MISSIONS: The often-untold story!

Friday, January 21, 2022

Thoughts on seeing missions from the perspective of a missionary!

What is a missionary? Tim and I are missionaries. We have been missionaries for over 30 years. Yet, there are so many misconceptions of what a missionary is. Therefore, I thought I would share with you this presentation I put together while living in Canada and revised today.

M = the Message…

a…is the most important in the world. As missionaries, as believers, we have the one message that has literally turned the world up-side down, transforming lives for centuries. That atoning message bound up in one person, the Lord Jesus Christ, was foretold in detail centuries before transpiring. The impact of the few short years Jesus lived here as a human was radical. His death and resurrection are critical for a relationship with God. His coming again is the foundation for Hope and a Future. Jesus gives meaning to an otherwise meaningless existence. Those who come to faith in Jesus are never the same again! John 3:16 sums up the message in a nutshell: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Another way to sum up the message is found in Psalm 118:8, which by the way, is the very center verse of the Bible: “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” So, why is it…

b…the most unpopular and offensive? The name of Jesus brings such a negative response to so many. The fact Jesus himself said in John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”– is NOT tolerant! Only one way? Many say, “No way!” You can talk about God all you want and most people won’t care, as if God were harmless. God is anything BUT harmless. “Go ahead, talk about God. Just don’t talk about Jesus!” In Austria, as long as I taught out of the Old Testament, the Austrians even encouraged their children to come to club. But as soon as Jesus came into the picture, many children were no longer allowed to attend. The Bible even refers to Jesus as being an offense and stumbling block: Isaiah 8:14 says: “He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense… as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” 1 Peter 2:8 says, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. They stumble being disobedient to the word, to which they were also appointed.” Jesus was continually rejected along with His message. Thus, the majority of the world doesn’t want to hear what we have to say either. Still one is…

c…always trying new ways to present the oldest truth in the world. It is not easy to find new ways to present an age-old truth… perhaps we try too much and in so doing, complicate a simple message. Perhaps we need to take a closer look at how Jesus did it. Many would say that was culture. Jesus goes beyond the boundaries of culture. He is the creator of all culture!

I = Isolation…

a…from family and friends. If you have never been there, you can never fully grasp this concept. You are literally giving up your family and friends. That is, you are giving up the close relationship you had with them. Perhaps that is what Jesus meant by Matthew 10:37, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” When I first went to the field, there was no email or Facebook. To call home cost a dollar a minute. To send a letter was also over a dollar and took a few weeks. Today communication is more accessible but it still is not the same. Not able to attend family celebrations such as weddings and birthday parties along with other gatherings tore at my very soul. I especially missed the special gatherings my sisters had through the years. The loss: that bonding time and growing closer together as adults. Being sure of my call didn’t ease the loss. I thank God for good friendships and a great church in Austria. Tim and I are grateful for these last 6 years being closer to family and friends but that wasn’t always the case. I often experienced…

b…deep loneliness and discouragement. When you are on the field, you can share struggles and prayer requests, but often the deep struggles aren’t read between the lines. There is hesitation to share personal struggles for fear of misunderstanding, ridicule, and even judgment. We are not more spiritual than anyone else. Loneliness and discouragement are real. Each move to a new area, starting over, is a challenge. New relationships take time. For some areas of the world, MUCH time.

S = Service…

a…24/7 You are always on call! It is expected, it’s a part of life. Still, it can be very draining. Funds are not always available to take time off and get away. Ignoring the phone is an option but you don’t really get the break you need, your body needs. And then there is…

b…service of all types, even those you are not good at or have knowledge about. Flexibility and being able to learn on the spot are an important part of your resume’. Paul wrote: “He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.” 1 Thess. 5:24. God does enable. He also wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness…“ Without His help we would be lost. Only thing is, when you are busy doing what you aren’t good at, there is often a shortage of energy to do what you are capable. Mistakes happen. Expectations are high We don’t know everything. This attitude then brings about…

c…lots of thankless jobs. Again, they expect it, so why thank you for it. Oh, what a joy and encouragement when someone does say those two priceless words, “thank you!”

S = Sacrifice…

a…of Personal goals: We all have different goals we hope to accomplish in life, some goals since childhood. Goals are a good thing. As a missionary, some goals just aren’t possible. They get put on hold indefinitely. Tiredness/fatigue prevent others. Which brings us to…

b…personal wishes and dreams. My hope and dream was to get married and have a family some day. Yet once I said yes to Austria as a missionary, I knew that dream would most likely be just that, a dream. I am married now, but it took years, so a family is out. Still, for others, the line of work does not put them in the right circles for meeting other singles their age. Which leads to…

c…personal feelings. We have thoughts and feelings too. Sometimes we just want someone to care about how we feel. Yet, we often have to keep those thoughts and feelings to ourselves. People often expect us to be stronger and don’t understand when we are not. Then too, there is…

d…personal touch. Sometimes you need that personal touch or tenderness that comes of good friendships. As a single missionary, that personal touch may often be very sporadic, definitely not a daily thing which all humans need. Spiritually, God should be sufficient, but let’s be honest. We are human. We need that physical affection. Then there is the topic not many like talking about…

e…which is personal health. Unless they are very motivated or have a job where they do lots of walking, many missionaries struggle with this issue. Not to mention that in many countries good medical care is not available. You would be surprised at the lack of medical attention many missionaries get. Then there is the biggie…

f…of belonging. You are always the outsider no matter how long you live in the land, or speak the language without accent! You are still the foreigner. I could never get my Austrian friends, to break the habit of introducing me as their “American” friend. They couldn’t understand it screamed OUTSIDER! Bonding with people is difficult. I was lucky to live in one area for 17 years, but that is often the exception to the rule. In Canada, Hawaii, Moses Lake and now in Tennessee, starting over again is overwhelming and doesn’t get easier with trying to adjust. Most difficult is being an outsider in your home country. Living “overseas” has changed your lifestyle and thinking. Fitting in at “home” is a long process. People don’t understand. Most don’t really want to hear all about what it is like living elsewhere. They expect you to fit back in. As a result, you never really BELONG anywhere. The song: This world is not my home, I’m just a passing thru… is something missionaries understand very well.

I = Insomnia…

a…Seeing the needs of which there are often so many. Jesus said in Luke 10:2, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” You can’t do everything. Nationals are trained to help, but unless they really see the needs for themselves they won’t be devoted to the task. Often, Austrians said, “Well, that is why you are here.” No, my job was to train them to do the job. I strongly believe this to be one reason God pulled me out of Austria. Too few were doing anything about their training as long as I was there. Which leads us to…

b…expectations of oneself and ones work and those that others have of the missionary. These can be killers, causing many sleepless nights. Then you can be…

c…overwhelmed by work, by life, by change, by culture differences. These can cause sleep deficiencies making it is very hard to shut down at night. 1 Peter 5:7 says, ”Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you” is easier said than done. To totally let go and trust God is something we all try to achieve. I’ve even quoted Psalm 127:2 many evenings: “For so He gives His beloved sleep.” Then when I don’t go to sleep I then struggle with the thoughts of inadequacy. This…

d…leaves one often too tired to care about diet and exercise: it’s a vicious cycle (one Tim and I are trying to rectify).

O = Only by the Grace of God!

a…Missionaries also make lots of mistakes. People tend to think that missionaries are some kind of “super heroes” but we are not. Mistakes, feeling like a failure… been there! Many apologies made, sometimes only by the grace of God. It is not easy to say that you blew it… especially when expectations are so high. And yes, we…

b…make wrong decisions for which we, just like everyone else, have to pay the consequences. People forgive the “normal” person much easier than the missionary because the missionary “should know better”. Well, we too are “sinners saved by GRACE!” Do I dare mention…

c…bad habits. Yes, missionaries struggle with bad habits. Tiredness, health issues, laziness, allowing themselves to be over-burdened, and more, all these contribute to developing bad habits. For we are…

d…imperfect people in an imperfect world. We could do nothing but for the GRACE OF GOD!!!

N = Never enough…

a…time for yourself, for the work, or for God: Time?!?! The work is never completed. Often, time with God or even for yourself is sacrificed for the work. The goal is to get caught up, but you never really do. Then too there are never enough…

b…finances or resources to do the things that need to be done. Especially with the economy the way it is. People are hurting. The cost of living continually goes up. Don’t forget…

c…converts. People expect you to have lots of converts. Often it is years before you see the fruits of your labors. In the 19 years that I was in Austria, there were perhaps a dozen who I personally lead to the Lord. I was often discouraged for lack of results. Still, the biggest lack was…

d…prayer. I never pray enough, a constant struggle. Martin Luther once said he had so much work to do, he had to spend MORE time in prayer, often 4 hours a day. How did he accomplish it? Then getting others to pray for the ministry is difficult. Communication is the key. Communication takes time. Yet, it is necessary to spend more time not only praying, but making the needs known.

S = Spirit Fed…

a…It is His ministry, He is at work. But in the end, it is the Holy Spirit’s enabling that brings about success. Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” He is the one who gives us the spiritual gifts for ministry. He intercedes. He moves in the hearts of non-believers and believers. He convicts. Titus 3:5 says, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, He strengthens the inner being. He gives hope and the ability to persevere. Romans 5:5 says, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” The Holy Spirit goes beyond cultural differences. A missionary friend’s daughter said this: “You can never fully understand how one culture interprets an event until you are actually a part of that culture. And that, I suppose, is an excellent reminder of why the Holy Spirit is the ultimate and indispensable agent in communicating the gospel.” Without the Holy Spirit we can do nothing. Consider this:

b…James 1:2-4 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Key words: COUNT IT ALL JOY. Joy has nothing to do with circumstances, but everything with the inner confidence in God who is at work in everything. Therefore, as the song says:

c…“It will be worth it all”:

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We’re tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God’s eternal day.  

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,
We’re tossed and driven on, no human help in sight;
But there is one in heav’n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem – just go to Him in pray’r.  (Chorus)

Life’s day will soon be o’er, all storms forever past,
We’ll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We’ll share the joys of heav’n – a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we’ll lay our burden down.  (Chorus)

Please pray for your missionaries. They need it!

Thank you and blessings,

mari