Posted by C. Holland on Apr 28, 2010
One of the things I’ve learned since being in the mission field is that the word “missionary” carries a significant amount of baggage for both Christians and non-Christians alike. Some of it is well-intentioned and respectful, other reactions are more telling about people’s perception of missionaries. But it was this post on another blog that suggested working a secular job internationally with a missional intent (and the subsequent comments) that made me ponder if it is possible to have an authentic relationship with both Christians and non-Christians in your mission field as an identified missionary. Does the perception by others of our assigned “agenda” to convert (or at least proclaim) discourage people from accepting our interest as an authentic relationship?
In the referenced post, I asked the author, Grady Bauer, to clarify his statements about a “truly authentic set of relationships in a different culture”:
“I think one of things those of us in full-time ministry, regardless of location, struggle with is relationships. If I’m a full-time missionary in a country…who do I connect with along natural lines? Very few people. Work can lead to relationships that are created authentically, not me targeting them with the gospel. Hobbies and mutual interests also serve this purpose as do volunteering with a public organization. It helps us to connect with people in ways that make sense and seem more authentic.”
I’ve let these thoughts sit in the back of my mind for a while, but what prompted me to explore further was this recent search term here at my blog:
“Do the missionaries really like me?” Read More…
Posted by C. Holland on Apr 19, 2010
We’re finally at the fork in the road that we’d always suspected was ahead. After several years in the mission field, the fundraised portion of our finances are starting to dry up. It would be easy to blame it on the economy, and for a few supporters I believe it is the case. However, despite our best efforts to communicate, I’m afraid we’re becoming uninteresting. Most all of our possible support contacts have been tapped at several points throughout our time here, just a few remain that have not been contacted and we haven’t made any new contacts in the States since we’ve been in the field the entire time.
We were well-prepared for this reality by several former missionaries, so it’s no surprise. Though we’re not sent from a mission board, a lot of our Christian friends expect us to return around now to begin a year-long fundraising tour. But, like most aspects of ministry, we’re rethinking traditional wisdom on how to proceed. Read More…
Posted by C. Holland on Mar 31, 2010
One of the struggles I’ve faced being a missionary is the fact that my evangelical Christian parents don’t approve of my choice. At all. While their initial reaction was understandable, I thought and prayed that perhaps their stance would soften over time. It has not. In fact, year by year they have increasingly rejected most contact I’ve tried to make. Conversations have become few and far between, and any mention I make of ministry here is met with stony silence and a quick topic change, so there’s not much to talk about after a few minutes. I am no longer kept “in the loop” about even serious things, like my father’s recent surgery, until there was a complication afterward. I’m very close to being disowned.
In no way am I making a sympathy grab here, just trying to explain that some parents take this very, very hard.
Because of this situation, every time I read in the Bible, “Honour your father and mother,” there’s a little pang of thought: Am I? If you asked them, I believe they would immediately answer a resounding “No!” However, after a lot of consideration of the situation, I have to respectfully disagree. Read More…
Posted by C. Holland on Mar 18, 2010
As I recently listened to a sermon on the Parable of the Vineyard Labourers (Matthew 20:1-16) the focus was obviously on the aspect of some being rewarded unequally compared to the efforts of others. However, it was in the middle of the sermon (and the passage) that I realised a parallel between the workers hired later and the fundraised missionary: working without knowing exactly what you will be paid.
If you notice, Jesus explains that the first set of workers had an agreed wage. The second, third and fourth set of workers are told they will receive “whatever was right at the end of the day” in verse 4. The fifth set of workers are told to join the others in the vineyard with no description of an agreed amount. Essentially, they are working without a contract. And so are we.
I’ve mentioned before some of the things we’ve learned about living on fundraised support (we’re also tentmakers for two-thirds of it, thanks to the unfavourable exchange rate and the ridiculous cost of living). The biggest thing I’ve learned is that fundraised living is an extreme exercise of faith and probably one of the biggest reminders of our immediate dependence on God.
Here are a couple of concepts I see in the parable: Read More…
Posted by C. Holland on Feb 16, 2010
My church elder was talking about the latest conference he attended. As he described the speakers and the books he bought, his face lit up when he remembered something. “They’ve got this brand-new approach that they’re trying now, and it shows a lot of promise. People in some areas are really excited about it. Have you heard of a Coffee Shop Ministry?”
Sigh. Yes. Ten years ago in the States.
I’ve been involved in ministry and church planting now for almost half of my life. It feels like the whole time has been peppered with the next new book, angle, approach, tool, technique, item or worship style. Every idea has the aura of “this is the thing that will really work”. And it seems like more conferences are popping up every year, each with their own subtle twist or perspective on how to “do church” the best way to get the best results. I fear I’m at the point of programme overload.
I’ve come to this point in my life for two reasons: 1) the sheer quantity of programmes over a long period of time are too much to process, and 2) seeing ministry in a different cultural context has made me realise how culture-specific virtually all of these approaches seem to be. I have no doubt that, for each of the methods or techniques available in ministry today, there is a place or people group that have responded really well and have become Christians through this. Praise God! I’m honestly glad that this has happened in that situation. But I’m startled by the attitude that most Christians have: “If it worked there, it’ll work here!” Read More…
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I jest. Good one!