Encounter Quarterly: Winter 2006
Encounter Elements
Part II: Take a Small Step
In the second of an ongoing
series highlighting the basics of CMI's Encounter
with God Strategy, EQ focuses on the first of four
key concepts that undergird the Encounter
philosophy--taking small steps.
In Jesus’ last words to His
disciples, He commanded them to be His witnesses in
Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost
parts of the earth.
In fact, the remainder of the Book
of Acts relates how this was precisely the manner in
which the gospel went forth—step by step from the
epicenter in Jerusalem. It spread to Samaria and
other parts of Judea. When persecution began, the
church took another step to the city of Antioch.
From there Paul and Barnabas carried the message
progressively step by step westward through the
Roman Empire.
First Steps
In a similar way, CMI believes that
this “small step” approach remains the best way to
disciple nations for Jesus Christ. Concentrating
missionaries in urban centers is an effective way
that this can be done. This does not mean
missionaries shouldn’t go to remote places if the
Lord calls them there. It does mean that redeploying
a substantial number of missionaries into cities may
be the most effective way of taking the gospel to
that country.
Maximizing Steps
When a missionary is sent from North
America to the jungles, a huge step is taken. That
step results in a tremendous gap in all
areas—including housing, food, transportation,
language and culture and in the ability to establish
understanding between peoples of such diverse
backgrounds. When a missionary from North America is
sent to a capital city it is a smaller step. Some
adjustments to culture, another language and they’re
soon at work.
Future Steps
When the people of the city are won
to Christ and challenged properly, they can go to
the secondary cities—again a small step. These
people in turn can go to the provinces and those of
the provinces can go to the jungles.
Each group taking only a small step
in systematically reaching their country with the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
EQ Winter 2006
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