MK forum

But are they "saving" others? As Raz mentioned recently, so many of the listed Tribers are actually in the States or other home countries. I got to 41% of those listed were at home in the States, then add in Canada, NZ and UK people who are not on the field and the number has to be over 50%. Then there are those who are on furlough, medical leave and other reasons for not being on the field and the number of people who are actually on the field is rather small. Of course of the numbers on the field, many are not in tribal situations, but that is a whole other subject.

So how much of the total $$$ donated to NTM and individual Tribers actually gets spent reaching the lost in the fields and how much is used to support people with fancy job titles at home, lawyers and investigators of past deeds, which seem to have gone strangely quiet?

I was sort of being a smart alec at "saving others". Since they proudly broadcast that they are reaching the lost.

It is true. I still am trying to fathom exactly why so many people are needed stateside???????

I don't think it's a matter of people actually being needed Stateside. But once you have become a member of NTM, and you remain a member in good standing, then you are safe to do (or not do) pretty much whatever you want, and live wherever you wish.

The thing that keeps you safe is not the fact that you are an effective missionary, carrying out your mission work by laboring diligently, or making great sacrifices. It's not that you need to be a good language learner, or a successful cross-cultural message-bearer. No, you just need to be a "member in good standing".

A member in good standing does not question their leadership. A member in good standing is loyal and supportive and does not make waves. A member in good standing may never have ventured out of their own country, or learned another language, or even have a relationship with a person whose skin is not the same color as theirs. That is not what makes a good New Triber. A good New Triber is simply a compliant person who stays out of trouble.

If you are a member in good standing you will not have to worry about your future with the mission. You can stay in it as long as you like. You can live in Baan Ngam, Thailand, or San Diego, California, Sanford, Florida, or Roach, Missouri, and that is okay. There will always be something for you to do, even if it's answering phones, scrubbing floors, or keeping the exterior of that beautiful headquarters building looking sharp.

Everything a New Tribes "missionary" does, is viewed as being part of the support team of the ones who are actually living out in the villages, telling tribal people about God. As a former tribal missionary myself, I am not saying that I am unaware of the fact that a tribal worker does need the help of others. I am grateful for the people in the Philippines who ran the guest home, did the supply buying, kept our paperwork in order, flew the mission plane, and carried out other "non-tribal" ministries so that we could concentrate on our work in the village.

However, as the years have passed, I have watched the number of "support" personnel grow and grow, while the number of people who actually live in indigenous locations and do the true face-to-face evangelism and church planting as envisioned by Paul Fleming has dwindled down to such a small percentage it is appalling. We will NEVER get a straight answer from Sanford on this, so only God knows the statistics, but I am very curious and wish I could ask, "Out of the vast number of people you say are missionaries with your mission, at this very moment, how many are actually located in a remote jungle or tribal location, right now, today? Actually living and working with tribal people at 4 pm on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013?" Is it 100? 200? 300? My guess is the number would not be much larger than that. That is just a wild guess though. But it is based on real-life information of what I do know is going on around the world. A majority of NTM missionaries in good standing do not actually live with tribal people. Even among those who are doing things like Bible translation, many do not live in remote locations anymore. Some even continue their translation work in the United States, living in a cozy Stateside house, buying their groceries at Wal Mart, and driving around in a nice shiny car.

As long as you stay out of trouble, you will not be asked to leave New Tribes Mission. People are asked to leave for insubordination, for not fitting in, for not toeing the line, for having the wrong doctrine. But they are not asked to leave because they aren't needed or being used to reach tribal people. There is always a job that can be done in the mission. God can use anybody. That's what they always said.

That's very interesting, so much has changed since Bemused was an MK.

Found something interesting. If one goes to the NTM website, on the find a missionary page, on the right hand side is sending countries. Click on United Kingdom, then have a look at a couple called "Test Missionary".
I've heard of "Test Pilots", but "Test Missionary" is a new one, any bright ideas?
Maybe that is the new Warp Factor III model missionary that can roar into a tribe, learn the language, build an airstrip, erect a church, all in 45 days and then move on to the next tribe.

Haha!

And what a nice-looking young couple they are! So full of promise!

I shall be watching to see how quickly this couple gets dismissed from the mission.

They're still there. Wonder what field they are heading to, maybe they'll go into transition. Wonder what happens if they receive donations when one clicks on the "donate" button?

Or to the Twilight Zone......

"Bemused" he said
"You are Spiritually Dead!
Such fine water
But you will not be fed"

And on he went
"Look at Uncle Jim
Fine Christian man
Be like him"

"Or like me
Humble Servant of the Lord
Slaying all who agree not
With my sword"

And Bemused pondered
For decades past
Till hallelujah
The truth came out at last

Dr Jekyll
Missionary Hide
Far to many
Lied and lied

Sin and crime
What a mess
And no repentance
No confess

"Bemused" he said
"You are Spiritually Dead!"
And I held up a mirror
And shook my head"

So true.

Dr Jekyll and Missionary Hide.

Today I reposted this on my Facebook wall:

"ONE THING MORE SHOCKING THAN THE TRUTH
ARE THE LIES PEOPLE TELL TO COVER IT UP."

Oh Bemused, he might be Spiritually Dead
Then again he may be not
But Moral Rigor Mortis
Is something he ain't got

Tis neither here nor there for Bemused
Far more interesting is Moral Decay
The Holy Ecoli of decomposing conscience
And how it got that way

Spiritually Dead or Alive
It's all a matter of interpretation
But to close blind eye on sins of past
Is cause for moral degeneration

While the pious argue
Over trivial points of theology
Others look at the trail or carnage
And shake their heads at such hypocrisy

Shame upon thee missions
Who let the children suffer so
Are you really Spiritually Alive
When you have sunk so morally low?