Description
Foreword by Dr. Jerry Mullendore
It certainly is a privilege to write a few words of introduction to “The Church and Missionary Relationship”. If there has ever been a need for a book of this nature, it is today! I have said many, many times that I wish I could get pastors and ministry leaders to know missions! Most pastors only have a text book understanding about missions but they have never been on a mission’s trip, visited a foreign mission field, been on deputation, nor do they understand or appreciate pre-field ministry. Someone needs to tell them in a teaching and loving spirit and Dr. Ciarrocca has done just that.
Being a pastor for almost 20 years and spending the past 15 years as a missionary and missions director allows me to see the issues from both sides, and as I read this book, I said “Amen and Amen” over and over again! Someone needed to say these things and Dr. Ciarrocca has said them! Until one has traveled full time on deputation for several months can they truly understand deputation and the tight rope of diplomacy that every missionary has to walk. This book deals with the real nuts and bolts of missions from both the missionary’s and pastor’s point of view.
The book is very factual in its content and the illustrations of real life people bring the needed message home in a hurry! If I have said it once, I have said it a hundred times; most pastors and most congregations look at missionaries as second class citizens. Dr. Ciarrocca deals with this sinful and archaic mindset head on! Some will disagree with the things written here, but it needs to be said; now we have a tangible book that deals with these issues in black and white and agree or not, it is needed and the truth!
While reading some chapters, I was amused at how “I had been there, done that!” I thought many times “wish I had said that” or “I should have said that!” The border-line dishonesty, the massive amount of phone calls, the scheduling issues, the politics and oh so many other things that every missionary has to deal with is confronted in this book! My prayer is that every missionary, every ministry leader and definitely every pastor will read this book and learn from it. I guarantee you it is written in a spirit of love, concern for our ministries and helping the cause of Christ!
Years of experience are revealed on these pages! Every church should be sure their pastor has a copy of this book and every mission board, and every sending agency should require its reading!
Sincerely,
Jerry Mullendore
Dr. Jerry Mullendore is the founder and director of Beacon International Baptist Mission in Johnson City, TN. {Note: Bro. Mullendore is now at home in Heaven.}
