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| PART 5 |
| c. children The final group among which I sense both a great need and a possible harvest is the children (birth to 12). Jesus Himself expressed His special love for such by telling the disciples to "stop hindering them from coming to me." Indeed, it is possible to impact an entire generation by winning children to Jesus Christ. It is clear that what is currently being done is not lasting or there would not be such a problem in the Town Centre. The following sections deal specifically with ways and means by which to accomplish the aims of our mission. Other groups will be recognized as viable alternatives to these three. But these three particular groups will be kept in mind as starting points for ministry in the mission. 4. National evangelism Though some would not consider this a necessary category in a strategy for a local missions situation, it is essential to the growth of any local church that it look outward from its very inception. It will be truly wonderful to see God move on the Isle of Lewis in bringing men and women to Christ, but Lewis is only a small percentage of the population of Scotland, much less all of Great Britain. In order for the local church to grow itself and to bear fruit, it needs to be involved in helping others beyond its doors, even beyond its own state or island boundaries. There is a danger of being caught up in ghetto Christianity which is informed only by itself, and this is especially so for places like the Isle of Lewis where geography physically separates a local church from the larger body of Christendom. |
| 5. International evangelism A final need for the Isle of Lewis is the participation in international evangelism, commonly known as missions. As with national evangelism, there is a necessity for the local churches (at least one to start with) to become missions-minded churches. Our world has been called a global village, and truly it is one. Living in the information age in which news events are broadcast and received as they are happening obliterates any excuses that anyone would make for ignoring the rest of the world. It is my dream that the Lord will raise up a local church (which would be only the first of many) which will be a missions church, both in supporting and sending missionaries. Summary of Mission Thus, a good summary for defining the mission as it relates to the Isle of Lewis would be the following: to begin building a Christian community which would be under the sovereign direction of the Lord in worship and holiness and in the evangelization of the lost at the local, national, and international levels. |
| THE FORCE FOR THE MISSION The force for the mission stated above would consist of both the local church members and various outside helpers. Any leader with a basic knowledge of the New Testament realizes that the leaders are not intended by God to do all the work. Instead, the work of the Church is to be a corporate affair in which every member plays a vital, though not always glorious, role. As is true of all cultures, Scottish people need to see what it means to be a Christian in their own context. Outsiders lack the edge of having grown up in the culture, and, thus, they are sometimes limited as to who they are able to impact. This is one of several reasons why it is imperative that each member in the local church mature into his or her God-given potential for building the body of Christ. Apart from the members who are local residents, various guests could be brought in from time to time to assist in teaching, evangelizing, and engaging in mutual fellowship. Just being together in the presence of God with other believers who are committed to Christ is strengthening, especially when each is able to share from his or her different perspective. Still, though it could be helpful to have visitors often, in order for the mission to be effectively carried out, the regular members of the local church must be involved in the work. |
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| MEANS AND METHODS This part of the chapter is what could be termed the brainstorming section. In it, we will look at various ideas which could be helpful in accomplishing our goal. Though not a formal approach (the next section is more defined), these are presented as multiple possibilities for consideration. A major factor for considering these is the question, "Are these viable alternatives for reaching the people on the Isle of Lewis?" As well, we will also look at various ways to fund and accommodate the methods (some of this will be relegated to footnotes). |
| Youth Since the youth currently gather in the Town Centre, why not try to meet them there with the Gospel? As well as street witnessing, etc it would be possible to have some type of music festival for the young people consisting of various styles of Christian music. Possibly the Town Hall or another local building of sufficient size could be rented for this. The question of which singers and musicians to use would involve some amount of networking with the body of Christ throughout Scotland and other places. A third idea would be the establishing of small fellowship groups for the youth, especially those who live in the country areas. Scripture states that "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed" (Proverbs 13:20). This would involve time on the part of local church workers who would be responsible for leading the group in worship, fellowship activities, Bible studies, prayer meetings, etc. The idea behind such groups would be the development of closer relationships among the youth for the purpose of growing as persons and as Christians. The teenage years can be very turbulent ones; a caring friend who brings guidance through such times would be greatly appreciated. |
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