Lasting Impact: Pt. 2 of a 4 pt. series on modern missions according to the American church.
Throughout my education at Liberty University I have been taught on various occasions that when a pastor takes a new role at a church within their own macro-culture of America it will take that man anywhere from 5-7 years to really begin their ministry. By that they mean it will take them that long for the majority of the members to grow comfortable with that pastor as their leader, to trust their vision and decisions, to respect their ideas and way of ministry, and to follow Him into the spiritual battle of reaching their community with the transforming power of the Gospel. I have seen this play out through many men in the ministry who I really respect. The first couple years have been bumpy. Some of them have felt the “5-7 year rule,” take play earlier around year three or four, even though, this is not the norm. 
My question pertaining to modern missions according to the American church is this: If it takes a pastor in America, transitioning within the same macro-culture of America 5-7 years, to have a full impact on a church congregation, then how can we expect a missionary from America to enter into another country with the intention of staying on week or even four years, and have a lasting impact on a tribe in Africa or a town in Europe or a village in East Asia? Does this sound absurd to anyone else?
We are called to fulfill the Great Commission as Christ Followers. Three parts, make disciples, baptize them, teach them to obey all the things Christ has commanded us. Let’s say a missionary has the amazing privilege to lead someone to the saving truth of Christ’s love and redemption around the end of year one or two, but they are leaving in a few weeks or months, then who will finish the Great Commission in that person’s life and teach them to obey all Christ has commanded them? The process of discipleship is then broken and incomplete. Should a missionary move to Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, or Ireland with the understanding they may be there for 25-30 years plus?
Is it better for an American to enter into another culture and assimilate to that culture in attempts to lead people to Christ, or is it better for that same American to train Christ Followers from that culture up in the commands of the Lord and send them into their own culture with the love and truth of Jesus’ redemption story? I have heard it said from friends who have degrees in the field of missions that statistically the best missionaries are those who enter into their own culture or a culture similar to theirs in attempts to lead people to Christ. 
As you are already thinking, arises the issue, what if there are no Christ Followers in that culture already? What if we are talking about an “unreached people group?” They have never heard of the Holy Bible let alone Jesus Christ, and the idea of monotheism is worlds away from what many polytheistic religion based societies are accustomed to. Obviously the theory of sending people from that culture into their own culture as missionaries is completely shot in the foot and cannot happen. In this case I go back to the thought of what will the short term mission trip of 1-2 weeks or even the “long term” missionary life of 1-4 years really accomplish?
interesting stuff cory! let me say, i’m being challenged with a lot of these very themes as i work through “Radical” with my mentor. and this very week, the chapter we are reading references Matthew 10 constantly. and, in reading Matthew 10, there is SO much in that chapter! **correct me if i’m wrong**, (and this is where i am challenged) but when Jesus ‘initially’ sent out his disciples, he sent them out into the native land (their own ‘macro-culture’… NOT into the far reaches of the earth). and so, i ask myself: why did he do that? while i am definitely no Bible scholar, i tend to think it would have something to do with having ‘influence’ among the native peoples as well as being a ‘baby-step’ for being submissive to taking the message of Jesus Christ into the world. just as a new convert has no role in the position pastor/shepard, a ‘missionary’ who doesn’t/won’t share his faith locally probably has little business sharing his faith abroad. of course, there are volumes that could be written to fully express all of the intricacies at play with all of the different thoughts and scenarios… but, in short, i appreciate the challenge of the question! are we doing these mission trips for His glory or for ours… and at the same time, are we really being effective at making ‘real’ disciples of Him… and can that really take place in 1 week, or 1 month, or 1 year… good questions cory! good questions!!
Hey Will, definitely agree with your comment. I have heard it said one time “If you’ll miss them in the church… send them as missionaries.” We need to be sending our most valuable ministers overseas where there is no gospel witness [Cory touches on UPG's in his next blog].
My only trouble with this blog is where does that 5-7 year principle come from, like what research I wonder? And what does “really begin their ministry” mean?
You said- “majority of the members to grow comfortable with that pastor as their leader, to trust their vision and decisions, to respect their ideas and way of ministry, and to follow Him into the spiritual battle of reaching their community with the transforming power of the Gospel.”
Is what takes 5-7 years, however there are pastors that have been in churches for less [which you mentioned] and already have that type of following and there are some that have been pastoring for 20 years and are still leading weary followers.
When we worked at RVR, there was times I didn’t even know a student for 48 hours until he told me he was a cutter, or sexually abused, or addicted to porn. I have prayed with these guys, counseled them, but then a day or two later, I sent them back to their screwed up lives. And almost all of them, if not all of them went right back into their sinfulness.
Making disciples is not making converts, it’s a long, sticky, taxing, beautiful transformation that doesn’t happen overnight. Thanks for sharing