Every year there is a joint 3-day gathering of OMF missionaries in Hokkaido and the pastors of the church group with whom we work (JECA). Over the last couple of years or so JECA has been planning a new church plant somewhere in Hokkaido. It has been exciting to hear of this development and interesting to watch the way it has moved forward to this point. There have been joint church plants before but this time it is different. The local churches and pastors will take the lead, with OMF playing more of a supportive role. The group which had the task of identifying the place for this new church start (hoping to kick off in April 2012) has a vision for something bigger - seeing this first church plant as only the beginning of a desire to plant other churches in other parts of Hokkaido. While it is great to see this vision unfold, there are many issues to be worked through, in terms of the 'what' (what will this church look like?), 'who' (who will lead it) and 'how' (dealing with the many practical matters, including finances). OMF too is working through its role in all of this - what is our task as missionaries here and what should our priorities be as we work alongside a national church? Big questions that don't admit of easy answers. But God is at work in Hokkaido and we long to see him do more so that the many unreached people might have the chance to hear the gospel.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Working together
Every year there is a joint 3-day gathering of OMF missionaries in Hokkaido and the pastors of the church group with whom we work (JECA). Over the last couple of years or so JECA has been planning a new church plant somewhere in Hokkaido. It has been exciting to hear of this development and interesting to watch the way it has moved forward to this point. There have been joint church plants before but this time it is different. The local churches and pastors will take the lead, with OMF playing more of a supportive role. The group which had the task of identifying the place for this new church start (hoping to kick off in April 2012) has a vision for something bigger - seeing this first church plant as only the beginning of a desire to plant other churches in other parts of Hokkaido. While it is great to see this vision unfold, there are many issues to be worked through, in terms of the 'what' (what will this church look like?), 'who' (who will lead it) and 'how' (dealing with the many practical matters, including finances). OMF too is working through its role in all of this - what is our task as missionaries here and what should our priorities be as we work alongside a national church? Big questions that don't admit of easy answers. But God is at work in Hokkaido and we long to see him do more so that the many unreached people might have the chance to hear the gospel.
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