Melissa and I have taken the opportunity to teach in 9 different Perspectives classes this Fall. We enjoy the role and are growing in our capacity. In March we were able to teach Lesson about the Pioneers of Mission. We went through 11 different missionaries (some singles, some couples/family) and told the honest stories of who they were and how God used them.
As we reflect on these stories, here are some thoughts:
- There are no superhero Christians. We often over-celebrate those who went and assume they went because of their piety. This simply isn't true. Some of the biographies read more like a soap opera than a role model life. Everyone has their issues and sin. Thanks be to the grace of God he uses broken people to move His kingdom forward.
- They were obedient. They did not go because they were more spiritual, or necessarily had a call. William Carey us quoted saying "To know the will of God you need an open bible and an open map. They saw a need and gave God a willing heart.
- God uses all kinds of people. It wasn't just pastors who went. Educated and uneducated, rich and poor. He uses everybody. They also did a lot of different things with the skills God gave them. They shared the gospel as well as bible translation, teaching, medical work, political help, created a postal system, among other things. Gladys Aylward was even a spy for the Chinese in Japan.
- Women often had limits imposed on them but were significantly influential once freed to do more. About 2/3rds of the mission force has historically been women. In the beginning they were often not allowed to travel out of the mission compounds unless with their husbands. Single women were placed in teaching positions with missionary children. Thanks to the spunk and strong will of great women such as Lottie Moon and Mary Slessor things have changed. One of our favorite stories ends with these words from a tribal chief, "If you had sent men, we would have killed them on sight. Or if a couple, I'd have killed the man and taken the women for myself. But what could a great chief do with two harmless girls who insisted on calling him brother."
- There are many necessary roles in God's mission. Many left their homes and went overseas. There were even more that were just as committed to completing the great commission that stayed behind. The Student Volunteer Movement beautifully depicts this reality. In the early 1900s the SVM mobilized 1 in every 35 college students,WOW, sending 20,000 overseas. They all signed the same covenant, "We hold ourselves willing and desirous to do the Lord's work wherever He may call us, even if it be in a foreign land.'' The ones who stayed sent money, formed prayer groups, formed mission agencies and continued to mobilize their peers to join the movement.
|
