Kenya, to Thailand, to Ghana

 

 

"Joy"

Copyright:

Artist: Tree63

Composer: John Ellis

Publisher: Hal Leonard

Great Challenges Yield Greater Blessings

 

Music Copyright:

"I Had a Farm in Africa"

from the Motion Picture "Out of Africa"

Composed by: JOHN BARRY

Arranged by: MICHAEL MARTINEZ

Universal Music Group

 

 

It's a trap!

It was an innocent enough question, or so I thought.  I was being interviewed by someone who would soon become my boss. We had been talking about cross-cultural issues, challenges, coping mechanisms, healthy boundaries, and other matters pertinent to living in a very different cultural context.  The question seemed a natural extension of that line of discussion.  "How are you at non-verbal communication?"

I answered frankly, that I felt I was reasonably well able to follow a lead, to read body language, and tone of voice to help interpret the person's communication. However, I anticipated that there would be increased challenges along those lines in a culture with which I was less "well-rehearsed or experienced."  And that seemed to be the end of the matter.  My future boss smiled and seemed to be particularly pleased with the answer. Duh!

It wasn't until things began to fall apart in our relationship that I began to understand that what was really being asked was "are you willing to read between the lines to discern what I am asking so that I don't have to actually come out and ask it?"

Now, on the surface even that may seem a reasonable request, but as most of my co-workers in the region at that time would attest, it was really nothing more than a cover to avoid responsibility.  The deeper implications were, can you discern what I am asking you to do without my actually asking you, so that when it blows up, I can deny ever having asked or even implied that you should do such a thing?  Are you willing to take the fall for my ineptness?  Will you guarantee me plausible deniability in everything I want you to do?  Will you insulate me from responsibility for my actions?  This person had built his career on plausible deniability.

Case in point, I was asked to team with two other missionaries to plan a missionary retreat for our region.  We took the responsibility well in hand and began the process.  I was warned by the others that there may be pushback as this director expected to be treated like visiting royalty.  

We found a very good deal at a resort at which the missionaries would all feel comfortable.  It was not a guest house nor was it a 5 star location. And it was within the budget we had been given.  As our plans progressed I stopped hearing from my director.  Later, at a gathering of the missionaries, one who had rarely been a part of our gatherings approached me and said that she was excited about having booked a certain rather fancy resort for our retreat.

When we talked further, she was honestly surprised I hadn't heard that the director had asked her to assume responsibility.  We were out of the picture.  She apparently was better at non-verbal communication and understood what was wanted.

The bash was so extravagant that no other region in the world was able to have a missionary retreat for the next three years.  It exceeded the budget by close to five times I later understood. But the boss got to stay in the Presidential Suite during the retreat. AND was able to say he wasn't aware of the costs that were being incurred since he had handed the responsibility over to one of the missionaries.  The missionary took her bruises and went on.

We lost 8 out of our 11 missionaries (in that region) in just 4 short years over just such matters. Few could live with any integrity when the ones with which we were called to work and witness lived on subsistence level salaries.  We were being asked to make promises we knew wouldn't be kept...told to ignore somethings that were being said...and not to communicate with anyone back at the denomination's USA head office, except the director.

Thus it was that we left the mission field for the first time, resigning after our first year, and being black-listed by our director, ensuring we would never return to the country we loved as long as he sat in that seat.  And we didn't...

So if someone at an interview asks you about how you are at non-verbal communication, you might want to push back a bit on the question and dig deeper into what is actually being asked in order to avoid a misadventure in mission. 

Mission Mis-Policy

Faith based mission programs are, quite simply,the sending forth of missionaries based on the promises of people to support them.  The security of the funding of such positions lies in the promises of those who have "pledged" their support. This style of missionary support is distinctly differ from what might be called charitable support based missions.  Whereas faith based missionaries are expected to raise their own support, a charitable support based missionary has the commitment of the sending agency behind it.  Many larger denominations have historically utilized this charitable support model. Congregations give a portion of their offerings to a higher judicatory body which then utilizes that money to support it's missionaries.  

In the first instance, the funding is driven by support of the individual's understanding of his or her calling.  In the second, the funding is driven by the sense that the denomination will determine the calling and hire (much like a business) the missionaries to carry out that calling. 

I belonged to one of the latter, charitable support based organizations.   And therein lies the introduction of a related, but essential issue in missionary work - The Mission/Missionary Policy.  These are the rules and regulations by which and through which missionaries are selected and sent.

Our policy had some very good elements.  But, like any business enterprise or any organizational structure for that matter, the policy was only as good as its implementation was able to yield good results. And so my story goes...

A group from one of the denominationally affiliated congregations in the USA had come to the mission field to see first hand what we were up to.  A part of my task in mission was to coordinate these "looky-looky" groups as I liked to call them.  The wanted to see their money at work. These groups could be of great assistance to the missionaries in helping to advance the cause of mission back in the USA.  But so too, they could be a tremendous burden on the work of those in the field working in fields such as the engineering of water filtration systems, serving as physicians and surgeons, teaching, etc. So as someone whose task it was to keep the congregations connected to the broader mission work of the denomination, it fell to me to help itinerate the groups, and I REALLY enjoyed telling the story, making the connections, and watching people's eyes grow big and their hearts grow wide as they discovered just how real and exciting the story of mission work was.  Lives were being changed in the field in which we worked and in the lives of those who came to see that work.

This particular group was so enamored of the work, they asked why we didn't produce some videos that could be used in the congregations back home.  I hemmed and hawed a bit about how the sending organization/denomination was trying their best to bring some equipment into the field to interview the missionaries and then produce something for broad use across the many congregations.

"No," one person said. "Why aren't you making a video of this?" "Why aren't you sending video's back?" My reply was simple. "We don't have the resources to purchase a camera." (This was pre smart phone days.) So of course the funding was made available.  When I checked our Missionary Policy Manual, I learned that this sort of provision was against our policy.  I check with the folks stateside at the sending office as was told that the local indigenous organization with which I worked needed to receive the funds and own/hold the equipment.  When I responded that that would be problem due to some rather nefarious issues with the partner regarding such matters, I was told that was none of my concern.  The money needed to be tracked and the partner was notified.  Eventually the funding came through the partner's head office, to the department to which I was assigned.  I was given the money and told to "go buy the camera." 

Dutifully, and hopefully, I did just that.  We managed to make a couple of videos, but was asked to turn the camera over to the Department Head for safe keeping and broader use by the department.  Not a problem...

After several months, we had  another group coming and I ask permission to use the camera only to be told it wasn't available.  When I inquired further, I was told it was none of my concern.  As I probed more deeply, through the lower level staff, who really always tended to be the most trustworthy members and the "getitdoners" I was told that the Department Head had given it to his son who used in on vacation and broke it. $1000 video camera gone, never to be seen again.

This is the challenge of mission. Balancing accountability, responsibility, transparency, and practicality.

 Unfortunately, in this, and so many other instances, a policy which reads well, which interprets "partnership" in an egalitarian manner, and makes the decision makers look good to their constituents, fails so miserably in practice.  

Seasoned missionaries with my organization rightly pointed out that the question should have never been asked of the policy issue. The gift should have been received, gratitude expressed, and the video camera purchased and kept; that it was none of the sending agency's/denomination's business.  But therein lies the other rub in these settings.  Principles.  How do we as people of principle and integrity, who believe in following guidelines, balance the need for this integrity with the on the ground realities...

It's not an easy question, but I do know, after 10 years of experience, that the missionaries who come down on the side of reality and practicality last long in the mission field amongst these charitable support based funding models of mission.

By the time I had realized this it was too late.  My constant questioning of the policies and the demonstration of their dysfunctional application, had earned me the status of persona non grata. It was known, in a sense, that I "had the goods"; that I was "not a player"; that I "dared to call out the policy failures", and even "the corruption" of the organization with which I worked.

My sense is that the more significant difference between these two models of mission funding is the reality that faith based missions is based on the integrity of the individual to do what they feel called of God to do, and that the charitable support based funding model is based on the need for the organization to maintain control, even when they haven't a clue as to what is actually happening. In this latter model there is an inherent patronizing attitude toward the missionary, an assumption that they are insufficiently equipped to make even marginally significant decisions. It ends in a micro management of the resources of the organization from a distant office which is too often out of synch with the particularities the missionary faces.  

This charitable support based model, in my particular case, has resulted in such increasing distrust that the missionary effort is largely a failure. Funding is no longer sufficient to retain a vibrant force.  The missionary force has been more than halved in just the past 15 or so years. Missionaries who were previously paid as couples are, in some cases, forced to live on single missionary salaries. Longer term missionaries were offered a buy out. 

It leads me to believe that many of the faith based, faith promise missions had it right all along.

Long-live faith based missions.

Non American Christian Faith Lessons

A recent exchange on Facebook about the worship like status afforded the Super Bowl, the contenders, and half-time performers by so many who also claim to worship the Savior reminded me of one of my first mission experiences on "this side of the pond."

Having spent a year in Kenya coordinating relationships between USA presbyterian congregations and Kenyan presbyterian congregations We returned to our beloved home in IL and set about trying to coordinate the relationships from this side.

Helping to develop the relationship between our local presbytery and one in Kenya, we invited several Kenyans to visit with us.  My job involved coordinating all aspects of that visit including the itineraries, interpretation, and providing counsel to both sides of the visiting teams - the hosts and the guests.

One of our guests, the Moderator of the partner presbytery and leader of the guest contingent was housed in a neighboring town.  That Sunday, just after worship I received the call.  The American host was upset that the Kenyan guest was steadfastly opposed to attending the region's Corn Festival.  When asked if he'd like to attend to see some of the culture, the guest asked what the Christian purpose of the event was? 

The response was given that it was not a particularly Christian event but a festival celebrating the crop that played such an important role in the region's economy and that a group from the church would be attending. The guest asked what the church group was going to do and was told, they'd be watching the parade and walking around looking at the booths.  The guest asked if they church group would be handing out evangelistic tracts or otherwise sharing their faith?  The response was no, it was just for fun.  And the guest declined wondering why the church would involve itself in such a thing without making some sort of witness.  The host was confused and a bit upset.  The host was committed to going and the guest was committed to not going and the  question arose as to whether or not the host could leave the guest alone...

The question was a multi-faceted one. At its core, however, there was a cultural disconnect between E. African concerns regarding the pantheistic aspect of agricultural religious movements (as witnessed in the Old Testament) and the western agronomistic focus on God's bounty.  But the response raises another question - why do we attend such events (as a congregational group) and not use it as a specific evangelical outreach.  I hear of church groups attending all sorts of sporting events, just for fun, going to theme parks just for fun, seeing movies as a group, just for fun.  There is no distribution of trracts, no purposeful witnessing, and I wonder, why not?  Why do we continue to compartmentalize our faith, limiting it to Sunday School, Worship, and Fellowship (and why do so many end up talking about nothing but worldly matters at Fellowship gatherings)...

Why is there any aspect of our lives wherein we do
not discuss, share, witness to our faith?  Because we might lose our jobs?  (Will not the Lord provide?)  Because we don't know how to witness?  (What is evangelism but one beggar telling another where to find food?)  I am left wonder if it is not a simple matter of not sufficiently trusting the Lord?

I headed out the door to the neighboring town and sat and talked with the host and the guest to try to ameliorate any bad feelings and any negative impact to the partnership.  It the end the guest gave in and went to the Festival.  I understand he was a bit "embarrassing" to the host church as everyone to whom he was introduced he asked if they know Jesus...  The heart of a true believer, cannot, will not be silenced. 

We have a lot to learn from non American Christians.  

And as a post script it's interesting to note that this international partner is now sending missionaries to sister America as a return favor.  They say "you once brought us the gospel, and now it seems you need it too."

The PCEA Womens Guild

 

One of the great joys of international mission work is being in on the development of something big.  To be able to watch the organization with which one is working reach the heights of their dreams. Such was the case when I snapped this picture in 1994 on a visit to our partners Hotel project in Mombassa, Kenya. 

My job as a projects coordinator was to assist the Projects Secretary, Mr. K. with oversight, review, resourcing, and encouragement of the over 200 projects formally sponsored, managed and/or supported by our partner denomination. 

Mrs. W. had the office next to mine and kept teasing me that I should see more of her denomination's Women's Project work since the women were the one's who spent "more time working and less time meeting and eating on the church's dime" (an oblique reference to the men in charge). And it was she who encouraged me to come to see the beginnings of this Hotel project. Their aim was to provide a hostel for children of Christians who would be attending university in Mombassa, a strongly Muslim enclave.

And so my office staff made the arrangements and I headed down on the train. Now I love trains, so this was going to be a biggee. The trains used were the old Pullman style with mahogany trim on the inside. The stewards still wore white gloves to serve dinners with china plates and silver plate flatware. It would be an overnight in second class accomodations meaning I would share my cabin with as many as three other persons.

I happily took my seat and laid my luggage down next to me. I was immediately greeted by a friendly gentlemen, a teacher who happened to be affiliated with the denomination with which I worked in country, and who was also headed to Mombassa for a teaching position at a primary school.  And then just before we left the station a second man joined us, quite talkative and interested in what this mzungu (white person) was doing in second class rather than first.  The teacher and I had some good conversation, with the soldier - over his first, second and third bottles of beer - before going to the dining car.

Following dinner, at which the soldier managed to put another three bottles to rest, we retired to our cabin which had been made ready for sleeping. And then the questions began, questions that stem from the depressed logic of a largely inebriated person trying to justify his own righteousness. You can fill in the blanks.  It was interesting, long, and sometimes disjointed but I was eventually rescued by the Teacher's request for silence that he might get some sleep.  Having consumed a few more bottles the soldier was ready to fade off.

Morning came and we pulled into the station in Mombassa and we were all off to our respective destinations.  As often was the case I was on my own to get to a destination for which I had no address, in a town to which I had never been, in a country in which I had lived for just a few short months.  It was a part of the excitement. This was a part of what I loved about my work.

The taxi driver was helpful as I tried to describe a new building project in a growing city and we eventually found our way to the project.  Upon arrival I was greeted with an absolutely delightful lunch which had been prepared purposefully based on word from Mrs. W. that I should be there before lunchtime.  Although Mrs. W. had planned on being there during my visit she was called away to another project which had reported having some difficulties.  Remember, this was in the days before email, and when telephone communication, at least in East Africa could still be quite spotty.  We still wrote letters.

But let's get back to the lunch for a minute.  

Ndizi na Nyama (Beef Stew)

Chapati (Flat Bread)

 

 

      sukumu wiki (lit. push the week - collard greens)

Kenyan women KNOW how to cook.  Whether its Kienyeji, Ugali, Kienyeji Mukimo, Githeri, Njahi, or any of the other "comfort foods" or something simple like a fresh fruit plate, a couple of samosas, or just a cup of chai (tea) with mandazi, Kenyans tend to eat well and to enjoy eating. The fellowship, the conversation, the exuberant joy is just a blessing.  Eating with Kenyan believers is always an event!

But I digress...the purpose was reviewing the progress that had been made to date on this hotel.  Mostly local funding, from individual Women's Guilds in Kenya, built as money had become available.

 

The progress they had made was a great source of pride. We toured the rooms and talked of the work yet to be done. Their dreams were well outlined and their excitement was abundantly obvious.  

I finished my interview, closed the notebook, we prayed and I returned to my hotel for the night before heading to the train station for my return trip. A trip which paled in comparison to the short but moving time I had spent with the Womens Guild members at the poject site. The years went on.  Our family eventually moved back to the states but I followed the project at a distance and was so elated when they finally opened their doors.  Today the hotel stands as a witness to perseverance, the women's commitment, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 p.s...

And in a flash of inspiration, coincidence, or God-incidence I found this article about a building that was begun before we arrived in Kenya.  It's financier was a wealthy, crooked, political character. Unlike the Christian women's hotel projec, the Yaya Center West Wing building is still incomplete...https://biznakenya.com/yaya-west-wing-building/

If only...

A recent CapstoneReport.com on Voddie Baucham quotes Voddie as saying:

If I was ordaining women, condoning abortion on demand, hosting Democrat candidates in my pulpit, promoting liberation theology, CRT, BLM and/or the LGBTQIA+ agenda, the SBC elites wouldn’t lay a glove on me.

This was such a great reminder to me of the missteps in mission I witnessed while a part of the my own Denominational Mission Train Wreck. If I had been willing to play the game, I might still be ordained. If I had been willing to overlook the misuse of funds, to stay quiet, I might still be in my beloved (unnamed) country...

I've watched as a once great mission sending organization has continued to espouse sloppy theology, worse missiology, and a pandering neo-colonial approach in its mission efforts.  The mission force is down, just in my time with the denomination, from 300 or so missionaries to what is now 70. Just let that sink in.  A denomination of over one million (if that number can be trusted) sends less than 100 missionaries.

While there are still a few missionaries in the denomination with an evangelical bent, the idea of going forth to unreached people is not a part of the denomination's ethos.  Sending missionaries for any reason doesn't even seem to be a part of the denomination's interest or ability.  Several recent (Sept 2021-Jan 2022) searches on missionary positions within my former denomination yielded 0 positions open. Not one missionary position is being sought.  

The reasons for this may well be myriad but many of us have seen this coming.  

Membership continues to decline and what member are left give less and less toward mission and keep more and more at home to support their increasingly empty pews and their increasingly overpaid denominational staff.  As the denomination hemorrhages members in response to their theological apostasy they seem unable too and even uninterested in funding new positions.  

(Comparatively the other similar "reformed" denominations are growing. One, with almost a half a million members and over 1500 congregations, has 519 career missionaries, 169 two year missionaries, and 6500 short-term missionaries.)

Following the upheaval of the African independence movements
of the 1960's the denomination of which I speak began to reorganize itself prohibiting missionaries in the field from forming teams and electing on site leadership. Rather, the ones serving as Directors would reside stateside and conduct a foray style of supervision, expending precious mission funds on expensive air travel and "suitable" accommodations. Their trips often became nothing more than well-funded staff junkets.  The funds, that used to support missionaries, were needed to source these junkets as some took to staying in the lap of luxury, building their personal profiles in lieu of facilitating mission.  Some had little to no experience with mission whatsoever.  By the time I arrived at my particular placement my "supervisor" (who had no experience in mission, and no experience in pulpit ministry) had developed the well-known habit of traveling numerous times a year to the continent, sometimes without having any contact with our partner denominations or the missionaries in the field.  My particular position (in the denominational offices of our partner church in the region) often ended up being a hunting expedition.  I would be sent out by the Moderator to find my supervisor who was reportedly in country.  And I would travel from first class hotel to first class hotel searching until I eventually found him (one time still sleeping at 10am and seemingly hungover).  An older well-seasoned missionary physician in that same country, reported to me that that was typical and that in his previous country (with the same supervisor) the missionary might be wandering through the market and run into the supervisor who reportedly had been in country for two weeks and was on his way back to the USA without having contacted anyone connected with the missional effort in the country, this while a multi-million dollar mission hospital was being built.

On one occasion when conflict was at it's peak between missionaries and a particular denominational partner, this same supervisor left his dirty laundry with my wife (including his underwear).  He then skipped his appointment with me (at which he was to collect his laundry and work through issues I was presenting) and instead left early with another USA based colleague, for a neighboring country.  My family ended up having to carry his laundry back to the USA on a return trip and mail it to him at his office.  Of course there was no money in his budget for the excess baggage charge ($150) we incurred or the mailing of the suitcase to his office.

Now there were some "supervisory" types in these positions that took their jobs very seriously.  I was able to work for one, later on in our missional efforts, who had served many years as a missionary.  But the handwriting was on the wall, for today's denominational fiasco, as early as the 1990's.  Some would say, and I would strongly agree, that it began as early as the fundamentalist-modernist controversy in the 1920's and 30's.  It certainly was in full swing when the denomination jettisoned the Westminster Confession of Faith in the adoption a more Social Gospel oriented confession.  And by before long the apostasy seemed to be in full swing...