The SEND U Blog

Reflections and Resources for Lifelong Learning for Missionaries

the gospel is spread in the context of war

Does the spread of the gospel require a time of peace?

By

On June 12, 2023

In Hardship, Gospel, Resilience

Many of our readers know that my wife and I were missionaries based in Ukraine until shortly before the war broke out in that country. In another post, I have written about how I realized that we were in fact refugees. Since then, I have been praying daily for the war to end and for the restoration of peace in this country. Although a few expatriate missionaries remain in the country, most like us, have returned to their home countries or relocated to another country, often to work with Ukrainian refugees.

We think it would be better for the work of missions if the country was free from the suffering, destruction and loss of life that war brings. If the war would only end, we could once more focus on the work of the kingdom. Before the war, my mission organization focused on equipping and sending Ukrainians out as cross-cultural workers. That work has now been put on hold. Some say it will take 10 years to recapture lost momentum.

But recently as I was reading the Gospel of Mark, I noticed what surrounds that great promise that Jesus gives to his disciples in Mark 13.

Read More

Related Posts:

a scout mindset

Adopting the Mindset of a Scout

By

On May 29, 2023

In Disciple-making, Lifelong Learning, Book Reviews, Evangelism, Learning Attitude, Gospel

Why are some people more open to the truth? As missionaries, we want people to change their minds about God and their relationship to him. We frequently are dismayed at how unwilling people are to change their thinking. They resist beliefs that are at odds with those of their parents and culture. But thankfully, sometimes we encounter people who are amazingly willing to reconsider their beliefs and look seriously at the truth claims of Scripture. We rejoice at what God has done to prepare them for the Gospel. We may find out that there are circumstances and past events in their lives that have made them more open than their neighbours. But how do we describe this openness and how do we cultivate this openness in others and in ourselves? I believe we can find some answers in Julia Galef’s book, The Scout Mindset: Why Some People See Things Clearly… Read the whole post

Related Posts:

short-term
Photo by Veri Ivanova on Unsplash

Do we naturally look for shortcuts?

By

On May 15, 2023

In Training, Assessment Tools, Resilience

In my previous blog post, I reviewed a book that argues that there are no shortcuts in missions. Why was this book written? Because supposedly we like to find shortcuts! Those who study cultural differences tell us that Americans and Canadians have a strong short-term orientation. Americans have a reputation for their fast pace of life and desire for quick results. We see their desire for instant gratification in the prominence of American fast-food restaurants and the fact that the USA has the highest average national credit card debt in the world.1 See 30 Credit Card Debt Statistics – 2023 Update | Balancing Everything. So we should not be surprised that shortcuts to achieve mission results are a hot topic in our North American churches. At the same time, it is also not surprising that those who understand the American preference for quick results are cautioning us about adopting these shortcuts.

Do we have a bias toward immediate results?

But do cross-cultural missionaries from North America really have a bias toward the short-term? Do we naturally tend to focus more on getting immediate results rather than wait for fruit that may be years down the road? My initial response to that question would have been “yes”. But I would have been wrong.

Read More

Related Posts:

No shortcuts
Photo by CALIN STAN on Unsplash

Are there shortcuts in missions?

By

On May 1, 2023

In Missiological Issues, Church Planting, DMM, Book Reviews

The book, “No Shortcut to Success: a Manifesto for Modern Missions” by Matt Rhodes piqued my interest as soon as I saw the title. Over the past couple of decade, I have often reflected on the question of what success means for missionaries. A number of the posts on this blog present those reflections.

How does the author define success?

Despite my expectation, Matt Rhodes does not put much effort into defining success for missionaries in his book. While admitting that every missionary dreams of success (p. 53), the author is quick to question the validity of many so-called “success stories” in missions (p.47). He is adamant that success can not be measured by numbers alone.

Ultimately, “success” in ministry isn’t a matter of numbers but of ministering in a way that honors the Lord.

Rhodes, Matt. No Shortcut to Success (9Marks) (p. 56). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

According to Rhodes, the goal of mission work is to establish mature, multiplying and enduring churches among the least reached.

I’m specifically concerned with the type of missions that sees its goal as establishing Christ-centered churches that are sufficiently mature to multiply and endure among peoples who have had little or no access to Jesus’s message.

Matt Rhodes, pp. 42-43.

Read More

Related Posts:

Wealth
Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash

Cultural Views on Wealth

By

On March 27, 2023

In Cross-Cultural Living, Book Reviews, Cultural learning

When I was growing up, my parents were very clear about what I should talk about with others in order to respect what our culture saw as being polite. There seemed to be a very long list of taboo topics that people weren’t supposed to talk about. I chuckle now as I think back to the line “and never, EVER discuss politics.” My, how things have evolved in my home culture in my lifetime! 

Another topic one did not discuss was money. Wealth (or lack thereof), debt, spending habits and amount of one’s income were all generally off limits. We should not discuss these topics with people outside of our immediate family. I observed that this was an accepted cultural attitude—your money was no one else’s business. I remember once asking my parents if one of their friends was RICH. By their response, you would have thought I swore or something. But I guess asking that question in front of their friends was just as inappropriate as using other four-letter words. 

Read More

Related Posts:

Page 11 of 89

Previous

Next

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén