Opportunities and Challenges of Bi-

vocational Missionaries

帶職宣教士的挑戰和机遇

CMC South 2015 – Houston TX

And who knows but that you have come

to royal position for such a time as this?

(Esther 4:14)

焉知你得了王后的位分、不是為現今的機會麼？

(以斯帖記 4:14)

Today’s Unprecedented Opportunities

And who knows but that you have come to be

a professional for such a time as this?

焉知你得了「專業」的位分、不是為現今「宣教」的機會麼？

Today’s Unprecedented Opportunities

1 - World evangelism cannot be accomplished by

traditional missionaries alone

傳統宣教士不能完成普世宣教的目標

• Increase in world population 世界人口的增長

• Ratio of unreached people to traditional missionaries 未得之民與傳统宣教士的比率

• Need to increase number of missionaries by an order of

magnitude 宣教士的人數需要倍增

World’s non-Christian

population = 4.6 billion

Total number of

Protestant missionaries=

201,000*

Ratio of non-Christian

pop/missionary = 23,000

World’s non-Christian population and Protestant missionary

workface

世界的非基督徒人口和基督徒宣教士的比率

Ratio of Population to Missionary

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

M uslim Buddhist Hindu Chinese

religions

Non-

religious

* Excludes Mainland China

• To reduce the ratio of Non-Christian to Protestant

missionary from 23,000 to 5,000 we need 700,000 more

missionaries.

我們需要徵召七十萬的新宣教士，才能將非基督徒對宣教士的比率從二萬降到五千。

• This goal can be reached if there are three bi-vocational

missionaries for every one traditional missionary.

要達到這個目標，宣教士的徵召是三個帶職宣教士對一個全職宣教士。

•This is a very achievable goal.

這個目標是可以達到。

Raising bi-vocational missionaries is the most effective way to

drastically increase the missionary workforce

要倍增宣教士的人數，徵召帶職宣教士是最有效的途徑

Practically all Muslim and 10/40 window countries

welcome Christians who help them in nation building

絕大多數的回教和 10/40 窗户國家都歡迎專業的基督徒幫

助他們建設國家

Practically all Muslim countries are closed to traditional

missionaries

絕大多數的回教國家不歡迎傳统宣教士

• This puts most of 1.3 billion Muslims outside of reach of traditional

missionaries. 十三億的回教徒都在傳统宣教士的接觸之外。

• Furthermore, most Muslims countries have Syriah Law which prohibits the

sharing of the gospel to Muslims by locals or foreigners. 回教法律禁止基督徒向

回教徒傳福音。

• Syriah Law also prohibits a Muslims from changing his religion. 回教法律禁止

回教徒脫離回教。

• Most churches in Muslim countries are persecuted and ineffective in reaching

their Muslim countrymen for Christ. 在回教國家的教會被迫害，無法向當地回教

徒傳福音。

• Therefore, bi-vocational missionaries from outside are needed to evangelize

the Muslims in these countries. 這些國家需要外來的帶職宣教士向回教徒作見

証。

• According to U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs, there are over

320,000 Americans living in 10/40 Window. 據美國外交部領事局的調查，現今有三十二萬的美國人在10/40窗户工作。

• According to US News and World Report, evangelical

Christians make up nearly one-quarter of the US population.

據美國新聞和世界雜誌調查，福音派基督徒佔美國人口的四份之一。

• Therefore there is a potential of 80,000 more Christian

workers among the American already working in the 10/40

window. 故此在10/40窗户工作的八萬美國基督徒，是帶職宣教士的徵召對象。

American Christians working in the 10/40 window

在10/40窗户工作的美國基督徒

•The Philippine Mission Association estimates there are

over one million evangelical Filipinos working in the Middle

East. They are also potential bi-vocational missionaries to

be mobilized. 菲律賓差傳會估計有超過一百萬的菲律賓基督徒在中東國家工作。他們亦可成為帶職宣教士。

Filipino Christians working in the Middle East

在中東工作的菲律賓基督徒

2 - Many countries are closed to traditional missionaries

很多國家不歡迎傳统宣教士

• Communist and Muslim countries do not grant missionary visas.

共產和回教國家不發宣教士簽証。

• Of the world’s 237 nations, at least 66 or 28% have significant

religious persecution and do not issue missionary visa. 全球最少有六十六個國家不發宣教士簽証。

• Missionaries are “suspect” even in countries which grant

missionary visas. 甚至在公開國家宣教士被人懷疑。

• However, these countries are open to bi-vocational missionaries

who have skills for nation-building. 這些封閉國家都歡迎有專業智識的帶職宣教士。

3 - Globalization has made it possible for most

Christians to be bi-vocational missionaries

全球化帶給基督徒帶職宣教的良機

• Globalization is happening in increased pace in the last 10 years.

在過去十年全球化的步伐越來越快。

• Globalization is happening in almost every profession.

全球化在各行各業都發生。

• Opportunities for working overseas are desirable and

commonplace in many professions.

在很多行業，到國外工作是必需的經驗。

• It is a God-given opportunity to greatly increase the mission

workforce in the 21st century.

這是神在二十一世紀賜給教會宣教良機。

Globalization: Opportunity for world mission

全球化: 基督徒宣教的良機

• How many of you have an opportunity to work and live

overseas in the next five years?

在未來五年當中，在坐有誰有機會到國外工作和生活？

4. Advantages of being a bi-vocational missionary

帶職宣教的好處

• Identity 得身份的好處

• Credibility 得受人信任的好處

• Access 得與人接觸的好處

• Finances 得經濟的好處

5 - Most Christians can be a bi-vocational missionary

for some time in their life.

每一個信徒都可以成為帶職宣教士

• Bi-vocational missions is a natural extension of the life and

ministry of a lay Christian. 帶職宣教是帶職事奉的延續。

• Possible avenues 帶職宣教的途徑:

• Study or teaching as missions 以學生或教學身份宣教

• Business as missions 營商宣教

• Profession as missions 以專業宣教

• Medical services as missions 医療宣教

• Community development as missions 以社區發展和扶貧宣教

• Retiring overseas as missions 以退休在海外為宣教

6. Today’s Bi-vocational Opportunities in East Asia

Studying

Degrees: Master, MBA, PhD, post-doc

Non-degree: English, Chinese art & culture

Teaching

Professor

Professional subjects

English teacher

Taking a professional job

Doctor, engineer, executive, banker, consultant, manager

Starting a business

Consulting, training, service, trading

6. Today’s Bi-vocational Opportunities in East Asia

Meaningful retirement

Retiree helping out local churches

Retiree providing a service

o Volunteer teacher

o High school or university scholarship

7. Challenges Facing Bi-vocational Missionaries in the Field

• Handle and excel in your work in a cross-cultural setting.

• Handle work-life balance in a cross-cultural setting.

• Learn the local culture and language.

• Establish rapport with local churches and believers.

• Identify meaningful ministry opportunities.

• Launch and do you ministry with the locals.

• Stay put (3+ years) as long as possible.

8. Preparation for Bi-vocational Missionaries

• Must have marketable work skills.

• Must be effective marketplace ministers in your home country.

• Must maintain work-life balance.

• Must be supported by your local church.

• Must join a mission agency.

• Must have Bible training

• Must have cross-cultural training.

Summary

• World evangelism cannot be accomplished by career missionaries alone

• Many countries are closed to career missionaries

• Globalization has made it possible for most Christians to become bi-vocational missionaries

• Increasing tension between Islam and the West means Asian Christians hold the key to evangelism among Muslims

• Every Christian can become a bi-vocational missionary during part of his or her life.

• Opportunities are real, so are challenges.

• Bi-vocational mission service must be intentional.

And who knows but that you have come to be

a professional for such a time as this?

焉知你得了「專業」的位分、不是為現今「宣教」的機會麼？