Challenge of Trust

Reading MA research papers this week, one of my students working with a minority population of Tibetan Buddhist in his city discusses the challenges of trust. His observation is that one of the problems is that people just don’t know one another and, quite frankly, don’t take the time to get acquainted. Though the Tibetan’s have lived in the community for decades and are involved in commerce and marginal public activities, no one has really reached out and tried to get to know them well. As his scale of trust indicates, no one can really value another a person until they go beyond just knowing them.

Working with Tibetan’s, this student must make a conscious effort to learn as much about them as a people as he can to establish a relationship with them individually and collectively. He should not build a rapport with them with an agenda to “evangelize,” but truly learn to like them as people before presenting the Gospel. If he is successful in cultivating a relationship with the Tibetan’s, in the process of building that trust he may one day be able to enter into the dialogue of faith. In every context of association the prior question of trust, as my professor, Dr. Marvin Mayers use to say, must be paramount.

Recently a pastor of a supporting church has been writing to ask about our ministry. Though the church has been a part of our ministry for over 20 years, he is new and therefore is questioning what we do and its value in church planting. I’ve written about donor attrition before on this blogsite and outlined the dynamics of new leadership and the precarious nature of faith based missions. My student’s scale of trust is a good reminder that until someone really knows you they will never like you enough to partner with you. When a person or church has confidence in your ministry then, and only then, will they value and trust the ministry you are involved in.

Whether one is talking about ministry, business or even marriage, nothing positive happens until we value the other person. If a husband and wife don’t like each other they will never value their spouse. Value translates into trust. Trust does not happen overnight or quickly. Sometimes it takes years of getting to know one another before a foundation of confidence is accepted. Moral of the story -- be a friend first and from that relationship one can move up the ladder of value and trust.

Leaders As Losers

Nothing like a catchy title to grab one’s attention. Dr. Ian Payne’s topic at chapel was entitled, “Leaders That Look Like Losers.” He then proceeded to show us several sections of the Bangalore Times and the frequency of photos of Shah Rukh Khan. Sometimes called "King Khan," SRK is the hottest film star in Bollywood. In today’s paper SRK is pictured in an expensive suit, casual wear and even shirtless to show off his six-pack abs for his latest movie. SRK is the image of success, cool, the example of what every man should be and every woman desires. And so it is with today’s image of success. Silk ties, sleek body, cool cars and flashy accessories are the symbolic indicators of one who is ahead of the pack. Winners are leaders.


Losers are, well, losers. Losers are those who go to the seminars of winners, buy the books written by leaders and try the best they can to look like success, even if they are not. The reason diet, leadership, investment, management and success books sell well is because of the vast population of losers wanting to be winners. To be a winner one must feel, act, imitate and smell like it. Leadership is having followers and if you don’t have anyone following you then you’re not leading, you’re just taking a walk…or at least that’s what we are told.

And then along comes someone like Micaiah who spent most of his life in prison. He could have been known as a leader; after all, he often spoke before the King (Ahab). His peers certainly tapped into the keys to success and they were paid high dollar for their consulting work. But Micaiah just couldn’t quite turn the corner of success and his lodging was always a cell instead of a suite.

And what shall we say about a cobbler named Carey, an obscure vinedresser named Amos, a army chaplain known as Chambers or, a jungle pilot with a name of Saint?
By any standard they none of these guys were seen, while alive, as winners. (William) Carey’s wife went mad, Amos was a dirt farmer, (Oswald) Chambers died of appendicitis in North Africa and (Nate) Saint was speared to death on a sand dune in jungles of Ecuador.

While no one is suggesting that being lazy, unkept, unfit, inefficient is a model to follow; it’s worth mentioning, again, that the essence of a winner in this world seldom follows God’s definition of a leader. The televangelist with his white suit and shiny buttons; the multiplex compound of the mega-church with a jumbo screen to make sure every member is up close and personal to those on stage; the worldwide ministry that spans the globe in thirty different languages may have their place in the Kingdom, or it may be an allusion of success.


Two thousand years ago no doubt the crowd on a barren hill just shook their heads and thought, “What a loser.” His following scattered, their expectations of what He would accomplish was shattered that day they crucified Him on a cross. But they got it wrong two millenniums ago and people are still getting it wrong today. Sometimes the best leaders look like losers.

Micro-Business Seminars - Are They Effective?

Few weeks back I received a note from a church in America asking how the members of their congregation might become more involved in ministry overseas? One area he suggested was that business leaders come over to do micro-enterprise seminars. Following up on that thought I sent a post to a network of business professionals with this question.

Do you think that the average businessman from the West can effectively communicate micro-business startups? Yes or No. Why?

I received this response from a financial advisor:

“No! I don't think a western business person is a good teacher.

I have been a business consultant in Indonesia and have learned the severe limitations of advising small businesses. The smaller the business the more difficult it is to advise because the culture affects small businesses the most. Micro business are generally out of the understanding of a western business person.”

This businessman went on to say that few people from the West understand the obstacles of business in developing countries that are corrupt or play by different ethical rules. With laws that are slanted against certain castes or tribes, it is difficult for some small business projects to get a license or permit. The whole matter of paying a bribe to set up a business is also an issue that most westerner’s are not equipped to address.

Another obstacle that makes it difficult for western businessmen teaching in developing countries is the use of inappropriate business models. Loans, advertisement, distribution, inventory, profit margin, are all good terms but usually are either unrealistic or unheard of in countries where business is a means of putting daily food on the table. Using models that are sustained by outside capital has no relevance within a culture where risk is not even an option.

The challenge in working cross-culturally is the same regardless of the subject. Whether it finance or evangelism, the key is to first understand the context. Before a short-term team from the states launches out on doing business as missions, perhaps they should learn the context of the host culture to insure that they know the questions before giving the answers.

Holistic Partnership

I agree with the premise that to have a good working partnership, “Their goals and yours must be the same.” Too many times franchisers try to sell their agenda to others and hope it becomes a partnership. As a facilitator, I try to find people who have similar vision and see how I might fit into our compatible aspirations.

For the past four years I have been working with some really wonderful people who share a similar goal as mine – taking the Gospel to those who have never heard (Rom. 15:20). I realize that is a generic and sweeping vision, but you’d surprised how few programs there are in the world that focuses primarily on the two billion people who have never heard the name of Christ.

I met Dr. Vijayam three years ago. I was told he had a training program that focused on making the Gospel available to the 4000 unreached people groups of India. TENT (www.tentindia.org) philosophy is interesting because they approach ministry that is truly holistic. Concentrated primarily on the spiritual needs of people, they also are very much concerned with the physical needs of a country where 80 percent of the population (of over 1 billion) live on less than $2 a day. TENT, therefore, provides training for bi-vocational Christian workers and equips them with the tools necessary to establish micro-business enterprises and life skills in agriculture, animal husbandry and appropriate technology. My part in this training is teaching how to communicate the message of Christ in a cross-cultural setting.


I have worked with many national leaders and programs over the past thirty years and think I can discern between hype and legitimacy. What impresses me most about TENT is the integrity and spiritual commitment of everyone involved in this ministry. TENT does not create programs to attract outside funding, but rather create programs that help people and furthers the mandate of the Great Commission. Funding, though important and vital, is secondary, which is rare in today’s market driven church.

I believe TENT has a lot more to teach me in the field of holistic ministry. Next year I am planning on visiting some of the field works where TENT has established micro-financing projects. If you would like to join me in a learning about micro-business, finance and holistic ministry partnership, let me know.

Don't Be A Clown

Everybody’s a comic. Or at least they think they are. That’s how I feel when I’m in a group setting with people I don’t know. One-liners, wisecracks and silly puns are often the means of communication at conferences, small dinner gatherings and, sadly, when talking to people of a different cultures.

It was a Fourth of July gathering several years ago in Kenya, hosted by the American Embassy, that I heard this remarkable exchange. Bob, whose ministry was among the Asian community in Nairobi, was talking to a young lady from Bombay.

“Have you had one of these hot dogs yet, Shilpa?”

“I’m sorry, no, I haven’t” she replied politely, “I’m vegetarian.”

“We’re going to have to get you saved,” Bob retorted, “so you can enjoy meat.”

My jaw dropped in horror! I can’t think of anything more insulting than Bob’s insensitive remark to his Hindu friend. But if you ask Bob about his comment, who should have known better, he no doubt would have dismissed his ignorance by saying, “Oh, lighten up. I was just a joke.”

Americans are generally friendly outgoing people. I think they sometimes compensate for not knowing how to interact with people of different cultures by trying to be humorous. The fact is, joking is as culturally driven as eating or the clothes people wear. Being an American from the southern part of the U.S., I sometimes cringe when I encounter my fellow southerners who visit overseas. With their bubbly, gregarious, slap-on-the-back personalities they have no clue that “friendly” can be interpreted as insulting and even sexually suggestive. Consider this story from George working as a teacher in Thailand.

“A student handed me a letter and bowed politely. The writing was in Thai, which I had not yet learned to read. I looked up and jokingly asked if it were a love letter? The young man's face blushed visibly. As the translation ricocheted around, the class began to laugh. The letter invited me to a reception the class had planned in my honor. The young man did not make eye contact with me for weeks. Joking in class is a risky business.”

My advice to people when they enter a new culture is they act with dignity and respect. Be friendly without being silly. You’re not there to entertain people, so leave your jokes at home and don’t try to be a comic.

The Challenge for the Non-Residential Missionary

When I determined, back in the late ‘80’s, that as a resident missionary (RM) I had accomplished much of what I set out to do (plant churches, disciple believers and establish a training institution), I began praying and thinking about what my future role would be in missions? In seeking the advice of the Missions Director of my organization on possible mission opportunities he was of absolutely no help. His advice to me was, “Well, I guess you can come back to the states and be a pastor of a church.”

Number one, I had been a pastor in the U.S. prior to becoming a RM and found that pastoring was not where I was gifted. Number two, I found my niche as a cross-cultural worker and once a person experiences fulfillment and job satisfaction they are not looking to settle for something less. Being a pastor in the U.S. meant, in my mind, going back serving in a community where if half the churches in that city died tomorrow God would still have an adequate witness. I had embraced the vision of taking the Gospel where Christ had not already been named lest I build on another man’s foundation (Rom. 15:20). Returning to the states to pastor was not an option.

One of the reasons some RM’s do indeed opt to return to do ministry in the states is that financially it is their only recourse. (I know some are prone to say they could return and get a “real” job in the “real” world. Thus are the thoughts of people who do not value vocational ministers of any kind). In hindsight I could have served cross-culturally working among the many people groups living in the U.S., or served as a missions pastor in an established congregation. As it turned out, I was given opportunity to train potential RM’s, which over the years, has evolved into my present role as a NRM. Most of my ministry today is teaching and training national church planters and instilling in them the vision of taking the message of Christ cross-culturally in their own country and region.

Though there will always be a need for the RM, some will never leave the field even if their presence is no longer needed. New missionaries going out today are compelled to be RM’s because of one crucial reason…FINANCES. In the mind of the American Christian they still believe that missionary work is only valid if the person lives overseas. Even working among people groups in the U.S. is not considered real missions. If a person is physically sitting in a mud hut along with the natives he or she is deemed an authentic missionary. If, however, a NRM, who at one time sat in those mud huts but now serves as a consultant and teacher to the leaders of the national church, they are not perceived as a legitimate missions project. Funding is best maintained if they remain on the field as RM’s even if they are ineffective or not needed.

Those who claim the role of a NRM are few. Not everyone who takes a short-term trip overseas should assume the title of a NRM. Those who have embraced the work of NRM’s are most often missiologists as well as scholars who know the context of the people with experience and a certain expertise born out of their time as RM’s. NRM’s are neither franchisers nor chief’s…they are facilitators in the truest since of the word.