Sexual Culture in Latin America

My wife and I had the privilege of living and serving in South America for 10 years (8 years in Argentina and 2 years in Peru). There were many things we witnessed and experienced, so the thoughts throughout this article do not come from governmental statistics but from personal life.

Growing up in the Midwest, some form of pornography was available whether it was from a magazine at my friend’s tree house, stories or language in the locker room, an occasional movie my friend got his hands on or rummaging through magazines at the drugstore. Although there was availability, most every form was taboo in society, something you did in secret or with buddies but definitely not with parents or other adults present. In no way would I say the US is at a high spiritual status, but there is somewhat of a morale still in the country in which much of the larger scales of perversion are done in secret and not openly.

When I arrived to South America, I noticed that the sensual edge of life was much more open, common and accessible than when I was growing up in USA. Local news stands offered porn magazines in the open instead of behind a counter or with a paper covering nudity up until the purchase. Newspapers had sections in the back with very provocative pictures and contact information for sexual services. TV talk-show hosts spoke openly about sex or being bi-sexual and hosted barely-clad women. The common soap operas had straight out sex on public TV. Advertisements with nude or almost nude women were distributed on the street or placed on vehicles.

A mom at one of our churches in Argentina told us about one of the classes her 11 year-old girl participated in at school. The teacher had all the girls open a condemn and place it on the stuck-out finger of a boy in the class. The goal was to show the kids how to use a condemn and protect themselves as they prepared for being sexually active. I could continue giving examples, but the point should be proven that the sexual culture in Latin America was flaring.

It was far too common to see a girl already expecing a baby as young as 12 years of age or my wife counseling a young girl who had repeatedly been sexually abused by uncles, dads, cousins, brothers or friends of the family. Lovers were common, young girls were abused and women were toys and objects offered openly and freely. Although these situations angered me, what could I really expect since they were only reacting to the food society had been feeding them?

Sexual culture in Latin America is alive and well but just knowing the sexual culture of Latin America is not helpful without advice on how to be cautious if you are working in Latin America. I would like to offer two suggestions to my missionary friends on how to avoid falling into the devil’s sensual traps while working in Latin America.

First of all, stay close to God. Sounds cliché, simple and almost so understood that we don’t need to mention it. According to the wise king Solomon, the person who is abhorred of the Lord is going to fall in a deep sexual pit (Proverbs 22:14) but the person who pleases and loves the Lord is going to escape from that sexual pit (Ecclesiastes 7:26). The common denominator of falling or escaping from the sexual sin is the Lord. Love the Lord, stay close to the Lord and live for the Lord will cause you to escape from this sexual pit, but ignore and don’t listen to the Lord will cause you to fall into this sexual trap that, according to Solomon, is “more bitter than death”.

Sexual sins are open and available for everyone (especially and specifically in Latin America), and it takes more than just a strong or good person to avoid the temptations. I don’t need to remind you that mighty, wise, good, God-fearing men have fallen prey to the sexual temptations. And lest we think we are too good to fall, I remind you of what the apostle Paul said, “take heed lest ye fall” (I Corinthians 10:12). Any man, working in his own strength and power can fall, but God offers His supernatural assistance to help us win the sexual battle. We can talk about meditating on His Word, memorizing His Word, crying out to Him in prayer and other very important steps, but the point is to realize that drawing close to God is the answer to avoid the temptations, traps and pits of sexual sins. Make time every day to communicate with Him through prayer and reading Scriptures and live conscientiously walking and pleading His help. The key of escape from sexual sins is knowing that God is where you should look for strength!

The second way to avoid sexual sins is to stay close to your spouse. Proverbs 5 says that a man is to rejoice with the wife of his youth (vs.18), to get all of his sexual satisfaction from and only from his wife, being “ravished (enraptured, enchanted, delighted, charmed, enthralled, captivated, entranced) always with her love” (vs.19). God made man to want and enjoy sex, God designed sex, but sex was made for the perimeters of marriage (Hebrews 13:4).

The devil is the greatest con artist, imitating all the marvelous things God has made but offering only a shell of beauty filled with poison. The missionary who serves in Latin America will see and be offered a large portion of sensual pleasure, but the offers are mere mirages in the dry desert of sin. The missionary should be sexually fulfilled through his wife; this is God’s divine method. A missionary should constantly work at growing in his marriage by reading books on marriage, making time for dates and always studying his wife. A thriving, healthy marriage is one of the greatest defenses a missionary has to avoid falling into the pit of sexual sins.

The sexual culture is wide-awake and going strong in Latin America and the devil would love to destroy as many servants of God as he can.  If we put on the whole armour of God that He has given us, stay in love with God and in love with our spouse, we can avoid being another casualty in this war.

 

Jeffrey Bush

Deputation Class

Many people say that deputation is a broken process, it doesn’t work, takes too long, etc. The truth is though it has been and still is the most effective way to raise money as a missionary.
Sure, there are ways to improve how deputation is done but many of the people that complain about deputation are the same people who are not willing to put in the work, calling and making connections! The truth is that deputation is a lot of work but if you work the system and do it properly, you can get to the field within two years with the proper amount of support. Continue reading “Deputation Class”

Deputation Hacks

  • Carry a wrinkle-release spray (from Downy or generic brand) in your car for if in a pinch and can’t iron in between meetings, etc. Works very well on shirts. Carry an iron as well in case you need to iron on trips
  • Always take a spare dress shirt (for lunch spill stains), full suit, shoes, tie, and BIBLE (I have forgotten shoes, tie, AND my Bible before and had to run to Walmart last minute or use a pew Bible, very embarrassing and not fun) Have a clothes bar to hang stuff up in the back seat
  • Keep a spare set of overnight clothes (an overnight bag) in case needing to stop over night because the drive home that night is a tad too far; Don’t drive more than 6 hours (2 states radius) away from home
  • Have an emergency roadside kit (from Walmart or somewhere) in case of emergencies which usually includes a flashlight, jumper cables, all-purpose utility tool like a “Leatherman” – Portable air pump that plugs into cig lighter for leaking flat tires so that you can make it to Sun PM meeting from AM
    meeting
  • FULL-size spare tire for same reason mentioned above, better than a small donut that can only go 50mph or under
  • Clean up your social media profiles/platforms from childish or inappropriate things. It is now a ministry platform. Listen to Michael Hyatt’s podcast “This is Your Life” about building your platform. Use Buffer or CoSchedule to connect your social media accounts. Set the FB settings to review tags before posting on your wall
  • If traveling to a meeting anywhere in, around, or across Atlanta… take the estimated drive time and add AT LEAST an hour or two to make sure you don’t miss your meeting because of traffic…especially midweek services
  • Carry neck pillow(s) and blanket(s) for napping in the car
  • Black suit, white shirt, red tie, black wing tip shoes, tie clip – always be dressed one step above and look like a 50 yr old man ESPECIALLY if you look younger or are single. Comb over hair style to be respected by preachers – “accidentally” leave a prayer card in the bathroom before service on the sink counter so that everyone that walks in will see your prayer card while they wash their hands; especially effective while in a Missions Conference.

Continue reading “Deputation Hacks”

Deputation is…

  1. Deputation is asking the Lord for new fellow-laborers in the harvest fields.
  2. Deputation is reading to each other mile after mile… after mile.
  3. Deputation is hoping you can make it to the next gas station before running out of gas.
  4. Deputation is meeting with a room full of perfect strangers and leaving with the feeling you have known those folks for years.
  5. Deputation is knowing every $.99 menu from Pennsylvania to Florida.
  6. Deputation is waking up in pitch darkness and knowing you must be in the prophet’s chamber of some church… somewhere!
  7. Deputation is trembling as you open the phone bill.
  8. Deputation is rejoicing over the 2 for $.99 Taco Bell crunchy taco special.
  9. Deputation is waking up in the middle of the night to a crack of light streaming through the bathroom door so you will know you are in a motel… somewhere.
  10. Deputation is selecting a gas station minutes before a church service to freshen up, comb your hair and get the kids looking presentable again.
  11. Deputation is scanning the support list at the first of the month to see who the new supporters are.
  12. Deputation is asking the Lord how you can better communicate the burden He have given you for the field.
  13. Deputation is trusting the Lord for everything
  14. Deputation is making new friends.
  15. Deputation is the blessed peace knowing you are doing what the Lord wants.
  16. Deputation is getting a note from a dear friend saying, “All in His time; don’t get discouraged.”
  17. Deputation is freshening up the message, never let it get stale.
  18. Deputation is using the support list at the first of the month to thank God for faithful supporters and families.
  19. Deputation is rejoicing over finding a new name on that list.
  20. Deputation is seeing someone receive the Lord as their Savior.
  21. Deputation is hoping for a gas war when you’re getting close to empty… again.
  22. Deputation is trying to write a decent prayer letter and sometimes wondering if anyone reads those things anyway.
  23. Deputation is spending the night with a pastor and his wife, and being strengthened with laughter, fellowship, and yes, encouragement.
  24. Deputation is knowing the “best” exits on at least one major highway…or three.
  25. Deputation is showing up to a church that forgot you were coming, but by God’s grace they took you on for support anyway.
  26. Deputation is knowing that you can trust God for everything.
  27. Deputation is the mechanic shocked you are back so soon for your oil change as he just saw you a few weeks ago.
  28. Deputation is the 500 hidden napkins you have in your car.
  29. Deputation is having every card to save you money on gas as you travel!
  30. Deputation is hard work but also a lot of fun!
  31. Deputation is getting your 10th iced coffee refill at Starbucks as you hang out between meetings.
  32. Deputation is getting excited when you get new coupons for fast food restaurants!
  33. Deputation is when a vacation is being home more than two days!
  34. Deputation is a front row seat to seeing how big our God really is.
  35. Deputation is a new nursery every service for your toddler to terrorize.
  36. Deputation is the best way to appreciate a home cooked meal.
  37. Deputation is learning to always be ready for anything.
  38. Deputation is a great way to stretch your kids to make new friends.
  39. Deputation is stocking the car with emergency cleaning supplies, backup toothbrushes, and deodorant for everyone.
  40. Deputation is learning when your GPS is lying to you.
  41. Deputation is knowing everyone and knowing no one at the same time.
  42. Deputation is seeing that you aren’t the only one standing for the Gospel.
  43. Deputation is fellowshipping with brothers and sisters in Christ because of the unity we have in the Gospel.
  44. Deputation is a time to grow your faith in preparation for the mission field.
  45. Deputation is knowing that a 6 hr drive is actually 5hrs and 15 minutes… or 8 hours.
  46. Deputation is waking up in the night to see the neighbor’s light streaming through your curtains and realizing you are “Home Sweet Home” – at least for a night or two.
  47. Deputation is thanking God for a mission’s house with a washer and dryer.
  48. Deputation is seeing God provide in miraculous ways again and again in the most unexpected ways.
  49. Deputation is a proving to yourself and others that you have faith enough to step out and do what God has called you to do.
  50. Deputation is making life-long friends that will hold the ropes for you on the field!
  51. Deputation is passing through a city only to stop and grab a bite with a sweet family that previously hosted you in their home during a mission’s conference.
  52. Deputation is reminding your kids that God has blessed them so much to be able to see so much of their home country while on the road and meet so many new people.

I would love to hear more ideas (funny or serious) of what deputation is to you. Send them to me at jeff@visionmissions.com

YOUR DISPOSITION ON DEPUTATION by Missionary Tony Howeth

It has been stated that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to those things and their consequences. There is much truth to that in life and especially concerning Deputation. I am sure none of these are original! I learned or heard them from someone else but have been very much personalized over the last 16 months. I pray these will help you as you serve our Lord on Deputation.

D – Discern why you are on deputation. If the total focus of your time, travel and teaching is to get money you will be sorely disappointed when no love offering comes your way. You are given the opportunity to stir, motivate and encourage others about the greatest thing ever and that is world evangelism. Would you rather have a “good love offering” or have a young man surrender to the call to preach? If God can’t use you to minister to the lives of people on deputation, what makes you think that He would use you to minister to others once you get to the field?

E – Educate yourself as to your responsibility. Many missionaries complain of being on deputation for so long yet they have been in relatively few churches. The question is not how many months have you been on deputation but how many churches have you been in? I have met brothers who have been on deputation for a year and a half and have 30% of their support. That is not the problem, the problem is that they have only been in 75 different churches….that is only one new church a week! That is the problem! All of us will have to go to around 200 churches….you must decide how quickly you want to do that! Call, fill your schedule, write letters and learn how to present your ministry. Try to average 12+ meetings a month and once you are in a church present your work by God’s grace in such a way that they will never forget your name and the field you are going to. Again, learn how to do a calendar, make phone calls, schedule your meetings, present your work, carry yourself, talk to pastor’s, etc. God will do His part…will we do ours? Be careful not to blame God for something you were responsible for.

P – Protect your family time. You may have to get up earlier or stay up later but your family still needs you. I have been in full time ministry for 16 years and have never experienced the strain on my marriage and my family like deputation has done. My personal opinion is that when I pastored, I carried in all inside and on myself. Deputation takes its toll on everyone. There is no shielding the children from the scrutiny, long drives, dead services, etc. On deputation it wears on everyone and no one has the opportunity to be oblivious to it. Safeguard your marriage and children. Sir, it may be your attitude is not what it ought to be because the attitude of your wife is not what it ought to be. As the man helps your family to have the attitude they should and you will be surprised how it will help your attitude.

U – Understand you are not in competition with other missionaries. When you go into a conference they are not your enemies, they are fellow- soldiers. Stop comparing your love offerings, monthly reports, gifts, meeting, etc. to them. It is amazing how quickly your attitude can change when you find out another missionary got twice the love offering you did or scheduled a meeting after one phone call when you have called the same church a thousand times. We need to learn to rejoice with a missionary family when God has showered down blessings on them.

T – Thank those who assist you on your way. Write a thank you letter for the pastor giving you a meeting and then send him a thank you card after the meeting. (Your card could be post cards from your field to remind him of where you are going.) Thank individuals who invest in your ministry. Do not ever take someone’s sacrifice to help you for granted no matter how meager or humble it may seem. Attitudes are ruined on deputation when we think we deserve their time, money and help. Expect nothing and be thankful for everything.

A – Admit your own faults. Deputation is an opportunity for God in heaven to have His way in and through your life. Stop blaming the churches, pastors, children and wife….look in the mirror and admit there are things in your character that need a touch from God. Be man enough to say, “It is my fault.”, “I am sorry.”, “I was wrong.” Instead of, “What could the church have done differently?” Ask yourself, “What could I have done differently?”

T – Try not to get into needless debt. Be careful of taking the check or cash and putting all your expenses on a credit card and blowing the money at the same time. Financial pressure can ruin your day…make sure you did not bring it onto yourself. Keep a handle on what is coming in and what is going out. Many on deputation get a bad attitude over money they think they should have gotten but it may be God saw they were not a good steward of what they were getting so why should He give them more?

I – Insist on times alone with God. There are times when ones schedule is very demanding; it is then that you must seek first the kingdom of God . Refuel your life in the Word and in prayer. If you are working as you ought, you will constantly be giving to the spiritual needs of others. Be very careful that the Word of God does not become ordinary in your life. Let it truly be your life to quicken your spirit each and every day. Most of the time a bad attitude comes from not walking close to God.

O – Obey the Pastor. He has graciously allowed you to enter the church God has given him the responsibility of and to preach in his pulpit. Stop grumbling how you think he ought to treat you and honor him as the man of God. This is not about “what is right” but about you having a disposition that is pleasing to God. I can not control the how or the why of a pastor degrading me but I can control my mouth and heart toward him. Be careful that you do not train your children to bad mouth the man of God because one day the man of God they bad mouth may be you. Follow his time schedule whatever he gives you take two minutes less. Be a help to the pastor and his church….as you help the church one day when the church is able I believe the church will help you.

N – Never judge how your meeting will go with a church based on the testimony of another missionary. If theirs went badly then you will go in thinking, “This is going to stink!” (and it probably will because of your attitude.) If theirs went really well and the church helped them in a major way, you will be disappointed if they do not do the same for you. Then your family gets to put up with your sorry attitude all the way home. God is going to do different things, in different places with different people. Let God be God when you go into a meeting and see what He does!

By no means is this all inclusive! These are only a few areas that you will deal with that has the potential of changing your focus and ruining your disposition on deputation. Men if we fail on deputation, what will we do in language school and starting churches in a foreign culture? May God use deputation as a foundation to build a great work all over the world through Missionaries just like you!

Dear Soon-to-Arrive Missionary

by Missionary Benjamin Johnson

I know you are excited about getting to the field. It is what drives you forward and keeps you going. You look forward to the next step, the new beginning, the new challenge.

It’s been one year since we have landed on the field. Much has happened in that one year that has caused us to grow and learn in various ways and I would like to tell you some of the things that I have learned since they are so fresh in my mind.

Every Field Has Its Thing
Let’s be honest, missionaries are people and being people, we compare. We compare families, ministry, work effort, abilities and in the case of us missionaries: mission fields. We all try to one-up one another. This field is harder.

This field is more open. This field has more opportunity.
One area it seems that missionaries on the field seem to dwell in is the difficulty of the field they live in. Again, one-ups-manship is key here. “On our field, we cannot….” fill in the blank: get certain items, allow our children to go here, be out after dark, etc.

The fact is that every mission field has its thing: it’s one thing that makes it difficult for the missionary to live. For some, it is the prevailing religion; for some, it is the living conditions; for others, it is the culture; for others, it is the hardness of the people.

Comparing mission fields is a quick way to get discouraged or to feel superior. The fact remains is that it is important to fight your thoughts. Realize that no matter how hard it is, there is always harder and there is always good to look for in your field no matter what it is,

Every Person Has Their Problem
Not only do fields have their things, but people have their problems. And just like fields have differences, people have their differences too. One person will struggle with leaving their children in the care of another. For others, it will be the difficulty of the language. For different people, it will be the weather or perhaps missing their family.

Your problems and faults will be exposed on the field. As a missionary to China long ago said, “The scum rises to the top on the mission field.” This scum needs to be dealt with and put away. The first year on the field is an excellent opportunity for God to work in your heart and life to better mold you into who He wants you to be.

You Will Be Attacked
This goes hand in hand with the last point: you will be attacked by Satan. Just as everyone has their struggle, Satan will use whatever is your weak point and focus on that.

The pressure will come. Sometimes it will seem unrelenting – it will be one thing after another. You can’t catch a break. You will doubt God’s goodness. You will doubt you should be on the field. You will even think that God has it out for you.

There were many pressures and problems we have faced in our first year, but one of the biggest and seemingly most impactful was one at the end of August and beginning of September. We had a wonderful summer break that allowed us to get some more practice in Chinese and even my parents came for a visit.

The first Sunday in the month we received the phone about Crystal’s mother. Crystal and Evie flew back and upon their return to China, Evie had pneumonia and had several asthma attacks. We essentially missed our first week of university classes due to doctor’s visits.

There will be times when everything within you wants to pack up and go. It will not seem worth it anymore. You will feel like you walk around with a giant target on your back, and you will just want it off. But do not give up. God is big enough and although the attacks are hard at times and unrelenting, you can grow and God can use it for His glory and your good.

Deputation is your boot camp
Some, mostly missionaries currently on deputation, lament having to spend so long on deputation. I will not go as far as to say that deputation was an easy and wonderful road because it was difficult at times. Living as a nomad for years, the seemingly endless miles, the horror stories and so much more.
But deputation is an excellent time to prepare your heart and mind for the field. While driving, I listened to many books that I still think on as I am here on the field. The way I believe deputation is best compared is to boot camp. Boot camp isn’t easy. It has its struggles and difficulties, but it isn’t the active war zone that is the mission field.

Deputation is a great time to become better prepared for the field. It can shape you and mold you to be ready for what lies ahead. God can use deputation as a boot camp and form you into a battle ready soldier.

You will be attacked and/or tried in ways you did not expect
Be prepared to not be prepared for what’s ahead. When we landed, I knew culture shock would happen. I knew the language was a difficult one. But there were different ways that I didn’t expect to have problems. One of the most notable is the culture shock my daughter experienced. She was old enough to understand the change, but not old enough to necessarily process the change.
When preparing to face the unexpected, look to God for wisdom and patience.

Some things just take time for adjustment and that adjustment can be many, many months. Love God and love your family during these times. Learn to endure, pray and trust God and His plan. He is at work.

Don’t find balance, make boundaries
One article I read shortly after arriving on the field helped me a lot pointed out how everyone looks for balance but what is needed is boundaries. Boundaries about spending time as a family. Boundaries about spending time with your spouse. Boundaries about needing the necessary time to set up your home.

The problem with balance is that it is abstract. Boundaries are clear. This day is our family day. This time is our setup time. This time is for (fill in the blank). No, it can’t be super inflexible, but it will need to be guarded. It may not make you popular with others, but if you can make sure to keep your family, you will keep your ministry. Don’t keep your family, you definitely won’t keep your ministry.

Don’t forget the first goal: the language
You have spent years telling people how you want to spread the gospel and start churches. It is deep in our bones that we want to preach the word, but don’t let that passion get you off track from learning how to effectively communicate in another language. The primary goal of the first term is to learn the language.
You will be pulled to do ministry in English in many places in this world. But the most important thing you can do is learn the heart language of the people. Go as far in ministry as your language allows. Push yourself to do ministry, but in the language of the people you are reaching.

Have fun
I really don’t think I can stress this enough, but have fun. Fun does not mean not hard, but you can enjoy it even when it is hard. Travel when you get a chance. Find things that your family enjoys to do together as a family. Your first year on the field does not have to be drudgery. We have truly enjoyed the first year. It has not been problem-free, but it has been fun.

Enjoy life. Serving God is not a burden, it is fun! We have the privilege of doing one of the most incredible jobs that has ever existed. Don’t take that for granted. God has allowed you to go to another country, learn another language to tell others about how much He loves them. If you can’t enjoy life and have fun in that, then perhaps you need to find a new career.

The Call

“What really is a call from God?” and “How can I know if God is calling me?” Although some may disagree with the term “call”, we cannot deny that the previous questions pass through the minds of many Christians and it’s something we many times missinterpret.  In this brief study, we will see different thoughts to make us more aware of “The Call” and what God wants from us. Continue reading “The Call”