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This past fall my husband, Jeff, met the director of a new mission organization called 20schemes. At the time, Jeff was pastoring a small church with the understanding that he would be bivocational to supplement his church salary. After several meetings over the next couple of months, he was asked to help 20schemes build their network of partnerships in support of this new work. By the end of January, this had morphed into a full-time position (which was all in God's providence, as Jeff was transitioning out of the pastoral position).
Early in February, Jeff was able to travel overseas to see the work of 20schemes firsthand. I'd like to introduce you to this ministry and the work we'll be doing with 20schemes as full-time missionaries!
What do you think of when
you hear the phrase “unreached people group”?
If you’re like most people, you might think of a remote and primitive
tribe of people living in the depths of the jungle, or perhaps some nomads in
the far reaches of Africa. But what if I told you that the unreached people
group I’m referring to actually looks very much like you and me, lives in modern
housing, and speaks English? What if I told you that this people group lives in
great poverty in the midst of high unemployment and rampant crime, drug use,
and prostitution?
The people of the schemes
of Scotland – which are similar to the government housing projects of the U.S.
-- have a tremendous need for the gospel of Christ, yet there is no doctrinally
sound church, no gospel witness within most of these schemes. 20schemes was
launched this past fall with a goal of strategically planting or revitalizing
biblical churches within twenty schemes over the next ten years.
Mez McConnell understands
the hopelessness of living in the schemes. In his memoir, he writes,
My stomach hurts. I can’t tell whether it’s from the hunger
or from the hopelessness of it all. There’s no one out there. Who are we
kidding? There is no God. We’re on our own. Nobody see us or understand us. The
world is living in denial. We’re all alone.
Then, through the witness
of the Word and the patience of believers and the working of the Holy Spirit,
Mez encountered the saving power of Jesus. Not long afterward, he says,
I realized today that, for the first time in years, I don’t
feel black inside anymore. I actually feel quite hopeful, purposeful even. For
the first time in my life I actually feel at peace with the world.
Today,
Mez pastors Niddrie Community Church, located in the most deprived scheme in
Edinburgh. Late in 2012, this church joined arms with two small churches in
Bardstown, Kentucky, in the planting and revitalization of gospel-centered
churches in some of Scotland’s poorest housing schemes. The new organization is
20schemes, and their website states their vision clearly:
We believe that the biggest need, most urgent crisis, and
most crippling poverty in the schemes is spiritual.
Most living in Scotland’s schemes
are spiritually dead, trapped, lost, unreached and unengaged by the church.
The gospel alone changes lives. The response of the church to the devastating
reality of much of life in Scotland’s schemes has to be more than support
groups and charity. Our response must be for the church to move into the
schemes, to see new, healthy, vibrant, gospel preaching churches established in
the Schemes and for the schemes.
Our family is very much on the front end of this endeavor, and we are so
excited to be a part of the ministry of 20schemes. Our role is to share this vision with
individuals, churches, and organizations, primarily within the United States. Three small, not wealthy, congregations joined together for the initial launch;
many more partners are needed. We look forward to this opportunity to partner with others through prayer, giving, encouraging, and working.
Would you consider joining with us? We currently need help
on several levels:
1. Pray for our family and the ministry of 20schemes as we work in these early months to lay a critical foundation. We love to pray for our partners, too, so please let us know how we can pray for you.
2. Jeff and I are not salaried, but are dependent
upon the gracious and faithful gifts of believers to support our ministry with
20schemes. Would you consider providing monthly support or a one-time gift for
our family as we share the vision of 20schemes?
3. The ultimate goal of 20schemes is to “see
churches in Scotland’s poorest communities being led by men and women who have
come from those communities.”(source)
We need churches and individuals willing to partner with specific schemes to
prayerfully and financially support the evangelism, discipleship, and training
of future indigenous leadership. 20schemes is currently seeking one hundred churches/individuals to commit to support the work of this ministry on a monthly basis. Will you be one of the one hundred?
4. 20schemes needs workers, both church planting families
and female gospel workers, to live in the schemes and minister among the
community.
If you’d like more
information on becoming a 20schemes ministry partner, please let me know. Also, if you know of an individual or church who might be interested in partnering with us, we'd love for you to share this information with them.
I know I'll have more to share with you throughout this ministry adventure, so be sure to check back for updates! (Better yet, subscribe to my blog via email via the gadget on the right -- or you may use your RSS feed or
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