Missionary Agreement Form 12

Under the divine blessing, if, in the course of a few years, a number of native churches be thus established, from them the word of God may sound out even to the extremities of India, and numbers of preachers being raised up and sent forth, may form a body of native missionaries, inured to the climate, acquainted with the customs, language, modes of speech and reasoning of the inhabitants; able to become perfectly familiar with them, to enter their houses, to live upon their food, to sleep with them, or under a tree; and who may travel from one end of the country to the other almost without any expense. These churches will be in no immediate danger of falling into errors or disorders, because the whole of their affairs will be constantly superintended by a European missionary.

Though I understand the comment and agree to a point I do believe that we need to so deeply train our people that they will be as trustworthy as us. That means that this can not be a work that is done quickly or lightheartedly. We must commit to real personal, life on life, training. I would hope that the day would come in any country that there are enough men and women who have matured sufficiently that they will not need to be supervised by a European nor an American.

Can we trust God to do such a work in their hears as He has done in ours? Could it be that we need to invest more money in getting good study materials into their hands. Maybe we should spend more time and give them real Bible College training. The problem is obvious and easily understood but should have a solution.

The advantages of this plan are so evident, that to carry it into complete effect ought to be our continued concern. That we may discharge the important obligations of watching over these infant churches when formed, and of urging them to maintain a steady discipline, to hold forth the clear and cheering light of evangelical truth in this region and shadow of death, and to walk in all respects as those who have been called out of the darkness into marvellous light, we should continually go to the Source of all grace and strength; for if, to become the shepherd of one church be a most solemn and weighty charge, what must it be to watch over a number of churches just raised from the state of heathenism, and placed at a distance from each other?

No doubt the infant churches will need our care. Let us just not leave it there.

We have thought it our duty not to change the names of native converts, observing from Scripture that the Apostles did not change those of the first Christians turned from heathenism, as the names Epaphroditus, Phoebe, Fortunatus, Sylvanus, Apollos, Hermes, Junia, Narcissus, etc., prove. Almost all these names are derived from those of heathen gods. We think the great object which Divine Providence has in view in causing the Gospel to be promulgated in the world, is not the changing of the names, the dress, the food, and the innocent usages of mankind, but to produce a moral and divine change in the hearts and conduct of men. It would not be right to perpetuate the names of heathen gods amongst Christians, neither is it necessary or prudent to give a new name to every man after his conversion, as hereby the economy of families, neighbourhoods, etc., would be needlessly disturbed. In other respects, we think it our duty to lead our brethren by example, by mild persuasion, and by opening and illuminating their minds in a gradual way rather than use authoritative means. By this they learn to see the evil of a custom, and then to despise and forsake it; whereas in cases wherein force is used, though they may leave off that which is wrong while in our presence, yet not having seen the evil of it, they are in danger of using hypocrisy, and of doing that out of our presence which they dare not do in it.

Let us never strive for the outward changes that so readily make us look like we have accomplished a great deal. Rather let us work to get the gospel into their hearts and for God to make a permanent change in them.

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Vision Baptist

Missionary Agreement Form 11

Still further to strengthen the cause of Christ in this country, and, as far as in our power, to give it a permanent establishment, even when the efforts of Europeans may fail, we think it our duty, as soon as possible, to advise the native brethren who may be formed in separate churches, to choose their pastors and deacons from amongst their own countrymen, that the word may be statedly preached, and the ordinances of Christ administered, in each church, by the native minister, as much as possible, without the interference of the missionary of the district, who will constantly superintend their affairs, give them advice in cases of order and discipline, and correct any errors into which they may fall, and who, joying and beholding their order, and their steadfastness of their faith in Christ, may direct his efforts continually to the planting of new churches in other places, and to the spread of the Gospel throughout his district as much as in his power. By this means the unity of the missionary character will be preserved, all the missionaries will still form one body, each one moveable as the good of the cause may require, the different native churches will also naturally learn to care and provide for their ministers, for their church expense, the raising places of worship, etc., and the whole administration will assume a native aspect, by which means the inhabitants will more readily identify the cause as belonging to their own nation, and their prejudices at falling into the hands of Europeans will entirely vanish. It may be hoped too that the pastors of these churches, and the members in general, will feel a new energy in attempting to spread the Gospel, when they shall thus freely enjoy the privileges of the Gospel amongst themselves.

The goal as soon as possible is to form an indigenous church. A church that is self supporting, self governing, and self supporting. That means we must teach them to do all the work and that our goal is to get out of the way.

They should be allowed to choose their pastors and leaders. They will have been taught well how to serve and honor God.

By the way that means that as a missionary you should not own their property nor should the mission. We have criticized very harshly large denominations that have done so in the states and then as independent Baptists go to the field and do what we condemn in the states. We act as though we could never trust them. You are not trusting them you are trusting and commending them to God.

As missionaries our goals are to continue getting new churches started and new men trained for the work there. The longer we tell them what to do and do not allow them to step up the weaker they will become.

Missionaries should not interfere with a church once it has become organized. As long as it is a mission of your church you obviously have some authority but once they are organized you should not undermine the pastor getting involved in telling them what to do.

Let the nationals know that they are our equals in the work of God. For too long the n word of missionary work has been "national". We have treated them too often with disrespect and superiority. God can use them as well as He can use us.

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Vision Baptist Church

Missionary Agreement Form 10

Eighthly. Another part of our work is the forming [of] our native brethren to usefulness, fostering every kind of genius, and cherishing every gift and grace in them.

Many people do not currently understand the importance of a Bible College. They can not seem to understand how it relates to church planting but as they said we must do everything possible to get them to know and grow so that they can lead their churches. Probably the most important church planting on any field once the work as been started is the training of the future leaders. If you believe in church planting you have to believe in Bible College support and training.

In this respect we can scarcely be too lavish of our attention to their improvement. It is only by means of native preachers that we can hope for the universal spread of the Gospel throughout this immense continent. Europeans are too few, and their subsistence costs too much, for us ever to hope that they can possibly be the instruments of the universal diffusion of the word amongst so many millions of souls spread over such a large portion of the habitable globe.

They knew that the most important key to getting the gospel to the people was to train their leadership. We will never get enough workers. We must train them in how to lead. We must train the churches in how to follow. We must teach them to give and support their own pastors.

Their incapability of bearing the intense heat of the climate in perpetual itineracies, and the heavy expenses of their journeys, not to say anything of the prejudices of the natives against the very presence of Europeans, and the great difficulty of becoming fluent in their languages, render it absolute duty to cherish native gifts, and to send forth as many native preachers as possible. If the practice of confining the ministry of the word to a single individual in a church be once established amongst us, we despair of the Gospel's ever making much progress in India by our means. Let us therefore use every gift, and continually urge on our native brethren to press upon their countrymen the glorious Gospel of the blessed God.

This is probably one of the mission field's best kept secrets. Many missionaries can't ever master the language. They have a hard time adjusting to the culture. What if we would just learn that our principal ministry is training leaders. Maybe we would accomplish much more.

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Vision Baptist Church

Missionary Agreement Form 9

In walking before native converts, much care and circumspection are absolutely necessary. The falls of Christians in Europe have not such a fatal tendency as they must have in this country, because there the word of God always commands more attention than the conduct of the most exalted Christian. But here those around us, in consequence of their little knowledge of the Scriptures, must necessarily take our conduct as a specimen of what Christ looks for in His disciples. They know only the Saviour and His doctrine as they shine forth in us.

Carey and his fellow workers knew that they had to model what they taught. They would be watched very much to see if they taught and preached was also what they practiced. They had to be examples of what Christ was looking for in His disciples

In conversing with the wives of native converts, and leading them on in the ways of Christ, so that they may be an ornament to the Christian cause, and make known the Gospel to the native women, we hope always to have the assistance of the females who have embarked with us in the mission. We see that in primitive times the Apostles were very much assisted in their great work by several pious females. The great value of female help may easily be appreciated if we consider how much the Asiatic women are shut up from the men, and especially from men of another caste. It behoves us, therefore, to afford to our European sisters all possible assistance in acquiring the language, that they may, in every way which Providence may open to them, become instrumental in promoting the salvation of the millions of native women who are in a great measure excluded from all opportunities of hearing the word from the mouths of European missionaries. A European sister may do much for the cause in this respect, by promoting the holiness, and stirring up the zeal, of the female native converts.

They recognized the importance of the help that the ladies could give. It would be impossible many times to reach the women in another culture if it were not for the great work of godly women who surrender to mission work. Notice the words "great value of female help"

A real missionary becomes in a sense a father to his people. If he feels all the anxiety and tender solicitude of a father, all that delight in their welfare and company that a father does in the midst of his children, they will feel all that freedom with, and confidence in him which he can desire. He will be wholly unable to lead them on in a regular and happy manner, unless they can be induced to open their minds to him, and unless a sincere and mutual esteem subsist on both sides

In many ways the missionary is like a father to his people. It is our great privilege to work with these people. We must love them. We must feel for them. God will give their hearts to you if you will but be the father to them that He has called you to be.

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Vision Baptist Church

Missionary Agreement Form 8

Seventhly. Another important part of our work is to build up, and watch over, the souls that may be gathered. In this work we shall do well to simplify our first instructions as much as possible, and to press the great principles of the Gospel upon the minds of the converts till they be thoroughly settled and grounded in the foundation of their hope towards God. We must be willing to spend some time with them daily, if possible, in this work. We must have much patience with them, though they may grow very slowly in divine knowledge.

This seventh point is made up of several paragraphs. We will divide it into two posts so you can watch for the next section tomorrow. Notice in this paragraph that they are thinking of how important it is to watch over their new disciples and then to instruct them well. We must start out simply. There is no need to try and impress them with our great knowledge or to use words and ideas that they are not ready for yet. Break it down. Bring them along. They will grow and learn. God will build them.

Notice the importance of spending time with them--even daily. It takes a lot to get them to grow. That is one of the reasons that I personally am not

We ought also to endeavour as much as possible to form them to habits of industry, and assist them in procuring such employments as may be pursued with the least danger of temptations to evil. Here too we shall have occasion to exercise much tenderness and forbearance, knowing that industrious habits are formed with difficulty by all heathen nations. We ought also to remember that these persons have made no common sacrifices in renouncing their connections, their homes, their former situations and means of support, and that it will be very difficult for them to procure employment with heathen masters. In these ircumstances, if we do not sympathize with them in their temporal losses for Christ, we shall be guilty of great cruelty.

They were concerned that they needed to find the right kind of work for their people. They felt like they might not be hard workers on their own. I am not sure how much of this applies today but in certain countries and cultures I am sure that it is still the case.

I do strongly identify with the thought that many of them might loose money, jobs, etc because of their following Jesus Christ. We must sympathize with them. We must hurt with them. We can not be selfish of the great resources that God has placed in our hands.

As we consider it our duty to honour the civil magistrate, and in every state and country to render him the readiest obedience, whether we be persecuted or protected, it becomes us to instruct our native brethren in the same principles. A sense of gratitude too presses this obligation upon us in a peculiar manner in return for the liberal protection we have experienced. It is equally our wisdom and our duty also to show to the civil power, that it has nothing to fear from the progress of Missions, since a real follower of Christ must resist the example of his Great Master, and all the precepts the Bible contains on this subject, before he can become disloyal. Converted heathens, being brought over to the religion of their Christian Governors, if duly instructed, are much more likely to love them, and be united to them, than subjects of a different religion.

As much as possible we must obey and respect the laws of our country. Of course in countries where the law does not allow us to worship and serve God will be responsible to the higher law of God. We still ought never to be disrespectful of their country and they should know that in every way we can we will do what the government expects as long as it does not hinder the free exercise of our faith.

To bear the faults of our native brethren, so as to reprove them with tenderness, and set them right in the necessity of a holy conversation, is a very necessary duty. We should remember the gross darkness in which they were so lately involved, having never had any just and adequate ideas of the evil of sin, or its consequences. We should also recollect how backward human nature is in forming spiritual ideas, and entering upon a holy self-denying conversation. We ought not, therefore, even after many falls, to give up and cast away a relapsed convert while he manifests the least inclination to be washed from his filthiness.

What a wonderful paragraph. They are to be dealt with in tenderness. They have not heard of the truth. It is all new to them. We are to not just throw them away. We are to seek out and see what can be done to love them and help them continue to come back and serve God until they reach maturity.

I strongly believe that there are no "no deposit, no return" people. Invest in them. Love them. Continue to help them until they become all that God meant for them to be.

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Vision Baptist Church

Missionary Agreement Form 7

Sixthly. It is absolutely necessary that the natives should have an entire confidence in us, and feel quite at home in our company. To gain this confidence we must on all occasions be willing to hear their complaints; we must give them the kindest advice, and we must decide upon everything brought before us in the most open, upright and impartial manner. We ought to be easy of access, to condescend to them as much as possible, and on all occasions to treat them as our equals. All passionate behaviour will sink our characters exceedingly in their estimation. All force, and everything haughty, reserved and forbidding, it becomes us ever to shun with the greatest care. We can never make sacrifices too great, when the eternal salvation of souls is the object, except, indeed, we sacrifice the commands of Christ.

What a powerful paragraph. Notice the bold print. They must feel comfortable around us. They have to feel at home with us. We must be careful that what we do is adapt to their country and their culture.

We must be careful to always give them good advice. We should never be condescending. We should never act as though our country or our ways of doing things are better unless it is a Biblical precept.

They must be treated as equals. I do not know how many times over the years I heard that discussed by Peruvian believers. Many times we are quite rude to them.

I hope that each of these paragraphs will sink in and God will use them to help us all to reach people better and to be more successful at getting the gospel to our people.

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Vision Baptist Church

Missionary Agreement Form 6

Fifthly. In preaching to the heathen, we must keep to the example of Paul, and make the greatest subject of our preaching, Christ Crucified. It would be very easy for a missionary to preach nothing but truths, and that for many years together, without any well-grounded hope of becoming useful to one soul. The doctrine of Christ's expiatory death and all-sufficient merits has been, and must ever remain, the grand mean of conversion. This doctrine, and others immediately connected with it, have constantly nourished and sanctified the church. Oh, that these glorious truths may ever be the joy and strength of our own souls, and then they will not fail to become the matter of our conversation to others. It was the proclaiming of these doctrines that made the Reformation from Popery in the time of Luther spread with such rapidity. It was these truths that filled the sermons of the modern Apostles, Whitefield, Wesley, etc., when the light of the Gospel which had been held up with such glorious effects by the Puritans was almost extinguished in England. It is a well-known fact that the most successful missionaries in the world at the present day make the atonement of Christ their continued theme. We mean the Moravians. They attribute all their success to the preaching of the death of our Saviour. So far as our experience goes in this work, we must freely acknowledge, that every Hindoo among us who has been gained to Christ, has been won by the astonishing and all-constraining love exhibited in our Redeemer's propitiatory death. O then may we resolve to know nothing among Hindoos and Mussulmans but Christ and Him crucified.

What a message for us to remember! We can do a lot of self help messages but what they did is that Jesus died and rose again to save us from our sins. We must preach that He died in the place of sinners.

We live in a day where the major talk is preaching self help messages but we must preach gospel messges.

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Missionary Agreement Form 5

Fourthly. It becomes us to watch all opportunities of doing good. A missionary would be highly culpable if he contented himself with preaching two or three times a week to those persons whom he might be able to get together into a place of worship. To carry on conversations with the natives almost every hour in the day, to go from village to village, from market to market, from one assembly to another, to talk to servants, labourers, etc., as often as opportunity offers, and to be instant in season and out of season — this is the life to which we are called in this country. We are apt to relax in these active exertions, especially in a warm climate; but we shall do well always to fix it in our minds, that life is short, that all around us are perishing, and that we incur a dreadful woe if we proclaim not the glad tidings of salvation.

Let us try to find ways to do good! I think that is a great comment. I was also impressed that they were going to look for ways to get out and talk to people as much as possible. They would not settle for preaching 2 or 3 times a week they wanted to be out in the community reaching people with the message of Jesus Christ.

This helps me where I am as a pastor right now in Vision. I need to be in touch with people. I need to be sharing the gospel message. I need to find more ways to get into my community. I hope you will pray for me as I seek out more ways to reach people.

Thank you all for your reading and especially those of you that are taking the time to make comments. I would love to hear your opinions.

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Missionary Agreement Form 4

Thirdly. It is necessary, in our intercourse with the Hindoos, that, as far as we are able, we abstain from those things which would increase their prejudices against the Gospel. Those parts of English manners which are most offensive to them should be kept out of sight as much as possible.

We should also avoid every degree of cruelty to animals. Nor is it advisable at once to attack their prejudices by exhibiting with acrimony the sins of their gods; neither should we upon any account do violence to their images, nor interrupt their worship.

The real conquests of the Gospel are those of love: "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." In this respect, let us be continually fearful lest one unguarded word, or one unnecessary display of the difference betwixt us, in manners, etc., should set the natives at a greater distance from us.

Paul's readiness to become all things to all men, that he might by any means save some, and his disposition to abstain even from necessary comforts that he might not offend the weak, are circumstances worthy of our particular notice. This line of conduct we may be sure was founded on the wisest principles.

Placed amidst a people very much like the hearers of the Apostle, in many respects, we may now perceive the solid wisdom which guided him as a Missionary. The mild manners of the Moravians, and also of the Quakers towards the North American Indians, have, in many instances, gained the affections and confidence of heathens in a wonderful manner.

He who is too proud to stoop to others, in order to draw them to him, though he may know that they are in many respects inferior to himself, is ill qualified to become a Missionary. The words of a most successful preacher of the Gospel still living, "that he would not care if the people trampled him under their feet, if he might become useful to their souls," are expressive of the very temper we should always cultivate.

What wonderful advice for every soul winner and especially for those that would be committed to cross cultural evangelism! We need to be careful not to do anything that would make the lost dislike even more the gospel message of Jesus Christ. We need to be careful what words we choose to use and what actions we would have.

They were careful to watch their love for animals--based on religion or whatever and not violate that love. They would not go against their gods, their religious services or any other thing. Though they disagreed they did not think that by attacking the false god or making known what they were against was the right way to win people. Often we are more interested in telling people more about what we are against than what we are for!

God will use your expressions of love towards others to draw them. Show them that you care and reach out to them.

Let's lift up Christ. Let's pay whatever price is necessary to tell them of what God through Jesus Christ has done to purchase their salvation. Let us never be too proud to stoop to others in order to draw them to Him.

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Missionary Agreement Form 3

Secondly. It is very important that we should gain all the information we can of the snares and delusions in which these heathen are held. By this means we shall be able to converse with them in an intelligible manner. To know their modes of thinking, their habits, their propensities, their antipathies, the way in which they reason about God, sin, holiness, the way of salvation, and a future state, to be aware of the bewitching nature of their idolatrous worship, feasts, songs, etc., is of the highest consequence, if we would gain their attention to our discourse, and would avoid being barbarians to them. This knowledge may be easily obtained by conversing with sensible natives, by reading some parts of their works and by attentively observing their manners and customs.

There is so much to learn from this particular paragraph and part of their plan. I am afraid that the majority of missionaries over look this very essential part of our ministry. We must study their culture. To do cross cultural work you must understand something about the people that you are trying to reach.

Notice that it was their goal to gain all the information possible. That means you need to be reading their books, listening to their stories, asking them questions. Don't just assume you know. Don't just trust books written by others or listen to what the other missionaries have to say. You need all of that but more than that you need to mix and mingle with the people to find out what they are saying, thinking and doing.

How can we converse with them if we do not know what their words mean in their context. We can easily misinterpret what they are doing because we put it into our context and not theirs.

They consider us barbarians according to these three missionaries. We do not know how to act appropriately in their culture.

The kiss on the cheek may seem strange to you and make you feel very uncomfortable because you think of it in your context but in their context it is the warmest way possible of saying that they love and respect you.

Become a student of culture. Learn about your people.

I would love it if some of the missionaries and others reading this would make some comments about these points. You do not have to agree with me. You can make statements or ask questions. Just get involved in the discussion.

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Missionary Agreement Form 2

First. In order to be prepared for our great and solemn work, it is absolutely necessary that we set an infinite value upon immortal souls; that we often endeavour to affect our minds with the dreadful loss sustained by an unconverted soul launched into eternity. It becomes us to fix in our minds the awful doctrine of eternal punishment, and to realise frequently the inconceivably awful condition of this vast country, lying in the arms of the wicked one. If we have not this awful sense of the value of souls, it is impossible that we can feel aright in any other part of our work, and in this case it had been better for us to have been in any other situation rather than in that of a Missionary. Oh! may our hearts bleed over these poor idolaters, and may their case lie with continued weight on our minds, that we may resemble that eminent Missionary, who compared the travail of his soul, on account of the spiritual state of those committed to his charge, to the pains of childbirth. But while we thus mourn over their miserable condition, we should not be discouraged, as though their recovery were impossible. He who raised the sottish and brutalised Britons to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, can raise these slaves of superstition, purify their hearts by faith, and make them worshippers of the one God in spirit and in truth. The promises are fully sufficient to remove our doubts, and to make us anticipate that not very distant period when He will famish all the gods of India, and cause these very idolaters to cast their idols to the moles and to the bats, and renounce for ever the work of their own hands.

There is much to learn in their first paragraph. First we must see the value of souls and it must weigh very heavily on us. Our hearts need to break over their lost condition.

Do we really believe in an eternal hell and punishment?

Do our hearts bleed for them?

We should never get to high and mighty thinking of ourselves as superior because as he said about the Britons if it were not for the grace and work of the Lord Jesus we would be in just as bad a condition.

God's promises are sufficient. Let us go forward knowing that He will work it out and souls will be saved.

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Missionary agreement Form

By William Carey, Joshua Marshman, and William Ward

I am going to give several days of information and ideas based on this document that these men wrote and signed publicly. I believe that they speak volumes to us today.

The Redeemer, in planting us in this heathen nation, rather than in any other, has imposed upon us the cultivation of peculiar qualifications. We are firmly persuaded that Paul might plant and Apollos water, in vain, in any part of the world, did not God give the increase. We are sure that only those who are ordained to eternal life will believe, and that God alone can add to the church such as shall be saved. Nevertheless we cannot but observe with admiration that Paul, the great champion for the glorious doctrines of free and sovereign grace, was the most conspicuous for his personal zeal in the work of persuading men to be reconciled to God. In this respect he is a noble example for our imitation. Our Lord intimated to those of His Apostles who were fishermen, that He would make them fishers of men, intimating that in all weathers, and amidst every disappointment, they were to aim at drawing men to the shores of eternal life. Solomon says, "He that winneth souls is wise," implying, no doubt, that the work of gaining over men to the side of God, was to be done by winning methods, and that it required the greatest wisdom to do it with success. Upon these points, we think it right to fix our serious and abiding attention.

As they began their work they made deliberate efforts to cultivate the qualities that they would need to win men and women to Jesus Christ. They knew that to work cross culturally that they would have to learn many things.

I am afraid that many times our missionaries desire to take not only the Bible to their new place of work but also their culture. I would challenge you to lend your ear over the next few days and really think about what you are doing to reach souls for the cause and the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Notice also that they felt that winning souls should be done with winning methods. They were Calvinists. They believed that God was going to save who He was going to save period yet they worked at learning and cultivating winning ways to reach people.

How does this apply to you and the place you live and work? How could you better prepare yourself to reach souls? Do you think that maybe you should sit down and write out or at least think through what you can do to be more effective where you are? Write your comments!

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