Missions "Think Tank Sessions" Take Action

Making Outreach Global Missions Work

by Dale Fisher

When my church's missions pastor mentioned conducting a "missions think tank" session a number of weeks ago, I thought it a great idea and immediately spoke with him. Such a session would be composed of people from our church; those who are interested in global missions and would like to discuss various issues that could make outreach missions more effective.
A couple of weeks after we spoke, a missionary who has been serving actively for 11 years in one part of Asia and is transitioning elsewhere in Asia, asked me, "Dale, how would you reach [this new country] for Christ?" I sat down with him for lunch and shared a number of tried-and-true, strategic planning tools that we've been using successfully at Campus Crusade for Christ. I also asked him if he'd like me to invite people to get together to discuss and answer his question. He accepted my offer.
I convened our first missions think tank. Fourteen people came; sharing one another's goals, challenges, and visions for for 2.75 hours. We discussed ways to reach [his country] for Christ. All in all, five easel pad pages (one is shown below) became filled with pertinent, suggestive notes. When our first missions think tank ended, our missionary friend thanked everyone and said that he felt that our shared session was extremely helpful.
Having successfully launched our first missions think tank session, one of its participating members told me, "Dale: Bernie, who serves the missionary field in [a different unnamed country], could benefit greatly from a missions think tank." Following up on his thoughtful suggestion, a new think tank group having a few returning participants, met two weeks later to discuss this second missionary's service in [another unnamed country] country and suggested ways to reach that country for Christ by using business as the key approach.
Twelve "thinkers" attended this second session that was again filled with stimulating conversation. I invited my daughter Abby to join us as the easel board facilitator and, while working her hands and mind contemporaneously to record the data on the easel pad, she told me afterwards that she learned a lot and enjoyed the experience. Plus, Missionary Bernie told me that one of Abby's comments during the session was most provocative.
Take a look at these three think tank action photos.

During the first missions think tank session, participants discussed effective approaches that the Asian country missionary could take to better reach more and more people for Christ.

One of five first-session easel-pad pages documenting the many
questions, concerns, visions, and needs, along with a variety of strategies to meet them.

The second missions think tank session, conducted on March 1, assisted a missionary family in a large European country. During the session, this woman makes a point while Abby records it on the easel pad.

It's really neat having gathered a select group of individuals who are eager to assist a missionary's service to the Lord when he or she is home on furlough. During these successful think tank sessions, participants, so far, have thought through various ministry concerns, challenges, and questions. In positive and creative ways, they share suggestive approaches for everyone to consider.
I love this sort of "missions brainstorming." I plan to contribute to many more missions think tanks.

† Anna: Serving "the churched" and "the unchurched"

† Andrew: Enjoying another year caring for wild birds

† Adah: Readying to serve on a medical mission in Mexico

† Abby: Presenting three unique inspirational poems

† Marti and Dale: Initiating a "missions think tank" series

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