• Our hope-filled future is bound up in sharing the story of Jesus, in discipling others, in bringing those disciples together into communities of believers, and in developing and releasing those believers to create other communities... till Jesus the King comes again!

the Stain

Posted on June 18, 2012 by wtdavid

Today’s post comes from Richard in Moldova.

We all know the feeling of being picked last for the school yard game or not being invited to a social gathering when we are younger, but we grow out of this, right? Or does this same fear of feeling inconsequential among co-workers still linger, just manifesting itself in different ways. Missionaries are not immune from this human hunger to be accepted and feel valued. Keller, in King’s Cross, illustrates how even in ministry this desire can disguise itself as a legitimate spiritual operating system which actually becomes our Savior. Keller points out that If your church grows and people like you, you feel good. On the other hand, if your church does not grow and people don’t like you, then we don’t feel good. What about in a cross cultural worker’s life; if our support level is good and we are able to obtain our living permits, then we are affirmed. On the contrary, if we struggle with language or just can’t seem to influence anyone to follow Christ, then we wonder if we are worthy.  Spurgeon said it this way, “Don’t preach the gospel in order to save your soul“. Maybe William Carey or ____________ the missionary would have said it this way, “Don’t win the world in order to save your soul!” There are many other ways we try to cover this longing.  How would you say it?

What do we do with this desire or are we bound to the “longing-life”? In Mark 7, the Pharisees are all talking about outside-in cleaning and in Mark 7:14-15 Jesus shockingly begins talking about inside-out cleaning. Why was it shocking? Keller tells about a sermon he heard by Ray Dillard. Dillard drew on his scholarship and pointed out that the cleanliness laws, representing outside-in cleansing, were the only way the people knew how to be in the presence of God. For years they had watched or heard about the ritual of the one priest that could enter into the holy of holies. They knew the rituals it took in order for him to be spiritually ready to enter into God’s presence and they also knew that his entrance and acceptance into the holy of holies would be the deciding factor if their sins were pardoned as well. In Mark 7:19-20, Jesus declares that all food is clean and that man can only be defiled from that which comes from the inside of man, or his heart. It is our heart that is the master motivator and slave driver for this false operating system that depends on CD’s, floppy disks and other outside sources to keep us running. When we try to depend on outside sources, we fall short and end up feeling disappointed, frustrated, depressed, unsatisfied and discontent. It is only a shadow and we will have to keep coming back again and again to feel a sense of true acceptance. Jesus say in Heb 10:10, “For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” (NIV)

What are we depending on besides the sacrifice of the body of Jesus to fulfill our longing for value and acceptance? How do we try to escape our feeling of inconsequentiality? Who knows us well enough to pray for us in the areas we strive outside of Christ to earn our value or to be worthy of the financial support of others? Who are we intentionally investing in to point them to Jesus for total acceptance?

 

Next week: chapter 8 – “the Approach”

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Going global

Posted on June 15, 2012 by wtdavid

Later this month, the current World Team International board will decide whether to approve the launch of a new global structure to oversee World Team, which would be called the World Team Global Alliance (WTGA).  One question I have often heard is: “Why the word change from ‘international’ to ‘global’?”

One reason is that research on global structures showed that international does not mean global.  What people mean in organizations that use the term, “international”, is that they desire to be global in their efforts, but they are actually working from a one culture perspective.  Whereas, the term, “global”, conveys a sense of inclusion of a larger number of equal partners committed to the fulfillment of a common objective or vision.

A second reason would be our desire to make collaborative partnerships between our different Support Centers, partnering agencies and workers more relational.  Partnership, alliance, networks are all buzz words in our circles these days. They are excellent concepts.  However, all of these flow out of a relational community that exists between us as believers around the world.  Therefore, what we do together should flow out of and enhance our spiritual relationship and community with one another.  [My thanks to Detlef for this insight.]

The apostle Paul underscores this thought when he writes: “And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.” (4.15)  Paul speaks of the partnership, the working relationship that existed between himself and the Philippian church in the context of his desire to send Timothy and Epaphroditus to them.   It was the relational community that existed between them that allowed each other to share tangible gifts (4.16), as well as people (2.19-30) for the purpose of mutual support and edification.

Going global is not a journey that happens because of a word change.  It involves a commitment to live out of and in community with one another.

 

Filed under: Global realities, Mission, Partnership | 1 Comment »

Spheres of influence

Posted on June 14, 2012 by wtdavid

One writer defines ‘spiritual authority’ as the right that your follower gives to you to influence him/here based on your spiritual character.  Influence, as opposed to a positional role, is a critical element in the encouragement and development of others whether a fellow believer, a disciple, a co-worker, one who reports to you as a leader, or even an entire team.

We normally confine ‘influence’ to the lines on an organizational chart.  This not only helps us know where we fit in the agency/ministry team, but also delineates who the person is that should be developing and influencing us.

What if we chose to talk about ‘spheres’, rather than ‘lines on an organizational chart’, as our base for influence?  In other words, what if we expanded the influence quotient by allowing multiple people to have influence and input into our lives, decisions and ministries?

Sounds messy, and it probably would be.  The post that I wrote the other day on collaboration raised a similar issue in challenging us to consider the benefits of collaborative effort despite the time and difficulties involved.

Let me give an example.  WT is considering opening a ministry to a new people group.  This people group is primarily located in an area that bridges the oversight of two different Area Directors. What should we do?  Assign the oversight to one AD as opposed to the other?  Wouldn’t it be better to ask the two ADs to work together and determine what oversight/influence would look like for them both?  What would each one bring to help develop, encourage and launch this new ministry?

Spheres of influence would be an outworking of our value of interdependence in light of the changing contexts in which we find ourselves.

Filed under: Influence, Priorities | Leave a comment »

the Waiting

Posted on June 11, 2012 by wtdavid

We had just arrived home that morning, caught a quick nap and then got ourselves ready to head to the wedding of the daughter of some good friends.  We arrived in plenty of time and got seated along with the hundred or so other guests.  Then we waited … and waited … and waited.  Several announcements were made from the front to the effect that the bride was on her way.  “We have never been to a wedding that started this late.  What could she possibly be doing?” were thoughts that ran through our minds.  Then the bride showed up and all that complaining disappeared in the joy of the ceremony that followed. 

When Tim Keller writes: “God’s sense of timing will confound ours, no matter what culture we’re from.  His grace rarely operates according to our schedule,” we can readily identify with the frustration that arises from our lack of patience in regards to His timing.  Just as we felt when our friends’ daughter was “late” for her own wedding, so we wonder in frustration what God is up to when He doesn’t seem to come through “in the right time.”

However, it is in the delay that God often speaks to us, and we can easily miss His message.  Keller writes: “But precisely because of the delay both Jairus and the woman get far more than they asked for.  Be aware that when you go to Jesus for help, you will both give to and get from him far more than you bargained for.”  What we may learn to give is a deeper commitment and call to follow Him, shedding our self focused way of living which may treat God only as a help in time of need and not a Redeemer needed every day.  What we may learn to get is a richer appreciation of His presence with us, of His love for us despite how we may feel or think.

Keller is right that often in our response to life situations we try to “hurry Jesus” and demonstrate “impatience with the waiting.”   I think it might be a good thing to adopt Thomas Cranmer’s prayer as our own: “Grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection.”

 

What words would you use to describe your struggle with impatience when it comes to God’s timing?  What would it look like for you to trust His timing and His seeming delay to act according to your timetable?  What one or two thoughts would you share with someone you are discipling about learning or growing in one’s patience and ability to wait?

Filed under: King's Cross, Reflection | 6 Comments »

Global emphases

Posted on June 8, 2012 by wtdavid

A little more than two weeks ago, World Team global leaders met to discuss three-year plans and Area priorities.  Thank you for your prayers for us during this time. 

Out of the many Area priorities shared, four were selected by the gathered Area Directors and Sending Country Directors as global emphases for the coming year.

These four emphases will be the focus and thrust of the work of WT Global and the wider WT community over this next year.  Each Area will still work the priorities they have outlined, but everyone will highlight our larger and shared global emphases.

The four priorities chosen were:

  • Expand ministry among Ms of Europe by fostering reproducing communities of believers in France, Spain and Italy
  • Network with and mobilize CH Church to reach the unreached
  • Produce an African CPM training program
  • Make T-land (located in Eastern Europe) a viable sphere of ministry for potential workers and church-based teams

 

Each of these priorities responds to at least one of the global trends that were identified in our earlier working document: “Leading Well in the Midst of Change”.  Each of these emphases also requires some element of innovation in order to see them accomplished.

 

Our thanks to many who participated in the online discussion at the invitation of their respective AD and Sending Country Director during our meetings and provided needed input into this process.

Filed under: Priorities | 4 Comments »

the Power

Posted on June 4, 2012 by wtdavid

Today’s post comes from Barry in Cameroon.

I like Mark’s style. I like the fact that he didn’t leave out the ‘irrelevant details’, mainly because I don’t think that they are extraneous. The first example that the author mentioned (the extra boats) draws a picture of the pressures mounting on Jesus and His disciples at the time of the story. Jesus and the disciples ‘leave the crowds behind’. Obviously it is time for rest.  The seemingly impertinent detail that ‘there were other boats with him’ reminds us how difficult it is to find solitude and rest especially when it is most needed. Who were the folks in these others boats? Could it be that some of the crowd had their own vessels and desired to follow them? We don’t know. All we know is that they were not alone.

I remember a commercial that used to be on TV. A woman is listening to her children screaming, the doorbell sounding, the phone ringing. The screen divides into the many views of the problems that surround her.  She is in the center clutching her head as she shouts out the name of the product that will ‘take me away!’ If you know it, you are officially dated. Next frame we see a contented housewife surrounded by the bubbles of her long awaited retreat from the world of chaos. The thing is, we all need to get away.  Jesus did it. Only His faith was in something greater than bubble bath.

The second ‘irrelevant detail’ (Jesus sleeping on a cushion) is a great picture of how He did it.  He actually prepared a comfortable place to sleep. He didn’t just fall asleep somewhere out of pure exhaustion. He got a pillow. Probably fluffed it up and got it just so under his head and neck. He was purposed about resting. The furious squall was in perfect contrast to the rest into which He had already entered. The disciples were in perfect parallel with the storm. What would they do with this overly phlegmatic crew member? He needed to understand that rest was contrary to His wellbeing. He needed to understand that this was action time, not quiet time.

Yet the first word he said when he got up was, ‘Quiet!’  The next two were, ‘Be still!’ What was the return message to the frantic seamen? ‘Where is your faith?’ Is it in the storm? Or is it in me? Oh, to be like You Jesus. That’s what I feel when I read this. I have a hard time resting. I know I need it.  Jesus was sure it was time to ‘get away’. He knew that there was just so much a person can handle . . . and He is God! When He spoke to the wind and waves, there was ‘dead calm’, much like a guy sleeping on a cushion. He didn’t need the storm to stop for His own rest. Perhaps He did it for His disciples so that they could see His ability to take care of them. Perhaps He was just proclaiming the importance of rest in a dramatic way . . . reconciling the world to Himself in inexplicable ways.

His is Uncontrollable! Unmanageable! Untamable! Unbounded power, wisdom, and love! He does allow the storms to rage around us. Sometimes He is even orchestrating the storms. Yet to find our rest in any other place is at best temporary and at worst self-destructive. To be at the mercy of the storm is to subject ourselves to an unloving force of nature . . . one that doesn’t care if we survive.  To trust in Jesus . . . to cling to Him in the midst of the storms of this life . . . is to place ourselves at the mercy of the One who paid the ultimate price for love. He has endured the ultimate storm for our sakes and the sake of His name. He will deliver fully one day. Faith in the midst of the storms is His gift to those who continue to cry out to Him.

In what ways are you at the mercy of the ‘storms’ of life? Are you frantically trying to combat or control the forces that are raging around you? Are you simply waiting for the storm to pass or are you clinging to the One who loves you?  If you are clinging, how does that happen for you?  I would love to hear how you are preparing to rest in Him.

Filed under: King's Cross, Reflection | 4 Comments »

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