Tajikistan is a former Soviet Republic in central Asia. It is 59% unreached and 0.1% Evangelical Christian. They are mostly Muslim, with a little atheist left over from the Soviet era. They need Jesus.
1. Leader’s Experience
The leader of the expedition must be strongly motivated by the glory of Jesus Christ and a passion for saving lost souls. He must necessarily have contentment in any situation as he will likely endure much hardship and persecution. He must also be very innovative, willing to adapt to any situation and take risks. He must be greatly in tune with the leading of God as he will be operating in a field with little supervision or outside direction. Probably needs a motivated and passionate personality. Soft hearted and thick skinned. Previous mission field experience required. Basic knowledge in Muslim faith, practice and culture, as well as connection points to Christianity.
2. Mission
To win souls for Jesus, to plant and grow a church in this nation, to grow and mature it in the Word, to translate the Scripture into their language. These are successive steps and will not be addressed immediately. The initial goal is soul-winning.
3. Motive
To glorify Jesus Christ by taking the Gospel to the Tajiks.
4. Planning
Much prayer throughout. Godly counsel of those who have already pioneered in other cross-cultural missions, gaining the support, cooperation, and prayer of those at home, as well as language and cultural studies and survival skills. At least one year of planning is necessary.
5. Staff Selections
Others who will have the skills necessary to win souls. The team should consist of evangelists entirely, but with different sub-skills. They must all be driven to advance the Gospel and all fit the same qualifications of the leader as far as spiritual gifting. The team must have equal passion for the lost in Tajikistan. Also a knowledge of their language.
6. Team Skills
Overall, the team must have different people for different tasks, so hopefully they may work together and defer to one another in respective areas of expertise, such as administration, preaching, discipleship, discernment, mercy, and ministering to physical needs such as poverty and disease. As a team, they will need cooperation and unity. Diplomacy may also be a survival skill in this field.
7. Pre-Trip Media
The home churches of the team will be the only ones who really know about the mission. Possibly not the entire congregation, but only a few trusted ones. They will be the team’s home support prayer people, and may also provide financial support. A huge hupla would be a bad idea, as we do not work for our own glory, but God’s.
8. Transport
Take whatever the native method is to get there. Be that plane, car, train, camel, or outrigger canoe. I recall that Thor Heyderdal went to a Polynesian island on an outrigger canoe from Chile, as a historical experiment rather than to bring Christ, but he was honored by the natives, since he was the first white man to come to them in their own transportation. In Tajikistan, planes are in use, so one could go to the city in one, but probably on foot to the villages.
9. Equipment
Bibles (for staff in English, for them in Tajik, whatever is available), survival stuff, native stuff if possible. Be prepared to build dwellings and make food according to the local customs. The faster the team can assimilate into the culture at large, the better. Of course, this does not involve moral compromise.
10. Clothing
If possible, show up in halfway native clothing. Not entirely foreign, or they might kill you. But not entirely native, or they might think you’re spies and kill you. Grow a beard and get a tan if possible to blend in a little more.
11. Preparations for Arrival
PRAYER, acquiring of necessary team and equipment, arrive and set up camp in nearby safer area for a while to get used to the country and a few cultural things before instantly venturing into the unreached area. This will allow a smoother transition.
12. Route and Team
Take the way in that they use. Don’t show up in a Jeep if they’ve never seen that before. Jesus came as a baby, after all. He came to us on our level. When He came on His own level, the people freaked out (Exodus 20). Take two to five people, preferably single men.
13. Decisions
Authority in one person, decisions not lorded over those not in authority. The leader will have the final say, but must never neglect the counsel of the team. Daily prayer individually and as a team.
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