Comments on: Was, Not Am: What’s Wrong With Lifelong Missions?

By: ARCHANG3L M

ARCHANG3L M — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:21:54 +0000

I like you C. Holland. I think we’d be good friends if we met. I think like you do and like pretty much all your articles that I’ve read so far. You are a good man. And God Loves you, seriously. God Bless You!

By: aly

aly — Wed, 11 May 2011 21:30:52 +0000

Funny thing just happened, we just got our first state side job offer. The first thing I thought of was this post. I’m almost insulted that our work here could just be dropped after three years. I mean honestly things move slow here in Europe and our work is staring to pay off. I can’t imagine leaving now. But on the other hand I’m flattered they thought of us.

By: C. Holland

C. Holland — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 21:40:08 +0000

@Janice: I don’t think that’s so unusual. Some of our nationals have responded positively to our commitment here; it’s more the Christians back in the States. And I wouldn’t say you’re being judgmental about your supporters, because many Christians I know have a mindset of supporting a different missionary every year, regardless of how “well” they’re doing in a field. Some of our supporters feel a few years is sufficient because of the thought of returning on furlough to raise new support, though we are not required to do this.

By: Janice Phillips

Janice Phillips — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 22:32:24 +0000

The often asked question “how long do you plan on doing this (mission)” is often motivated by those we minister to. I think they want to know how serious we are, and whether or not they should invest emotionally in us. To hear us respond “oh, twenty to life!” is usually met with surprise and relief. It is amazing how much more they are willing to call us friends when they realize that this isn’t just a vacation or a whim, but a life-style. Our Stateside friends, however, are just wondering how long they have to commit to supporting us! Ouch! okay that was a little judgmental… But for the most part we have experienced only surprise and respect. Are we unusual?

By: C. Holland

C. Holland — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:36:49 +0000

@Hattie: I agree. I’ve received the “vacation” accusation a number of times, partly because our mission field is a popular tourist destination for Americans. And I’d be curious if any pastors out there have been asked how long they planned to be a pastor.

By: Hattie Carlis Okundaye

Hattie Carlis Okundaye — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 23:39:44 +0000

I am a missionary having served on the field for 10 yrs in the same country. I’m home on Christmas leave and curious to hear people asking me how long will I stay on the field. Do we also ask Pastors in the U.S. how long will they be preaching? If so, then why don’t we assume the retirement age is acceptable for missionaries? I believe some people don’t see us as servants of God so much, but people who are excaping the realities of life. Or people who are basically vacationing, because we seem to enjoy what we are doing?

By: C. Holland

C. Holland — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:41:19 +0000

@Ambar: Thanks for the clarification. I actually had been quite confused about what the big interest was, and your explanation makes sense. I’ve met loads of Christians who’ve told me, “I once thought I’d do missions when I was younger” and never did, so I don’t think it’s limited to South America. From my North American experience (which would be a larger part of my life), it can sometimes be difficult to get commitment from people to serve in their own churches, much less in another culture or country.

And, yeah, I kind of don’t understand the “missionary calling” either for the same reasons you state. It seems to make us missionaries a Hired Gun For Conversion and absolves others from witnessing to those in their homeland.

By: Ambar

Ambar — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 04:32:02 +0000

C.Holland:
I know it´s been a while since the time of your post, but just to answer your question to why the local churches in your home country will want you back… I´m currently looking for information on Missions because we have about ten people in our church who say they have a missionary heart and even a place to go! And you know what, they´re here, they´ve been here and they´re not going. The fact that you can COMMIT, when you are involved in ministry it´s huge. The fact that you are listening to God´s voice and OBEYing him, THAT´S what your local church sees, and they´re probably hoping that the Lord might lead you back to them so that YOU can SERVE Him, with them in the same space… you´ve shown your commitment to the Lord and it´s so hard to see that in our churches sometimes.
Lately I´ve been having a real problem understanding this people with a missionary calling, I think we are all called to be missionaries in a way, to bring the good news to the world. If you cannot do it in your own country or even in your city or your own family, then what are you talking about.
By the way I live in South America, and maybe things are a bit different here… but maybe not, and it´s just the way people are everywhere.
To all you missionaries out there, God bless you and use you everyday that you serve

By: Karl

Karl — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:29:14 +0000

@TaiFu Your accusation that many mission agencies require people to be wealthy and have supporting churches so that the agency can make a profit is a gross exaggeration, to say the least. Here are a couple thoughts to consider:

1) The vast majority of people who work with mission agencies (whether on the home side, or on the field) are not in it for the money. They could be making much more in secular work. There is a lot of budget tightening that goes on to help missionaries stay on the field, both by the missionaries on the field and the agency that sends them on the home side. I imagine that there are some agencies that abuse the trust of supporters and work for profit, but to say “many” is a reckless untruth.

2) Most mission agencies require missionaries to have supporting churches so that they can more fully devote their time to direct ministry on the field without the distraction of full-time secular employment as well. It is the same reason why many churches find a way to pay their pastor – so that he can devote more time to preaching, visitation, and caring for the flock.

3) Most mission agencies want their missionaries to have the endorsement of at least one home church for reasons of accountability. Anyone can say that he feels like God is calling him to be a missionary, but when you have the endorsement of a church body, the mission agency can have more confidence that the missionary that they are getting is a loose cannon or an otherwise unqualified/incompetent person who is rashly entering into mission work.

Whether you have a missions agency or not, or whether you are doing “full-time” supported missionary work or bivocational missions as tentmaker, it is vital to have the approval and support of a home congregation. The support *could* be financial but need not be, depending on the type of missions that are done.

Missions can be done (and is being done in many places) without financial support from home but missions should rarely be done without the approval and prayer support of your home church.
.-= Karl´s last blog ..Pray for Thailand 2010 =-.

By: Tai Fu

Tai Fu — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:31:40 +0000

I think most people are afraid of doing missions work on their own outside of getting a secular job in the country they want to be in (which for Western Europe it’s very hard if you have no extensive professional background). Many people myself included often say that I wouldn’t do missions because I am not wealthy or I have no connections with churches who will support me. However now I learned that those aren’t the prerequisite for missions even though many missionary sending agencies make it so (I suspect it’s because they’re out to make a profit). I believe God chooses who he sends and he sends his missionary, no other qualification should be required. In the Gospel Jesus sent his disciple on missions trip, instructing them not to take any money but instead lives off of the people they minister to, but earning their keep at the same time. I believe Count Zinzendorf had missionaries do that as well. I think today people seems to think that money rules their life and that “Oh if God wants me to go he’ll provide the money and church backing and etc.” but I feel sometimes the lack of finances or church support may be a test of your faith and a way to strengthen you. I have read about missionaries in modern time who had almost zero church support (in fact he is rejected by his church for not doing it the “proper” way) yet still went because God said to go. I think in my life I could not have made it for the last few months if it wasn’t for God’s provision and it really does strengthen my faith in God.
.-= Tai Fu´s last blog ..Happy new year =-.