Dance Floors

In a recent meeting with Eldon Porter, the “guru” of missions networks, he observed that what I do is manage a dance floor.

I told him, “I doubt it. You’ve never seen me trying to dance.”

Eldon said that people don’t come to a dance floor to see the manger dance or to hear his lecture on dancing. They come to find an inviting environment and other people who want to dance too.
A lot of what I’m doing is creating and managing mission network “dance floors.”

In finding opportunities for missions to and then from the millions of people on the move, no one church or mission agency can do it alone. We need an active dance floor of people around the globe connecting, communicating, and collaborating. We also need people who can create and maintain those environments, the global migration mission “dance floors.”

Three Baxter “dance floors”

Converge International Ministries, our sending agency: My job is to create pathways for cooperation among our scattered global initiatives, whether in Indonesia or Minnesota, for engaging with migrating unreached people groups.
NextMove: I developed and now co-direct this research and consulting network of over thirty mission agencies with a growing number of international affiliates, that is learning together and helping others become effective in diaspora missions.
MissioNexus: This largest association of Great Commission churches and mission organizations in North America focuses on the global Great Commission. As the Diaspora Missions Advisor, I help create spaces for members to learn about and collaborate in Diaspora Missions.

Our training event in the time of physical distancing

“Dancing”

The first prototype of a city-wide strategy I helped develop for engaging unreached immigrant groups in urban centers is underway in the Twin Cities. One pathway for entering these unreached, and often resistant communities, is through economic development.

When Jan and I were in Malaga, Spain, last year, we were learning about economic mission platforms and creating a partnership between Converge and this business-as-missions ministry.

Then, in August, John hosted a training event for business leaders, pastors, community development leaders, and Converge missions staff in the Twin Cities for using this economic development platform among unreached immigrant populations that have suffered economic loss in the recent rioting.

I was the training facilitator, but the attendees didn’t come to hear me. They came to work together. They came to “dance.” This groundswell of interest is spurring our launch of our first business start-up academy with immigrant entrepreneurs and Christian business people.

Our Family and Yours

You are allowing us to do this important work of creating global synergies that accelerate missions among people on the move. Thank you!

Jan and I welcomed a new grandson, JB, son of Taylor and Caroline and little brother of Birdie in August in Chicago. COVID and distance sadly mean we won’t get to personally meet him yet.

While I was in Minnesota, Jan experienced a tornado in our neighborhood. No one in its path was hurt, but roofs and fences were badly damaged, and many beautiful oak trees were lost. We are praising the Lord that through this shared experience, we are getting to know a lot of our neighbors, a step toward talking with them about Jesus.

Oak tree down in our yard

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you" (Colossians 1:3).

John and Jan

Dance Floors

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