction to encourage the implementation of those disciplines that promote healthy intercultural relationships. Please contact Mark via the Contact Me form. … Continue reading “63. Resolving Intercultural Tensions 4: Law’s “Mutual Invitation””

NOTE: A companion workshop to these articles is available to multi-ethnic churches that provides information, exercises and interaction to encourage the implementation of those disciplines that promote healthy intercultural relationships. Please contact Mark via the Contact Me form. … Continue reading “62. Resolving Intercultural Tensions 3: Speaking Another’s Language of Respect”

NOTE: A companion workshop to these articles is available to multi-ethnic churches that provides information, exercises and interaction to encourage the implementation of those disciplines that promote healthy intercultural relationships. Please contact Mark via the Contact Me form. … Continue reading “61. Resolving Intercultural Tensions 2: Understanding Leadership in High and Low Power Distance Contexts”

NOTE: A companion workshop to these articles is available to multi-ethnic churches that provides information, exercises and interaction so that those disciplines that promote healthy intercultural relationships can be implemented. Please contact Mark via the Contact Me form. … Continue reading “60. Resolving Intercultural Tensions 1: Power Distance”

Translation seeks Communication When our main translator walked into the translation office last December in Shikarpur, Pakistan, I greeted him with, “I have a problem with heaven.”  He laughed and responded, “Well, if you have trouble with heaven, … Continue reading “59. The Problem with Heaven”

section headings … can be misleading I like section headings in Bible translation.  They are not part of the original text, but added by the translation team to assist the reader in three ways: “1. to help those … Continue reading “58. User Friendly Bibles: When Titles Mislead”

The Common hunger of Humanity What we as human beings search for and value in life is the “meaningful” and the “good.” With regard to the “meaningful,” we are always trying to make sense of our world. Hopelessness, … Continue reading “57. Significant Conversations: Onion model of Culture”

Three ways to understand the Bible My wife, Karen, heard a message by a young woman with no theological training on Jer 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you….” The young woman spoke of the verse … Continue reading “56. Crossing Cultures with the Bible”

Check out the Significant Conversations – an alternative grassroots approach to engage your community for Christ Canada is not Pakistan Evangelism in Pakistan was easy.  I would occasionally travel in a bus with a pile of tracts in … Continue reading “55. Why I Don’t do ‘evangelism’”

As a missionary involved in Bible translation for the past 18 years, I was disappointed with the tone of the article “‘Packer’s Bible’ now bestseller” appearing in the BC Christian News, August 2007 Vol 27 #8. During the course … Continue reading “54. A Call for a Complementary view of Bible Versions”

“That’s just NOT right!” exclaimed a woman in a Bible study I was conducting.  The object of her disapproval was Naomi’s instructions for Ruth to approach Boaz while he was sleeping (see Ruth 3).  She was correct in … Continue reading “53. Patriarchy and Understanding the Bible”

(This is an edited reprint from FEBInternational’s publication “Focal Point”) “There are too few trained leaders!” This statement jumped out at me from my browser one morning a short while ago. Although the Operation World web page was … Continue reading “52. Cross-cultural Leadership Training”

Many years before I was involved in Bible translation, I happened to be in the public library and I picked up a copy of The Three Muskateers.  A different copy of the same book was also lying on … Continue reading “51. To Sprinkle or Not to Sprinkle: Translating Metaphors”

What is culture? There is a current debate (National Post, March 2-, 2007) about whether fashion should be classified as culture, with implications for government funding.  Canada has policies promoting “multiculturalism.”  I have read books and heard sermons … Continue reading “50. Sports as a metaphor for culture”

Validating Missional and Communal “Attractional” churches according to Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch are those congregations that develop “programs, meetings, services, or other ‘products’ in order to attract unbelievers into the influence of the Christian community.”  They argue … Continue reading “49. Missional Church 6: Centered vs bounded Churches”

A Fatal Trend When we were missionaries in Pakistan there was a time when “church planting” became the standard for our team – it was the tie to church planting that validated the ministries we were involved in.  … Continue reading “48. Missional Church 5: Rescuing “Missional””

In The Shaping of Things to Come, St Thomas’s Crookes is given as an example of a church that is shaped around its participation in God’s mission to the world. The basic level of the church consists of … Continue reading “47. Missional Church 4: Missional Scholarship”

An Inward or Outward focus? Hudson Taylor was a pioneer missionary to China who recognized the need to immerse himself in the Chinese culture in order to relate the gospel to the people in ways that made sense … Continue reading “46. Missional Church 3: Biblical Perspective”

In the previous article, a missional church was defined as the communal relationship between followers of Christ which stems from intentional gospel transformation in the world (outward orientation).  In contrast the more prevalent communal oriented church can be … Continue reading “45. Missional Church 2: The Missional Priority”

FEBI goal: missional churches FEBInternational, the mission arm of the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches of Canada, is a church planting mission and has been from its inception over 40 years ago. Recently under the leadership of the … Continue reading “44. Missional Church 1: Not Just Business as Usual”

I admit it: I am doing Bible translation1 because I want to see the Sindhi culture change.  I want to see people affected by the word of God so that they put Christ at the center of their … Continue reading “43. How Ideology affects Translation: “Gender-neutral” vs “Inclusive” Language”

Bible Translation Shapes Faith A missionary colleague phoned me up quite irate about a translation choice in the Sindhi NT1. A couple of Muslim friends had dropped in for a chat and asked him why Christians did not … Continue reading “42. Bible Translation as Theology”

Importance of Clarity in Bible Translation In discussing Bible translation and Bible versions with a number of people in our churches I have discovered a not uncommon assumption – that the more formal or literal a translation is … Continue reading “41. Clarifying Bible Translation”

Accuracy requires a single standard I remember seeing an ad for a new translation of the Bible claiming to be the “most accurate translation” available today.  Although a good marketing tactic, it is less than honest because accuracy … Continue reading “40. The Most Accurate Bible Translation”

Part V: Theological Basis for “Christ centered worldviews” What would this worldview look like if Christ was Lord? I remember the time a young believer brought a friend to me so that I could explain the gospel to … Continue reading “39. Why I don’t believe in “The Christian Worldview””

Part IV: The Benefits of “Christ-centered worldviews” When translating the Old Testament in the Sindhi language of Pakistan or when teaching from the Old Testament to Sindhis I am constantly amazed at the similarities of culture and worldview.  … Continue reading “38. Why I don’t believe in “The Christian Worldview””

Part III: The Problem With a Universal Christian Worldview Paul Long tells of the conversion of a chief in the African Congo.  Those bringing the gospel demanded that he renounce his charms and medicines before hearing the message, … Continue reading “37. Why I don’t believe in “The Christian Worldview””

Part II: Worldview Clarification Worldview distinct from Theology In these articles I am arguing that we should speak of “Christ centered worldviews” in the plural, rather than claim that there is only one “Christian worldview” that is correct … Continue reading “36. Why I don’t believe in “The Christian Worldview””

Part I: Communication within worldviews It is quite common to come across the phrase “The Christian Worldview” in evangelical writings.  I believe that this phrase is unhelpful and misleading particularly for those involved in cross-cultural missions and I … Continue reading “35. Why I don’t believe in “The Christian Worldview””

Jesus, No Justification for Sin There is much politically correct rhetoric about Islam in this day of suicide bombers.  For example, political leaders have proclaimed that “Extremism is not true Islam. True Islam is peace-loving.”  Although politically circumspect, … Continue reading “34. Why Am I A Christian? (Part II)”

Jesus, the Essence of Reality I was traveling down a street in Larkana, Pakistan with a friend on a very hot summer day when we came up to a “T” intersection.  On the sidewalk directly in front of … Continue reading “33. Why Am I A Christian? (Part I)”

A team of Canadian youth was involved with young people from another culture for an intense two weeks of ministry in children’s camps.  They came back excited and impacted, but apart from relief at their safe return home, … Continue reading “32. When is a Missions Trip REALLY Missions?”

The Need for Cross-cultural Leadership Training: Why FEBInternational is developing the CLTP program “We no longer need ‘general practitioner’ missionaries here.”  This comment from an experienced FEBI missionary points to an important reality in missions today: the need … Continue reading “31. Why CLTP?“

Contextualization is an important part of missiology.  This is the process of discovering culturally appropriate means of communicating the transforming power of the gospel.  Authenticity requires the missionary to live out the gospel with integrity according to the … Continue reading “30. Contextualization and the Lord of the Rings”

Religions do not bring people to God H. Kraemer in his influential book, The Christian message in a Non-Christian World, builds a strong case for the inability of religions, as human constructs, to bring people to God.  The … Continue reading “29. How are we to think about Allah in Islam?”

A recent book review in the Evangelical Baptist (March / April 2005, p. 20) on the book Ishmael: My brother – A Christian Introduction to Islam, contained the provocative statement, “from a biblical vantage point, Allah does not … Continue reading “28. Is Allah God?”

A recent book review  in the Evangelical Baptist (March / April 2005, p. 20) on the book Ishmael: My brother – A Christian Introduction to Islam demonstrated an unfortunate attitude towards Muslims and an apparent misunderstanding of Islamic … Continue reading “27. Inappropriate Criticisms of Islam”

The Fear of Dilution I was recently talking with a colleague who voiced a concern about the expanding understanding of missions in some of our more missional churches.  The missions committee at his church expressed the desire to … Continue reading “26. An Expanding Definition of Missions”