Book Summaries

Sometime back my missionary friend reminded me of an obvious yet forgotten fact: the population is larger than it’s ever been, yet there are far fewer missionaries than in past generations. I chewed on it for the next few weeks, and it bothered me. I want to offer very specifically to my missionary friends how we can do something about the great need and few laborers. Below are areas of consideration if we are proactively to pick up the mantle of responsibility and see more laborers:

1. Our Preaching

A pastor has the responsibility to feed his sheep, but a missionary gets one introduction and one opportunity to challenge people in church. There are so many wonderful things to preach on, but as a missionary, you must realize God has sent you to a church (whether deputation or furlough) to inform and ignite a burden within these fellow believers. You don’t get to return next week to follow up, so be intentional with your visit to show the need and ask prayer for more laborers. The church knows your need of support, the pastor has you visiting for that specific purpose, but God might have an individual in the congregation that needs that invitation/challenge to go. 

One book I read said that, after talking to a large gathering of retired and senior missionaries, he asked them what age they felt the call of God to become a missionary. The typical age was eight years old! My wife, Mindy, surrendered when she was around eight years old. Where do you think these young people saw missions? When missionaries came by and visited their church. Please do not neglect to preach with a passion in your heart to see future laborers raised up. 

2. Our Children

Not every missionary kid will grow up to be a missionary, but we cannot deny the fact that it is more probable for an MK to have the desire, knowledge, and leading of God to be a future missionary. MK’s grow up helping their parents in ministry at a very young age. They most likely speak more than one language and know more than one culture. Their hearts are most likely more sensitive to the Lord, His work, and the global need for the Gospel. While a parent should never force ministry upon their children, they would be wise to pray and speak to their children about serving God as a missionary. Children love and look up to their parents, and it is very likely that God wants you as parents to help these little disciples as He might lead them to be future missionaries. 

3. Our Prayers 

We are all very aware of the obvious truth that “we have not because we ask not.” (James 4:2). Are we asking and believing God will raise up future missionaries? When Jesus mentioned the great need and lack of laborers, He stated that we should start with praying to the Lord of the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38). When we pray, it seems to open our heart about the need, our eyes to look around and consider, and cause us to depend on God to separate out future laborers. 

 

4. Our Emphasis

You can only focus on so much. When you get the opportunity to converse with others on the road, you can must be specific about what you discuss. Nothing wrong with working out, playing sports, enjoying a movie, reading good books, and enjoying some good food, but make your emphasis about God’s work. What do your social media posts reveal about you? What is the underlying message in your prayer letters? You and others know what your emphasis is by what you spend your time on, what you talk about, what you love, and where your money is. Your words, actions, posts, texts, and conversations should reveal your emphasis. 

by Jeffrey Bush

A topic of stress for those with children can be your children’s schooling. Living on the mission field brings multiple challenges, specifically in marriage, but when you throw in a big decision such as how and where you will educate your children, marriage can be strongly hindered. I don’t need to remind you that children are a gift from God, but they are not meant to divide or be more important than your marriage. Learning to discuss areas about child rearing will help your children and your marriage. 

When we speak about raising children on a mission field, the topic of education is important. I have met good, godly parents that believe homeschooling is the best form of education. Other godly parents believe the public school system offers the best for their children, And still other good parents believe a Christian school, or starting a Christian school, is the best form of education for their children. Opinions and convincing facts can probably be made for each of these three choices, but ultimately you, as a parent, must make the decision on what you believe the Lord wants for your family. Whichever way you choose, you and your spouse should agree on the best course of action. Allow me to give you three areas to consider for you and your spouse when it comes to educating your children:

Consider your Child

My wife and I are blessed with five children. Irregardless of the age and gender, each of our children have their own personality. This is not something unique to our family, God has made every child and individual different. And when it comes to the education of your child, you must take into account the needs of that specific child. Can your child sit and motivate himself/herself to do the work alone? Do you think someone else can get through to your child better than you can? Does your child thrive off the social surroundings school could offer? As a parent, God has given you the responsibility to know and raise your child. Be prayerful and know your child, their needs, and the best way to educate him/her. 

Consider Yourself

It’s rather easy for others to apply pressure on how you educate, but you must consider how God made you. If teaching sounds miserable to you and your spouse, then attempting to homeschool your children will be miserable for both you and them. If you don’t have the money to send your children to a private school, though family and friends might push you to do so, you have to determine if going in debt is the wise thing to do. You must make decisions in the situation God has placed you and your family in, whether others agree with your decision or not. Maybe God has given you the means and opportunity to send your children to a good private school. Maybe God has equipped you to educate at home. Maybe God has given you peace about sending your children to a public school. If you make a decision based on someone else’s opinion, not seeking peace from God on your own, you will hurt your children.  

Consider your Location

If your mission field provides good education, take advantage of it. If your surroundings force you to educate at home, or combining efforts with other good families in the area, you might have to go that route. In the Bible we see Moses was in a hostile environment, yet God had a plan for his rearing. The same can be said of Daniel and other Bible characters. Wherever God has placed you, He has a way for you to educate your children.

One final consideration when it comes to your children’s education. Avoid making adamant or blanket statements on how you will always/never educate your child a certain way. Certainly stand with your convictions, but be sensitive to your children and to the Lord. Years ago, my wife and I decided we would make a yearly assessment for the best method of education. This helped us pray, consider, study, and decide what is best for that specific school year. Children grow, circumstances change, and God leads differently, so make a decision for each school year. There should be no pressure to make a decision you’ll have to live with for the next twelve to fifteen years. And please remember, God did not make perfect parents, but God made you specifically as the right parent for your children. God intended for you to raise the children He gave you, so seek Him on how best to do it.

Dear Missionary,

It’s pretty clear you’re doing this all wrong.

————

You missionaries living in guarded compounds, you’re obviously not really invested in your community. You alienate your neighbours with barbedwire topped fences.

You missionaries living in houses and apartments in local neighbourhoods, you are risking the safety and well-being of your family. Thank God for those missionaries in that guarded compound nearby that welcome you with open arms and shelter you in times of trouble.

————

You who buy imported western food; don’t you know how important food is to a culture and that by avoiding it you are avoiding connecting with your host culture?

You who buy food from the local market and street vendors, don’t complain when you get typhoid or amoebic dysentery. It’s your own fault. You know how unsanitary all that is.

————

You who use cars and drive everywhere you go, how will you ever become part of your community if your neighbours only see you coming and going through tinted windows?

You who walk or bicycle everywhere, your community is embarrassed to have the only missionary without a car. If you had a vehicle you could use it to better help the community.

————

To the missionary full-on embracing your new culture and abandoning your own, you’re “going tribal” and that’s a pretty foolish thing to do. You’re headed towards a cultural identity crisis.

To the missionary clinging tightly to your home culture, opening up those clenched fists won’t make you un-American or whatever. You’re alienating yourself by not loosening up.

————

You who go on furlough every summer are basically telling the people you serve that your vacation is more important than pastoring that young congregation, translating scripture, or helping the suffering community through that health crisis. Your actions don’t match your message.

You who wait years and years before taking a few months away are going to have a nervous breakdown. Missionary burnout is well documented and you jeopardize the long term work.

————

To the missionaries who own modern appliances, what a frivolous waste of donations. You should be living at the same standard as the people you serve.

To the missionaries without modern appliances, you are frivolously wasting time doing things the hard way when you could be spending that time ministering instead.

————

You who attend language school, you are probably substituting a classroom for relationships within your community.

You who learn language on your neighbourhood streets, your approach takes forever and if you just went to a school it would be a much more efficient use of time. You could get to actually ministry sooner.

————

You who attend the expat church on Sundays, think about the message you are sending to the local Christians. It might not be with words, but with your actions you’re saying there’s something wrong with their churches.

You who attend the local church are neglecting worshipping in your own language and culture. You hypocritically insist the local Christians should worship authentically in their own cultural way, but you don’t do it yourself.

————

To the missionaries who send their teenagers off to boarding school, you are risking the emotional health of your kids when they are already at their most vulnerable ages.

To the missionaries who home school their teenagers, you alienate them from all their friends who have all gone off to boarding school and you’re risking your child’s academic development.

————

You who pastor and translate and evangelize but don’t include seeking justice and meeting physical needs because that’s just not your ministry, aren’t ushering in God’s Kingdom here on earth.

You who spend all your time doctoring and building clinics and teaching new farming methods are forsaking the gospel and might as well just be humanitarian workers. There are more important and eternal things at stake.

————

You who hire house helpers, gardeners, and cooks should be ashamed of your colonial attitude.

You who do it all yourself without house helpers, gardeners, and cooks, are pretty selfish and stingy for not providing employment when you clearly have the funds to do so.

————

To the missionary already decades in the field, your methods and mind-set are outdated.

To the brand new missionary, you haven’t been here long enough to understand the complex layers of this culture and in your zeal you’re making some really stupid and damaging mistakes.

————

Hope this helps and you feel suitably convicted.

Thanks and yours truly,

Judgmental, but totally righteous, Missionary Me

It’s pretty clear you’re doing this all wrong.

————

You missionaries living in guarded compounds, you’re obviously not really invested in your community. You alienate your neighbours with barbedwire topped fences.

You missionaries living in houses and apartments in local neighbourhoods, you are risking the safety and well-being of your family. Thank God for those missionaries in that guarded compound nearby that welcome you with open arms and shelter you in times of trouble.

————

You who buy imported western food; don’t you know how important food is to a culture and that by avoiding it you are avoiding connecting with your host culture?

You who buy food from the local market and street vendors, don’t complain when you get typhoid or amoebic dysentery. It’s your own fault. You know how unsanitary all that is.

————

You who use cars and drive everywhere you go, how will you ever become part of your community if your neighbours only see you coming and going through tinted windows?

You who walk or bicycle everywhere, your community is embarrassed to have the only missionary without a car. If you had a vehicle you could use it to better help the community.

————

To the missionary full-on embracing your new culture and abandoning your own, you’re “going tribal” and that’s a pretty foolish thing to do. You’re headed towards a cultural identity crisis.

To the missionary clinging tightly to your home culture, opening up those clenched fists won’t make you un-American or whatever. You’re alienating yourself by not loosening up.

————

You who go on furlough every summer are basically telling the people you serve that your vacation is more important than pastoring that young congregation, translating scripture, or helping the suffering community through that health crisis. Your actions don’t match your message.

You who wait years and years before taking a few months away are going to have a nervous breakdown. Missionary burnout is well documented and you jeopardize the long term work.

————

To the missionaries who own modern appliances, what a frivolous waste of donations. You should be living at the same standard as the people you serve.

To the missionaries without modern appliances, you are frivolously wasting time doing things the hard way when you could be spending that time ministering instead.

————

You who attend language school, you are probably substituting a classroom for relationships within your community.

You who learn language on your neighbourhood streets, your approach takes forever and if you just went to a school it would be a much more efficient use of time. You could get to actually ministry sooner.

————

You who attend the expat church on Sundays, think about the message you are sending to the local Christians. It might not be with words, but with your actions you’re saying there’s something wrong with their churches.

You who attend the local church are neglecting worshipping in your own language and culture. You hypocritically insist the local Christians should worship authentically in their own cultural way, but you don’t do it yourself.

————

To the missionaries who send their teenagers off to boarding school, you are risking the emotional health of your kids when they are already at their most vulnerable ages.

To the missionaries who home school their teenagers, you alienate them from all their friends who have all gone off to boarding school and you’re risking your child’s academic development.

————

You who pastor and translate and evangelize but don’t include seeking justice and meeting physical needs because that’s just not your ministry, aren’t ushering in God’s Kingdom here on earth.

You who spend all your time doctoring and building clinics and teaching new farming methods are forsaking the gospel and might as well just be humanitarian workers. There are more important and eternal things at stake.

————

You who hire house helpers, gardeners, and cooks should be ashamed of your colonial attitude.

You who do it all yourself without house helpers, gardeners, and cooks, are pretty selfish and stingy for not providing employment when you clearly have the funds to do so.

————

To the missionary already decades in the field, your methods and mind-set are outdated.

To the brand new missionary, you haven’t been here long enough to understand the complex layers of this culture and in your zeal you’re making some really stupid and damaging mistakes.

————

Hope this helps and you feel suitably convicted.

Thanks and yours truly,

Judgmental, but totally righteous, Missionary Me