Tuesday, January 6, 2015

CPM: Whatever It Takes, For However Long it Takes



'Til They Know True Worship
Whatever It Takes, For However Long It Takes
by RA-Act Beyond www.beyond.org 

In the CPM approach we like to ask the tough questions, "Whatever it takes to see this UPG come to Christ, are we willing to be and do?" It is in our experience that far more panoramic in the process of trusting God to see Him launch a CPM is the need to also consider the question, " are we willing to be and do whatever it takes, for however long it takes?"

During our time among the SaSumBi, we have seen 80 expat Missionaries, as well as 20 local missionaries, who have come and gone over a span of 25 years among these UPGs. There have been divisions (6+ team breakups), 3 deaths while serving here, marriage issues, sexual purity issues, selfish ambition issues, fear issues, to name a few of the reasons for their departures. However, it is in the evaluation of these departures where we submit all to the Sovereign hand of God. Some left for seemingly preventable reasons while others left because of their obedience to do so as the Father led them to depart to other foci. Some just flat out gave way to not taking care to guard their own hearts as Joshua was commanded by the Father to instruct the Israelites as they prepped to take Jericho, "But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live".-Number 33:55

In our observation, this instruction is relevant as we consider longevity among the UUPGs/UPGs in the process of trusting God to see the launch of CPMs. If we take care to understand what the bondage areas of captivity are for the UPGs we focus upon then we can garner strengthening to our own hearts to be honest as regard to our own vulnerabilities to the same. 
We have seen a strong spirit of divisiveness, a spirit of fear, oppressive behaviors, hostility, selfish ambition, bullying be the norm in these UPGs. Among the Missionaries who have come and gone, these tendencies have occurred, in not all, but in several cases. 

This caution for longevity is the difference between being a cautionary tale or being an example to emulate. 

RA-Act Beyond