Comments on: Am I Less of a Missionary?

By: C. Holland

C. Holland — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:12:38 +0000

@Stephanie: That’s funny! If “Veggie Tales” were required, I wouldn’t qualify because I’m so old those cartoons didn’t exist when I was a kid.

By: Stephanie (Committed Christian)

Stephanie (Committed Christian) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 17:47:55 +0000

As someone who became a Christian when I was 15 and did not know much about Jesus before that…as a Christian called to the mission field I always found it extremely hard to get support…even if it was prayer support! I guess I do not fit the profile of a missionary either. When I told someone of my desire to follow God’s call to the mission field they somehow thought to ask me if I liked Veggie Tales when I was a kid. I guess all prospective missionaries need to have watched it when they were kids because they were all born to Christian parents! So funny!
.-= Stephanie (Committed Christian)´s last blog ..Contend For the Faith That Was Once For All Delivered to the Saints =-.

By: C. Holland

C. Holland — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:34:31 +0000

@Kathy: Welcome to the blog! Well, the fundraising tour was before we moved to our field, and we haven’t returned to the States yet for funds nor for a visit. We’re working very hard to maintain support while in the field and probably won’t visit the States for at least a few years more.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:18:36 +0000

Where I am, working in a large mission organization in an African country, missionaries are as diverse as the day is long! No more, no less. Just a melting pot of (usually) weirdos. Or “radical” followers: however you see us. Some very nice ones, some I’ll never be buddies with. Just like anywhere.

I also never read mission biographies, but after serving here for five years, I’m starting to pull some off shelves of books left by others. So, perhaps some of us get into that reading by default or by others prompting us, like it looks like you might be… And also, the more I embrace my life-long (I hope) calling to this work, the more I identify with missionaries in the past and want to know and learn from the people whose shoulders I’m standing on. For better or for worse.
I’ve just stumbled across your blog, by trying to look up the word for “furlough” in French! Thanks for the reflections. I’ve hardly scratched the surface in looking around, but how was your initial fundraising tour? We’ll be going next year…

By: tai fu

tai fu — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:57:33 +0000

I think many denominations are used to missions being handled on a national level... I know one YWAM staff who was sent by the Southern Baptist church and it's unusual because the SBC have their own missions board and they do not (as a policy) support missionaries to be in another organization such as YWAM. For me, God actually opened a door for me to do translation part time that would raise some of what I need. Not sure where the rest would come from, since I am preparing to finish my DTS in Europe again. The money I got from translating is actually about the same as what I would have gotten (probably a little more) for working for 8 months at a supermarket then saving whatever I can, but instead of taking 8 months this translation case was over in less than 2 months. .-= tai fu´s last blog ..More night views =-.

By: C. Holland

C. Holland — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:47:13 +0000

@Tai Fu: We are both from a Christian background but found it difficult to raise support at first because of the denomination we were raised in. Most of our Christian friends in this denom were used to missions being handled through the national level and didn’t understand us asking directly for support (we are not sent by the denom). It took us longer because of this, and though the fundraised support is about half of what we need to live here, it is nothing short of amazing to see how God provided despite this.

By: tai fu

tai fu — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:37:11 +0000

I think the stereotypes comes from somewhere though… but perhaps from a vocal people. I mean I don’t really know the deep background of many missionaries I see here (not many are so open about their backgrounds..) but seems a lot of what I see are either MK’s or PK’s (Missionary kid or Pastor’s kid) because I guess they have the upper hand when it comes to adjusting to a different culture, fund raising (because their parents will have connections for fund raising), and support. I feel those who do not come from a Christian background have it hard, because for us it’s not always easy to adjust, and finding support or funds are difficult especially when we have a busy life that makes church involvement difficult. But I also believe that God will use anyone in mission that he chooses, and many times the choices will blow people’s mind away. YWAM seems to be full of people who comes from a very bad background (drug addicts, families who hates the idea of missions, former gangsters, criminals, etc.) and they all get used by God for his glory and have some of the most amazing story of how God provided for them even though it seemed impossible for them to raise the amount of money required for training and travel (some of them comes from third world countries where the average salary of their people is around a dollar a day!). I seen a lot of missions organization requiring a lot of money to get involved, and I believe that if it’s God’s will for the person to be involved the money will come, but YWAM is actually the most reasonable when it comes to finances… and oftentimes they are not hard and fast… exceptions has been made for those unable to pay, or in many instances the money just came.

By: Kevin Mullins

Kevin Mullins — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:50:39 +0000

“I know the country I’m in desperately needs to know born-again Christianity, and God is blessing our consistency with the gradual building of trust amongst the nationals.”

Great line, except I’d add “desperately needs the Jesus of scripture” along with born-again Christianity. It’s the reason we’re heading back to Western Europe. Count me as another who never read missionary biographies outside of the book of Acts. I really don’t know who Lottie Moon is either. Thanks for the honesty.
.-= Kevin Mullins´s last blog ..Are you waiting for the Golden Years? =-.

By: C. Holland

C. Holland — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:38:58 +0000

@Michelle: In my experience, most all missionaries I’ve met seem to have read missionary biographies, and that’s great. I’m not beyond learning from their stories, so perhaps I’ll be seeking some out soon. After writing this post, I did remember reading Brother Andrew in Junior High School, so I guess I can’t say I’ve read nothing…

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:58:42 +0000

Ah, missionary stereotypes! That would be an interesting book.

You’re post is great! I have to add that as a missionary, I DO like to read missionary biographies because they have taught me how unique missionaries are and how God uses each of us differently in different cultures and they can be quiet encouraging.