Math and Missions - You Knew This Was Coming

In math class today we discussed facilitating the room when students are exploring an idea in groups. My prof talked about how it was most strategic for the teacher to help just the one student so that he could, in turn, teach the whole group he was with. It was less strategic for her to stay at that one group the whole time. If she can help one student at each group, then the whole class is helped because at least one person in each group is an expert who can help the other students understand the concepts at hand.

So, how does this relate to missions? Well, if every believer evangelizes every one of their friends and family who in turn evangelizes their friends and family, etc, etc then the whole world will not be evangelized. Why? Because there are cultural bridges to be crossed that won't happen unless we bridge the gap to cultures that do not yet have Christ. It's really hard for the gospel to "jump" into other cultures until they see that it is relevant to them (which is a difficult process). See once a "vibrant, indigenous church" is planted in a people group then those believers can reach the people within their own culture much better than you or I. But the church must be started before that can happen. So, it is strategic for missions to go where no one knows of Christ so that a church can be built and then they can reach their own people. See, it's just like a classroom.

So, I guess that's not math, but it is education. I think they relate quite well and my learning has deepened.