We presently live in a culture that is quiet, shy and reserved. Street preaching, impromptu public dramas, or pavement witnessing with tracts do not work and, furthermore, brand you as a pariah. In towns as small as ours can be, this means that word spreads quickly amongst all residents that they should not interact with you in any way. Others in ministry here have had well-meaning short-term mission groups do any or all of the above, and the resident missionaries lost all influence and credibility with the locals, forcing them to start all over in another part of the country.
What has been interesting are the churches with groups who wish to come here on a short-term mission trip. Instead of asking us what is needed for ministry here, or how to convey the Gospel and be culturally sensitive, they tell us what they do on mission trips. Perhaps some of those actions work in other cultures (and I hope they do because, otherwise, what’s the point?), but when we politely explain that ministry needs are different here and shouting doesn’t work, they become disinterested very quickly.
