IJFM (ISSN # 0743-2529) was estab- INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF lished in 1984 by the International Student Leaders Coalition for Frontier FRONTIER MISSIONS Missions. Published quarterly for $15.00 in Jan.- Jan.-March 1996 March., April-June, July-Sept. and Oct.- Volume 13 Number 1 Dec., by the International Journal of Frontier Missions, 7665 Wenda Way, Contents El Paso TX 79915. Editor: 1 Editorial: Shoring up the Foundations Hans M. Weerstra Hans M. Weerstra Associate Editors: Richard A. Cotton 3 The Great Commission in the Old Testament D. Bruce Graham Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. Managing Editor: Judy L. Weerstra 9 The Khmer: A People Disillusioned Assistant to the Editor: Adopt-A-People Clearinghouse Kelly Cordova IJFM Secretary: 11 All the Clans, All the Peoples Barbara R. Pitts Richard Showalter Publisher: Bradley Gill 15 The Supremacy of God Among “All the Nations” John Piper The IJFM promotes the investigation of frontier mission issues, including plans and coordination for world evangeliza- 27 Challenging the Church to World Mission tion, measuring and monitoring its David J. Hesselgrave progress, defining, publishing and profiling unreached peoples, and the promotion of biblical mission theology. 33 Biblical Foundations for Missions: Seven Clear Lessons The Journal advocates completion of Thomas Schirrmacher world evangelization by AD 2000. The IJFM also seeks to promote inter- 41 Seeing the Big Picture generational dialogue between senior Ralph D. Winter and junior mission leaders, cultivate an international fraternity of thought in the development of frontier missiology. 45 Melchizedek and Abraham Walk Together in World Mission W. Douglas Smith, Jr. Address all editorial correspondence and manuscripts, to 7665 Wenda Way, El Paso Texas, 79915 USA. Phone: 49 The Biblical Basis and Priority for Frontier Missions (915) 779-5655 Fax: (915) 778-6440. William R. O’Brien E-mail address: 103121,2610. Subscription Information: One year (four issues) $15.00, two years (eight issues) $28.00, three years (twelve issues) $40.00. Single copies $5.00. Payment must be enclosed with orders. IJFM Editorial Committee Note: Subscriptions are automatically renewed and billed for year by year unless we receive other instructions. Gary R. Corwin, SIM/EMIS, USA When changing your address, please supply both old and new addresses. Paul Filidis, YWAM Research Center, USA Cover Photo: Photo of a Khmer child, Todd M. Johnson, World Evangelization Research Center, USA used with permission from Adopt-A- People Clearinghouse. Patrick J. Johnstone, WEC International, UK Bill O’Brien, Global Center, Samford University, USA Copyright: © 1996 by the International Student Leaders Coalition for Frontier Edison Queiroz, COMIBAM, Brazil Missions. PRINTED IN THE USA Editorial: Shoring up the Foundations ur desire and effort to evangelize basics and let God speak to us anew about tinues: “Now we have received not the O the world must be firmly His purpose and plan of world spirit of the world, but the Spirit from grounded in God and His Word. The mis- redemption. God, that we might understand the gifts sion mandate that we hold dear must Since the mission mandate and bestowed on us by God.” And then he rest squarely on biblical foundations. We its foundations rests on God and His will, gives the bottom line: “the unspiritual cannot proceed and expect success in and is central to all of Scripture (as man does not receive the gifts of the this task with wrong or shaky motives or you will see in this issue), God by His Spirit of God.” Why not? Because “they questionable ideals. World missions Spirit needs to reveal to us this vital are folly to him, and he is not able to must have sure foundations, and unless matter. For many of us it will come as a understand them because they are spiritu- these are firmly in place, we run the first time revelation, like a brand new ally discerned.” Only spiritual men risk of being like the “ foolish man who discovery, while for others it will be a and women can discern spiritual reality built his house upon the sand...and rediscovery, giving us an even deeper because as Paul said, “we have the great was the fall of it.” (Matt. 7:26, 27) understanding. But to whomever and mind of Christ.” (See I Cor. 2) This whole issue is focused however it comes, God Himself must Hence a fundamental directive is entirely on the biblical mandate and basis disclose it. It is like “the mystery of the that we will need spiritual ears to hear of world missions. Although in the gospel” that is made known by reve- what God wants to impart to us, past, excellent articles have been written lation and can only be known as such. So, including His Word to us in this issue. We on this vital subject, (in fact some are whether we see it for the first time or will need to read the articles with reprinted and revised here in this issue) no rediscover it anew, the mission mandate spiritual discernment. You will find much one entire edition has been dedicated and foundations, central to all of more than interesting information, before to this all important subject. And it Scripture, must be disclosed to us by God much more than “human wisdom of lofty was time to do so, not merely because Himself. words and persuasive arguments,” as we haven’t done it before, but for abetter The fundamental question is: To Paul would say. It really has to do with reason. whom will God disclose this central receiving a spiritual gift that God Some years ago, the whole Missis- purpose, plan, promise and biblical man- wants to give us—that we all desperately sippi basin experienced a major flood. date? Ask yourself: Will God disclose need! Without the ability to hear we Many of the levees (dikes) of this mighty it to me, can He reveal it to me? Do I(we) will miss it. At best, it will be just inter- river, designed to hold back its flood have ears to hear what the Spirit is esting information, just unique con- waters, were either totally destroyed or saying to the churches? May no doubt cepts, maybe. were in serious jeopardy due to the remain. What you will “hear”in the Jesus reminds us of the flip side devastating flood. These have now been articles of this special issue is something of this matter: “every one who hears these restored and repaired. the Spirit indeed is saying to the words of mine and does not do them In the same way, we also need to churches today. Question is: Do we have will be like a foolish man.” We must be shore up the mission foundations of ears to hear what He is saying? willing and eager to do what we hear! God’s purpose and plan, build them anew Having ears to hear essentially has to It is my conviction that God will not dis- where they have been washed away do with the ability to discern God’s close anything of any real value to or weakened in order to survive and to truth according to His view of things. In hold at bay the destructive influences other words, it means being able to anyone (whether by means of this issue or of our secular world and culture that like a discern spiritual reality with God’s help anywhere else) who is unwilling to do flood threatens to destroy us with and from His perspective, according what He says to do. Our hearts must be equally devastating consequences. to His Word and purpose, revealed by His inline with His purpose, ready and Without any doubt, Christ is Spirit for us today in and for our “kai- willing to “observe,”(see Matt. 28:19) building His Church in every place among ros moment” of history. what He mandates. On this basis God all peoples “that He might fill all The apostle Paul put it this way: will reveal His Word to us and the biblical things” and He is using His people to do “I did not come proclaiming to you the mandate of missions will be revealed. it. (Matt. 16:18; Ef. 4:10-12) But testimony of God in lofty words or May we see it clearly! Christ’s Church must be built on solid lofty wisdom... but in demonstration of foundations. At mid-point of the the Spirit and power, so that your Dr. Hans M. Weerstra, 90s—five years away from AD 2000— faith might not rest in the wisdom of men, IJFM Editor it’s an excellent time to shore up the but in the power of God.” Paul con- March 1996, El Paso, TX USA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FRONTIER MISSIONS, VOL 13:1 JAN.-MAR. 1996 The Great Commission in the Old Testament World-wide missions in the Old Testament? Yes, and no faint glimmers nor only promises of better things to come in the New. Here is an article that will change your view of Scripture and will give you new zeal for God’s purpose and plan of the ages. by Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. ost readers of Scripture will But the gift of a name was not to be and focus of world mission in the older M readily acknowledge that squandered on himself, but it was dis- canon. there is an unmistakable and clear evi- tinctly designed for the purpose of bless- The modern discussion on the rejec- dence for asserting that the New Tes- ing others. Genesis 12:2-3 pointedly tion of missions in the O.T. is prob- tament (N.T.) has a strong mission declared that Abraham’s name, his bless- ably to be traced to Max Löhr.1 Robert emphasis.