Last post was about a useful instrument for a missionary - the Profile. This post continues that discussion with another dimension within that instrument: Understanding the History of your people group.
In order to find out more about the current status of your people group and their current worldview, it is helpful to look at their history. Here are some questions to consider *Adapted from Dr. Bob Brown of the International Mission Board (name changed for security purposes):
1. Write a brief narrative of how your people group came to their current geographic location.
*Bob Brown says that history is written not with ink but with blood. Take a careful note of where battles or assassinations occurred.
2. Describe the most significant events for your people group or their country (ie. specific geographic segments, who was involved, cultural practices that continue to this day as a result). Paint a word picture of the story of the people group's salvation/victories through these events. Try to come up with the 5 most important stories of this people and contemplate any insights this has for your ministry. How can you start in conversation about these events to move to a spiritual conversation?
3. From the info you discover in these stories, identify any bridges and/or barriers to sharing the gospel of Jesus.
4. How does this historical information shape how a New Testament church would look and function within this people group (size, location, leadership, practices)?
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