TRAINING LATIN AMERICAN MISSIONARIES:

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TRAINING LATIN AMERICAN MISSIONARIES

• Missions Mobilization and Missionary Formation in
  Latin America

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Introduction

• Missions mobilization should inspire, educate,
  and move to commitment every follower of Jesus to
  become what they are by faith, Gods Missionary
  People.
• Missions education seeks to mobilize the church
  to the mandate and equip the called.
• Trends in Latin American Missions

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Misiones en Conjunto 2005

• International Missionaries 369
• Cross-Cultural Workers 287
• Total Number of Missionaries 656
• Serving in 59 countries of the world

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Where L.A. Missionaries are serving

• Central Africa (1) (2), Germany, Antigua,
  Argentina, Central Asia (1) (2) (3), North Asia,
  South Asia (1) (2) (3), Asia Minor, Belgium,
  Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cabo
  Verde, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Belgium Congo,
  Cuba, Ecuador, USA, Spain, Georgia, Guatemala,
  Guinea Bissau, Guinea Equatorial,

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Where L.A. Missionaries are serving

• Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, England, Canary
  Islands, Israel, Italia, Japan, Middle East,
  México, Nicaragua, Ruanda, Rumania, Lithuania,
  Mozambique, North Africa, Nueva Guinea, Paraguay,
  Panamá, Peru, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic,
  Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal,
  Switzerland, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela

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Missions is born in the Heart of God and are
realized by The feet of those who go, The
knees of those who stay, and The hands of those
who give
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The Feet of those who go 50 Missionaries from
Latin America
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The knees of those who stay One million
intercessors
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The hands of those who give Two million
dollars
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Trends

• 1. Increasing numbers of missionaries are being
  sent out from emerging cultures. (e.g. in Spanish
  speaking Latin America in 1994 there were 60
  appointed missionaries, 1996- 140, in 2000-305,
  in 2002- 334 serving in 53 countries, in 2005 656
  in 59.). The question is will our national
  churches create the structures, networks,
  training opportunities and the support base
  necessary to send out the called or will the
  called, seek out and serve other agencies?

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Trends

• 2. Increasing numbers of local churches are
  sending and supporting missionaries, but the
  majority of potential is still unrealized (e.g.
  in El Salvador church participation has increased
  from 0.1 in 1987 to over 70 in 2005, Costa
  Rica, which has a strong missions agency, reports
  only 20 participation.)
• The transition from emotional assent to concrete
  commitment is slow but steady requiring continual
  promotional and educational activities.

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Trends

• 3. Increasing numbers of national churches are
  developing sending agencies and structures. All
  of the Spanish speaking countries of Latin
  America have an agency/department but the
  majority is in the early development stages with
  no missionaries or just one or two and a national
  leadership of limited missionary experience. The
  majority of AG agencies in Latin America and the
  Caribbean have yet to reach critical mass.

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Trends

• 4. Increasing numbers of nations are
  participating in a global network of Assemblies
  of God missionaries and agencies. Missions in the
  majority world is more relationally based than
  conceptual.

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Trends

• 5. Increasing numbers of Latin Americans,
  especially young people, are participating in
  short term missions activities.

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Trends

• 6. Increasing levels of cooperation must develop
  between AGWM missionaries and other AG
  missionaries. We must learn how to effectively
  serve with Latin American and other majority
  world missionaries under the authority of
  national leadership.

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NIGER AFRICA
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MISSIONARY COLABORATION

• BURKINA FASO NIGERIA
• U.S.A FRANCE
• TOGO IVORY COAST
• SWEDEN EL SALVADOR

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Missionary Education for

• Laity Missionary Formation in the Local Church
• Ministers - Ministerial Formation in Missiology
  (National Church)
• Short-term Missionaries and Missions Promoters
• Career Missionaries
• Missionary Trainers

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Plan Básico de Misiones en Conjunto de las
Asambleas de Dios

• CAPÍTULO 1 PREMISAS TEOLÓGICAS Y EDUCATIVAS DE
  LA FORMACIÓN MISIONERA
• CAPÍTULO 2 LOS PROCESOS DE FORMACIÓN MISIONERA
  EN LA IGLESIA LOCAL
• CAPÍTULO 3 LOS PROCESOS DE FORMACIÓN MISIONERA
  EN LA IGLESIA NACIONAL

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• CAPÍTULO 4 LOS PROCESOS DE FORMACIÓN MISIONERA
  DE EQUIPOS Y MISIONEROS A CORTO Y MEDIANO PLAZO
• CAPÍTULO 5 LA FORMACIÓN DE MISIONEROS DE CARRERA
  
• CAPÍTULO 6 PROGRAMAS DE FORMACIÓN MISIONERA
• CAPÍTULO 7 RECURSOS PARA LA FORMACIÓN MISIONERA

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Introducción a las Áreas Esenciales de la
Formación Misionera

• Se identifica cuatro áreas esenciales de la
  formación misionera
• La formación espiritual y relacional
  (identificada como categoría A),
• La formación bíblica, teológica, ministerial (B),
  
• La formación general (C)
• La formación misiológica (D). Esta última esta
  subdivida en las siguientes categorías de
  misiología teología de las misiones (D1),
  dimensiones estratégicas (D2), y aspectos
  trans-culturales (D3).

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La Formación Espiritual y Relacional (A)

• La formación misionera fundamental (corresponde a
  la etapa de discipulado) es la relación de
  misionero con Dios, con el cuerpo de Cristo y con
  la sociedad. Para establecer una base de
  autoridad espiritual en la vida y ministerio del
  misionero y profundizar estas relaciones
  espirituales e interhumanas se recomienda
  estudios sobre los siguientes temas

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La Formación Espiritual y Relacional (A)

• Las Disciplinas Espirituales y Misioneras, Las
  Relaciones Humanas, La Vida en Comunidad, El
  Trabajar en Equipo, El Cuido de la Familia
  Misionera, Como superar el Conflicto Relacional,
  La Guerra Espiritual, La Vida de Fe, Logística
  Misionera, Servicio y Liderazgo. La estructura
  principal más efectiva para desarrollar esta
  formación es la iglesia local como un centro de
  adiestramiento misionero.

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La Formación Bíblica, Teológica y Ministerial (B)

• La formación bíblica, teológica y ministerial se
  resume y se presenta en el Plan Básico del SEC.
  Sin embargo, entre las destrezas y estudios
  están La Hermenéutica, El Hacer Teología,
  Homilética, Cultura Bíblica, Apologética,
  Teología Ministerial, Ética Personal y
  Ministerial, Desarrollo de Liderazgo,
  Pentecostalismo, y Los Procesos de Credenciales
  Ministeriales de AD.

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La Formación General (C)

• Para poder identificar con la sociedad general,
  mejorar la comunicación y responder a ciertas
  necesidades misioneras, una formación general es
  requerida. Entre los estudios recomendados están
  -Informática, Contabilidad, Publicidad, Primeros
  Auxilios, Pedagogía, Lingüística, Ingles,
  Antropología, Construcción Básica, Métodos de la
  Investigación y Administración

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La Formación Misiológica (D)

• La formación misiológica incluye
• La teología de misiones (D1),
• Las dimensiones estratégicas (D2),
• Los aspectos trans-culturales (D3).
• El estudio de la teología de misiones (D1)
  abarca La Reflexión Teológica, Teología y las
  Misiones, Pneumatología y las Misiones, La
  Contextualización Teológica y Temas
  Contemporáneos Misiológicos.

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Las Dimensiones Estratégicas (D2)

• Las dimensiones estratégicas incluye Los Grupos
  No-alcanzados, Urbanización y Movimientos
  Sociológicos, Logística, Promoción misionera,
  Tramites Legales, Tramites Eclesiásticos, Asuntos
  Familiares, Relaciones Humanas, Teorías de
  Comunicación, Contabilidad, Trabajar en Equipo,
  La Iglesia Autóctona, La Plantación de Iglesias
  en Contextos Misioneros, El Desarrollo de
  Comunidad, Iglecrecimiento, Estrategias para
  Evangelismo Mundial, Logística Misionera,
  Historia de la Expansión de la Iglesia, Modelo de
  Capacitación Misionera.

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Aspectos Trans-culturales (D3)

• Los aspectos trans-culturales enfocan estudios
  como Antropología Cultural, La Comunicación
  Transcultural, La Identificación Misionera, La
  Contextualización Misiológica, Las Religiones,
  Etno-litúrgica y Musicología, Contabilidad
  Misionera

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Laity Missionary Formation in the Local Church

• Missions is not a department! It is a way of
  life!
• The Spiritual Disciplines Opens the door to
  discernment/empowerment.
• Learning is relational. It takes place in
  community the local church.
• EVERY LOCAL CHURCH SHOULD BE A MISSIONARY
  TRAINING CENTER!
• Age specific formation- Kids are Key!
• The power of narrative.

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Missionary Formation in the Local Church Key
Activities

• The Missionary Disciplines pray, give, commit
  to serve.
• Missionary Visit
• Missions Convention
• Prayer groups
• Short-term teams

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Ministerial Formation in Missiology (National
Church)

• All ministerial formation should be missiological
  in worldview for the Bible defines ministry in
  missiological terms.
• All ministers need missiological tools to
  exegete/contextualize the Word, the church and
  the world (their community).
• Missiological Courses- Basic courses should be
  taught by impassioned missionary educators and
  introduced early in the students formation.

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Ministerial Formation in Missiology (National
Church)

• Space must be intentionally provided not only in
  the classroom but in every aspect of student
  life, in order to hear and obey the voice of the
  Spirit. Critical are chapel services, spiritual
  retreats, mentoring relationships, small covenant
  groups and crisis moments in the lives of
  student. Institute personnel must model
  humility, surrender and obedience to Spirit
  direction and empowerment both natural and
  supernatural.

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Ministerial Formation in Missiology (National
Church)

• Short term missions practicums should be a
  requirement for all students and faculty but
  particularly those sensing a call to missions.
• The earlier the student can be exposed to
  missions and the more he/she is exposed to
  missionaries and their stories, the more likely
  that they will surrender to the Spirits guidance
  related to missions.

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Short-term Missionaries and Missions Promoters

• Short-term missionaries and missions promoters
  need additional training, particularly
  cross-cultural training which is case specific.
  This formation is primarily non-formal training
  in seminars and small group studies which utilize
  interactive teaching methodologies.

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Short-term Missionaries and Missions Promoters

• The content should include not only equipping for
  cross-cultural encounter but training for
  missionary promotional activities in the sending
  church (e.g., dramas, promotional materials, fund
  raising, financial accountability, group dynamics
  and teamwork).

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Career Missionaries

• Informal, non-formal, formal education models
  need to be integrated in a holistic training
  process.
• Missionaries and their families need pre-service
  and in-service training, both non-formal and
  formal in the areas of cross-cultural
  communication, missions theology, and missiology
  including practical logistical concerns (e.g.,
  visas, transportation, childrens schooling,
  housing, fund raising, and publicity).

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Career Missionaries

• Effective methodologies at this level in Latin
  America include role playing, culture
  assimilators, apprenticeship, being mentored by
  veteran missionaries, open discussions,
  simulation games, case studies, practice of
  language and culture learning skills, and
  independent studies.
• Holistic integration is sought between theory and
  practice, Word and experience, and worship and
  service.

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Career Missionaries

• Ultimately, the key competency for the career
  missionary and any servant in the kingdom of God
  is the ability to discern Spirit direction and
  empowerment in order to fulfill the missionary
  call and accomplish Gods purposes.

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Missionary Trainers

• The trainer must not only be able to assist
  missionaries in the practical aspects of
  missions, but must be able to integrate
  philosophy of mission and practice.
• Of utmost importance is the missionary educators
  ability to model and facilitate Spirit direction
  and empowerment.

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Recommendations

• A new theory and paradigm for missionary
  formation must be developed which is guided and
  shaped by the reality that it is the Spirit that
  calls and empowers for missionary service. In
  this paradigm, various models can and should be
  used in missionary formation.

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• Diverse contexts require Holy Spirit direction to
  implement the appropriate model. Missionary
  educators and mobilizers must seek to integrate
  Word and experience theory and practice
  pre-field, on field, post-field training, and
  continuing education and formal, non-formal, and
  informal processes of education and formation in
  order to create a context in which the Spirit
  calls and empowers missionaries for service.

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• To open the door to the Spirits call, direction,
  and empowerment in the new paradigm, missionary
  educators and mobilizers from Latin America need
  to take into account the following observations
  related to missionary formation

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• 1. There are no limitations in terms of age,
  gender, education, ethnicity, culture, marital,
  or socio-economic status as to whom the Spirit
  will call, but those who are called must be
  willing to surrender all in order to fulfill the
  call. Often, this surrender requires a change of
  context, the removal of cultural distraction, and
  the stepping out of normal routines.

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• Missions educators must take care not to develop
  a formula for the missionary call because there
  is no single means by which the Spirit calls,
  rather the call is as unique as each individual.
  
• He/she must also take care to recognize not all
  who are called, experience an identifiable crisis
  event, but that the missionary call must be
  confirmed individually and corporately.

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• 2. As relationships are important to a sense of
  spiritual empowerment, the missionary educator
  must emphasize the corporate nature of the body
  of Christ and provide the missionary with
  relational tools. Missionary formation is
  directly related to ministry and missionary
  experience as the most important lessons for
  missionary service are often discovered in the
  context of the local church and missionary
  ministry.

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• As the Spirit often calls and equips those who
  are already active in ministry, every local
  church needs to be a missionary training center
  which offers direct contact and interaction with
  missionaries celebrates missionary services,
  missions conventions, and missionary seminars
  disciples each member in the spiritual and
  missionary disciplines and organizes short-term
  missionary experiences which can be effective
  processes of missionary formation and
  concientization.

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• All ministerial training should be missiological
  in order to equip the pastor to develop the local
  church as a missionary training center.

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• 3. Even though education will not cause a
  believer to respond to the missionary mandate,
  early exposure in the life of the individual to
  missions education and activities and to bi- and
  multi-cultural contexts increases the probability
  of and commitment to missions, and of being
  called to be a missionary.

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• The most influential people related to
  understanding and obeying the missionary call are
  missionaries. Therefore, the processes of
  missionary formation must seek to continually
  expose the student to missiology and to
  encounters and interaction with missionaries and
  people from other cultures.

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• 4. The Spirit empowers both supernaturally and
  naturally through gifts, experience, and
  education. Equipping for missionary service is
  both biblical and congruent with Spirit
  empowerment.

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• The activities of the missionary are diverse,
  limited only by the creativity of divine
  direction and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
  The processes of missionary formation must
  create an environment which allows missionary
  candidates to experiment and discover giftedness.

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• 5. All missional and missionary formation
  structures in terms of development, use, and
  renewal must be guided and shaped by the reality
  that it is the Spirit that calls and empowers the
  missionary for service. Missional structures and
  processes of missionary formation (people,
  programs, and institutions) must continually seek
  to be sensitive and obedient to the Spirits
  direction, to the call, the gifts, and the needs
  of the missionary, and to the needs of the
  missionary enterprise.

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• Missionary educators must provide missionaries
  with tools to assess the state of structure, the
  means for renewal, and how to successfully
  negotiate conflict through the guidance of the
  Spirit. The significant structures with which
  the missionary interacts include the family,
  local churches, national churches, missions
  agencies, educational institutions, and societal
  structures.

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• 6. Missions educators must recognize their own
  need for continual Spirit direction and
  empowerment, modeling Spirit dependence in their
  lives, ministry, and missions theologies and
  theories. The greatest asset the missions
  educator can provide is to facilitate the
  missionarys ability to discern and obey the
  voice of the Spirit.

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• Missionary educators must seek to intentionally,
  but not legalistically, create space in the
  processes and programs of missionary formation in
  order to discern the Spirit direction allowing
  the future to become present. Space
  facilitators include the spiritual disciplines of
  prayer, Bible reading, community, the
  proclamation of the Word, and shared narratives.

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• 7. The formation of the missionary must always
  prioritize the realization of the spiritual
  disciplines as a significant though not exclusive
  means of call, divine direction and confirmation.
  
• Missionary training should emphasize the
  spiritual disciplines, biblical studies, missions
  theology, and intercultural studies but the
  specifics of study should focus on the individual
  missionarys needs.

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• As obstacles and trails are a part of the calling
  process, the educator must take care not to
  remove all the obstacles from the path of the
  missionary candidate, nor is it a process of the
  survival of the fittest. Therefore, it is not
  the educators task to create obstacles but to
  facilitate Spirit direction and empowerment in
  the life of the missionary

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Areas of Cooperation

• Missions Mobilization and Promotion
• Missions Education and Missionary Training
• Missionary Logistics and Technical Support

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Missions Mobilization and Promotion

• Preach and teach missions and the baptism of the
  Holy Spirit when given opportunity. Give altar
  calls believing God is going to call
  missionaries, missions mobilizers and missions
  supporters. Our responsibility is to prepare the
  way it is the Spirit who will do the work. Every
  promotional activity should inspire, educate and
  move to concrete expressions of commitment. The
  Latin American church can do missions in the
  power of the Spirit.

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Missions Education andMissionary Training

• We can assist in missionary formation in many
  ways and at various levels. Our local churches
  need to be educated in their responsibility to
  become missions training centers in which every
  member can participate in the missionary task.
  Every new church plant should be a missionary
  church from its inception.

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Missions Education andMissionary Training

• Pastors, missions leadership, missions promoters
  and national executives need formation in
  missiology, missionary administration and in the
  selection, formation and supervision of
  missionaries.
• Latin American missionaries need to be exposed to
  an entire gamut of spiritual formation,
  leadership, missiology (missions philosophy,
  theology, and strategy), cross-cultural
  communication, inter-personal relationships etc.
  AGWM missionaries are often not only the most
  academically qualified but more importantly,
  their teaching is modeled practically and
  experientially.

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Missionary Logistics andTechnical Support

• Organization is sorely lacking in the majority of
  our countries both at the local and national
  level. We can facilitate the development of
  contextual models for the selection, training and
  sending of missionaries. Practical items such as
  how to set up a missions agency, how to have a
  missions convention in the local church, how to
  write newsletters and build a relational support
  base, how to organize a short term missions trip,
  how to network with other AG missionaries, how to
  get visas and support to the field etc.

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Missionary Logistics andTechnical Support

• Please, let us not just replicate our U.S. model
  nor create a paternalistic missions program
  dependent on the U.S. missionary, but let us be
  an encouragement by humbly offering and sharing
  our passion, our experience and our resources.

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Conclusion

• The future of missions lies in missionaries being
  sent from the churches of every nation to the
  peoples of every nation. Latin America will do
  missions with or without us, but their
  effectiveness and ours will increase
  exponentially as we partner together in the power
  of the Spirit.