A Life in Exile

When the Lord calls us to make disciples of all nations, it sometimes takes a while to figure out how. In our modern-day world of nations and borders with specific rules about who can live, work, or stay, it’s not always easy to just pick up your bags and go. Each country has certain requirements for foreign nationals, like the AIDS test my husband and I had to get upon entering Syria. Getting your driver’s license can be a nightmare, not to mention the number of stamps required from countless officials to certify your marriage license, a request for a residency permit, or a business license.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when you consider doing day-to-day business in another language you’ve yet to learn and you know no one in the country. We know the stories of those who have “gone it alone” to the nations, but it’s not easy and comes at a great price.

We need the Body to do missions.

When Jesus sent his disciples out to their own people, he sent them out two-by-two. There were no lone wolves in the Kingdom work, even then. We’re not Jesus—we need each other. Jesus knew that, which is why he chose the twelve in the first place. They would need, not only the power of the Holy Spirit, but each other to sharpen and encourage one another, to hold each other accountable, and even to provide a group with whom they could rejoice together on what God was doing in and through them.

What our Lord demonstrated from the beginning is what he wants us to continue to do as the Day draws near—working together for all the nations to hear. He does this first in the home, in the Church, and through Christian organizations established to facilitate the sent ones. We see part of that modeled through Paul and Barnabas, as they were sent out by the church in Antioch. They were supported in prayer and finances through that church, and after they finished their first journey, the men returned to tell the stories of all God had done through their joint efforts.

Not every church can go it alone.

It’s not always easy for a single church to support everyone from their fellowship who feels led to go to the nations. Smaller churches struggle with budget restraints and the resources to adequately train and prepare workers. Even large and mega churches may lack expertise in some areas needed for service to an unreached people group. It’s not necessarily the size that limits a church from providing for future missionaries. There’s a need for some specialized training that the average church can’t supply.

Thus, the reason we connect with mission-sending organizations.

As the world has become more complex and the number of people being called increases, God has allowed for Christians to establish organizations to facilitate the called. For me, as a Southern Baptist, it was the International Mission Board or the North American Mission Board. Our churches contribute to the cause of missions through both the Cooperative Program of giving and two other specific mission offerings. For other denominations and churches, there are sending organizations specific to their denomination or that serve across denominational lines, like Operation Mobilization, Frontiers, or Beyond.

I’m grateful for the people who serve in these organizations, because they too have a specific call—to equip the saints to fulfill the Great Commission. It reminds me of what Jesus said about the harvest.

Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready for harvest. The reaper is already receiving pay and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap what you didn’t labor for; others have labored, and you have benefited from their labor.” (John 4:35b-38 CSB, emphasis added)

Those who help prepare and support the laborers are part of the harvest process and can rejoice with the sower and reaper over all that God does in the field. It’s all an illustration of how each part of the Body works together, and it’s a beautiful thing.

But it’s imperfect.

Just as the majority of Paul’s letters to the churches dealt with conflicts and misunderstandings between believers, mission organizations are made up of the same fallible people as our local churches. There is no “perfect” mission organization. As much as I love the one I worked under, my late husband and I both saw her weaknesses and mistakes over the years. Sometimes, we were victims of poor decisions or watched beloved colleagues hurt.

I will never forget the wisdom given by a very special colleague and former boss of ours. Years ago, when a lot of changes were happening in our organization, he was essentially pushed out of his position. When we were finally able to reconnect, I was impressed by his peace and calm over the matter. He said they made a choice not to let bitterness have its way in their lives. They would submit and trust God to work out his will and way, even through this difficult and seemingly “wrongful” action. Over the next twenty or so years, I watched them return to the States, serve in an unchurched area as pastor, and then later return to their favorite region of the world to serve in a House of Prayer, filling a need. They would retire again, but in every stage of life, wherever God took them, they remained focused on the works the Lord had prepared in advance for them to do.

I share their story because it can be easy to be offended or wronged by organizations that carry the name of Christ. In our fallibility, we forget that we’re working for organizations made up of fallible people. Yes, we all serve God and work to do his will with excellence, but we sometimes miss the mark. If I’ve done it in my own mission service, how can I not expect supervisors, bosses, or mission administrations to not also have their low moments.

Practicing truth and grace.

When our organization went through one of its many “swings” of the pendulum in leadership and focus, missionaries were required to sign our statement of faith. This became a point of contention for many, but because we were on the field and not in the middle of the muck of denominational politics, my husband and I talked about what it would mean. Not signing meant we went home. Signing meant we could remain and serve. We read through the statement together and decided to sign. God was doing great things in our work, and it was not time to jeopardize that momentum. We signed and pressed on, though we lost the fellowship of other colleagues in the process.

Your organization may be doing things that make it hard to continue. In prayer, ask God to give you guidance in weighing the cost in your service. It’s okay to question your leadership. Send emails, seek clarity and understanding with respect and grace. Express your doubts and concerns, and see if there is room for compromise. Talk it out with your supervisor. Keep bitterness and anger at bay, asking God to give you peace and direction through this conflict.

Sometimes God uses conflicts with leadership to move you in a new direction. We did our best to push back at having to leave one country, but ultimately submitted and saw the Lord do great things in our new place of service. Remember that God would use the “poor decision” of an entire religious body to see his Son fulfill prophecy through his death on the cross. Few of us meet death through the bad decisions of our mission organizations, but there can be an initial painful cost God uses to lead to a future, fruitful gain.

We don’t always get it right in churches, mission organizations, or as personnel on the field, but the Lord still chooses to fulfill his call to the nations through us all. He uses fallible, cracked pots that he might shine through our weaknesses to his glory. It’s one of the mysteries of his choosing that we will only understand on the other side of glory. Until then, we press on toward the prize, scraped knees, turned ankles, wounded pride, and all.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Mission Monday post, click HERE, or check out these other posts on serving in organizations: Don’t Forget the Church, The Sending Celebration, Go Experience, Go for Good, Stand Your Ground, I Disagree,  and To Speak or Not to Speak.