missions and money part iii

Missions and Money

Partially adapted from Missions and Money

Jonathan BonkDr. Robert Patton

Missionary to Suriname, South America

Part IIAvoiding Dependency

Dr. Robert PattonMissionary to Suriname,

South America

Dependency Of course, our first reliance is

on God! But we must not rely on the

resources outside locally Otherwise you may miss the

resources that God will provide, a

Furthermore, then you cannot help others

.Indigenous - something locally owned and operated

There is often an imported and expensive foreign structure requiring outside support

Placing nationals in responsible positions is not indigenization, but nationalization

.Indigenous - something locally owned and operated

We need not only legal ownership and national ownership,

But also psychological ownership

Truly indigenous = ownership

This is ours. It belongs to us. We are going to make it work. We will manage it ourselves

with our own decisions, structures, and resources

Characteristics of the dependency syndrome

Fatalism – nationals saying: we can’t help ourselves... and missionaries saying: they can’t help themselves

Not all dependent churches are poor- it has more to do with the mentality of the people

Foreign funding can be like a poison or pollutant

But - It is possible to cure dependency

Dependency can be cured

One “poor” church has 3 offerings .For the poor .Tithe .Thanks offering

Dependency can be cured

Successful cure through discipleship. 2 days of fasting & prayer, then 3 days of teaching on

stewardship and discipleship Spiritual renewal is key. Repeated again after 6 months. Soon the church was self reliant.

Lessons from Irian Jaya No foreign funds used in local

church development Mission employed no paid

evangelists Missionaries did not burden the

churches with a structure they could not sustain

Church members paid pastors by cultivating the fields for them

Lessons from Irian Jaya They practiced self-support in

church and community No preferential treatment was

given to believers in medical or community work

Stewardship was taught from the beginning

Lessons from Irian Jaya Missionaries were given cross-

cultural training and sensitivity

Warning - don’t resent the church’s move toward self-reliance

Characteristics of the Syndrome of Dependency

It affects all aspects of mission life

It especially affects Bible distribution

It is longstanding, and not confined to one geographic area

The problem is still contemporary

Dependency syndrome Who have problems? Missionaries whose programs

create the problems Church leaders whose salaries

come from foreign sources

Dependency syndrome What is the problem? Foreign funds often come in

large amounts and in hidden ways.

There is a great temptation to misuse the funds - more than locally managed funds

Dependency Syndrome Unhealthy dependence makes

it nearly impossible for churches to send out their own missionaries.

What we seek is outreach from an energized church which has spiritual and financial energy left over to reach others.

This can become a way of life

Dependency syndrome This can become a way of life It can have very attractive nature- you

can support a national for $50 per month

Local people are deprived of the opportunity to support their own evangelist

Sometimes the evangelist is seen as a ‘foreign agent’

Things to ask about partnership

Many suggest western funds and eastern manpower

Which way to resources flow? If one way - then it is sponsorship rather than partnership.

Partnership works best when money is not an issue

Interdependence - two relatively equal partners

National contributions

Knowledge of the language and culture

Ability to live in circumstances that would be very difficult for a western missionary to tolerate

Risks involved in challenging dependence

Loss of reputation and attack on the individual

May affect your own salary You may lose potentially good

leaders

Dependency syndrome Resolving dependency is a great

blessing Often there is a direct revelation

of the Lord It is very difficult for westerners

to accept that their giving could be the root cause of dependency problems

Breaking dependency is a spiritual problem.

Attack dependency with Prayer Sound teaching Discipleship Spiritual decision-making

What should wealthy churches do with their money? Where does the money come

from? Ethically? Invest in cross-cultural training

for missionaries

What should wealthy churches do with their money? Helping with debt encountered

in college Mobilization of resources to

send people where the gospel is not preached

Outreach in your own communities

What should wealthy churches do with their money?

Invest in campus organizations, radio broadcasting, Bible translation

What should wealthy churches do with their money?

Invest in Help refugees Preventive health programs Employment projects, job

creation schemes and revolving loan funds

Where should we exercise care?

Individual church leaders paid directly

Child care programs bypassing family

Bibles - be careful that we do not overly subsidize them and make their value too little

Be careful about overseas scholarships

Where should we exercise care?

Building church buildings which the people could build themselves.

Remember people can have a church building equal to the house in which they live

Food aid projects which can affect the cost of local products.

Historical Development of the Syndrome of Dependency Healthy churches are not

dependent on outside resources

Three self is important – self-governing, self-supporting, self-propagating

Historical Development of the Syndrome of Dependency Some want also an indigenous

theology and hymnology The problem is when

missionaries entrench themselves and build huge foreign institutions.

Practical Suggestions for Missionaries Large mission stations have a

negative impact .They put distance between

missionary and people .They are expensive to maintain

.We must focus more on being than doing

.Recognize what God is doing, and join Him in His work

Cross-cultural training is vital This is more than a crash

course We must adjust to the other’s

point of reference Where does my primary

fellowship come from? Is my identity tied with

position and responsibility, or who I am in Christ?

Missionary attitudes Decline to take charge of

anything that could be done by a local person

Excuse yourselves from business meetings when possible

Be ready to remove the scaffolding which has been built

Avoid personal agenda which must be completed before leaving

Proper missionary ownership I will give away my rights I will resist giving an answer

for everything on every subject I will defer to others and not

make them dependent on my money

I will not condemn anyone if a program is closed because it cannot be maintained

Proper missionary ownership

I will not allow dependency to develop

I will not become bitter or discouraged if my rights, privileges and responsi-bilities are taken from me

I came to be replaced by others I will not react with anger when

others talk about how things can go in the future

Destructive missionary attitudes These people do not

appreciate what we have done for them

As a missionary I need to do more than be

We will give them authority when they are ready for it (maybe in 100 years)

Destructive missionary attitudes If we turn the work over too

soon, maybe it will be destroyed

What is your attitude toward transition to local responsibility?

Questions for missionaries

What will you do if your present role is ended?

Could you move your scaffolding elsewhere?

Can you help a local church develop a sending ministry?

Questions for missionaries Could you serve in an

existing church without a position of power or leadership?

Could you help actively develop local resources and break dependency?

Could you be a mobilizer for missions, looking for others to serve wider?

What can Local Leaders do to Avoid or Break the Dependency Syndrome?

We must not allow the past - colonialism, paternalism, or apartheid to make us bitter

We must not build up our own empire

Make a strong commitment to the process of change


Get the whole team on track for transition.

Give attention to how the missionaries feel, but do not become paralyzed by that.


If older members cannot, then let them be involved with something less stressful and not active at the heart of the process.

Spiritual unity is a must


BEGIN WITH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

Good planning is necessary Give attention to restructuring

the box

Practical suggestions

Let the imagination flow Give joyfully Be prepared to reduce

expenses Be sure to put evangelism &

missionary outreach into the agenda

Encouragement to remove dependency

You aren’t the first to face change Pray that the Holy Spirit will show

the right time for change Ask for divine guidance - humility,

spiritual discernment and determination

Allow a reasonable time for change to take place

Leadership qualities

Be at peace with God We must believe our present

calling of God is valid - and with God’s help it can be carried out

We must be committed to leading people and not simply fixing problems

Leadership qualities

Respect the need of change and do not fear it

Those who change need to be prepared to be criticized

We may need to sacrifice personally

Be humble when we see progress

Leadership qualities See the long-term picture Have unquestioned personal

integrity. Remember - the failure to

confront diminishes our ability to lead

Employ the most gifted Be certain that we have God’s

agenda in mind

Effects of long-term foreign subsidy Outsiders often set the

agenda Progress is often determined

by the availability of outside money

Often foreign-salaried nationals are not free to decide and innovate

Effects of long-term foreign subsidy There is adverse effects of

the self-image and community image of the church

Local value systems can be damaged

Problems in stewardship teaching in mission-established institutions

The hearts of the members may be cold

Outside funding creates the appearance of wealth

There is often hidden income and hidden expenses

Problems in stewardship teaching in mission-established institutions

The project or church seems to belong to someone else

There is inadequate training of the treasurers

Why is there an urgency to relieve dependency?

Churches & mission societies often have broken relationships over money

Missionaries & agencies do not know how to remove the scaffold

Paternalistic mission societies are an embarrassment in the kingdom of God

Why is there an urgency to relieve dependency?

Discouraged church leaders go elsewhere for fellowship and employment

Dependent churches cannot reach their potential for the Lord

There is a problem not trusting local treasurers

How do you know if local leadership occurs

Do the leaders have to check with someone first?

Is control maintained by outside finances?

Promoting local ownership

A feeling of ownership must precede responsibility

Programs may be inappropriate or too expensive to maintain

Both anticipate and precipitate change

How do you know if local leadership occurs

Do the leaders have to check with someone first?

Is control maintained by outside finances?

Where is the money coming from?

Sleeping Christians Non-believers Unemployed – via microloans,

etc. keep it small keep it local keep a watchful eye

Teaching giving

Ownership before stewardship Full heart experience before

teaching stewardship Emphasize “thanks”giving

Teaching giving

Emphasize the joy of giving, not just the law of tithing

Emphasize local creativity Train treasurers in integrity

Teaching giving

Don’t rely on the gimmicks of the world - raffles, games, teas,

Remember everything comes from the Lord

“In kind” offerings are as important as money

What sources of income hinder church giving? Income from church-run

properties Avoid all illegal practices Avoid private gifts to church

leaders who are unknown personally

What sources of income hinder church giving? Be careful of relief supplies

which ruin the value of locally grown produce

Avoid securing a vehicle through a developmental agency

What sources of income hinder church giving?

Community income better than church business

All people in the community benefit

Draws on resources of wealthy non-believers

What sources of income hinder church giving?

Church thrives on the giving of believers

The church is not competing with business people

Transitions to local ownership Make certain that the Holy

Spirit is guiding Meet to determine the

seriousness of the undertaking

Transitions to local ownership Set up a timetable for the

forseeable future Outside decisions will no

longer be the basis on which decisions are made

Don’t be derailed by indecision

Transition to local ownership

Expect opposition from satan He does not want strong churches Allow enough time for local

support Pray for the Lord to remove

difficulties Don’t worry about the reactions of

others

Transition to local ownership

Encourage local creativity Local solutions to local

problems New music from the hearts of

the people Local ways of raising funds Expect some insecurity