Location, location, location (expanded)

(Listen to an audio version of this post at
http://media1.imbresources.org/files/62/6230/6230-33955.mp3)

The lightning speed with which the global economic crisis has spread from one financial capital to another — heedless of national borders — seems to confirm a basic tenet of globalization: The world is flat.

Writer Thomas Friedman made that proposition famous with his influential book of the same name (The World Is Flat: Expanded Edition Thomas L. Friedman). The basic idea: Interconnected technology, trade, communication and mobility have tied us all together so tightly that national and cultural barriers are becoming increasingly porous, even irrelevant.

Not so fast.

In a new book, The Power of Place: Geography, Destiny, and Globalization's Rough Landscape, Michigan State University professor Harm de Blij argues that location still matters — a lot.

“Earth may be a planet of shrinking functional differences, but it remains a world of staggering situational differences,” de Blij writes. “From the uneven distribution of natural resources to the unequal availability of opportunity, place remains a powerful arbitrator. Many hundreds of millions of farmers in river basins of Asia and Africa live their lives much as their distant ancestors did, still remote from the forces of globalization. …

“In their lifetimes, this vast majority will have worn the garb, spoken the language, professed the faith, shared the health conditions, absorbed the education, acquired the attitudes, and inherited the legacy that constitutes the power of place: the accumulated geography whose formative imprint still dominates the planet.”

“Global playing fields” are leveling for many, de Blij acknowledges. But he warns that assuming a homogenized, borderless, “flat” world is now the rule — just because you can find identical high-rises, malls and office parks “from Minneapolis to Mumbai” — is a mistake. The urban economic boom of China and high-tech industries of India get plenty of publicity. Out in the rural vastness of both Asian giants, however, countless millions continue to struggle for existence — seemingly a universe away from the growth centers of their own nations.

Despite modern mobility and massive migrations, fewer than 3 percent of human beings are “mobals” who live in a country where they were not born. An even smaller minority make up the “globals” who have access to all the advantages of modern technology and travel. The rest of us are “locals” — still tied, for better or worse, to the cultures that spawned us.

So why has the International Mission Board begun to move away from dividing its missionaries by location or region — South Asia, West Africa, etc. — and toward “global affinity groups” that focus on peoples sharing the same language, culture or ethnicity?

Because “place” is a state of mind and heart as much as a physical location. The most powerful “place” is culture.

Even though the vast majority of humans still are “locals,” their migrating “mobal” cousins often hold the key to reaching them. The new “global affinity groups” will be designed so missionaries can more effectively engage unreached peoples regardless of their location.

“This move recognizes the mobility of populations,” explains Gordon Fort, IMB vice president of overseas operations. “(It) allows us to focus on peoples wherever they are in the world.”

Missionaries will still focus on peoples living in specific locations — most unreached South Asians still live in South Asia, after all. But they won’t be “artificially limited by geopolitical considerations,” as Fort puts it. Millions of South Asians have migrated to other parts of the world and often are more accessible in their new homes.

Christians must continue to traverse both literal and figurative back roads, dirt tracks, mountains and valleys to take the Gospel to every people — even in the chaotic cultural environment of megacities. There is no “flat” superhighway to world evangelization.

“In our current rush to embrace the rewards of global ‘flattening,’ it is worth reminding ourselves that point of entry continues to matter when it comes to opportunities in reach,” de Blij writes.

For transmitting the love of Christ to all peoples, our key points of entry are language, culture and ethnicity. That means mobilizing churches, missionaries and local believers to take the Gospel to every part of the globe’s “rough landscape” — whether the “place” is a physical location or a cultural/spiritual stronghold.

The neglected majority

American news media, when they cover international events at all, tend to focus on wars, disasters, Europe and the Middle East – and ignore most of the rest of the world.

It’s high time they (and we) pay more attention to South Asia – and not just because a dangerously unstable Pakistan is located there. The region also contains India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Why should you care about these places? Here are eight reasons among many:

-- More people live in India than in all of North America, Central America and South America – combined.

-- There are more than 800 million Hindus in India, nearly three times the population of the United States.

-- The seven countries of South Asia are home to about one out of five people in the world. Most have never heard the Gospel even once.

-- More Muslims live in South Asia than in the entire Middle East.

-- India is the second-largest Muslim country in the world, despite the fact that Muslims are an often-persecuted minority there. Christians also number in the millions in India, but are an even smaller minority – and are experiencing increasing persecution by militant Hindus.

-- Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with about 85 percent professing Muslims. The other 15 percent are Hindus, with some Buddhists, tribals and Christians.

-- Maldives is 99.4 percent Muslim, and it is against the law for a visitor to enter the country with more than one Bible.

-- South Asia’s unengaged, unreached people groups (less than 2 percent evangelized, with no Christian mission groups actively seeking to reach them) have a population of more than 400 million people.

Is this huge, hungry slice of humanity worthy of our prayers, our resources, perhaps some of our lives?

Location, location, location

The lightening speed with which the global economic crisis has spread from one financial capital to another – heedless of national borders – seems to confirm one of the basic tenets of globalization: The world is flat.

Writer Thomas Friedman made that proposition famous in his influential book of the same name (The World Is Flat: Expanded Edition Thomas L. Friedman). The basic idea: Interconnected technology, trade, communication and mobility have tied us all together so tightly that national and cultural barriers are becoming increasingly porous, even irrelevant.

Not so fast.

In his new book, The Power of Place: Geography, Destiny, and Globalization's Rough Landscape, Michigan State professor Harm de Blij argues that location still matters – a lot.

“Earth may be a planet of shrinking functional differences, but it remains a world of staggering situational differences,” De Blij writes. “From the uneven distribution of natural resources to the unequal availability of opportunity, place remains a powerful arbitrator. Many hundreds of millions of farmers in river basins of Asia and Africa live their lives much as their distant ancestors did, still remote from the forces of globalization ….

“In their lifetimes, this vast majority will have worn the garb, spoken the language, professed the faith, shared the health conditions, absorbed the education, acquired the attitudes, and inherited the legacy that constitutes the power of place: the accumulated geography whose formative imprint still dominates the planet.”

True, “global playing fields” are leveling for many, de Blij acknowledges. But assuming a homogenized, borderless, “flat” world is now the rule just because you can find identical high-rises, malls and office parks “from Minneapolis to Mumbai” is a mistake. The urban economic boom of China and high-tech industries of India get plenty of publicity, for example. But out in the rural vastness of both those Asian giants, countless millions continue to struggle for existence – seemingly a universe away from the growth centers of their own nations.

Despite modern mobility and massive migrations, fewer than 3 percent of us are “mobals” who live in a country where we were not born. An even smaller minority make up the “globals” who have access to all the advantages of modern technology and travel. The rest are “locals” – still tied, for better or worse, to the places and cultures that spawned us.

Christians, then, still must traverse many literal or figurative back roads, dirt tracks, mountains and valleys to bring the Gospel to every people – even in the chaotic maelstrom of megacities. There is no “flat” superhighway to world evangelization.

“In our current rush to embrace the rewards of global ‘flattening,’ it is worth reminding ourselves that point of entry continues to matter when it comes to opportunities in reach,” de Blij cautions.

For transmitting the love of Christ to all peoples, our key points of entry remain language, culture and place. That means continuing to mobilize churches, missionaries and local believers to take the Gospel – personally – to every part of the globe’s “rough landscape.”

Panic time?

Stock markets are tanking. Banks are struggling to survive. Credit has all but dried up. A worldwide recession looms as overseas economies react to the U.S. financial mess.

Whether the $700 billion bailout plan passed by Congress works or not, some tough days lie ahead — regardless of who wins the presidential election.

That business or personal loan you applied for may not come through. Your job might be on the line if your employer can’t meet expenses. Retirement? Don’t even look at what’s happening to your 401(k).

So what do you do now? Put your savings in a mattress — if you have any savings left? Most cool-headed financial advisors recommend sitting tight and riding out the storm. That’s usually good advice. We can only hope it works this time, and that the market implosion doesn’t drag down the economy itself.

But there’s no guarantee.

In the meantime, I’ve got an investment tip that can’t miss. It doesn’t come from a stock trader or a financial insider. It comes from a Gospel singer: George Beverly Shea.

If you watched or attended almost any Billy Graham crusade service since 1947, you know “Bev” Shea, now age 99. For some 60 years, he always sang just before Graham began preaching.

“When (Shea) finishes singing, I never feel like applauding,” Graham once said. “I feel like bowing my head in prayer.”

As a kid, I thought Shea was square when my grandmother made me watch Graham crusade broadcasts. No more. Not after I heard his voice — deep and wide as an ocean — sing these words:

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;

I’d rather be His than have riches untold;

I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;

I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Than to be the king of a vast domain,

Or be held in sin’s dread sway;

I’d rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.

This humble, heartfelt declaration inspired me and countless other listeners more than all the thousand-voice choirs and popular Christian bands that shared crusade stages with Shea over the years.

I was reminded in church this week that Shea set I’d Rather Have Jesus to music after his mother put the poem on the family piano one day. At 23, in the depths of the Great Depression, Shea was considering a career in popular music — and the money it offered. He was sorely tempted to pursue it, but a persistent inner voice whispered about a greater purpose. The answer to his struggle came when he read the words to the poem.

He chose Jesus rather than silver or gold.

That’s the most reliable investment advice you will find anywhere, whether the economy is up or down. Markets fluctuate based on confidence, fear, news, rumors and any number of other factors — some rational, some irrational. But Christ is a solid rock.

Now is a time to remember why we are here — not just to get and spend on ourselves, but to give ourselves and our possessions to God. That’s more valuable than anything this world affords.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;

I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;

I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;

I’d rather be true to His holy name

Christ’s “dear cause” is the spreading of His name to every tribe and nation. George Beverly Shea has stayed faithful to the cause for a long and fruitful lifetime, glorifying God in song before millions in scores of countries. Southern Baptists, too, have long been faithful to give their time and money to help accomplish the worldwide missionary task.

How can we stay faithful in a time of deep economic uncertainty? As a season of international mission giving approaches, what would we rather have?

Cities: quick facts

Consider these numbers and projections:

-- In China, 200 million people (the equivalent of two-thirds of the U.S. population) have migrated from the countryside to cities over the last 10 years.

-- Every second, two people move from rural areas to cities.

-- Half of all Asians and Africans will live in cities by 2030.

-- The number of squatters living in urban slums and "shadow cities" will double to 2 billion within a generation.

The movement of humanity into cities might never reverse. According to demographic forecasters, we face an "urban future," with all its challenges and opportunities.

"As recently as the early 20th century, the vast majority of the world's people lived in the countryside and practiced subsistence farming," writes Christopher Flavin, president of Worldwatch Institute. "By 2005, the world's urban population of 3.18 billion people constituted 49 percent of the total (global) population of 6.46 billion."

The 50-percent mark has now been passed, marking "a significant milestone on the long road of civilization."

How will cities – even in developed countries – find or produce sufficient food, water, housing, energy, jobs, healthcare, education and infrastructure for so many people? Government, business and community leaders are looking for answers to that question with increasing urgency. The increasingly urgent question for missions: How will so many city dwellers hear the Gospel?

Simply locating and identifying them – and their myriad communities and subcultures – is becoming a daunting challenge. Sometimes they maintain distinct, separate communities. Sometimes they mingle and form new groups. Either way, such groupings may multiply into millions of members, each subgroup struggling to gain and maintain its place in society.

"We look at the city and wonder what it will take to change its heartbeat – one that doesn't pulse for Jesus," says a Christian worker in urban India. "We know that God's desire is that all people bow at His feet in worship, but we see people daily bowing instead before almost anything else .... This city is our passion. Pray that God will change unbelieving hearts -– miraculously, contagiously."

A mission strategist adds:

"We need to receive this gift [migration to the cities] that God has set before us and use it to take the Gospel to the mass of people in the cities around the world," says a mission strategist. "For so long, life in the rural world has shaped our missions efforts. Now we live in an urban world and our methods to reach people must change. We must love the city as God does."

How, specifically, do we do that?