What are some challenges you’re facing? I
The high cost of doing missions can discourage workers and sponsoring churches, for workers must spend much time finding new support or convincing current supporters to continue.
Weariness can set in on the part of the supporting church, on the part of the worker, and on the mission church.
The sponsoring church may ask itself questions like: What are we getting out of this? How is it forming our members at home? Doesn’t it make more since to use the resources here than abroad? Does the mission work create excitement and enthusiasm in the local body? Are we putting our money where it can get the biggest bang for its buck?
The worker can doubt his effectiveness or try to compete (or feel incapable of competing) with churches that have greater resources. She may feel that she is wasting her time in a hard field.
The mission church itself may feel like a foreigner in her native land, and may wonder if it’s worth the cost of persevering when so many friends and family members do not understand their “fanaticism” (that is that God has invaded every compartment of their lives).
There are many other challenges: the focus of sponsoring churches on short-term missions rather than long-term, loneliness on "the field", discouragement (how to deal with lack of growth or the loss of members), keeping church identity without becoming sectarian, etc. Some are unique to mission churches. Others are common to all church families and workers.
October 24th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
On my home front and in my local church, one of the challenges or perhaps “concerns” would be a better word is that many congregations have dwindling membership, especially among some longstanding congregations where members are older, the younger ones have moved further out (east in our case), and those left have health problems or are of an age that preclude many of the activities and works they used to be involved in. Close on its heals, of course, with dwindling membership is dwindling financial funds with which to function. And that decreases what is able to be done on the mission field. My congregation supports at least one full-time missionary in S. Africa and some others. We aren’t the sponsoring congregation, however. But there’s one thing that always amazes me about my brothers and sisters as they age, is that so many, rather than being discouraged, hang tenaciously to their faith and are some of the most loving and caring people I’ve ever been associated with.
For those of you, like you and your family, who are in the trenches of mission work, you have my love and prayers.
October 24th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
This post is a must-read for every person who attends any congregation which gives you support. I pray that people can understand that mission work isn’t about numbers or “production.” There is far more going on, both in the lives that are touched abroad and in the spirit of support given at home. Sending out God-permeated souls into a God-starved world can only be good.
October 24th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
I’ve been on your side as a child observing the challenges and struggles of my missionary parents. I remember when we were working with AIM students my dad received word that a particular church was no longer going to support him. A few weeks later the new batch of AIM students appeared along with a couple of MARK students one of which was the new recipient of the support from the church which was being given to my dad. Challenging indeed.
When I get frustrated with stateside ministry I think about going into overseas ministry. The reality of course is we will endure frustration and disappointment and even heartache regardless which side of the ocean we minister.
Grace and Peace be yours in abundance and joy from the Holy Spirit as you labor for God’s people and in many cases in spite of God’s people.
October 25th, 2007 at 10:04 am
Dr. Bill Glasser of “Reality Thearpy” and “Quality School” fame states that we have a tendency to “value people who work with things over people who work with people.” I think this is not only true but it can pervade the church as well.
Hang in there my brother and may all of us have our eyes opened to the importance of missions.
October 25th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
You have all the frustration of ministry in general, and then shoulder this particular burden. Sometimes I honestly don’t know how you keep on keeping on. Well, I do know, but it’s still amazing that you do!!