Answer the Right Questions Continued fom page 2 ...


Tere are at least two applications to draw from this in relating


the gospel to people from a shame-based culture: 1. Focus on the value and practical reality of a personal rela- tionship with God. Tis relationship can be very attractive. Muslims believe that God is transcendent. Tey do not have a personal relationship with Allah. It is not even possible to them. However, we Christians can offer a genuine relationship with the Creator God. East Indian religions do not expect any significant personal relationship with their gods. Buddhism does not view God as personal at all, yet Buddhists are oſten open to exploring such a relationship.


2. Te community aspect of the church is of paramount impor- tance. For most Eastern immigrants, embracing Christianity will break or severely damage their community relationships. It is critical that as we communicate the gospel, we immerse immigrants into a loving community and quickly establish meaningful, loving, personal relationships with them. Initially, this is more important than communicating many of the facts about sin and the holiness of God.


So, are these ideas only relevant for working with immigrants? Not at all. Our culture is changing. More and more people are de- fining sin by community standards rather than by an internalized divine standard. People are willing to post the most humiliating things on social media. Tey write hateful and ignorant things which God has condemned through the Scriptures, but they find that their social communities accept them. Tis is shame-based thinking. To them, if the community embraces an activity, it is right. Social media society values “authenticity” more than almost anything. Exposing one’s “sins” is oſten tolerated, approved, and even celebrated. What I mean to say is that the importance of a relationship


with Jesus and the primacy of a relationship with people in the church is growing dramatically in its significance today in evangelism. With people wanting to believe in Jesus, it is oſten more important to point to these relationships (with Jesus and the church) than the facts of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Plainly they will need to know about the death and resurrection of Jesus, but it is the relationship with Jesus and the church that will draw them and open them to hear the truth. I present ideas. Trough the prompting of the Holy Spirit, may we be asking the right questions and giving the right information.


Resources honorshame.com christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2015/march/4-keys-to- evangelism-in-honor-shame-cultures.html


Conquering the General with Love Continued fom page 11 ...


Midweek, he invited our group to his home — a stunning home built on the peninsula of Puget Sound. He took us clam digging at low tide and provided a fire for us to cook dinner on that night. As we sat on the lawn overlooking the rising water, we saw this man begin to smile — something we had not yet seen this week. By the time the entire exterior of the church building was painted, it was time to head home. It was the “General” who had the hard- est time saying goodbye. Later, when I spoke with the pastor of the church, he told me


that no previous service group had been able to break through to his chairman. Tis came through hard work, self-sacrifice, and respect demonstrated. It was difficult at times, but well worth it! Trips like these have value that I know leave the teens changed in ways that they could not experience in the comfort of home.


Nathan Ensz hasn’t strayed far fom home— except for youth minis- try trips. He is now planning his 15th trip with the youth. Nathan grew up in Evangelical Bible Church (Dallas, Ore) and has served as youth pastor since 2000. He lives in Dallas, Ore., with his wife Kelsey and their three children. Te high school youth group he shepherds averages 45 teens.


Tips for Short-Term Mission Trips


If your youth group is considering a short-term mission trip, here are a few tips to consider: Determine which mission organization you will serve with. Our group uses Village Missions because they welcome our help and our cost is very affordable.


Decide what kind of trip your group is best suited for. Do you desire relational ministry such as leading a VBS or running a Sports Camp? Or do you prefer manual labor such as painting a church or clearing brush for a Christian camp?


Prepare the team going to serve with the right heart. Make sure students know this is not a vacation or even a retreat.


Furnish the team with the appropriate tools. If they are paint- ing, teach them painting technique; if they are leading a sports camp, teach basic fundamentals; if they are presenting a Bible lesson, give them helpful material.


Equip team members to be competent in presenting the gospel. Our group uses Te Wordless Book from CEF. No mat- ter what kind of mission trip we take, I want students to be ready and capable to share their faith.


—Nathan Ensz Fellowship Focus, May/June 2016 15


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