A Life in Exile

I had a recent conversation with an overseas worker who was struggling with her effectiveness as a missionary. She found it hard to relate what she does to her American supporters who understand “work” as a 9-to-5 job in an office. She said, “It is hard to feel like you ever clock in or clock out in this role.” Not only is the relational work of missions difficult to convey to home churches, but also, the lack of a visual ROI (return on investment). Are Christians getting their “money’s worth” in supporting me, when I can show not a single new believer this past year?

I want to break these concerns into two parts today, because there are two distinct issues that many, like my friend, face in missions service.

The 9-to-5 trap

We have done a disservice in our congregations by failing to apply passages such as the Great Commission in Matthew 28 to all believers. Instead, we have put it on the backs of pastors and vocational missionaries and thus elevated them to a different level of service for the Kingdom. While the average church-goer returns to the office on Mondays and separates their religious observance from their secular responsibilities, pastors and missionaries are “on call” 24/7, 365 days a year.

I’ve lived this life, both in the States and overseas, and have had friends refer to our home as an aircraft carrier, where people were always coming and going, nonstop. My late husband was expected to open the door or answer the phone at all hours of the day and night. There was no “turning off” or closing the door to our call to make disciples and share the gospel.

I don’t say this to make you praise us or feel sorry for us. This was our call, and I would not change those years for anything. I saw God at work in the lives of people, and I’m just glad I was able to witness it. Was it easy? No. Did we have to make adjustments and sometimes say no? Yes.

While some male missionaries may have an office, few have set hours. Missionary wives, however, are often relegated to the home, taking care of children or hosting guests. This can be a huge shock for women who have worked prior to service, and while there are many rewards for being a full-time mother and hostess, a woman can feel unsettled if she’s not seeing fruit from all she does.

I’ve been watching a police drama and was reminded of a common reality for most in law enforcement: You are never “off” duty. Even if you are not wearing your uniform, if you see a crime being committed, your training and duty kick in, compelling you to respond. I thought about this in relation to mission work. How many times did my sons roll their eyes as they watched their dad share the gospel with a hotel worker while we were supposed to be “on vacation”? He could relax, but he could never ignore the prodding of the Spirit to speak into the life of a person who needed Jesus. In my car, a cross still hangs, given to us by a man who ran the small gas station and gift shop near our favorite resort on the Red Sea. He was Muslim, but loved talking with my husband. When a Muslim gives you a cross, you take it.

Can we do better at conveying what we do to our home-team supporters? Yes. Can we always expect them to understand our lives? No. However, I believe that as we convey the truth of the Great Commission, we can begin to impact how stateside supporters begin to view their own call to make disciples. Ask them questions about how they use their homes to welcome the stranger and as lighthouses to their neighborhoods. Once they grasp that none of us are “off duty” in our call as ambassadors for Christ, they can better appreciate our efforts on the field.

The ROI trap

Satan loves nothing better than to make us feel unworthy as missionaries. Unfortunately, he sometimes has help from Christians who are too focused on the bottom line and not the purpose of our presence on the field. I wonder if they would have maintained support for William Carey, known as the Father of Modern Missions, as he continued for seven years without a single convert.

What is the worth of a missionary? What is the price we are willing to pay for a single Christian couple to live among a heathen population of thousands? What are we willing to give in order for the Bible to be translated into a language that could impact an entire people group? Can we really talk about return on investment in financial terms?

While Christians are the most giving people in the world, investing in non-profits and donating millions to missions and other good causes, we also can be the most demanding in what we expect from those we support. If you’re a stateside church member reading this, I pray you will search your heart on this matter. How can we better support our missionaries who struggle with sharing concrete “results” from their work on the field? Do we give them grace to share when no one has come to faith? When they’ve spent the last term trying to learn a difficult language and keep their family together, are we understanding? Do we ask them what they need, how we can help, and a list of prayer requests? Do we give only when we see them visit in person, or are we faithfully supporting their work year in and year out?

If you’re speaking to churches about your work, and your focus has been on language, educating your children, or supporting your spouse, recognize the value of those important tasks and boldly share what that looks like as you live on the field. Not only will supporters grow in their appreciation of what you are striving to do, but they will also learn to recognize that “mission” work is their work too, as we all seek to live out the Christ-filled life in our homes, schools, and marketplaces. Be willing to talk to women’s groups about your mutual struggles as Christian wives, mothers, and missionaries. Help them to pray for you, as you covet to pray for them. Build the mutual bond as Christian women.

Don’t apologize for your work. Would you love to report thousands of conversions? Absolutely. But, will you be just as excited to share that one local woman entered your home and marveled at the peace she found? Absolutely. Why? Because that was a God-moment. And when God does a thing, even when we don’t see the end result, He does. We work for the One who sees the beginning from the end. We do the best we can with the pieces He gives us for the day, He puts it all together for His glory.

There’s no trap in resting in Christ.

Whatever your day may look like on the field, whatever the expectations your supporters may have, when we rest in the call of Christ to go and make disciples, He works all things for our good and for His good purposes. It’s not a trap; it’s a rock of calm assurance as we press on to do the good works He has prepared in advance for us to do in Christ Jesus.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Mission Monday post, click HERE, or check out these other posts on expectations and supporting churches: Give a Gift to Bless the Nations, Expectation Check, Imposter Syndrome, Don’t Forget the Church, Don’t Forget the Wives, and Antioch Stories.