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Engagement with workers is vital
More than two decades ago, Ursula and I learned to know Brad and Erin, a young couple with exceptional gifts, wonderful sensitivities and a passion for God’s mission. When this couple came to seminary, we remember thinking that some community where they eventually would serve would be blessed to have them. Brad and Erin experienced great discomfort, however, in promoting themselves. Forced by their church to pursue the model of “faith missions,” they gave it their best effort. Despite their valiant attempt, when their two years of seminary ended, so too did their dream of serving God in Africa. They had not raised enough money to satisfy the sending agency. Faith missions had failed them. Heartbroken, they moved on to secular jobs. In the commissioning of Paul and Barnabas by the church in Antioch, we see a key to effective mission. First, Paul and Barnabas opened themselves both to the prompting of the Spirit and to the discernment of the congregation. They stepped forward in faith and aligned their life’s path with God’s purposes rather than their own career paths. Second, the community at Antioch invited Paul and Barnabas to receive their blessing to carry the gospel deeper into the Gentile world. Whether God spoke first to Paul and Barnabas or to the congregation seems immaterial. We must allow the Spirit the freedom to work in sometimes surprising ways to advance God’s purposes. Several factors, therefore, are important: confirmation by those called and those who in the name of God send (since the mission is God’s and God is the sender), alignment of the assignment with God’s purposes, and agreement that the people to be sent are submitted to God’s purposes rather than their own aspirations. A third important dimension is that the congregation, by their affirmation of God’s call upon those sent, pledges its support. This support is multidimensional. The congregation provides the moral, spiritual foundation that validates the call and the assignment — a crucial underpinning that those who are sent will need when times of loneliness and doubt set in. In addition, the congregation provides prayer support. Mission does not begin until prayer begins. There will be times in every mission worker’s ministry when prayer is the most needed support. The prayers of the congregation also are an effective connection of the faith community to the mission assignment. Further, the congregation offers emotional support through letters, calls and visits. This framework of support and accountability is essential for the health of the workers and the mission assignment. If this support—discernment, affirmation, prayer, letters, calls and visits (both ways)—are missing, the congregation becomes disengaged, and mission becomes the privilege, or onus, of the mission workers rather than of the community of believers. In the absence of this connectedness, the workers become “lone rangers,” and the congregation loses its excitement and participation in mission. For these reasons, Mennonite Mission Network rejects the faith-missions model. We believe that mission is a life-giving partnership and a faith-expanding engagement. Both the workers and the congregation of the ones sent place their lives in God’s hands. Both have faith that God will provide and use the gifts of the partnership for God’s purposes of healing and hope in the world. If we define faith missions to mean that workers are on their own and, therefore, have to put as much faith in their own efforts (to “sell” the assignment they feel called to) as they put faith in God, then we have no interest in this mode of mission. We believe that the mission is God’s. It is God who calls women and men by the Spirit to submit their lives to God’s purpose. The congregation discerns and commissions. We believe that healthy mission results when congregations and workers enter into partnerships that make helpful support and positive accountability possible. Contrast the stories in this Beyond Ourselves with that of Brad and Erin. Some congregation missed the joy, excitement and passion of this couple for mission, which could have deepened their own. Alone, Brad and Erin were not able to use the gifts God had entrusted to them in mission. Which is why we say that it is “Together [that we will participate in], sharing all of Christ with all of creation.” zzWe thank you for going with us on this journey of alignment with God’s purposes, and we share with you our appreciation for your support as we seek to serve God’s mission in the world. In this issue: Features Additional Articles Viewpoints |
