Information Technology...
God's New Tool for Mission in the '90s

ICCM '96, 10 June
Pete Holzmann

Back to ICCM '96 Program

Information Technology is Critical for Effective Ministry Today!

Three Overwhelming Realities

Change is a Constant
The world is a VERY big place
God wants us to cooperate

...thus, we need to manage a lot of information!

Computers...

1. Help us see a realistic view of what God is doing

The world is a very big place, but now we know just how big!
- (No more hidden people groups; they're basically all mapped out)
- (Like a jigsaw puzzle being finished)
We've moved from country lists, to peoples lists, etc.
With the job defined, we are motivated to finish

2. Help us see what is left to do

Measurable ministry goals agreed on.
Example: what is Frontier Mission?...
- A witness (Christians sharing Gospel w/ their own people)
- A church (a few growing mission-minded churches)
- Media (Jesus film and 1/2 hr/day radio in a close language)
- A Bible (in "close" language; I'm told English and Swedish would be considered "close enough" according to the technical rules)

(The goals aren't perfect, but let us know how we're doing and help focus everyone on accomplishing real missionary breakthroughs) 3. Create/expose ministry opportunities

Example: using the Web to discover strategic field ministry
Example: global mission leaders (AD2000)
- E-mail now seen as a critical resource
- 100% of global leaders, 70% of regional (continental) leaders accessible via e-mail.
- Interactive Task Force: mobilizing resources to help strategic mission endeavors

4. Help us work together

True cooperation
- transformation of inter-org'n relationships in last 5 years
- development of true servant hearts all over
- Earl Radmacher: "Isn't it wonderful what God can do when we don't need to take the credit"

Three Ways that Cooperation Bears Fruit

1. Research / Sharing Information

Cooperation to create master lists (of peoples, etc.)
Cooperation to divide up task of collecting/maintaining info
Cooperation to distribute needed information everywhere

2. Cooperative partnerships in the field

producing more effective ministry
( efficiency: minimizing resources used; effectiveness: maximizing results)

3. Cooperation in prayer

"forward observer"/"targeted prayer" concept
more than double the field response since Praying-Thru-Window

Three Significant Challenges for the Future

1. Communication

Now an absolute requirement for global cooperation
We need a "nervous system" for the Body
Requires us to embrace new methods and tools for comm'n

2. Shared Understanding

Not good enough to have a few isolated experts
Must work together to develop available, understandable, up-to-date picture, not just of countries and peoples but of every habitat (place people live) on earth

3. True Unity

John 17:23 "may they become one so that the world may know"

Conclusion

I believe that the fact of true servant-hearted cooperation within the Body will eventually be seen as the greatest missionary "tool" in history.