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We do the same thing in evangelism and church planting.
For example, we, the mission leaders in Thailand, rented a building in Chiang Mai. We found a man to be a pastor. We installed him. We paid him. This method has worked in other places, so we thought it would work in Chiang Mai. But the church failed to grow. When we stopped paying the pastor, he left.
There were still a few people attending the services, so we found another pastor, one that was good with music. Good music has helped other churches to grow, so we thought it would work in Chiang Mai. But the church still did not grow.
Throughout that period of time we had big evangelism meetings and emphases. Nothing worked. The faithful few, still hanging in there, found a new pastor. This time it was a single lady, Siripawn. Despite her attempts using strategies that have worked well in other areas of the world to equip, empower and encourage the members to do the work of the church, nothing has worked.
Recently Pastor Siripawn has been working in a neighboring community through a soccer program, another great strategy that has yielded many saved lives elsewhere and a few saved lives in the neighboring community, but the sponsoring church is not growing.
Why do we still believe the myth that one size fits all when it comes to participating in God’s mission? Why do we think there is a magic key that will unlock the door to growth?
And why do we go on, when everything fails, trying to share Jesus with people who just don’t seem interested? Shouldn’t we move on to places where the investment of our time and resources is rewarded with growth?
There are times when I am a frustrated missionary. Those times pop up when some kind soul suggests that I need to use a different method of evangelism or when I hear the “great success” stories of other missionaries from areas where the church is rapidly expanding.
Too many of us believe that if we have the right program or method or tool, successful evangelism will be automatic.
Why invest in “hard soil”?
I serve as a missionary in South East Asia, more accurately, the Indochina Peninsula (for this essay my definition of the peninsula includes five countries: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam). It is an area that the Asia Pacific Regional Director Mark Louw, has called “hard soil.”
For example, there are more Christians in China than on the Indochina Peninsula. The unreached in China is 13% of their population while 60% of the Indochina population is considered unreached. There are more Christians in China, 107 million, 7.8% of the Chinese population, than on the Indochina peninsula, 15.131 million, of which Christians are 6.4% of the population. (These are numbers that are derived from statistics published by the Joshua Project.http://legacy.joshuaproject.net/10-40-window.php) I offer these numbers merely for the sake of comparison.
I am not the first missionary to come to this peninsula, not even the first Nazarene missionary to work here. Missionaries have been in Indochina for over 500 years. Why is the growth so slow? Have none of the missionaries been good missionaries? Did all of us miss the one missionary class on explosive growth for the Christian church? Are we all using the wrong evangelism method? Why do we continue to send people to places that are hard soil and see minimal results?
There were still a few people attending the services, so we found another pastor, one that was good with music. Good music has helped other churches to grow, so we thought it would work in Chiang Mai. But the church still did not grow.
Throughout that period of time we had big evangelism meetings and emphases. Nothing worked. The faithful few, still hanging in there, found a new pastor. This time it was a single lady, Siripawn. Despite her attempts using strategies that have worked well in other areas of the world to equip, empower and encourage the members to do the work of the church, nothing has worked.
Recently Pastor Siripawn has been working in a neighboring community through a soccer program, another great strategy that has yielded many saved lives elsewhere and a few saved lives in the neighboring community, but the sponsoring church is not growing.
Why do we still believe the myth that one size fits all when it comes to participating in God’s mission? Why do we think there is a magic key that will unlock the door to growth?
And why do we go on, when everything fails, trying to share Jesus with people who just don’t seem interested? Shouldn’t we move on to places where the investment of our time and resources is rewarded with growth?
There are times when I am a frustrated missionary. Those times pop up when some kind soul suggests that I need to use a different method of evangelism or when I hear the “great success” stories of other missionaries from areas where the church is rapidly expanding.
Too many of us believe that if we have the right program or method or tool, successful evangelism will be automatic.
Why invest in “hard soil”?
I serve as a missionary in South East Asia, more accurately, the Indochina Peninsula (for this essay my definition of the peninsula includes five countries: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam). It is an area that the Asia Pacific Regional Director Mark Louw, has called “hard soil.”
For example, there are more Christians in China than on the Indochina Peninsula. The unreached in China is 13% of their population while 60% of the Indochina population is considered unreached. There are more Christians in China, 107 million, 7.8% of the Chinese population, than on the Indochina peninsula, 15.131 million, of which Christians are 6.4% of the population. (These are numbers that are derived from statistics published by the Joshua Project.http://legacy.joshuaproject.net/10-40-window.php) I offer these numbers merely for the sake of comparison.
I am not the first missionary to come to this peninsula, not even the first Nazarene missionary to work here. Missionaries have been in Indochina for over 500 years. Why is the growth so slow? Have none of the missionaries been good missionaries? Did all of us miss the one missionary class on explosive growth for the Christian church? Are we all using the wrong evangelism method? Why do we continue to send people to places that are hard soil and see minimal results?
“Common sense” and human wisdom might suggest that our church should stop sending missionaries here and just invest in the more productive areas. Let’s not waste our resources in the low-yield areas of the world.
Obedience versus success
Hopefully, that last suggestion curdled the cream in your coffee. We have been sent to the whole world so that the whole world will know the Lord of life and light, Jesus, the anointed one of God the Father, the Father’s only Son. It is only through the Son that we, or anyone, can know our heavenly Father.
So what keeps a person in such a difficult place? First and foremost it is the call of God. When one knows without any doubt that one is being obedient to the call, one will usually not shirk from the task.
On a personal note, what has kept me and my wife here? The bottom line: trust in the One who called us. We are grateful for the opportunity to see a few transformed lives. Pascal, my neighbor who is a Dutchman married to a Thai lady, has found Jesus. Somehow Pascal heard Jesus’ voice and continues to grow in Christ.
Jeuk tells me how God is working in his life and how his life has been changing. Nkaub has shared how God has helped him to deal with some attitudinal situations that he has faced. Michai, a pastor, is faithful despite the apparent failure to make an impact on his community. Siripawn continues to minister even though there is no growth.
I believe every victory is a big victory. God moving in others’ lives and in mine tells the story of Jesus’ love for us. This encourages me because I see God at work. That is what keeps me here.
If I get to see the results of my obedience, great! If I don’t see the results, that is OK, too, because my part is only to offer myself. I don’t offer myself to God only if He will do what I want Him to do. When I give my financial offering to the church, I don’t give with strings attached. I give to God because I love Him and trust Him to work without my personal guidance.
Results belong to God
It is perhaps also necessary to remember the task to which God has called all of us, namely proclamation. Salvation and conversion belongs to God alone. We are to proclaim and to disciple. While we all desire success, success is only truly defined by being obedient to God’s Word.
Ten years ago God began speaking to me. Eight years ago those conversations sent me to Phabujom, a village in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Six years ago it appeared that many significant decisions had been made for Christ: 11 families declared that they were now Christian. Two of those men have stuck with it. The others have fallen away. For all my effort to connect this beginning with our local district, nothing has yet come of it. Should I be disappointed? Has my time been wasted?
Obedience versus success
Hopefully, that last suggestion curdled the cream in your coffee. We have been sent to the whole world so that the whole world will know the Lord of life and light, Jesus, the anointed one of God the Father, the Father’s only Son. It is only through the Son that we, or anyone, can know our heavenly Father.
So what keeps a person in such a difficult place? First and foremost it is the call of God. When one knows without any doubt that one is being obedient to the call, one will usually not shirk from the task.
On a personal note, what has kept me and my wife here? The bottom line: trust in the One who called us. We are grateful for the opportunity to see a few transformed lives. Pascal, my neighbor who is a Dutchman married to a Thai lady, has found Jesus. Somehow Pascal heard Jesus’ voice and continues to grow in Christ.
Jeuk tells me how God is working in his life and how his life has been changing. Nkaub has shared how God has helped him to deal with some attitudinal situations that he has faced. Michai, a pastor, is faithful despite the apparent failure to make an impact on his community. Siripawn continues to minister even though there is no growth.
I believe every victory is a big victory. God moving in others’ lives and in mine tells the story of Jesus’ love for us. This encourages me because I see God at work. That is what keeps me here.
If I get to see the results of my obedience, great! If I don’t see the results, that is OK, too, because my part is only to offer myself. I don’t offer myself to God only if He will do what I want Him to do. When I give my financial offering to the church, I don’t give with strings attached. I give to God because I love Him and trust Him to work without my personal guidance.
Results belong to God
It is perhaps also necessary to remember the task to which God has called all of us, namely proclamation. Salvation and conversion belongs to God alone. We are to proclaim and to disciple. While we all desire success, success is only truly defined by being obedient to God’s Word.
Ten years ago God began speaking to me. Eight years ago those conversations sent me to Phabujom, a village in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Six years ago it appeared that many significant decisions had been made for Christ: 11 families declared that they were now Christian. Two of those men have stuck with it. The others have fallen away. For all my effort to connect this beginning with our local district, nothing has yet come of it. Should I be disappointed? Has my time been wasted?
We do not invest as the business world invests. We invest not because we are promised to reap a large reward. We invest because a God who cared for you and me also cares for that young child, that lonely mother, that father working so hard to support his family in a difficult situation. God cares about that person in jail, the person in the hospital, the beggar on the street, your next door neighbor, that person on the other side of the globe that has never heard about Jesus. God cares for the person bound by addictions or fear, social constraints or governmental oppression.
We must remember that we invest resources to teach and to disciple so that others will know of God’s love, not just so that we can report increases in statistical reports and then pat ourselves on the back for a job well done.
We may have tried every strategy, every program, every new, trendy ministry idea. And we remain persistent even when these strategies seem to fail. We weep before God for the lost (see Jeremiah 3:21; 9:1, 10; 13:17; 48:32; 50:4).
We sell all, metaphorically at the very least, because we need nothing else to follow Jesus. Nothing else matters. There is one sheep that is lost in the wilderness, and according to Jesus’ parable, the shepherd leaves everything behind to find just that one sheep.
In the same way, Jesus left everything to come to this world and live like us, then die for us. Are we followers? Do we truly give up everything to seek and find so that our Father can save?
This is mission work. This is the work to which we are called. We can’t just be a good Christian without the “going”. Missions can outwardly appear to be foolishness and wasted resources. But every soul is dear to our Father.
I rejoice regularly because God has allowed me to observe what he has been doing in a small Hmong village at the end of a road – the uttermost parts. My Father is gracious in allowing me to see what may appear to be small victories. It’s God’s work using the insignificant, the unlikely, the disenfranchised to work wonders beyond our imagination.
Many times in the Scriptures we see how God works a similar outcome but in different ways, for example, dividing the waters so that His people could walk across the Jordan River on dry ground. Twice, Moses was commanded to produce water from a rock, the first time by striking and the second time by speaking to it. The various times that Jesus healed a blind person, the miracle did not follow the same method. There are many more examples throughout the Scripture.
We must remember that we invest resources to teach and to disciple so that others will know of God’s love, not just so that we can report increases in statistical reports and then pat ourselves on the back for a job well done.
We may have tried every strategy, every program, every new, trendy ministry idea. And we remain persistent even when these strategies seem to fail. We weep before God for the lost (see Jeremiah 3:21; 9:1, 10; 13:17; 48:32; 50:4).
We sell all, metaphorically at the very least, because we need nothing else to follow Jesus. Nothing else matters. There is one sheep that is lost in the wilderness, and according to Jesus’ parable, the shepherd leaves everything behind to find just that one sheep.
In the same way, Jesus left everything to come to this world and live like us, then die for us. Are we followers? Do we truly give up everything to seek and find so that our Father can save?
This is mission work. This is the work to which we are called. We can’t just be a good Christian without the “going”. Missions can outwardly appear to be foolishness and wasted resources. But every soul is dear to our Father.
I rejoice regularly because God has allowed me to observe what he has been doing in a small Hmong village at the end of a road – the uttermost parts. My Father is gracious in allowing me to see what may appear to be small victories. It’s God’s work using the insignificant, the unlikely, the disenfranchised to work wonders beyond our imagination.
Many times in the Scriptures we see how God works a similar outcome but in different ways, for example, dividing the waters so that His people could walk across the Jordan River on dry ground. Twice, Moses was commanded to produce water from a rock, the first time by striking and the second time by speaking to it. The various times that Jesus healed a blind person, the miracle did not follow the same method. There are many more examples throughout the Scripture.
God works in new ways. His wonders never cease. The Revelator recorded words of Jesus, “Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.” (Rev. 2:11, The Voice, Thomas Nelson Pub.) I want to hear the Wind Words. Obedience to Christ will yield the results that He desires in our life and our work. That is why we follow Jesus and not our own understanding.
One size doesn’t fit all.[Kent and Kathleen Pelton have been serving the Church of the Nazarene as missionaries since 1994. Since 2000 they have served in Thailand. Kent is serving in church planting and is chairman of The Golden Path, a Nazarene foundation in Thailand established for the development of children and youth through education and literature. Kathleen serves an administrative role for the Southeast Asia Field.]
Read more about their ministry in their Engage missionary profile.
The Heart of God: Signs of the coming End Times by Howard CulbertsonThis Good News about the Kingdom will be preached through all the world for a witness to all people; and then the end will come.” -- Matthew 24:14 (Good News Translation)
One size doesn’t fit all.[Kent and Kathleen Pelton have been serving the Church of the Nazarene as missionaries since 1994. Since 2000 they have served in Thailand. Kent is serving in church planting and is chairman of The Golden Path, a Nazarene foundation in Thailand established for the development of children and youth through education and literature. Kathleen serves an administrative role for the Southeast Asia Field.]
Read more about their ministry in their Engage missionary profile.
Throughout Christian history, there have been believers speculating that the prophesied End Times were just about to start. Some audacious ones have even set specific dates. Not long ago, for example, radio preacher Harold Camping had people talking about his declaration that the present world order was going to end in May of 2011. When that did not happen, Camping revised his prediction foward a few months to October. By the way, he had earlier set 1994 as the year when the End Times would arrive.
In 1988, a best-selling book by former NASA engineer Edgar Whisenant predicted that the Rapture of believers would happen that year in September. Pat Robertson had predicted it for 1982. The Jehovah’s Witnesses last calculation for the end of history as we know it indicated 1975 would be the year. Herbert W. Armstrong, founder of the Worldwide Church of God, predicted the End Times would begin in 1972.
All those predictions were wrong (for a long list of erroneous End Times predictions:http://tinyurl.com/d3t7kh7). Almost none of those touting a precise timetable seem to take into account Matthew 24:14. People predicting End Times dates usually focus on things like wars, increasing wickedness and natural disasters. They talk about bad things like the increased fierceness of storms, the surge of killer viruses, severe famines and droughts, and escalating tensions between nations.
What they rarely point to are Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:14 in which He said the ultimate End Times sign is the preaching of the gospel to all people.
One question to be raised about Matthew 24:14 is: What exactly does it envision? Does it mean getting the gospel to every single person on earth? The term translated “people” in Matthew 24:14 is plural and thus could or should be rendered as “peoples.” In this sense Matthew 24:14 could mean having a viable Christian witness within every single ethnic and people group.
To be sure, whatever is envisioned, great progress has been made in accomplishing that task. The Good News of Jesus Christ is being preached today in more places around the world than ever before. Nonetheless, we still have a ways to go. At least 5,000 distinct people groups have no church planting movement in their midst.
Many of the doomsday “signs” which people seize on are things that generate fear. The sign Jesus gave in Matthew 24:14 -- the gospel being proclaimed everywhere -- should do the opposite. The thought of all people clearly hearing the Good News should generate delight at what will happen as we approach End Times.
If Matthew 24:14 is true, then declaring the Good News to the ends of the earth is not something optional. It has to be accomplished. Will we be an obedient part of making it happen?
Video: How the church in Lebanon is reaching out to Syrian refugees Since the violent civil war in Syria began, millions of refugees have fled to neighboring countries, including Lebanon. The Church of the Nazarene in Lebanon has responded to the needs of Syrian refugees with open doors and open hearts. With food, shelter, and opportunities for education, congregations are embodying the compassionate love of God in their communities.Through their ministry, a young boy named Ahmed, with dreams of being a professional musician, found the Lord.
In 1988, a best-selling book by former NASA engineer Edgar Whisenant predicted that the Rapture of believers would happen that year in September. Pat Robertson had predicted it for 1982. The Jehovah’s Witnesses last calculation for the end of history as we know it indicated 1975 would be the year. Herbert W. Armstrong, founder of the Worldwide Church of God, predicted the End Times would begin in 1972.
All those predictions were wrong (for a long list of erroneous End Times predictions:http://tinyurl.com/d3t7kh7). Almost none of those touting a precise timetable seem to take into account Matthew 24:14. People predicting End Times dates usually focus on things like wars, increasing wickedness and natural disasters. They talk about bad things like the increased fierceness of storms, the surge of killer viruses, severe famines and droughts, and escalating tensions between nations.
What they rarely point to are Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:14 in which He said the ultimate End Times sign is the preaching of the gospel to all people.
One question to be raised about Matthew 24:14 is: What exactly does it envision? Does it mean getting the gospel to every single person on earth? The term translated “people” in Matthew 24:14 is plural and thus could or should be rendered as “peoples.” In this sense Matthew 24:14 could mean having a viable Christian witness within every single ethnic and people group.
To be sure, whatever is envisioned, great progress has been made in accomplishing that task. The Good News of Jesus Christ is being preached today in more places around the world than ever before. Nonetheless, we still have a ways to go. At least 5,000 distinct people groups have no church planting movement in their midst.
Many of the doomsday “signs” which people seize on are things that generate fear. The sign Jesus gave in Matthew 24:14 -- the gospel being proclaimed everywhere -- should do the opposite. The thought of all people clearly hearing the Good News should generate delight at what will happen as we approach End Times.
If Matthew 24:14 is true, then declaring the Good News to the ends of the earth is not something optional. It has to be accomplished. Will we be an obedient part of making it happen?
Entiendo el contexto cultural, cómo ese letrero tenía sentido para quienes lo publicaron, y quizás eso es lo que lo hace más aterrador. Tenía sentido para los Nazis. Tiene sentido porque cada vez que usamos “nosotros y ellos” como lenguaje, entramos en las peligrosas aguas del egoísmo.
Hablamos de la gente que nunca va a la iglesia, de la gente que tiene diferente nacionalidad, lenguaje o esquema de colores, aquella gente que profesa una religión o una identidad sexual diferente. Y si ésta lista tiene sentido para ti, tenemos una razón para temer.
Cada vez que los brazos y las piernas que tenemos son usados para segregar y separar, dejamos de reflejar la imagen de Cristo en este mundo herido y sangrante. Y si estás leyendo esta publicación quizás deberías dejar de leer justo aquí, porque a donde voy tal vez no quieras seguirme.
Me dirijo justo hacia el interior de nuestros vecindarios, esas comunidades tranquilas, limpias y seguras. Justo ahí, desde donde nuestros niños caminan hacia la escuela y los camiones recogen la basura cada martes. Y desde ahí, doy vuelta en una esquina que no es muy popular, para decirles algo que no les gustará.
Si algún cristiano más me habla hoy sobre los métodos para hacer crecer la iglesia, voy a vomitar en sus zapatos los restos de mi platillo de ayer.
¿El crecimiento de la iglesia? No queremos que la iglesia crezca.
Debemos y podemos discutir lo que el concepto y la palabra “iglesia” significan realmente en el contexto de nuestro siglo XXI. Pero no en esta publicación, no esta vez.
Hoy me refiero a la invitación activa e intencional que le hacemos a la gente para involucrarse a nuestro ambiente de adoración. Evangelismo, si te gusta más ese término.
Así que, seamos honestos. Lo que realmente queremos es crear ambientes en los que podamos invitar y hacer sentí bienvenidos a gente como nosotros: seguros, bañaditos, con trabajo, respetables.
Los cristianos pre-empaquetados que exhiben las vitrinas de las iglesias son muy bonitos, pero tomamos al nuevo convertido, o a alguien con tatuajes mínimos que está a punto de deshacerse del desagradable hábito de la nicotina, con un lenguaje que va mejorando y la orientación sexual correcta, si y solo sí (y este es un gran SI) hay una alta probabilidad de que acepte a Jesús y empiece a cargar su Biblia.
No queremos a los demás. No verdaderamente.
Porque si lo hiciéramos, aplastaríamos esas barreras y nos moveríamos hacia el gueto, usaríamos nuestros brazos y piernas como unidades médicas móviles.
Podríamos hacer eso.
Y hasta que lo hagamos, no quiero asistir a otro seminario, tener otra conversación, o leer otro libro donde se quejen sobre esto, prescribiendo o presentando métodos para hacer crecer la iglesia.
Si realmente necesitamos un método para hacer crecer la iglesia, es este:
1. Encuentra a una persona. UNA persona que no luzca, huela, hable o viva como lo haces tú. Quizás sea el vecino que lleva un estilo de vida alternativo, o la chica de la tienda, aquella con el cabello morado y el tatuaje de la víbora. O quizás alguna persona del refugio para indigentes, o la casa de seguridad para mujeres rescatadas, o el chico vulnerable proveniente de una familia rota que grafitea las paredes con insultos, o quizás sea el dueño de la tienda pornográfica de tu ciudad.
2. Invítale un café esta semana y ora cada día por él.
3. Invítale un café la siguiente semana y ora cada día por él.
4. Repite el paso 3.
5 Eso es todo.
6. No, de verdad, eso es todo.
No necesitamos discutir estilos de adoración, baños limpios, paquetes de bienvenida o códigos de vestimenta. Desechemos el “cómo” atraer gente, pues toda esta conversación se basa en una pregunta honesta: ¿por qué está creciendo tu iglesia?
Si el crecimiento de tu iglesia se centra en la gente que se sienta los domingos por la mañana, que eleva las estadísticas y se canaliza en maestros de escuela dominical, líderes de adoración y programas juveniles de moda, definitivamente necesitan un seminario para hacer crecer la iglesia.
Pero si tienes el coraje de creer que un Jesús jadeante, supurante y doliente escogió un árbol porque Dios está intencionalmente presente en nuestra ruptura y quebrantamiento, entonces nuestra discusión ha terminado y podemos continuar. Hay que ir hacia el gueto. Literal y figurativamente hablando.
Podríamos hacer eso.
Y hasta que lo hagamos, no quiero asistir a otro seminario, tener otra conversación, o leer otro libro donde se quejen sobre esto, prescribiendo o presentando métodos para hacer crecer la iglesia.
Si realmente necesitamos un método para hacer crecer la iglesia, es este:
1. Encuentra a una persona. UNA persona que no luzca, huela, hable o viva como lo haces tú. Quizás sea el vecino que lleva un estilo de vida alternativo, o la chica de la tienda, aquella con el cabello morado y el tatuaje de la víbora. O quizás alguna persona del refugio para indigentes, o la casa de seguridad para mujeres rescatadas, o el chico vulnerable proveniente de una familia rota que grafitea las paredes con insultos, o quizás sea el dueño de la tienda pornográfica de tu ciudad.
2. Invítale un café esta semana y ora cada día por él.
3. Invítale un café la siguiente semana y ora cada día por él.
4. Repite el paso 3.
5 Eso es todo.
6. No, de verdad, eso es todo.
No necesitamos discutir estilos de adoración, baños limpios, paquetes de bienvenida o códigos de vestimenta. Desechemos el “cómo” atraer gente, pues toda esta conversación se basa en una pregunta honesta: ¿por qué está creciendo tu iglesia?
Si el crecimiento de tu iglesia se centra en la gente que se sienta los domingos por la mañana, que eleva las estadísticas y se canaliza en maestros de escuela dominical, líderes de adoración y programas juveniles de moda, definitivamente necesitan un seminario para hacer crecer la iglesia.
Pero si tienes el coraje de creer que un Jesús jadeante, supurante y doliente escogió un árbol porque Dios está intencionalmente presente en nuestra ruptura y quebrantamiento, entonces nuestra discusión ha terminado y podemos continuar. Hay que ir hacia el gueto. Literal y figurativamente hablando.
Porque Dios tenía la intención de que su cuerpo fuera roto por el dolor de Su humanidad. Tenía la intención de que su imagen gritara la canción de un lamento al aire libre, tenía la intención de que Sus brazos obstaculizaran el paso hacia los burdeles, y Sus piernas derribaran las puertas de esa trampa.
¿Quiéres que tu iglesia crezca? Usa tus manos y tus piernas.
Encuentra al adolescente que necesita tanto de ayuda económica que es materia prima para un padrote. Invierte en su vida: tu tiempo, tu atención, tu experiencia en el transcurso de los siguientes 5 años, sin ninguna garantía de que alguna vez asista a la iglesia.
Esfuérzate en conocer al pequeño hombre de negocios que lucha para mantener su tienda y que está siendo tentado a pagar injustamente salarios bajos para obtener alguna ganancia. Juega golf con él, conoce a sus hijos, compra en su tienda, convence a tus amigos de que compren en su tienda.
Invita a esa chica de familia disfuncional que buscará el amor en cualquier chico, prostituyendo su corazón y su cuerpo. Invítala a jugar con tus hijos, a quedarse para la cena. Invita a su mamá también.
Encuentra a quien se corta el cuerpo, al que odia a todo el mundo, al adicto, al ateo, al extremista, y pídele a Dios que te ayude a tener una conversación auténtica con ellos, sin vomitar “palabrerías cristianas” ni planear una estrategia sobre el tiempo que pasará antes de tener el derecho de llevarlos a la iglesia.
No estoy segura de sí el número de la membresía de tu iglesia aumentará. Francamente, no me importa. Pero esto sí sé, cuando la imagen de un portador se mueve a un vecindario donde vive el dolor, cuando lloramos y luchamos por ello y cantamos la canción de un lamento, ENTONCES SOMOS LA IGLESIA… y en contra de ESA Iglesia, las puertas del infierno no prevalecerán.
¿Quiéres que tu iglesia crezca? Usa tus manos y tus piernas.
Encuentra al adolescente que necesita tanto de ayuda económica que es materia prima para un padrote. Invierte en su vida: tu tiempo, tu atención, tu experiencia en el transcurso de los siguientes 5 años, sin ninguna garantía de que alguna vez asista a la iglesia.
Esfuérzate en conocer al pequeño hombre de negocios que lucha para mantener su tienda y que está siendo tentado a pagar injustamente salarios bajos para obtener alguna ganancia. Juega golf con él, conoce a sus hijos, compra en su tienda, convence a tus amigos de que compren en su tienda.
Invita a esa chica de familia disfuncional que buscará el amor en cualquier chico, prostituyendo su corazón y su cuerpo. Invítala a jugar con tus hijos, a quedarse para la cena. Invita a su mamá también.
Encuentra a quien se corta el cuerpo, al que odia a todo el mundo, al adicto, al ateo, al extremista, y pídele a Dios que te ayude a tener una conversación auténtica con ellos, sin vomitar “palabrerías cristianas” ni planear una estrategia sobre el tiempo que pasará antes de tener el derecho de llevarlos a la iglesia.
No estoy segura de sí el número de la membresía de tu iglesia aumentará. Francamente, no me importa. Pero esto sí sé, cuando la imagen de un portador se mueve a un vecindario donde vive el dolor, cuando lloramos y luchamos por ello y cantamos la canción de un lamento, ENTONCES SOMOS LA IGLESIA… y en contra de ESA Iglesia, las puertas del infierno no prevalecerán.
[Teanna Sunberg es misionera, mamá y una escritora que disfruta estudiar, escribir y leer sobre la misiología. Junto con su esposo Jay, tiene el gozo y privilegio de servir a la gente en el campo de Europa Central, en la Región de Eurasia. Actualmente su familia vive en Budapest, Hungría, pero también Bulgaria y Rusia han sido sus hogares en los pasados 17 años. Ha escrito varios artículos y capítulos de publicaciones relacionadas a las misiones, incluyendo el libro: “Misiones Nazarenas Internacionales”.]
I almost did it. I almost ran to the car this morning just wearing my flip flops. I got to the outside door and realized how cold it was, and more importantly realized how far the car was, and quickly calculated my odds. Yup, there was a good chance I was going to get scolded by a baka (Croatian word for grandmother). So, I went back inside and put socks and boots on.
Slowly, but surely, I’m being transformed by this culture, when it comes to many things, but surely when it comes to my feet. There is a clear distinction in my home now between inside shoes and outside shoes – something that didn’t exist where I grew up in the U.S. And I find, #1: my feet are more toasty, and #2, we have a cleaner floor.
Sometimes the fear of the baka is my motivator to not go outside in freezing cold weather in my flip flops, something I would’ve completely done in the States without anyone saying anything about it.
Once Dave shoveled snow for hours in the States in just his shorts. And nobody said a thing. But the fact that a baka would yell at me if I were to walk to my car on a freezing day wearing only my flip flops is something I would NOT trade about this culture. Truthfully, I love that part of the culture I live in. In the States, we are so trained to think individualistically: that you can wear whatever you want whenever you want because it’s “your” body; that you can raise your kids however you want, after all, they are “your” kids.
But now I live in a collectivist culture. On a culture profile survey, Croatia receives a low score when it comes to the category of “individualism,” which basically means that there is generally a long-term commitment to the “member group,” be that a family, extended family, or extended relationships, and in that category can also fall “neighbor.” It also means that loyalty in a collectivist culture is extremely important, over-riding most other societal rules and regulations.
For example, in the States (which is my passport culture), the value of privacy and the fear of not seeming polite would stop someone from scolding another person because their child wasn’t dressed properly for the cold weather. That would be perceived as overstepping one’s boundaries directly into the space of the other individual’s rights: their right to exist separate from another in whatever way they want or choose. In a collectivist culture the society stresses and nurtures strong relationships where everyone takes responsibility for fellow members of their group.
Slowly, but surely, I’m being transformed by this culture, when it comes to many things, but surely when it comes to my feet. There is a clear distinction in my home now between inside shoes and outside shoes – something that didn’t exist where I grew up in the U.S. And I find, #1: my feet are more toasty, and #2, we have a cleaner floor.
Sometimes the fear of the baka is my motivator to not go outside in freezing cold weather in my flip flops, something I would’ve completely done in the States without anyone saying anything about it.
Once Dave shoveled snow for hours in the States in just his shorts. And nobody said a thing. But the fact that a baka would yell at me if I were to walk to my car on a freezing day wearing only my flip flops is something I would NOT trade about this culture. Truthfully, I love that part of the culture I live in. In the States, we are so trained to think individualistically: that you can wear whatever you want whenever you want because it’s “your” body; that you can raise your kids however you want, after all, they are “your” kids.
But now I live in a collectivist culture. On a culture profile survey, Croatia receives a low score when it comes to the category of “individualism,” which basically means that there is generally a long-term commitment to the “member group,” be that a family, extended family, or extended relationships, and in that category can also fall “neighbor.” It also means that loyalty in a collectivist culture is extremely important, over-riding most other societal rules and regulations.
For example, in the States (which is my passport culture), the value of privacy and the fear of not seeming polite would stop someone from scolding another person because their child wasn’t dressed properly for the cold weather. That would be perceived as overstepping one’s boundaries directly into the space of the other individual’s rights: their right to exist separate from another in whatever way they want or choose. In a collectivist culture the society stresses and nurtures strong relationships where everyone takes responsibility for fellow members of their group.
So, someone scolding me, while it doesn’t always feel good, means I am part of the group. In a collectivist culture, everyone is looking out for each other.
My team leader, Teanna Sunberg, a missionary in Eastern Europe since the 1990s, once told me that she embraced the bakas in Bulgaria, whether they were pinching her side to see how much weight she had gained or not gained, or telling her that her children were not dressed properly, etc. She came to realize that it was an endearing part of the culture. She imparted this piece of wisdom to me upon my arrival, and it has been very beneficial for me to remember it every time I have been “yelled at.”
The longer I live here (we just passed our 4th year anniversary), the more I realize that IT is VERY MUCH an endearing part of this culture. What is that “IT” I’m talking about? Once a phrase was over played, but it still rings true for me in my context, and that is that it really does take a village to raise a child. I wouldn’t want that part of this culture to go away, even if it seems like an inconvenience to dress my kids in culturally appropriate ways or that I have to swallow my individualistic pride or bite my lip when getting “spoken” to. The truth is, they are doing it because they care. They care enough about my children to say something, out of a desire to protect them, to care for them, and to (insert GASP) maybe even help me parent.
My team leader, Teanna Sunberg, a missionary in Eastern Europe since the 1990s, once told me that she embraced the bakas in Bulgaria, whether they were pinching her side to see how much weight she had gained or not gained, or telling her that her children were not dressed properly, etc. She came to realize that it was an endearing part of the culture. She imparted this piece of wisdom to me upon my arrival, and it has been very beneficial for me to remember it every time I have been “yelled at.”
The longer I live here (we just passed our 4th year anniversary), the more I realize that IT is VERY MUCH an endearing part of this culture. What is that “IT” I’m talking about? Once a phrase was over played, but it still rings true for me in my context, and that is that it really does take a village to raise a child. I wouldn’t want that part of this culture to go away, even if it seems like an inconvenience to dress my kids in culturally appropriate ways or that I have to swallow my individualistic pride or bite my lip when getting “spoken” to. The truth is, they are doing it because they care. They care enough about my children to say something, out of a desire to protect them, to care for them, and to (insert GASP) maybe even help me parent.
Year after year I have had to shed my outer shield of individualism and not only accept that this is part of life here, but embrace it as a beautiful part of life here.
So, flip flops…you will have to wait until the calendar says it is time for you to arrive publicly, and I believe that will be June 1. For now, you will be kept hidden on my feet in my apartment. It will be our little secret.[Betsy Scott, and her husband Dave, were sent as missionaries to Croatia to relaunch the Church of the Nazarene there through relationship building, small group meetings and compassionate ministries. They have two children: Jacob and Emma.]
Missionary profile: Danilo and Emily AguilarDanilo and Emily Aguilar are missionaries serving in Ponta Delgada, the Azores Islands, Portugal since September 2014. They are supporting the local church after their pastor of 20 years retired, and are also working to establish creative forms of ministry in the community, and rehabilitate a Nazarene campground.
This is their first assignment as global missionaries. They have a 1-year-old child, Sohvi Selah Aguilar.
Engage: How did you first recognize God’s call to be involved in missions?
Danilo: We both were called to missions during our teenage years. I was called in a youth camp in Southern California and Emily was called at youth event in Costa Rica. God brought us together and although we didn’t pursue our calling to missions right away, we knew God’s calling was evident in both of our lives. It was until after losing our first born, Giosue, hours after he was born, that the Lord showed us that the greatest value in life comes from serving Him, which led us to wholeheartedly pursue our calling to missions.
Engage: What is your favorite aspect of what you do in your present assignment?
Aguilars: We are very much still in the “honeymoon” stage of our assignment. It’s hard to pick one favorite thing about where we are right now and how we are serving. But if we had to narrow it to a couple of favorites these would be it: Hope and discovery.
So, flip flops…you will have to wait until the calendar says it is time for you to arrive publicly, and I believe that will be June 1. For now, you will be kept hidden on my feet in my apartment. It will be our little secret.[Betsy Scott, and her husband Dave, were sent as missionaries to Croatia to relaunch the Church of the Nazarene there through relationship building, small group meetings and compassionate ministries. They have two children: Jacob and Emma.]
This is their first assignment as global missionaries. They have a 1-year-old child, Sohvi Selah Aguilar.
Engage: How did you first recognize God’s call to be involved in missions?
Danilo: We both were called to missions during our teenage years. I was called in a youth camp in Southern California and Emily was called at youth event in Costa Rica. God brought us together and although we didn’t pursue our calling to missions right away, we knew God’s calling was evident in both of our lives. It was until after losing our first born, Giosue, hours after he was born, that the Lord showed us that the greatest value in life comes from serving Him, which led us to wholeheartedly pursue our calling to missions.
Engage: What is your favorite aspect of what you do in your present assignment?
Aguilars: We are very much still in the “honeymoon” stage of our assignment. It’s hard to pick one favorite thing about where we are right now and how we are serving. But if we had to narrow it to a couple of favorites these would be it: Hope and discovery.
Since we live in an Island, people here tend to feel isolated and forgotten. Even our own local church many times feels lonely, sort of distant from the rest of our denomination. Upon our arrival and as we start to renovate the buildings, we have noticed that people are hopeful -- hopeful of the future as a church and hopeful as individuals and church members, who can do something for the Lord.
We have also loved to witness the self-awareness church members are experiencing. After working closely with some of them and general leadership training, we have discovered very talented people who are eager to learn and grow in the knowledge of the gospel. We love to witness how they discover their own gifts and talents as they develop a ministry within the local church. Others are regaining confidence and self-worth as they acquire life skills that will help them provide for their families.
To bring Jesus’ hope, in the midst of an economic and spiritual crisis, and the discovery of talents and future leaders who will one day lead the way, are our favorite aspects of what we do.
Engage: What are some of the challenges that you face in carrying out your work?
Danilo: I would say the greatest challenge is to serve in the midst of an economic crisis. There is a high unemployment rate in the island and this creates great instability for families. There is a lot of migration to Canada, United States and other European countries, leaving families without husbands, fathers, sisters, brothers, and in some cases even mothers. When it comes to ministry, it’s hard to overlook the need and it’s even harder not to fall into the temptation to provide for everyone who is in need. We have had to find creative ways to minister to fulfill both, physical and spiritual needs.
Engage: Please share a story of a significant event or moment that has happened in your current assignment.
Aguilars: We have been giving rides to a lady from our church since January. We didn’t know much about her since she barely speaks in church. However, while she is in the car with us she has been slowly sharing her story with us. Among the many difficulties and struggles she has faced in life, this lady didn’t know how to read or write. The combination of this and other factors have kept her shy and distant from the rest. After facilitating reading classes and encouragement to participate more in church events, we are seeing her blossom! She is part of the women’s small group we lead in our house and has started to participate more and lead prayer (if you knew her, you would understand how huge that is for her). Others have noticed her change by making comments like: “I didn’t know she was that funny.” One person even mentioned that they thought she had mental problems because she would never talk or seem to be engaged, to which we replied: “… nobody has ever asked for her opinion.” With her we witness the truth that with patience, consistency and lots of love, people blossom. They have a story to tell. They are also carriers of God’s grace and oh, how much we have learned from her. No wonder why the Lord encourages us to take care of “the least of these.”
Engage: How do you maintain a close relationship with God and your family in the midst of the demands of missionary service?
Aguilars: It’s hard to imagine missionary service without a close relationship with God. Both definitely go hand in hand. Each day when we wake up and realize that we are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, thousands of miles away from family, struggling to learn the language to be able to communicate with those who we work with, and learning how to unconditionally love complete strangers, are a reminder of how much we need Jesus’ love, how much we need our Father’s grace and how desperately we need the Holy Spirit’s guidance. The demands of missionary service is how we maintain a close relationship with God. It is that constant reminder of inadequacy that leads us to the gospel each day to seek wisdom to carry out this precious labor the Lord has entrusted to do.
Engage: What are the rewards of what you do?
Danilo: I believe many would agree that in ministry the greatest reward is to see lives changed. We are in the early stage of our assignment and we know that it may be years before we see the changes we wish for, however it is the small things that bring us great satisfaction: like a lady leading prayer, or a Sunday school teacher who is learning to take charge and beautifully organizes a Father’s Day celebration. Sometimes it’s just the flowing of ideas and requests that come from our church members that lets us know how willing they are to work and to seek a deeper relationship with their Savior.
In a more practical way, being a missionary family and a pastoral family also has its perks ☺. We constantly receive "goodies” from our church members. Like traditional bread or a special dish. Each demonstrates their gratitude and expresses their love the best way they know how, and it’s wonderful! We don’t take any of these gestures for granted.
Engage: What are some aspects of the culture where you live that you have come to love or embrace?
Danilo: Azoreans remind us so much about Latinos. They are hospitable, friendly and definitely love to chat. We love their culture of the afternoon coffee and coffee bread, pastries, or whatever you have available. It doesn’t matter. It’s just about spending time together. Unexpected visits are common so we have learned to have bread in our house and coffee ready to be brewed. Emily didn’t drink that much coffee when we got here; she can’t live without it now.
We have also loved to witness the self-awareness church members are experiencing. After working closely with some of them and general leadership training, we have discovered very talented people who are eager to learn and grow in the knowledge of the gospel. We love to witness how they discover their own gifts and talents as they develop a ministry within the local church. Others are regaining confidence and self-worth as they acquire life skills that will help them provide for their families.
To bring Jesus’ hope, in the midst of an economic and spiritual crisis, and the discovery of talents and future leaders who will one day lead the way, are our favorite aspects of what we do.
Engage: What are some of the challenges that you face in carrying out your work?
Danilo: I would say the greatest challenge is to serve in the midst of an economic crisis. There is a high unemployment rate in the island and this creates great instability for families. There is a lot of migration to Canada, United States and other European countries, leaving families without husbands, fathers, sisters, brothers, and in some cases even mothers. When it comes to ministry, it’s hard to overlook the need and it’s even harder not to fall into the temptation to provide for everyone who is in need. We have had to find creative ways to minister to fulfill both, physical and spiritual needs.
Engage: Please share a story of a significant event or moment that has happened in your current assignment.
Aguilars: We have been giving rides to a lady from our church since January. We didn’t know much about her since she barely speaks in church. However, while she is in the car with us she has been slowly sharing her story with us. Among the many difficulties and struggles she has faced in life, this lady didn’t know how to read or write. The combination of this and other factors have kept her shy and distant from the rest. After facilitating reading classes and encouragement to participate more in church events, we are seeing her blossom! She is part of the women’s small group we lead in our house and has started to participate more and lead prayer (if you knew her, you would understand how huge that is for her). Others have noticed her change by making comments like: “I didn’t know she was that funny.” One person even mentioned that they thought she had mental problems because she would never talk or seem to be engaged, to which we replied: “… nobody has ever asked for her opinion.” With her we witness the truth that with patience, consistency and lots of love, people blossom. They have a story to tell. They are also carriers of God’s grace and oh, how much we have learned from her. No wonder why the Lord encourages us to take care of “the least of these.”
Engage: How do you maintain a close relationship with God and your family in the midst of the demands of missionary service?
Aguilars: It’s hard to imagine missionary service without a close relationship with God. Both definitely go hand in hand. Each day when we wake up and realize that we are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, thousands of miles away from family, struggling to learn the language to be able to communicate with those who we work with, and learning how to unconditionally love complete strangers, are a reminder of how much we need Jesus’ love, how much we need our Father’s grace and how desperately we need the Holy Spirit’s guidance. The demands of missionary service is how we maintain a close relationship with God. It is that constant reminder of inadequacy that leads us to the gospel each day to seek wisdom to carry out this precious labor the Lord has entrusted to do.
Engage: What are the rewards of what you do?
Danilo: I believe many would agree that in ministry the greatest reward is to see lives changed. We are in the early stage of our assignment and we know that it may be years before we see the changes we wish for, however it is the small things that bring us great satisfaction: like a lady leading prayer, or a Sunday school teacher who is learning to take charge and beautifully organizes a Father’s Day celebration. Sometimes it’s just the flowing of ideas and requests that come from our church members that lets us know how willing they are to work and to seek a deeper relationship with their Savior.
In a more practical way, being a missionary family and a pastoral family also has its perks ☺. We constantly receive "goodies” from our church members. Like traditional bread or a special dish. Each demonstrates their gratitude and expresses their love the best way they know how, and it’s wonderful! We don’t take any of these gestures for granted.
Engage: What are some aspects of the culture where you live that you have come to love or embrace?
Danilo: Azoreans remind us so much about Latinos. They are hospitable, friendly and definitely love to chat. We love their culture of the afternoon coffee and coffee bread, pastries, or whatever you have available. It doesn’t matter. It’s just about spending time together. Unexpected visits are common so we have learned to have bread in our house and coffee ready to be brewed. Emily didn’t drink that much coffee when we got here; she can’t live without it now.
Engage: What do you like to do for fun?
Danilo: We live in paradise. This island is stunning. So as a family we love to take walks along the beach and occasionally let Sohvi play in the sand. We also love taking joy rides to the mountains and taking a break at a local coffee shop. Since we haven’t experienced summer here, we are looking forward to see what we can do once the weather is nicer.
I love to read, draw, and listen to a broad variety of music. Emily loves to cook, read and craft. Of course, now she loves playing dress-up with Sohvi.
Engage: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Danilo: I think people will be surprised to know that I am an introvert trapped in an extrovert’s body. My wife can tell you that I love hanging out with people and I try to be the life of the party, but I am equally pleased to be home, alone, in a corner of our living room reading a book for hours.
Many people would be surprised to know that Emily loves “wearing many hats.” After high school she became a wedding planner, then graduated from beauty school, to then finally attend college. She graduated and now she would love to attend cooking school. Who knows what would be next after that!
Engage: What advice would you have for others exploring a possible call to missions, or embarking on their first missionary assignment?
Danilo: For those exploring their calling to missions, our advice will be to be patient. We know the wait is excruciating, but who you become while you wait is equally important as what you wait for. So while you wait for an assignment or for the opportunity to go to the nations, prepare yourself with knowledge and experience. Grow your relationship with God and dig deep into your local ministry. Those will be the foundation you will build on in the mission field.
For those embarking on their first missionary assignment, set realistic expectations of missionary life by talking to experienced missionaries and other mentors. This will help you avoid disappointment and discouragement once you arrive in the mission field and realize that maybe it wasn’t what you expected. And be flexible! Like any other work, things change constantly, so learn how to readjust without losing enthusiasm.
For both, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! Pour your heart out in prayer. He will be faithful to place you in a field that may not be where you had in mind, but it’s exactly what you need.
Engage: Other comments?
Aguilars: Thank you for taking the time to read about us and our ministry. Please keep us in your prayers. Also, we are always looking for volunteers and Work & Witness groups. If you are interested in being part of our ministry or would like to stay connected with us, you can visit our ministry page: www.DaniloEmily.com Muito Obrigado!
___________________________________
Danilo: We live in paradise. This island is stunning. So as a family we love to take walks along the beach and occasionally let Sohvi play in the sand. We also love taking joy rides to the mountains and taking a break at a local coffee shop. Since we haven’t experienced summer here, we are looking forward to see what we can do once the weather is nicer.
I love to read, draw, and listen to a broad variety of music. Emily loves to cook, read and craft. Of course, now she loves playing dress-up with Sohvi.
Engage: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Danilo: I think people will be surprised to know that I am an introvert trapped in an extrovert’s body. My wife can tell you that I love hanging out with people and I try to be the life of the party, but I am equally pleased to be home, alone, in a corner of our living room reading a book for hours.
Many people would be surprised to know that Emily loves “wearing many hats.” After high school she became a wedding planner, then graduated from beauty school, to then finally attend college. She graduated and now she would love to attend cooking school. Who knows what would be next after that!
Engage: What advice would you have for others exploring a possible call to missions, or embarking on their first missionary assignment?
Danilo: For those exploring their calling to missions, our advice will be to be patient. We know the wait is excruciating, but who you become while you wait is equally important as what you wait for. So while you wait for an assignment or for the opportunity to go to the nations, prepare yourself with knowledge and experience. Grow your relationship with God and dig deep into your local ministry. Those will be the foundation you will build on in the mission field.
For those embarking on their first missionary assignment, set realistic expectations of missionary life by talking to experienced missionaries and other mentors. This will help you avoid disappointment and discouragement once you arrive in the mission field and realize that maybe it wasn’t what you expected. And be flexible! Like any other work, things change constantly, so learn how to readjust without losing enthusiasm.
For both, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! Pour your heart out in prayer. He will be faithful to place you in a field that may not be where you had in mind, but it’s exactly what you need.
Engage: Other comments?
Aguilars: Thank you for taking the time to read about us and our ministry. Please keep us in your prayers. Also, we are always looking for volunteers and Work & Witness groups. If you are interested in being part of our ministry or would like to stay connected with us, you can visit our ministry page: www.DaniloEmily.com Muito Obrigado!
___________________________________
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