This is the continuation of my previous post “3 Practical Impacts on Missions of NZ as an Ends-of-the-Earth Country,” which I discussed the first impact.
The second impact on missions with New Zealand as an Ends-of-the-Earth Country is the obvious need to send missionaries to local international communities.
With the consistent influx of migrants comes the inevitable changes to the missions paradigm within the New Zealand landscape, if your church hasn’t realised it yet.
Based on the May 2018 net migration data, there are two migrant arrivals for every departure according to Stats NZ.
The May 2018 total net migration is 66,200 non-NZ citizen arriving here. (Read more… “Two migrant arrivals for every departure“)
Now, this figure is only on immigration.
We also need to add the notable number of people in New Zealand who don’t want to know God.
Aren’t these enough to make us think seriously about sending missionaries to local international communities instead of only always sending missionaries abroad?
Below are two illustrations of missions that I hope would give us a wider mission outlook and would influence us to consider seriously sending missionaries to local missions.
1. Traditional World Missions Image
2. Practical New Zealand Local World Missions Situation
So, what do you think?
Considering the reality of the second image (Practical New Zealand Local World Missions Situation), does your church have a robust local world missions program?
Isn’t the situation calling for the need to send missionaries to local international communities in New Zealand now?
How would your church tackle the local world missions challenge?
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[note note_color=”#fffff3″ text_color=”#1a7616″ radius=”10″]WATCH OUT for the third and last practical implication, next post! :)[/note]
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