I recently completed For the Sake of His Name, published by Student Global Impact (available here). The authors at the book are David Doran, Pearson Johnson, and Benjamin Eckman. They did a commendable job.
One gripe I have with the book, however, is found in Johnson's last chapter, Where Do I Go From Here? He writes regarding the formal education for missionaries:
Many feel that an undergraduate degree is adequate for a missionary. An undergraduate Bible degree may be adequate for pastoring folks in small-town American who have a basic Christian worldview, but it will not do for the cross-cultural church planter.
As helpful as the book was, I must take serious issue with his statement regarding pastoring in small-town America. First, who says folks in small-town America have a basic Christian world view? Ever visited or ministered in these small-towns? I don't know any of these authors or their ministries personally, but Johnson seems to have a great misunderstanding about small-town America.
What are we to do with ministries God has established in small-towns of 200 or even less? Are those 200 not in need of well-equipped pastors? Are there not cross-cultural battles to face in the hundreds of small towns of less than 100, or 1,000 or 5,000?
This is where I have wrestled over the years with our colleges and seminaries being located in metro areas. They seem to have no realistic grasp of small-town ministries. I remember attending a seminary conference years ago that advertised helps for small-churches. Their definition of a small church? Anything under 200 in attendance! What about those small churches with 20 (or less) in attendance who have been faithfully shepherded over the years?
I have an acquaintance who taught a Sunday School class with an average attendance of over 500. That's huge! I can name you several small-towns in our area with a population under 100. I can take you to Wyoming and show you small-towns with a population under 10. One personal acquaintance has faithfully ministered in those Wyoming small-towns and neighboring ranches for 30+ years.
Well, having got that off my chest, I will still heartily recommend the book to one and all.
One gripe I have with the book, however, is found in Johnson's last chapter, Where Do I Go From Here? He writes regarding the formal education for missionaries:
Many feel that an undergraduate degree is adequate for a missionary. An undergraduate Bible degree may be adequate for pastoring folks in small-town American who have a basic Christian worldview, but it will not do for the cross-cultural church planter.
As helpful as the book was, I must take serious issue with his statement regarding pastoring in small-town America. First, who says folks in small-town America have a basic Christian world view? Ever visited or ministered in these small-towns? I don't know any of these authors or their ministries personally, but Johnson seems to have a great misunderstanding about small-town America.
What are we to do with ministries God has established in small-towns of 200 or even less? Are those 200 not in need of well-equipped pastors? Are there not cross-cultural battles to face in the hundreds of small towns of less than 100, or 1,000 or 5,000?
This is where I have wrestled over the years with our colleges and seminaries being located in metro areas. They seem to have no realistic grasp of small-town ministries. I remember attending a seminary conference years ago that advertised helps for small-churches. Their definition of a small church? Anything under 200 in attendance! What about those small churches with 20 (or less) in attendance who have been faithfully shepherded over the years?
I have an acquaintance who taught a Sunday School class with an average attendance of over 500. That's huge! I can name you several small-towns in our area with a population under 100. I can take you to Wyoming and show you small-towns with a population under 10. One personal acquaintance has faithfully ministered in those Wyoming small-towns and neighboring ranches for 30+ years.
Well, having got that off my chest, I will still heartily recommend the book to one and all.
2 comments:
Phil,
Someone referred me to your post here on a sentence in a chapter I wrote.
First, thank you for commending the book.
Second, thank you for taking issue with the statement I made. I really do agree with you in all that you said. I was making a point arguing from the lesser to the greater--saying a Bible degree "may be adequate" (though I honestly don't think it is)for pastoring people who have a biblical worldview, but when it comes to dealing with the complexities of a cross-cultural missions situation, it is definitely inadequate.
I think your objection reinforces my point (though I grant my point could have been more clearly stated so as not to be biased against the complexities of small-town ministry)--many Christians assume that even in the most churchgoing small town, a pastor does not need much equipping. The opposite is the case--pastors need a depth of equipping no matter where they go.
Though I live and minister in the Detroit suburbs, I grew up in more rural Indiana and was saved in a church that averages 50 in attendance. I am, literally, eternally grateful for the faithful pastor that ministered in that small church in Farmland, Indiana, and am thankful for men like you who are dedicated to reaching these places with the gospel!
Pearson,
Thanks for your comments and clarification.
Having been raised in churches of 30 or less, and having ministered in a smaller town and small church for the past 25 years, I admit I have a bias.
If you ever want to get away from the metro area, you are always welcome to come visit us out on the prairie.
Post a Comment