MK forum

Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down!
Hickory Dickory Dock.

Tickerty Rickerty Tock
Abuse that should be in the dock
Shredded to
Flushed from view
Evidence that really could rock

Hickory Dickory Dock
The Time bomb ticks like a clock
Prepare for bang
Eleven 55 just rang
Justice one cannot mock

Dear Bomb,

Please dismantle the safe harbor.

Best Regards,
Thai MK

Dear Thai MK,

Thank you for your insight. I wonder how you think I might feel, people don't like me, I feel like a victim and someone has really lit my fuse and I just feel like I'm about to explode.
I'm lying on my Shrinks couch, because I have this constant ticking in my head. The Shrink has evacuated the building, says I have Short Fuse Syndrome.

Regards

The Bomb

(Only two, dear, only two.
I feel so controlled.)

Laughter is good for the soul. But we're limited to two at a time?!



(Note that this particular emoticon is called Razz.)

Regarding the below article from NTM.org: NTM - I have heard this "multiplication" rhetoric all my life. I just haven't seen a correlation between the theory and reality. In addition (no pun intended), the facility is currently operating at 80% capacity with 140 missionary candidates. In other words, current maximum capacity is 175 candidates. As such, increasing maximum capacity to the stated 250 will result in operations at 56% of capacity (140 divided by 250). So, there appears to be a missing link to this story - I would recommend clarifying why increased capacity is required. Also, this increased capacity is coming at an estimated cost of approximately $160,000 per potential candidate ($12M divided by 75). Perhaps there is a legitimate reason that $12 is needed for Phase 2 - but the arguments articulated in the below article appear to fall short of a reasonable explanation. Regards.


"Training Center: Multi-purpose building outfittingGive > Projects

StrategicCompletion: 8.5%
Left to Raise: $457,442 Project Goal: $500,000 Country: United States
Category: Training
Project Number: PUS027
In order to answer more than 100 people groups asking to hear God's Word, progress is being made to expand the NTM Missionary Training Center in central Missouri. There, men and women receive the specialized training they need for the complex task of planting tribal churches among people groups around the world who have no access to the Gospel.

The center is operating at 80 percent capacity, with 140 missionary candidates and their families filling the housing and classrooms. Expanding the center will increase that capacity to 250 -- that's an additional 110 missionaries who have an urgent desire to complete their training and go to the mission field.

Try to imagine this: Students eager to learn, to grow, to train and to go!

But we do not have the room.

Overall, the second phase of the campus expansion will include additional housing, classrooms, office space, a student center and more, at a cost of $12 million. We've made substantial progress so far on building needed student housing, among other improvements.

The urgent need now is classroom and meeting space needed for training additional missionary candidates. Funds have been contributed to construct an all-purpose building that will provide classrooms, much needed dining facilities, and a gym/meeting center for all-campus worship and training times -- much like the all-purpose centers at many churches. Now funds are needed to furnish and outfit the building.

How you'll be helping
Your gift will be multiplied again and again. You’ll help equip today’s men and women to expand the reach of the Gospel … and tomorrow’s. And that’s just the beginning of the multiplication. Those missionaries will teach tribal people to share the Gospel and establish churches, where even more tribal people will learn to be His witnesses.

If they are only operating at 80% then it would seem that there's no real need to expand. If they were operating at 100% and had to turn away or delay the training for some candidates, then they would have a legitimate need to expand. But that does not seem to be the case. And $12M seems like a lot of expansion, especially when most of the work will be done by volunteers. Sounds more like wishful dreaming to me.

Is this an application of the saying, "If we build it, they will come"?

Or perhaps the philosophy: It's business as usual folks, those rumours of abuse, just rumours. It never really happened, just some disgruntled bitter spirited losers trying to discredit our good work. Look folks, we're actually the victims here and you can help us by giving generously. And we're taking steps to quell any concerns some of the misguided might have, even though we aren't legally obliged to. After all we are one big happy family and nothing like what is claimed could happen in our family.
Give with confidence, give with conviction, just give folks, just give.

Regarding 80% capacity. In most church leadership and pastoral leadership seminary courses, they say that the time to start a building program is when the church is at 80% capacity, otherwise, people will go elsewhere. Not sure if that would be the consensus with the present real estate crisis, but it used to be common practice. In that respect, I can understand the logic. At the same time, it may present a face to NTM supporters that they are going ahead as usual, regardless of what else is happening.