One of the distinct features of Twelve Two Ministries is its target field: the developed world. What is the developed world, and why should we target it?
When talking about the developed world, we are referring to those nations in the world that have stable governments coupled with a mature, and sophisticated industrialized economy. These nations typically have high GDP (gross domestic product) and a comparatively high per capita income. They have advanced technological infrastructure and diverse industrial and service sectors. These factors contribute to a high quality of life as well as high life expectancy. The majority of these countries can be found in Europe, but others can be found in North America, Oceania, and Far Eastern Asia.
People in the developed world have the same spiritual need as those in the undeveloped or developing world (i.e., the gospel of Jesus Christ), but the strategies and methodologies employed to meet that need will look different. In the undeveloped and developing world, things like humanitarian aid or infrastructure development can be used as a way to enter communities and build bridges in order to gain opportunities to share the gospel, but those strategies don’t make sense in a developed economy. How do you reach a people that doesn’t need you to dig a well or feed their children? How do we build bridges to reach people who don’t need us to build things or improve their infrastructure? The strategies used for reaching refugees in war torn regions or populations living in poverty will not work among people who live in a secure political, physical, and economic environment. Different strategies must be employed to reach this different population segment.
Unsurprisingly, significantly more effort and resources are invested in international ministries that target the undeveloped and developing world. Attendance at any church missions or ministry fair will confirm that. It is easier to identify the myriad of needs that people without physical and economic security have. It is easy to see the plight of the under-served or the dispossessed and develop plans to combat those problems. Generosity, something American Christians are good at, pours resources into a community with limited access to resources and make a big difference in the living conditions for those in the undeveloped and developing world better. Meeting physical needs is a great way to impact the world for the Jesus Christ. But is that the goal of missions?
The goal of Christian missions is to impact LOSTNESS. Humanitarian aid and economic development are not the end of Christian mission endeavors. The proclamation of the Gospel is. Meeting physical needs can be used as a way to open opportunities to meet the spiritual need, but it is not the only way. All are in need of the Good News, and Twelve Two wants to fulfill that purpose for those who already have security in this life, but who so desperately need the message of security for the future that only comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Our vision and strategy must reflect the emotional and spiritual needs of the communities we serve.
Ian I love this mission, and I think this is very well said. As much as we need people in developed country ministries to go and pour into underdeveloped countries, we also need christ followers to live like Jesus and spread his gospel right where they are, in the businesses, neighborhoods, and schools where they live. We need both. Frankly I think if we aren’t doing a good job living it out in the developed countries then we run the risk of losing the ground we’ve gained there. Praying for 12two! God please do your work through us!