Why Is The Cost Of Missionary Expansion Worth The Monetary Value?

In the 1800s a Market Revolution began, changing the way in which America operated and in the midst of all that was a Second Great Awakening, causing people to once again, question their religious beliefs and practices. Paul Johnson and Sean Wilentz tell the story of Robert Matthews, or the Prophet Matthias and his followers. Matthias had an unconventional childhood, he became an orphan at a young age and was raised by church elders. He worked under one of the elders to learn the carpenter’s craft. He easily found work but had trouble keeping it because he was always preaching at his fellow workers about their sinful ways. Matthias was eager to make good but continually fell into misfortunes, “which led him on a prolonged and erratic religious journey” (49). The Kingdom of Matthias gained and lost members, had changes in beliefs, and was full of ever changing marriages. Although looking back on it now, Matthias’s messages and beliefs seem almost laughable, but at they time his followers found his message, ministry, and lifestyle very compelling.

A mission conference held in Edinburg in 1910 became an historical marker in current evangelical mission development. The theme of the conference was “the evangelization of the world in this generation.” This conference presented the missionary task primarily as bringing people to Christ and gathering them into churches. As it was a time of positive momentum in world history, social justice issues arising from the world’s problems were seemingly being solved by science and technology on many fronts: in health, industry, economics, and education. In this climate of momentum, the church projected its primary task as evangelizing the whole world.

Christianity and Buddhism have their own specific ways of diffusion. Christianity has spread due to hierarchical diffusion. Dominance of Christianity in the Roman Empire took place in the 4th century through hierarchical diffusion. Constantine encouraged Christianity in 313. Christianity is also spread through relocation diffusion. Due to the Bible having a mandate for Christians to spread the Word of God, Christians have created missionaries to do exactly that. Missionaries are individuals who help to transmit a universalizing religion through relocation diffusion. They carried the teachings of Jesus through the Roman Empire.

Sustaining missionaries already on the mission field is absolutely critical in the expanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The overall purpose of the Roland Allen’s book is to convey the dramatic differences between the methods of modern day missionary organizations

The Christian missionaries knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Going to China at the time was a one way trip to an unknown land. The task of converting China to Christianity was rife with challenges due to continued resistance to any sort of outside influence that was a tradition of China for many years. Never-the-less the missionaries still went to China and by leveraging what advantages they could find, they were able to find some measure of success over the years.

On March 17, millions of people around the world will be wearing green as they celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Many of us will watch the parades go by, drink green beer or jump into a pool of green-colored water. But do you really know anything about the person behind St. Patrick's Day?

In the first chapter of “Christianity Rediscovered” by Vincent J. Donovan he is introducing us to the idea that missionaries now have a poor reputation due to their history. He says “History has offered the opportunity to deflect and distort the meaning of missionary work in every age”. For a long time a missionary was a person spreading the word of God and after years of doing so we have diminished many different beliefs, practices, cultures and history. At the time it was thought to be the right thing, to spread out and share the gospel to help people find meaning and acceptance. In today’s age a missionary is a lot of different things, in many cases it is more focused on the health and physical wellbeing of the people. Many people still share the gospel through missionary work, but in other cases it is more of a material aid. Donovan introduces the book as a voyage of discovery he wants us to put our normal beliefs aside to see his perspective of living a missionaries life and struggling with the fact of if you are helping or hurting.

The Apostle Paul preached the Gospel of Christ to Palestine, Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome. At first the church wasn’t welcome in Rome. The monotheism of the Christian church conflicted with the polytheism of Rome. The Romans believed that everything was inhabited by divinity. But, as they conquered more people, they began to adapt their beliefs. The Roman emperors persecuted Christians. In 313, Emperor Constantine proclaimed the edict of Milan. This made Christianity a legal religion of Rome. This also gave the Christian clergy legal privileges. Constantine had tried to make the best use of Christianity that had spread throughout the entire region of Rome. Because he thought that Christianity could solidify his empire. By approving Christianity

Of the topics discussed this week I decided to do my paper on the spread of Christianity in Europe. The spread really began following the resurrection of Jesus which was around 29 A.D. After witnessing this people from all around would go and tell of what they saw and preach what Jesus was teaching. Him having resurrected really made people believe he was the son of God. From then on Christianity would start spreading whether it was by word of mouth, military conquest, trade, or missionary activity. The religion spread mostly by the jewish community at first. Thanks to the emperor Constantine I, Christianity would be named the official religion of Roman Empire by the 4th century, this was huge in regards to the spreading of Christianity. The vast spreading of Christianity has led to it becoming one of the single largest religions in the world today.

John Stott says, “The highest of missionary motives is neither obedience to the Great Commission (important as that is), nor love for sinners who are alienated and perishing but rather zeal—burning and passionate zeal for the glory of Jesus Christ.” We have the urgent task of bringing people to know Christ. The Apostle Paul discovered God’s plan for his life: “But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by His marvelous grace. Then it pleased Him to reveal His Son to me so that I would proclaim the good news about Jesus to the Gentiles” (Galatians 1:15-16).

I chose to do more in depth research on the traditions and customs of St. Patrick’s Day. Whether it be mainly in the U.S.A or in Ireland, I want to know it all. One thing I do know is that every year on March 17th, America unites as one and celebrates the Irish. There are religious ceremonies, parades, and people make certain drinks and food items.

Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV) reads, Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Through the lens of this text God reveals to us the heart He has for His people in a lost and suffering world. Jesus points out to his disciples what we should find significant today, and that is

The book of Acts describes how Paul was ministering in Antioch with Barnabas, when he was directed by the Holy Spirit to be released from his Church duties. The Holy Spirit had another assignment for Paul, and that was to go and take the Gospel more widely. Some believe that this notion came from the Holy Spirit through fasting and prayer. Paul began his first missionary in the town of Antioch. Throughout Paul’s first missionary journey he was accompanied by Barnabas and Barnabas cousin John Mark.

This course has had a great impact on my walk with Christ as well as my witness for Christ. I pastor a church and teach two classes and for me I thought that I was doing plenty. However this course has helped rekindle my passion for sharing Jesus Christ with people through personal evangelism. This paper will demonstrate what I have learned throughout this course.