MMP NOTES
(These are notes are from a session with Attorney Chu but are not necessarily direct quotes and in part are incomplete. I just thought some of you might want to hear more about this ministry.)
Working with the poor is the path or journey to obscurity; to becoming a nobody. You don’t become famous as an expert…you simply fade.
Prayer and Spiritual Direction - these must accompany this path.
· We have to hear God – sleep + silence. If we are always so sleepy that when we become silent we doze then our spiritual direction should lead us to sleep. When MMP takes a retreat part of the time is devoted to catching up on sleep.
· Prayer is connected to Mission- too many needs and people to love; you have to discern from God who to care for.
· Prayer is to connect you to the Holy Spirit’s prayer inside you. God abides within! Can we hear him, be intimately connected with him? Can we walk with him in the darkest of places?
The poor
400 slum communities. 40% of Manila is squatters. MMP wants to plant a church in every slum, among the poorest of the poor.
There has been 20 years of revival in slums. 80% of conversions are among the poor. Where is God at work?
So from a practical standpoint where is the best place to do mission…among the poor.
How to begin
The poor do not need capital…they need jobs. They are not lazy…they need jobs.
To discover how poor and the general needs of the community a survey is done. We ask about fixed expenses (transportation, water, rent, electric) 25% of their income goes to water…usually 6x the normal amount.
Typically a cooperative pharmacy is planted offering a community owned and operated drug store servicing their most common ailments at a 40% discount. This allows families to save money, be healthier and gives the church trust within the community.
The church also looks to help community members start up businesses.
Churches Role
Two views of a minister- both are needed to build a holistic body of Christ
1. I bring God to the community
2. Shepherd anyone who joins the church
3. task/project orientation…want to see goals accomplished; walking fast
1. God is already here…I need to partner with him.
2. Shepherd everyone in need whether in church or not
3. looking for the eternal appointments; kinda just walking slow
Working with the poor brings us to constant contradictions; paradoxes. Who knows if it is the best way but that’s the way it is.
Working with the poor is the path or journey to obscurity; to becoming a nobody. You don’t become famous as an expert…you simply fade.
Prayer and Spiritual Direction - these must accompany this path.
· We have to hear God – sleep + silence. If we are always so sleepy that when we become silent we doze then our spiritual direction should lead us to sleep. When MMP takes a retreat part of the time is devoted to catching up on sleep.
· Prayer is connected to Mission- too many needs and people to love; you have to discern from God who to care for.
· Prayer is to connect you to the Holy Spirit’s prayer inside you. God abides within! Can we hear him, be intimately connected with him? Can we walk with him in the darkest of places?
The poor
400 slum communities. 40% of Manila is squatters. MMP wants to plant a church in every slum, among the poorest of the poor.
There has been 20 years of revival in slums. 80% of conversions are among the poor. Where is God at work?
So from a practical standpoint where is the best place to do mission…among the poor.
How to begin
The poor do not need capital…they need jobs. They are not lazy…they need jobs.
To discover how poor and the general needs of the community a survey is done. We ask about fixed expenses (transportation, water, rent, electric) 25% of their income goes to water…usually 6x the normal amount.
Typically a cooperative pharmacy is planted offering a community owned and operated drug store servicing their most common ailments at a 40% discount. This allows families to save money, be healthier and gives the church trust within the community.
The church also looks to help community members start up businesses.
Churches Role
Two views of a minister- both are needed to build a holistic body of Christ
1. I bring God to the community
2. Shepherd anyone who joins the church
3. task/project orientation…want to see goals accomplished; walking fast
1. God is already here…I need to partner with him.
2. Shepherd everyone in need whether in church or not
3. looking for the eternal appointments; kinda just walking slow
Working with the poor brings us to constant contradictions; paradoxes. Who knows if it is the best way but that’s the way it is.
posted by brian sanders at 12:59 AM
1 Comments:
thanks for the notes Jeremy. we looked at 1 Samuel this past weekend and were talking some about the different ways to do ministry. Acting like a king vs. acting in a more prophetic, priestly role that leads people the True King.
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