Cost of Labor Wrap Up

Last week a dear sister wrote me from Tulsa stating, and I am paraphrasing, “I have been reading your blog with interest. I’m not a Doer or a Watcher because I have never been overseas. I’m wondering if I am an Intruder?”

She wrote her note prior to my explanation to the last category but I assured her she was certainly NOT in that class. Kathy is typical of 90% of Americans involved in missions. She loves career missionaries (Doers), prays for them by name, writes notes of encouragement, prays for nationals and their ministries within their countries and contributes when she can for world evangelism. If she were physically or financially able she might be more involved in taking short-term trips, but that’s not what drives her. She, like most people interested in missions, sees her work in a support role.

The reality is my emphasis is, and has always been, that we need people overseas who know what they are doing. No matter who they are in the three categories, I created as a lark, I am convinced we need BETTER Doers, Watchers and Intruders. To be better requires more understanding of the world, the people we communicate and yes, even prayer. In my view we need:

Better Doers - Not everyone who lives overseas is effective. Being able to speak a different language, experiencing the frustrations of a developing country doesn’t automatically mean they are doing a service for God and country. Doers have the potential of being much more effective than Watchers and Intruders, but they still have to grow intellectually and spiritually to become better in their service for Christ.

Better Watchers – Those who are better in doing short-term missions are those who serve with understanding, not just zeal. They go to fields where they are needed, interact with those on the ground (Doers and nationals who are in touch with the reality of their context, not just their feelings), and have a plan for their ministry, not just to have an experience. There are some great Watcher programs. Find them, join them, and learn from them.

Better Intruders - I can really get excited about a church or an individual who wants to be more involved, even ownership, as long as they don’t come in with the attitude that Doers and nationals don’t know anything, aren’t doing anything right, so move over, the Marines have landed. I endorse ownership as long as it facilitates what God is doing rather than trying to make it happen. If Intruders will take the time to really partnership with those who live in the context they will always be welcomed and blessed.

Some people don’t like my approach to mission work. That’s okay; I never claimed to be infallible, the final or best word. After thirty-five years as a Doer, strategist, missiologist, I have a fair understanding of the difference between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. After thirty-five years in the business I have observed the liberal do-gooders with no message and the conservative legalist who think they have the only message communicated only in their way. While I understand God is mysterious, I am uncomfortable with mystics who just want to throw the seed in the air and pray God will do His work by giving a harvest. (It's the stewardship principle in me that rejects the notion that it's okay that three-fourths of the seed can go to waste since God is using one seed to bring people unto Himself. Think what God could do if three out of four seeds actually landed on soil He could use.) I jealously guard and defend those who have committed themselves to make a difference worldwide. I want to do and be better, and challenge those who are involved in missions, in every category, to do the same.

Weakness of Intruders

It’s understandable why some churches and individuals want to take ownership of missions. They read about unreached people groups and, rather than working with the national church or career missionaries, make a commitment to do it themselves. I have no problem with people wanting to be personally involved in ministry anywhere in the world. I appreciate the commitment that people have to reaching the unreached with the Gospel. But I do have reservations with some people; I call Intruders, who take on the task of world evangelization simply for those two reasons. Many of these self-appointed missioner’s can cause more harm than good. Why?

Missiologically Inept -- The three components of a missiologist is a thorough knowledge of History (church/country), Theology (biblical/mission) and, Anthropology (cultural/applied). The bane of most of mission work is that few Doers are equipped in these areas, how much less those who have never lived overseas but nevertheless want to own an overseas ministry. Missiological incompetence leads to…

Ministry Ineffectiveness -- What’s the plan? What’s the goal? What are you trying to do? If the answer is, “I’m just trying to be witness for Jesus,” that’s not a strategy, that’s a slogan. So you want to reach Muslims, how will you do that and with whom, Sunni’s or Shia’s? Going to use the Jesus Film, feed the poor, hold a healing campaign? How about the Hindu, Jain, Sikhs, what’s your strategy in presenting the Gospel to them? What’s the plan for reaching the upper caste in India, the different tribes in Kenya or those who are marginalized in society (such as the eunuchs of Mumbai or the prostitutes of Bangkok)? I give Intruders an A for zeal and an F for understanding how to put a plan together for ministry.

Mission Waste – I met one Intruding pastor in Nairobi last year who said his church in the states has targeted the “harvest fields” of the world for ministry. Setting up Kenya, which is over 80% Christian, he has led his church in the states to give millions of dollars to buy land, build a building, furnish it with the latest sound equipment, etc., so they can have their slice of the harvest. Statistics show that 95% of the resources (people and money) go to the people and countries of the world where there is already a strong witness. The “more bang for the buck” mentality may make for good newsletters and fundraising, but it adds to the waste and doesn’t reach the two billion people that do not have a Gospel witness of any kind.

So what is my ideal of North American involvement in missions? If they are not going to be Doers, how then should they be engaged in world outreach? Next week.

Positive Intruders

When I began this thread my categories were tongue-in-cheek as it related to a sign I saw in a muffler shop (see Cost of Labor). The term, Intruder, is a bit harsh, but it did grab the attention for the discussion, a term for affect, not meant to slander.

Intruders are people who want to help do the work, maybe even take over from the people who are on the field. They are more than just Watchers, who dabble in missions; they take ownership. ItÂ’s my opinion that a committed Watcher eventually become a Doer or an Intruder. Intruders, like Watchers, can have a positive function, if they keep things in balance.

The primary reason for Intruders is two-fold. First, as I have mentioned, they are committed to the task of world evangelization. Secondly they want ownership overseas as feel they can do things better than career Doers. Intruders are people or churches that become their own agents of ministry overseas, while still living in the U.S. I have met pastor/intruders who have led their congregations to adopt people groups, cities and even countries, who by-pass North American missionaries and, sometimes, even national leaders, to reach their goals doing ministry themselves on the field. I know of one congregation who adopted Bosnia a few years back and in the ten years they have been involved they have established schools, sent in medical teams for refugees and nearly sixty percent of their membership has made a least one trip to the country that one time was a part of Yugoslavia.

Those who desire to be involved, more than a ten-day excursion, less than a full commitment to living in a country, see their role as being equal to that of the career Doers. In some cases, Intruders do indeed move things faster, maybe even more effectively than Doers. In the grand scheme of what God is doing all over the world; Intruders have made a positive contribution to world outreach. But, Intruders have a down side. Stay tuned.

Downside of Short-Term Missions

Let me give you the bottom line upfront. WATCHERS (short-term missions) are great for casting vision, however, they are seldom strategic for actual on-field ministries. Second, WATCHER programs confuse the issue of what really is missions and the role of DOERS on the field. Third, WATCHERS can actually hinder the work of the national church and DOERS. Fourth, the long-term profit of WATCHERS is disproportionate in relation to its benefits.

I am well aware that the national church and DOERS, not WATCHER programs, should develop strategy. Unfortunately there are many WATCHER programs developed by WATCHER ministries, who have no intention to live on the field but want to do good work and create programs that may be fun, but not effective. Prayer walks, Bible distribution, feeding programs may be helpful, but they are not necessarily strategic. Most of my life is spent working and thinking about the best way to present the Gospel in a culturally relevant way. For people who do not understand who Jesus is and what He is about, the simple approach provided by most WATCHER programs cannot, will not, reach the heart issues of most people in this world.

Second, as I have stated before, if everything is missions, nothing is missions. The little ditty that “You are either a missionary or a mission field,” is just wrong. DOERS pay a price for their commitment to go to the field, by leaving their host culture and families, the humiliating process of raising support, learning language and suffering through culture longer than ten days. The church has so confused and, in my opinion, demeaned the profession of DOERS, that the career person is looked upon as being no different than those who just came back from their vacation with a purpose. The mindset with North American church members today is not only can everybody be a missionary, anybody can be a missionary.

Third, after the WATCHERS return home, what do they leave behind? Goodwill, maybe. A church built, perhaps. But they also leave behind things like, the local church pastor is being paid by foreigners so the local church members don’t have to support the church; Christianity is about goods and services that only the WATCHERS can provide. In anthropology there is a term for a religious sect called the “cargo cult.” (I don’t have time to explain it; you will have to research this yourself). In a similar way, nationals (and even some DOERS), look to the sky each summer waiting for the god of goods to fly in. Sure salvation is in Christ, but the blessings of that salvation is surely in the hands of the WATCHERS.

Fourth, while some WATCHERS do become DOERS, donors, prayer partners or involved in their community, I dare say that the commitment of short-term missionaries is as long as their trip. Hard to quantify this reality, as far as I know there are no studies on the subject, but given that the fact that there are literally thousands of people engaged in WATCHER programs each year, the number of people to sign up to be career DOERS are a fraction of those taking short-term trips. Donations for the support of national work and DOERS is certainly disproportionate to the money spent on WATCHER expeditions.

I am not on a campaign to do away with WATCHER programs. I am on a campaign to help people understand that missions is not simple. I am educator and one of my roles is to inform people that short-term mission programs should be done right and be well thought out. In a few days I will discuss the up and down side of INTRUDERS, but this should be enough for further discussion among yourselves.

What I Like About Watchers

Since my last post, a lot of interesting comments from my drive-by shooting of Doers, Watchers and Intruders. So, for the next couple of posts I will try to unpack my thoughts on the subject. Today, what I like about Watchers (short-term mission programs, 1 week to three months).

It will surprise some of you to know that my eyes to the world of missions was through a short-term trip in 1974 to Mexico. I was a pastor in Texas and took a group of teenagers to Monterrey. God used that trip to show me the meaning of Matthew 28:19 ff. Up to that point in life my worldview was parochial and ethnocentristic. For the first time I came to realize that not all people in this world lived like Americans. That trip challenged my view of helping the poor and taking the Gospel to people who had never heard the Good News. It was a defining moment in my life.

THE primary reason for short-term missions is for people to catch a vision of a world that is beyond their own neighborhood. Spending a week or a month in a different country is the hands-on experience of lifting ones eyes and seeing the fields are white ready for harvest (John 4:35). A person can catch that vision if they never leave their community, but it’s better caught than taught when someone touches, feels and smells that world outside of one’s own culture.

Many Doers on the field will tell you that they became career workers because of a short-term trip. There are countless hundreds of people who went on short-term trips who are now active in their local church outreach programs. One of the kids who went with us to Mexico over 30 years ago is now one of our sponsors and active in their community. Short-term projects CAN have long-term implications.

Recently a pastor friend of mine came back from Cambodia. He’s been in ministry for a long time and loves Doers. He has visited several countries down through the years and each time he comes back from a trip he is revitalized for global outreach. Listening to him the other Sunday as he spoke it was obvious his recent trip had an impact on his life. All the reports and slide presentations from Doers visiting his church pale in comparison to his experiencing the field firsthand. Short-term missions can be a great tool for world evangelization.

But, there is a downside to short-term projects, which I will talk about next time.

Cost of Labor

I walked into the muffler shop today and noticed the sign on the wall.

PRICE LIST

$40 an hour if we do the work.

$60 an hour if you watch us work.

$80 an hour if you help us work.

“Clever”, I mused, “that looks like a blog theme to me.” I then thought of the high cost of missions.

DOERS - Those who do the work are the people who have made a commitment to take on the task of cross-cultural service as a career. I can hardly believe how expensive it is to live in places like Mumbai, Kiev or Santiago. For a family of four a flat will can easily cost $1,000 a month. To do be engaged in the work overseas, along with taxes and insurance, you’re looking at least $50K a year. Financing the doers is not cheap, but still probably the most cost effective.

WATCHERS - Those who observe the work are short-term teams who travel overseas to experience ministry for two weeks or less. Take an average group of ten to fifteen people and the tab will easily be $30K. Glad they came, hope they caught the vision; the money they spent for the experience probably wouldn’t be given to missions anyway. Who knows, the 10 day trip might be a good investment in the long-term, but short-term missions is a program primarily for the watchers, they can’t really contribute much to the real work on the field.

INTRUDERS - Those who want to do the work are congregations who have determined that they want to be stakeholders in overseas ministry, though they don’t want to live on the field, learn a language or send their kids to local schools. By underwriting national programs, schools, orphanages, they will easily invest $100K a year, which includes teams going to the field, buying land and buildings. I know of one fellowship that has “adopted” a people group in Asia and is building a school, though they cannot mention the name of Christ nor even display a cross. Another congregation is involved in “harvest ministries,” which starts churches in Africa and Philippines by pouring thousands of dollars to reach those nations who already have a huge Christian population. Believing they can do better or maybe just a well, they by-pass the on-field doers.

Like the muffler shop, anyone of the three option’s one chooses will get the job done. It’s a matter of how much do you want to pay for the process to get the best results.

One Nation Under God

In 1976, when our country celebrated its 200th birthday, I was living in Africa and people we’re talking about America’s “image” before the rest of the world. We were a couple of years out of the unpopular Viet Nam war, one year after Watergate and the resignation of President Richard Nixon. This morning as I woke to our nations 230th founding as a nation I again listened to those discussing America’s image in other parts of the world.

I am not one of those card-carrying conservatives that believe that the hope of the world rests in the hands of our country. Economically, if we falter the domino effect will indeed have repercussions globally. We are not a particularly moral country and we seem to be less so with each passing year. Our government policies have gaping holes in them and I, quite honestly, wish our leaders, both Democrat and Republicans, would make decisions based on what is right versus what they think is more popular in getting them elected to office or gaining favor with world opinion. But in spite of the obvious deficiencies with my country I am not apologetic of who we are as nation.

What many people in other countries do not understand about America is our values, as they don’t share those values. All nations are built on principles, some being religious such as Islam, Hindu or Buddhist. Some countries hold the ideology of “the common good,” with policies that lean toward social programs and state run assistance. Many countries are driven by nationalism, which tend to splinter the population by ethnicity or tribe. When values are in conflict, so, too, will their disagreement on how things should be.

The value of a majority of American’s is one of freedom and independence, primarily religious freedom. Our rebellion from the rule of King George of England over 200 years ago still remains the same, i.e., we want less government interference in our lives and the common good is through what we believe is best for collective individualism. Government is only good as it is seen to benefit us, individually as well as collective. If our government officials don’t reflect our wishes we vote them out of office.

If we have disagreement with our own, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that most Americans are not be driven by what others, outside of our country, think on how we should behave. While we do want to be liked and respected by others, our values are as unique as our country itself. We understand our responsibility as the only superpower; we understand that our values do affect the nations of the world. Governments, represented in the U.N., have never appreciated our values and are frustrated that we don’t conform to what they think is best for the rest of the world.

What is always interesting to me is that; while the most popular thing to do is bash America, most countries privately seek our aid, trade and even our form of government. In essence, they want the best of what we are but reserve the right to hold their own values. As best we can accommodate those conflicting issues we try. But in the end of the day, Americans will always hold onto their values in spite of those who disagree with us.

God is not a politician. His values are neither American nor that of any other nation. America’s success or failure is dependent on America’s willingness to submit to His will and His values. If America becomes more concerned by the will of others over its desire to seek His agenda for all mankind it will go down in history as other nations who have turned their back on God. I’m a follower of Christ first, an American second. Make no mistake; I am a proud to be an American. America is a country where freedom of religion is a value, and because of that value I had the opportunity to hear the Gospel. Through my own free will, without fear of oppression or persecution from family or state, America gave me the opportunity to become a follower of Christ. It is for that reason I join my country today to celebrate 230 years as a nation.

Never No More

“They are no more.”

That is the way Hindu’s refer to the death of their family or friends. It’s an interesting expression, which says a great deal about their worldview. In contrast, in the West we refer to the death of someone by saying they have “passed away.”

Most Hindu’s believe in reincarnation, a 12,000 recycling of the soul into other forms of life until one reaches moksha (freedom from cyclical life). When someone dies they are no more from their present state; they are also no more from their identity as a person. My 80-year-old friend, Mr. Kumar, ceases not only to live, but also to be Mr. Kumar. He really wasn’t Mr. Kumar when I knew him; it was just his present state. Mr. Kumar is no more; he is now someone or something else. While this teaching may seem odd to those outside the faith, Hindu’s find comfort that life continues even if the state of that person does not.

Those in the West, who do not believe in reincarnation, and especially those of the Christian tradition, view death as the continuation of the personality, passing from life on this earth into an eternal condition. Where that eternal state may be is often a subject of debate. For evangelical Christians we point to the Holy Scriptures, the book of Hebrews which states, “It is appointed ONCE to die, and after that the judgment” (9:27). (Judgment does not refer to punishment but accountability).

Working with the Turkana of Kenya, most of the people were animists. They did not have a concept of an on-going living soul and therefore believed that the death of person meant they were no more. Unlike the Hindu, however, the soul does not move into another cycle of life, but really are no more. The worldview of the nomads in the desert and that of the educated atheist in the halls of academia, at least on this issue, are the same.

As I write this post, my mother-in-law is near death (which literally means separation). When she is separated from this life, her family and friends, she will pass to an eternal state. She, like all of us, has been created unique in person, uniquely an eternal personality. Our Eternal Creator, which does not change in either form or function, remains consistent with His creation. For those who are followers of Christ, we move from separation of life on earth, but we are never no more.

In The Area?

I never call a business meeting unless there is business to discuss.

I never run through an airport to catch a flight.

I never make eye contact with women when traveling through Asia, even if I am talking to them.

I almost never say “grace” over my food unless the person with me insists.

I never read the manual prior to plugging in a new computer program.

and…I AM SELDOM IN THE AREA.

I announced last spring that I would be in the states for the summer. The months of May through July it is too hot in the country we live and my teaching assignments are not in that period, so it’s a good time to return home and visit friends, sponsors and family. At least three donors have written, “If you’re in the area, please come by and see us.”

Perhaps we need definition – what does it mean to be in the area? Between the price of gas and driving time, my area is about 350 miles. Living in northwest Arkansas when we are home, my area then is Arkansas, Oklahoma, north Texas, Kansas and Missouri. Anything beyond that and we are looking at it being cheaper and more time efficient for me to fly.

It was 1975 when I first went out to raise support for our work. Back then gas was $0.58 a gallon (about $1.69 adjusting for inflation in today’s economy) and so driving 300 miles for a $50 dollar honorarium and $35 dollar monthly support wasn’t a bad deal. I wish I could have stayed in a 500-mile radius of home, but that was impossible, so our partners are spread from California to Connecticut. I’m only in another area if someone invites me.

I try to communicate to our partners via email monthly, sometimes more. But I know a personal visit is important. I suppose next year I should plan on being in other areas, but I can already hear it now...“June is not a good month for us, will you be in the area in July?”

Sorry...Writer's Block

Struggling With Discontentment

I always enjoy being in my home country, but inevitably I feel unsettled and unhappy with my life. Recently I was with a couple of guys who were telling me about their homes, their vacations and their investments. There is nothing wrong with any of this, but then I begin comparing what I have, or more to the point, what I don’t have, to others. If I wasn’t a nomad, bouncing all over God’s planet, and would settle down in the US, perhaps I would be content. Then again…naw, I probably wouldn’t. But discontent in not being content drives me to write this blog.

The Scriptures (1 Timothy 6:6) tell us that having godly contentment is great gain. Random thoughts on contentment:



• Contentment is not something to achieve…it’s a process. The prayer of the frustrated, “Lord give me patience and give it to me NOW,” doesn’t work. Contentment and patience often work hand-in-hand.

• If one cannot be content in their present state they probably will never be content. Ask anyone who sought fame and found it, or fortune and became rich, most of the time they die lonely. Contentment is a state of mind, not a goal to achieve.

• Our culture is rooted in discontent (capitalism exports discontent). A thousand voices yell at me each day saying, “If you just had this, you’d be happy.” The genius of capitalism is that it markets a necessity that you really don’t need. It’s called an illusion.

• Interestingly, Hindu’s (dharma) and Muslims Inshaallah (the will of God) are a form of contentment based on fatalism. They are not happier, they are just resigned.

• Unchecked ambition pulls one off balance from being centered in contentment. Nothing wrong with ambition until one strives for the prize, which in the end, will never satisfy.

• On the other end of the spectrum is the idleness disguised as being passively content. You’re not content, you’re just lazy squandering God given ability.

Paul also says (6:8), having food and clothing we should be content. I may not have the best food or clothing, but I sure have it better than many of the people I work with every day outside the US. Wisdom plans for the future, but does not strive to attain that which will always be out of reach. If we work to seek first the things of God, the other things will take care of itself.

What Is Missions?

There is a lot of confusion in the American church when it comes to missions. First of all, what is missions? Which project listed below would your church fund out of the mission budget?

a. Vacation Bible School
b. Radio or television ministry
c. Youth camp
d. Christian crisis pregnancy clinics
e. Promise Keepers event
f. Starting a new church in the neighboring town or state
g. Funding mission or global outreach conference

If your view of missions leans more towards cross-cultural work, what projects does your church support (probably a combination with the list below, so what are the percentages)?

1. Church planting only
2. Church planting primarily in unreached countries
3. Social programs (orphanages, food programs or medical projects)
4. Training programs (schools, training material, trainers)
5. Literature (Bibles, tracts)
6. American personnel
7. National pastors or evangelists

What is your definition of missions? Last week I heard of a young couple that presented their ministry for Senegal. The mission committee responded by saying, “We would love to support you, but our short-term mission trips have depleted our budget.” Recently a “mission team” from Louisianaiana traveled to northwest Arkansas to conduct Back Yard Bible Clubs. Just what is missions?

Training In Ukraine

I met Sergey in Ukraine at a pastors conference hosted by Church Leadership Development International (CLDI.org). He attended my workshop on “Being a Bridge for God.” Sergey had a lot of questions, as everything I taught was new to him. English is not his first language, but I was delighted to receive this note from him.

"I want to tell you, that after that week that I had a possibility to attend your lectures I refilled my spiritual strength, and started to work even willingly at the God’s field. When I came back home from that conference I talked to my wife and we come to decision that my family will follow the Lord, and since that time our home belongs to God and we will serve him.

Please pray for a chance to start a service among Gypsies. If everything will be alright I am planning to start this in September. I wish I could visit you and learn more about correct missionary work. I am grateful to you once again that you devote your time for me."

Sergey, like most pastors in the former Soviet Union, serve bi-vocationally. I have great admiration for guys like Sergey and so many other faithful servants who work hard each day to put physical bread on their table but also work diligently to give the Bread of Life to those in their community. CLDI provides a great opportunity for pastors to get training. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to be a part of this year’s conference and to get an chance to encourage and help people, like Sergey, in their ministry.

Role Model In Dying

Malcom is a guy who works in Taiwan. I’m not sure if I’ve personally met Malcom, but we have interacted several times over email. I think we probably don’t see eye-to-eye on some missiological issues, but we have more in common than disagreements.

Malcom is dying. He has cancer and, according to a recent post by his wife, probably doesn’t have long to live. Malcom sent a post today to his friends saying that he is too weak to continue much dialogue and gave a farewell to those who know him.

I’m writing these thoughts about Malcom because he is a bit of a role model to me on how to die. Even though his fate is sealed with an incurable disease, he hasn’t made a big deal about it. Instead of dwelling on the inevitable, he has been trying to carry on with life as usual. I know he is concerned about his families welfare after he’s gone, but the tone of the way he is winding up his days on this earth seems to be one of quite resolve and bit matter-of-fact. That’s what I admire about Malcom’s dying.

I contrast Malcom’s situation with others I have known which have faced the expected. Their letters, unlike Malcom’s, is a weekly medical update and prayer for deliverance, that God will miraculously intervene. Malcom has also asked that people pray for him, but more for grace as he nears his end as well as for those who he will leave behind.

I have no idea how I would react if I was told I had cancer and may or may not live for another year. But as a Christian, who claims that my hope is in Christ and to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, I should see death as a spectacular transition to the fulfillment of my purpose of existence. I would like to think I would seek all the medical help possible, as I don’t think we are to foolishly hasten our own demise. But when it becomes crystal clear that my days are few, I hope that, as much as my ailing body will allow, I will carry on with life as usual until I can’t wake up.

Thanks, Malcom, for a great example on how to die. We will see you soon.

So You Think Your Church Is Missional?

My wife, Sandy, has a theory about churches and their understanding of world missions. If in the Q and A they ask questions beyond, "What do the natives eat?" they are probably above average.

I thought about that theory when I received this cartoon from a friend of mine.

I'm Back

After one week in Colorado and this past week in Ukraine, I am back to the world of blogosphere. Things I learned while away from my computer:

1. I still can’t fish. I like the concept of catching trout with a fly (seems more organic), and it’s more fun slinging the fly-line back and forth…but I still don’t catch fish.

2. I’m not in as good physical shape as I thought. The mountain I climbed at Crested Butte three years ago I gave up on before reaching the top this year. The route we took was steeper than before, but the reality is my legs gave up on me.

3. I hate to drive. The reason God created airplanes was for trips over six hours. Even with my son-in-law sharing the driving load, 16 hours in a van is not an enjoyable experience.

4. Even though they are grown and we lived in the same house for a week, I still love my kids and grandkids.

5. People who share their wealth are a rare treasure. The people who provided the lodge we stayed in built it specifically to give people who live overseas a place of retreat.

6. Russian food is still my least favorite. Hot dogs and potatoes for lunch or supper is not a hardy meal.

7. I hate flying in the summer. Way too many tourists.

8. Charles de Gaulle is the most inefficient airport in Europe. If you have an hour or less to catch your connecting flight, forget about it.

9. Good cheeseburgers can be had at TGI Friday’s in Kiev.

10. The world keeps on moving, whether I have Internet access or not.

Gone Fishin

In a couple of hours we travel to the backside of God's Rockies for a week of vacation. Along with our kids and grankids, I don't plan to post anything. Actually, I'm not sure, where we will be, that I will even have access to email. I do my most of my writing, not at the keyboard, but while I am driving or walking. I suspect that as I try my hand at fly fishing I will have plenty of time to write several blogs. I might even write another book.

From Colorado I travel to Ukraine. Somewhere in-between I will touch base.

Be Slow To Speak

We all know that words can be emotionally and intellectually compelling. A phrase, a sentence, an intentional pause meant to capture the attention of the audience before unloading a specific point, represents the power of verbal communication. This past week, listening to testimonies of newly appointed missionaries, two stand out.

“I fell in love with Panama…after the eighth day,” said one young woman recounting her two-week fact finding trip to Central America. The weather was hot and humid when she first arrived, but she obviously adjusted and in the remaining six days, allowing her to fall in love with the country she and her husband were called to serve. After six months on the field, with the humidity a constant reality, the foreign language that will be the enemy before it becomes a friend, the realization that going home is more than a week away, time will tell if they will still be in love with their adopted country of service.

“I hated Mexico,” another woman confessed. “I hated it so much that I actually prayed that God would do something to remove me from the field. I even prayed, I embarrassed to admit, that God would give me cancer so I could come off the field.” That was over ten years ago, and now this lady, who really does love the field she has worked in, is battling ovarian cancer. She and her husband will return to Mexico City in a few weeks, to spend as much time there before her health deteriorates to the place that she must come home.

We all say things that years later we wish we would we could retract. I guess that is why the scriptures reminds us "to be slow to speak."

Book Release

For years people have been asking me to write a book. I’ve joked that if I did it would be entitled, “A Case Study On How NOT To Do Missions,” or “The Top 1000 Mistakes I’ve Made in Ministry.” I’ve compromised and have written a book that is a mission guide called, The Journey of a Post-Modern Missionary: finding one’s niche in cross-cultural ministry.

The Journey Of A Post-Modern Missionary

The success of one living overseas is finding job satisfaction. The importance of occupational contentment is true with any person anywhere in the world, but it is particularly true with missionaries. This book demonstrates that finding one's niche is a process. Happy is the person who discovers their niche early in life. The discovery of giftedness, for many of us, however, is usually long and uncertain.

Though this book is autobiographical, at the conclusion of each chapter are journey niche notes, which are practical applications of lessons learned. Niche notes also answer some of the common questions I’ve received from over thirty years in training and coaching missionaries in over twenty countries.

There are three ways you can order this book. (1) A signed copy through our website, (2) Through our publisher, Xulon Press and Amazon.com,(3) Through our office mailing address.

I See Dead People

How many movies can you identify from a phrase?

“Truth, you want truth? You can’t handle the truth.”

“Look up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s ….!

“I am the patron saint of mediocrity?

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

I was reminded of great movie lines from listening to sermon this past week when the pastor said, “I see dead people. I see them all the time.”

Of course that line was from the movie the “Sixth Sense,” the little boy who saw the dead walking around, and who helped Bruce Willis understand that he, indeed, was dead.

The pastor made a wonderful application using that phrase, suggesting that it would be a great to have a t-shirt with the words printed on it, “I see dead people.” It certainly would be a conversation starter. I’m not big on T-shirt evangelism, but that is one that I might embrace, if I was a visiting professor at a secular university.

In reality, we are all dead-men walking. No one knows the time of our demise, but each day we not only live, but we are in the process of dying. Today the cancer (or heart disease, diabetes, etc.) may not yet be detected in my body, but somewhere, sometime, the inevitable will be revealed. Of course, there are other dynamics in this world that may determine my end, like war, accident or maybe the pandemic bird flu. Morbid, I agree, but reality, nevertheless.

If you feel good physically and don’t know you’re sick you’re probably feeling pretty good. We go out to dinner, make plans for weekend fun and even plan toward retirement. Yeah, we know we will die some day, but the doctor has given us a clean bill of health so we’re not thinking about the reality that each second we go further into physical decay, one second closer to eternity.

Beyond than physical, I see the spiritually dead. People, young and old, of every nation are physically able but spiritually dead. Like their physical condition, people may be moral, even religious. They are not murderers, thieves and they even try to help people in their community. Some go to the temple or church everyday to pray, they may even give money to the poor. And yet, with all that seemingly healthy spirituality (the new term today…"I'm not religious, but I am spiritual") they are in reality dead.

“There is a way that seems right to man,” the ancient preacher said, “but his way leads to death.” Most people think that that way they are following, from a religion to good works, will lead them to God, but not all roads lead to heaven. For the followers of Christ we were dead, yet we are alive.

Why do I do what I do, living overseas away from family to teach others how to present the message of Christ and salvation? It’s because I see dead people. I see them all the time.

Intellectual Transformation

In one of my classes I talk about the importance of epistemology, which is a branch of philosophy in the study of knowledge. My question before the students is, “How did you come to know what you know, and how do you know what you know is right?”

I contend that most of a person’s personality is determined at birth, i.e. the culture in which we are born with all its implications (race, gender, socio-economics, ethnicity, religion etc.), and therefore accounts for most of how we come to know what we know. Somewhere between eight and ten years of age, at least in my case, we begin to think more about what we were taught and slowly move toward independent thought and eventually our philosophy of life. I maintain that the epistemology of most humans is extremely narrow and what we know is both limited and limiting. It’s an interesting study to think about, how do we come to know what we know.

This morning I listened to the teaching of an old Bible teacher that I have been listening to, off and on, for at least forty years. As a child growing up in Los Angeles my Mom would regularly listen to Dr. J. Vernon McGee and his mid-day Thru The Bible broadcast (www.ttb.org). Dr. McGee has an unusual voice, which he described as a bit like Andy Griffith (an American television personality with a deep southern accent.), which can either be captivating because of his folksy presentation, or hokey and a bit grating to the ears. Perhaps it’s due to my southern roots that I find his tone engaging.

The two main reasons I have listened to McGee all these years is because, first, the program is built on a five-year verse-by-verse study of the Scriptures. Though topical sermons are helpful, they lack the holistic hermeneutics that expository teaching provides. I prefer learning what God has to say about finances, prayer, Divine intervention and prophecy through a holistic approach rather than picking one passage of Scripture in which to build a doctrine.

Secondly, Dr. McGee is a great storyteller. As I remind my students, context gives meaning and presenting real life applications, as illustrations, are the most effective way to teach any subject. Jesus was a great storyteller. J. Vernon’s teaching comes alive with his stories and illustration (granted, some of them are dated and a bit corny, but they are still interesting).

Over the years I have come to disagree with Dr. McGee and his interpretation on some doctrinal issues. He is from a Reformed tradition that makes him more of a determinists than I am. I’m pretty sure he would be less tolerant of a postmodernist that I have become. I confess, however, that Dr. J. Vernon McGee has shaped and influenced a part of my epistemology. I have come to know what I know about God through many influences, but none that has been more consistent than the teachings of a man from Texas who gave his life to teach Thru The Bible.

How do you come to know what you know? Who are the teachers who have guided you? What books have you read that have shaped your present day thinking? Happy is the person who learns from many and finds those few can guide them in consistently in their intellectual growth.

The Agony Of International Travel

Jetlag is more than a bit inconvenient; it’s painful.

We arrived back in the states Monday night after a grueling thirty-six hour journey. Most of the trip was sitting in airports (Delhi, Milan, Toronto, Atlanta) waiting for the next flight. After sitting on a plane for eight hours or more, it’s wonderful to stretch your legs and walk around the airport terminal. However, one can only look in the gifts-shops so long and you begin to wonder what you are going to do with the next two hours of the layover. Airport seating is rarely comfortable and all the time the body just wants to lie down. I passed my time looking at people, thanking God that I’m not the mother who has to corral three unruly kids, or grateful that I’m not (yet) the old man who is in the wheelchair and needs assistance to get on the plane.

In air travel there is a hierarchy of people I would prefer not sitting around me. The first is crying babies. I feel sorry for the tiny ones because their little eardrums hurt because of the cabin pressure or they are stuck in a portable crib. It’s not their fault the only way they can express their unhappiness is through crying…non-stop. Though I do feel for them, I don’t want to share their pain by listening to their misery throughout the flight.

The second group I don’t want in my seating area are teen-agers. They are actually louder than babies and much more unruly, ranging from irritating to rude. I realize I sound like an old fuddy-duddy, but it’s just embarrassing to see the ranging hormones of adolescents as they try to impress the person of the opposite sex through giggles, punches and horse-like sounds that is meant to be human laughter. With babies all you can do is plug your ears; with teen-agers I want to say, “Hey, shut-up…I’m trying to sleep!”

Ah, the joy of the first night to actually lie down on a bed. The mattress is what I might imagine floating on a cloud would be like. My body sinks into the mattress, not merely resting on top. My legs whisper a “thank you” that it can stretch without the weight of the rest of my body. My tush is so grateful that I can rest on my side or stomach through the night. I wake up in my new surroundings refreshed, ready to seize the day, my first day back in my home country.

By three o’clock in the afternoon my body begins to run out of steam and by four I’m stopped by the side of the road completely out of gas. I try to stay awake, but can’t and fall into stage number five REM, just slightly above comatose. Now it’s Wednesday, 2 a.m. and I’m wide awake. I will continue this pattern for another three days. Though painful I realize it’s the price I must pay in world travel. I figure the reason God created Wal-Mart was so I would have some place to walk around when my body is in the U.S., but my time clock is eleven and half hours on the other side of the world.

Authentic Status

The other day we had lunch with one of our friends. She is a very talented person, extremely gifted in organization. Recently she directed a school play, a musical on the Book of Esther. The reviews in the paper commented that it was so well done it could have been “professional” theater. Our friend is an accomplished vocalist and has been asked to direct a couple of concerts this year. She told us that when people ask her what she does she replies, “I’m a mom.”

This blog is not about motherhood or working women. I believe in both. My thoughts are about two other things, humility and status.

Unless you have spent much time in this culture you can’t really appreciate the importance of status in this society. Everyone is forever dropping names, offering their credentials, analyzing your name to determine your caste, examining your clothes to see where you rank socio-economically and even how fair your skin is to determine if you are from the north or south. Our friend has the pedigree, credentials and contacts that could really impress, if she was into that. In fact, if it wasn’t for her personality she could use all that status stuff to really be obnoxious. Instead of turning to a professional status, she says simply, “I’m a mom.”

People of this world system really don’t respect humble people. They see humility as weakness, maybe even false. I find our friend and her husband’s humility so wonderfully refreshing. Arrogance is such a trap and I feel it in my own life. I see it in others as well, who are obsessed with the things they buy or the house they live in. I know others who, in attempt to be humble, make sure everyone knows the sacrifices they are making. Our friend’s house is nice and very comfortable, but not extravagant. They dress well, but their wardrobe doesn’t scream, “Look at me.” (Actually, the husband is so laid back there may be times when he could ratchet it up a notch. But, that’s why we’re such good friends as I am a bit of a frump). Humility is a Christ-like character, as Jesus displayed humbleness from the cradle to the cross, yet He was the King.

What our friend’s have taught me is that one does not need to sell yourself to make it in this world. That is a Western capitalist free-market economy concept. My favorite verse is, “See a man [or mom] skilled their work? They will serve before kings, not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29). The Master told us the meek will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). Good reminders…do your work well and walk with humility. You won’t have to tell others how great you are, they will know it.

Mama Njeri

Last week Jecinta passed away. It came as a shock when I received the news from her husband, Paul, that she was in a Nairobi hospital after suffering a stroke. As I write this note her body is still in the morgue and won’t be released until the hospital bill of $8,500 is paid. In Kenya, bodies left in the morgue for long periods of time is not unusual. There was a politician whose body remained in the cooler for over a year until the dispute, between his wives, was resolved on where he would be buried.

Paul Gichuki was one of the first men who became a believer in our ministry in Kenya back in 1977. He became pastor of the church nine months after it was established. A couple of years later he and Jecinta got married. We always called her Mama Njeri, after their first child, Njeri, was born.

Jecinta was not an overly friendly person. While she was always kind to my family, and me, she wasn’t warm. She would sit and laugh and engage in discussion when she did sit down to visit, but it wasn’t natural for her. I think she was always shy around us, maybe a little intimidated.

Paul has been pastor of the Makutano Baptist Church for over 25 years. A bi-vocational pastor, Paul has been a farmer, a merchant, a Bible teacher, all at the same time. He and Jecinta, who are Kikuyu, were forced out of West Pokot District a few years back because of sectarian violence. Though he now lives thirty miles away from his church, several times each week Paul makes the trip to Makutano to lead his flock.

The Gichuki’s and Lewis’s are forever linked. Our children grew up together. Paul and I pioneered the work in West Pokot together. I buried his father in 1979 after Masai cattle raiders killed him. We watched four of his six grow before we left Kenya in 1989. Pastor Paul is one of the most deeply godly men I have ever met, so it does not come as a surprise to me that he has accepted Mama Nejeri’s early home-going as the Sovereignty of God. My prayer goes out to Paul. My thanks to all of you who have helped him financially and for those who are praying for him. Jecinta will be buried May 5th.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:3).

No, He Didn't Kiss The Bride

Another wedding, another experience. This one was the sister-in-law of my lawyer friend. I figured since he soaked me for legal services the least I could do was take advantage of the reception supper. I ate as much paneer, gosh, rice, fish, and roti as I could handle, but I’m still far from making a dent in my legal bill.

A mutual friend picked us up and we arrived at the church fifteen minutes early. Even our Indian friend wasn’t certain if the service would begin at the stated time of 5:30 p.m. The family are professionals, so there was a chance they would operate in “time orientation.” However, it was no real surprise to any of us that the bride began her walk down the aisle at 6:40. It’s a law here that one must be married or buried before sundown, so by the time we got to the “I now pronounce you…” they just got under the wire.

As the pastor cited the familiar phrase, “Do you promise to love and honor..” I wondered if the bride and groom would lie? Love? This union, like ninety percent of the marriages in this country, was arranged. After the relatives made the match, this young couple perhaps had a cup of coffee together to give a quick analysis on whether their parents had made a good choice. American speed dating has nothing on this society, how about speed engagements! A quick review of educational qualifications, and her willingness to immigrate to Canada and the deal is done. When will they learn to love one another? Maybe after a year, perhaps after their first child, maybe never. But they signed a contract, so the chances of them not honoring their vows are considerably less than the emotional drip ("But, daddy, I just loooove him so much") that is in my country.

There were more video cameras at this wedding than a Bush Rose Garden press conference. They even had one guy who was panning the congregation that was then projected on a screen in the front of the church. I felt like I was at the Texas Rangers stadium and when I saw my face was on the screen I had an incredible urge to wave and yell, “Look! It’s me! Hi mom!”

After the service the bride and groom stood on the steps of the church for photographs. About ten eunuchs (transvestites) showed up, clapping and being obnoxious. They show up at all weddings to harass the guests for money. Some Hindu’s believe they have the power to bless or curse so they would rather give into their demands than beat the crap out of them. (I have low tolerance for rudeness, whether it is a he, she or "I'm not sure?").

Five and half hours later, we made it home. We left very early so I am supposing the reception went on for another four hours. My comments reflect my “time” worldview. For this culture it was an “event,” which is to be enjoyed by all. And, no, when they were pronounced husband and wife, the groom lifted her veil but did not kiss the bride.

Be Transformed

This past month I taught at the South Asian Institute for Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS). As a consultant I work in different training environments and SAIACS asked me to teach a doctoral class in cultural anthropology. As I’ve stated before, my training focus is with the people of the future, its leadership. Eight men, most of them holding significant positions in their own denominations or non-profit organization, were in this special class.

Because of time constraints and because of the makeup of the group, I did not teach my standard course. Instead, we had a one-week workshop analyzing their organizational workplace environment. Using anthropologist Mary Douglas’ grid and group social theory model (Cultural Bias 1982), they worked to identify if their organization were franchiser, bureaucratic, hierarchical or facilitator. I was not surprised with the outcome. Seven out of the eight work in a high grid/high group hierarchical work environment. The odd man out is a guy who has his own consulting business and he, like myself, works as a low grid/low group franchiser.



At the end of the analysis the question is always, “So what? What good is it?" That’s a bottom line question for everything we do in life. It’s one thing to understand what happens, it’s entirely a different matter to know why things happen and, even more importantly, what to do with the findings. So how does this workshop help in planting churches or reaching the world with the message of Christ? It’s through, as my friend Sherwood Lingenfelter (Transforming Culture 1998) says, finding transformation principles.

Organizations are often ineffective and inefficient because they function within the boundaries of their cultural prescriptions, but they do not operate with Kingdom principles. The organizations that are hierarchical are notoriously closed to outsiders, to innovation, as well as sound discipleship principles. There are no “ideal” or “biblical” structures, though Americans are forever trying to make other cultures operate as franchiser’s or facilitator’s, because that is how they function. All work place environments need Kingdom transformation if the goal is to grow and be an effective witness.

Confused? So were my students, at the beginning. But as they grew in their understanding of how systems work, they saw how God can use them and their work place environment for greater impact when they apply the scriptural principle, “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2,3). As a cross-cultural worker my role is not to change culture or organizations, but help people see how they, corporately and individually, can be transformed to serve Him better. My belief is that when people and work place environments are transformed, the foundation for people movements and, ultimately the transformation of a nation, are in place.

Manager Wanted

For me, management is like art. I may not know how to create a masterpiece, but I know it when I see it.

I think the worse thing a company could do is hire me as a manager. To be a manager means being someone who can organize and coordinate. A manager is someone who can take the vision and make it function. As one who can conceptualize how it should be done, I can get it started, but if it’s going to be efficient in the long haul, it will need someone who can make the pieces fit. In the thirty years I have been in ministry I have started a number of projects including church planting among tribals, non-formal training programs in the US and in other countries. But in all that time I have never managed any program beyond its initial launch. I’ve given up more titles of responsibility than you can count…pastor, head of training in Kenya, Overseas Director, Asia Director, VP of Training, all were positions I held at one time. I gave them up because I know, as an entrepreneur, how to create, but I don’t have the gifts to manage it.

Miller, in his book Barbarians to Bureaucrats. Corporate Life Cycle Strategies: Lessons from the Rise and Fall of Civilizations, identifies well the differences between a leader and a manger:

"Managers must understand the difference between leadership and management. Leadership provides the vision, values, and purpose that creates motion. Management channels the energy leadership creates."

In America, there is usually a clear line between the visionary leader and management. This is not true in India. In Asia, the leader and the manager is all-in-one. Nine times out of ten institutions (be they business or church) are a high grid/high group hierarchal structure with those at the top of the extended family calling the shots. The problem is that those who are at the top many times don’t know how to manage anything and as a result the organization does not function well. It survives only because the core group of family isn’t going anywhere (look for another job or go to a different church), but it does not grow because outsiders are not included except for what they can provide to the group.

My wife and I have been attending a fellowship in the city for over two years. We go there primarily because the pastor is a marvelous expositor of the Word. We attend church, not to have an emotional encounter, but to be spiritually fed. However, attending this church is often an exercise in frustration as the service, prior to the preaching, is an excruciating experience. The worship team doesn’t know how to lead the congregation in singing, most of the time the tech team can’t get the choruses on the overhead screen, microphones squeal, offering is a last minute scramble to find the offering baskets and ushers to pass the plate. If the pastor is out of town, which is often, the substitute speaker is woefully inadequate in his presentation. We continue to attend this fellowship because of the friendships we have built and for what it is, in spite of what it isn't. Because of our commitment to the assembly, we support its purpose, but are saddened by its loss of potential. With a little management, it could be more effective and has the prospect of having even more of an impact in the community.

Apart from this blog, which I am certain no one in the congregation will read, I would not, I cannot, give suggestions on how to do things better. Why? Because in a high grid/high group social environment it’s extremely difficult for change to take place and besides, as an outsider, I have no role.

Our local church is just one example of the how organizations operate in this country. If we went to another fellowship it would likely have the same structure. I am not suggesting that the high grid/high group structure is inherently wrong nor that the low grid structures are superior (explanation in the next blog). However, those in the West, who hope to do business or ministry in this country, need to understand that things work here based on the hierarchical (chief, extended family) system. If it works well it’s because the hierarchy possess both vision and management gifts. It’s a rare combination indeed.

Death and Resurrection

I was told I could get a really good hamburger in Bangalore. I even had a friend in the states who wrote and said it was a treat, on him! Can’t beat a deal like that. But alas, it never happened. The reason, Raj Kumar passed away and the whole city shut down, even the five star hotels where I was to go for my treasured beef between the bun.

Rajkumar was an old time movie star from the area, a poor kid who made it big on the silver screen. As many of you know, India makes more movies, I think an average of three a day, than any place in the world. Bollywood (from Bombay) stars are not just admired, they are worshipped, and so it was with Mr. Rajkumar. The day he died until they buried (not cremated) him the next day, there were riots in the street with over 100 vehicles burned and at least eight people killed.

We were in Kenya when we heard that Elvis died. An American friend of ours cried that day in 1977, and was in mourning for a period of time after that. Even today, Graceland is visited by thousands each year. I would suppose that some even pray at the grave of Elvis as it is some kind of a spiritual experience. In this country, where almost everything can be considered a diety, Rajkumar's death was, for some, a loss of a demigod. The riots, in reality, was more political than anything else, giving people a reason to vent their frustrations at the local government.

I didn’t mind not getting my hamburger, it wasn’t that important. I am saddened, however, with the misplaced devotion of people to a man who, like us, was just human. Yesterday, Christians around the world remembered the Son of Man who was like no other who has ever lived on this earth, and His death 2,000 years ago. Sunday, we will remember again that He conquered death and rose from the grave. To those who have put their faith in Him, we, too, will one day live again. Our hope is not in a movie star, a prophet or guru, our hope remains in Christ.

Spiritual DNA

This week my wife and I are in Bangalore. It’s a nice break from Delhi, though surprisingly the temperature here is the same as in the north. In spite of the summer heat, the one thing that we revel in is the quiet of the campus. We can actually hear birds singing and when they sleep through the night, there is not a sound.

Everyone needs physical refreshment. Though this setting is not a resort and I still have to teach six hours each day, it’s a time where the change of scenery is as welcome as a day on the beach. We end our day with an evening walk, perhaps watch a movie on our computer, or just read. Sandy found a delightful autobiography of Essie Summers and we are now both trying to finish it before the end of the week. Essie, married to a minister, was a romance fiction writer and, from what I read by searching for her on Google, was quite well known. As a guy, who has not, nor ever will read a romance novel, of course I’ve never heard of her. My interest in her is the life she lived as a writer in New Zealand in the ‘50’s until her death in 1998.

My thoughts are on all the people who have graced this earth in the nearly sixty years since I arrived; the people who once lived, who shared this planet with me for a brief period of time; for those who are now gone or who presently share this globe with me who are in physical and spiritual formation. As The Preacher writes in Proverbs, "man’s days are like a shadow, like a vapor." And yet, within this brief moment we call life, God is touching the lives of people who will touch the lives of others, maybe even my own. I believe heaven will be fascinating, as we will have eternity to map our spiritual DNA. That person who lived a thousand years ago who, whether peasant of king, gave birth to a witness who, over the centuries, lived and gave witness to another, which eventually led to that event in a little Baptist Church in Gardena, California where I accepted Christ as my Savior.

Our lives are unique and not, as the Hindu believe, a repeat of a former life. My creation was no accident, as the humanist would suppose. Created for Him, my arrival into the Kingdom will be due to those that preceded me. Who are these people that not only shared this planet with me, but whose existence had direct impact on mine? When time is no more I will learn that my spiritual “kin” were noble and ignoble, rich as well as poor, righteous as well as wicked. My spiritual lineage will be much more interesting than my family lineage, I am certain. I look forward to meeting those who lived their lives in submission to Christ and because of their faithfulness they had eternal significance on my soul. I pray that I, too, will have such significance and perhaps in eternity someone will come up to me and reveal that my presence on earth was a link to their salvation. Could there be a greater reward?

Organizational Failure

Last December (12/22 post) I predicted that Jimmy would quit the team. I learned this past week that, indeed, Jimmy and his wife were on their way home after only four months on the field. I have little first hand knowledge of the details, but I’ve been around long enough to read the tea leaves.

Jimmy and Joline (obviously not their real names) were setup to fail. They had their first child three months before their arrival and, because they are first time parents in their early 40’s, this miracle child became the center of their world. Nothing wrong with that, every parent should feel their family is the most valued possession God has given them. Jimmy wanted to wait for another few months to come over, but the organization insisted they get to their field immediatley. They arrived at the worse possible time of the year as the weather is atrocious in December. They had to immediately find an apartment, buy furniture and enter language school. All the time Joline is hating every minute, probably hating Jimmy for dragging her to a place she did not want to be. It’s my guess that it isn’t this country that’s the problem, any field would have been every bit as unacceptable.

Jimmy and Joline will now go to counseling for a month to assess their situation. After a month they will make their decision on whether to return or not. I’m not a prophet nor a counselor, but my guess is that the therapist will suggest they not return. I am certain counseling will be helpful, but the counseling is partly a face-saving measure for J and J, but mostly for the organization ("we did everything to help them"), before they resign.

I got into the business of training people for overseas work because of people like Jimmy and Joline, so I am obviously interested in the why people who do not make it on the field. I do not believe this couple are victims and they indeed bear some of the responsibility for leaving the field. Before they moved here they had made a short-term visit and seemed excited to live here, though I doubt that Joline was as excited about it as was Jimmy. After the baby was born everything changed, and this is where I believe the organization failed this couple.

When situations change it’s important for all parties to recognize it and be honest. J and J probably should have been asked to reevaluate their “calling” when they found out that Joline was pregnant. If J and J insisted they still wanted to be fielded, the organization should have done one of two things. One would have been to say to them they would not be fielded for another six months to a year. This is what J and J wanted, but they were denied. The other option would have been just to tell them that their situation had changed so much they would not be fielded. This is tougher, but someone needs to have the courage to say no to people rather than try to hope for the best.

Discernment is a rare gift. An even greater gift is having discernment and then making the hard decisions. Jimmy and Joline had little chance of succeeding on the field, the leadership knew it before they got on the plane.

My guess is that, in time, J and J will be fine once they get back to the states and settle into the surroundings they are both comfortable with. They will for years carry the stigma of a couple who raised a lot of money to get to the field but didn’t last. I’m sorry for that, because it didn’t have to happen. Some people are just not cut out to live overseas. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. The greater issue is the process of their failure. I hope the organization will not scapegoat this incident and take a hard look on how to do things better, for the sake of people, for the sake of Christ and His work.

Book Review

I finished reading The Namesake while in Chennai on a teaching assignment. About the only time I can read a novel is when I am on the road. To read non-fiction at any other time seems to be a violation of time stewardship.

Sandy, my wife, who is a ferocious reader, consumed the first 75 pages before I left town. She said the character wasn’t interesting and she couldn’t get into it. Our friend Sharmila, who read it while in Japan, also said she didn’t care for the book as the author, Jhumpa Lahiri, was too detailed which distracted from the story. With “two thumbs down” you’d think I would have abandoned the project, but hey, I was going to be alone in my room for two weeks with nothing else to do, so why not?

As a student of culture, I enjoyed The Namesake. It’s a story about a Bengali family from Calcutta who moves to the U.S. in the ‘50’s and the struggles they faced as new immigrants. The main character is Gogol, their son, who was given this “good name” at birth. It was only meant to be a pet name until their grandmother in India sent his real name. That name was somehow lost crossing the Atlantic and the boy lives with Gogol until he is old enough to change it himself. The name Gogol is neither Indian nor American, but Russian, named after Nikolay Gogol (1809-1852), the Russian novelist, dramatist, satirist, founder of the so-called critical realism in Russian literature.

Lahiri’s book was interesting as it gives insights on how people from India cope with living overseas. They, like all immigrants, usually group together in ethnic coalitions rather than integrate into the larger society. This is still very much the practice today with most immigrants, especially with Indians who are more group oriented than individualistic American's living overseas. I found the main character, though hardly endearing, a fascinating study of “third culture kids” (TCK). Indian on the outside, mostly American on the inside, Gogol, like all TCK’s, struggles to find his true identity. Had the story continued, Gogol’s children would probably have embraced the culture of their grandparents, wanting to identify with their “roots.”

I have not read enough Indian novels to make judgment, but the few I have read all leave me thinking about one word…fatalism. Fatalism permeates the Hindu worldview. Why do peasants accept their life with resignation? It’s fate, there is nothing one can do about it. Why does the caste system, where a persons lot in life is predetermined, continue to prevail in this society? Their belief in dharma, that all creation must adhere to a sense of obligation and must fulfill his role in society, even as an outcast, somehow makes the pain of life bearable, though meaningless. As I read the last lines of this novel it left me neither happy nor sad, neither gratified nor disappointed. It just ended -- like life.

For an outsider wanting to learn the inner workings of culture, The Namesake is worth the read. If you’re looking for a Bollywood ending, I suggest you buy a copy of Hum Tum on DVD.

Justification of Role

Every one justifies what they do. So, when my friend asked me last week in Serbia if I believed the day of North American missionary was over, my answer was probably self-serving. There is no question that what I did thirty years ago in Kenya isn’t what I would do today. Yet, there are many people still going to Kenya, and other places in the world, doing ministry that the national church should, and indeed are doing. I’m not sure there is any place in the world, where there is a strong Christian presence, that requires Americans to be involved in hands-on church planting. My self-serving belief is that Westerners should only be going to the field to be a resource for the national church. To be a good resource one should have the gifts and expertise to add value for what God is already doing throughout the world.

“The problem I see,” I continued, “is that mission organizations continue to send people to the field to either do pioneer work or as facilitators for the national church though they have no gifts in those areas of need.”

“If that’s, true,” he asked, “Why do agencies continue to send them?”

“It’s a combination of things. First, and foremost, the American church wants to be involved in global outreach. This is right and noble, even if it’s not always effective. Secondly, [admittedly a more sinister and uncharitable opinion] it’s an economic issue,” I replied. “With each support dollar a missionary raises the organization siphons off between 12 to 25 cents. Missions has become a business. Mission organizations don’t recruit people for a task; they recruit them to be a part of the grand scheme of world evangelization whether they have gifts for the task or not. If people were recruited for a specialized task, half of those on the field would have to come home. But everyone feels their job is essential because everyone justifies what they do.”

While this is true of faith organizations, which rely on field people for their operating budget, it is no less true of large organizations that have salaried personnel. I’m always amazed with those denominations that have tons of money but don’t seem to be any more effective than the mom-and-pop groups. I’ve met some of these salaried people who are as lost on what they should be doing as the independent franchisers.

If we recruited people for a task two things would happen. First, those serving overseas will be people with special and proven skills. Whether that skill is helping in organizational management, teaching (specialized subjects) or assisting in social development programs (micro-business enterprises, facilitating global English-medium based projects, etc.), a focused task skill will always be in demand. The numbers for such people are significant, though not enormous, which leads to the second development for task (purpose) driven missions – fewer people on the field and the death of many missionary-sending agencies.

Will there come a time when there will never be a role for Western missionaries? No. Because we are a part of the Body of Christ worldwide, we will always have a function. And, our role should certainly be more than just funding nationals. But to serve as an essential component of the Body, we need to continue to define what is our greatest contribution. Those of us who understand our role will always have a part to play, but then again, everyone justifies what they do.

Samsung Field Internship

Recently I received an email from Brian, a Korean who recently moved to our city. Brian is a Christian and wanted to find a church to attend so my wife and I asked him to join us. After services we had lunch and he told us his story.

Brian is a PK (preachers kid) who works for Samsung. His company sent he and twenty-two other Koreans to live one year and do research in this culture on business practices. Though Brian is married with two children, they did not come with him to the country. The structure of Brian’s one-year internship is not well defined, though he is expected to send reports to Samsung regularly on what he is learning. After this internship he may return to this country as one of their overseas managers, though that is not guaranteed.

As a trainer in cross-cultural studies I, of course, was interested in this program. At first blush I observed a few things that was both positive and negative in this internship model. On the positive side, I liked the idea that Samsung has sent people out to ask questions first, rather than coming with a market assumption. This is a continual drumbeat for me -- ask the questions before giving the answers. Too many times in businesses, including church business, there is a focus on selling the product before even knowing if the product has a market.

I’ve told this story before, but before I moved to Asia I spent a good deal of time visiting leaders to learn what the need was. I believe what I do is vital, but I wasn’t sure (a) if anyone else saw “my product” as important and, (b) if there was anyone else already here providing the same service as I do. No need to sell a product that is not needed or try to sell something to an already saturated market. If the church and missions would follow this model, I believe our work would be more effective.

The other thing I liked about Samsung’s approach was that they made it clear that, though twenty-two came over together, they were to live and work separately. After one year it will be interesting to analyze the notes of each intern. What are the common experiences? Who did well and why? Who did not do well, and why? What did each of them learn about the culture and how can they use that information for the benefit of the company?

Living separately also insures that the participants actually lean on the host culture or other expat business people for their cultural discovery, not just from their own cultural group.

The fact that the family is not involved in this project is both a strength and a weakness. It’s a strength in that the husband can focus on the job he was sent to do and not be consumed with making the family comfortable. New people coming to the field spend half, or more, of their first term dealing family adjustments (housing, schooling, etc.). The weakness in this approach is that if Brain is assigned to this country after the internship there is no guarantee that his wife and kids will adjust. Companies of every business suffer with attrition because the family cannot cope in an overseas environment. What the Korean family has over American family is the extended family structure. Brain’s family lives with his parents and is well taken care of, but that doesn’t mean that his wife will adjust to an overseas environment.

The major weakness of the program is that Samsung did not provide ANY pre-field training before sending this group on their internship. So, basically, these people are trying to discover the answers without having an idea of what questions to ask. Even a one week intensive on cultural anthropology designed to help people think about what to look for in another culture would enrich their internship tremendously. To send people to find their own way is a huge flaw in strategy.

Brian will probably do well. I think Samsung will be happy with this man’s work as he is mature and seems to have a well thought out plan for what he will be doing for a year. I would encourage all businesses, and especially those involved in Kingdom business, to think about how to better prepare people for cross-cultural work.

Family Title

When Becky, our oldest daughter, was pregnant with their first child she asked me what I wanted my grandchildren to call me?

“Anything but something stupid,” I answered. “I don’t want them to call me ‘pee-paw’ or ‘boo-boo’ or ‘big-daddy.’”

I thought Your Excellence had a nice ring, but no one bought it.

It was about that time I received my Doctorate in Intercultural Studies, so she came up with Doc. Not bad. A little more human than I envisioned, but I could live with it.

Recently my extremely lovely, talented and gifted grandkids were together in North Carolina and found this ice cream store. Pictured are Molly, holding cousin Simon, next to cousin Isabella and brother Colin on the far right.

Names are important. One should take care in receiving their paternal consanguine name as their “good name.” Your Imminence would have been nice, but I’m proud to be just Doc.

Taco Bell Says...

My flight from Belgrade to Milan had mechanical problems so 20 minutes after take off we turned around and made our way back to point of departure. I sat for two hours in a dingy and uncomfortable waiting room before Alitalia called to tell me I was going to miss my connecting flight to Delhi. After collecting my bag and going to the Alitalia office the lady at the desk asked me if I wanted the same flight for the next day.

“Yes,” I replied, “but I would prefer you get to me to Milan today. Get me a hotel there tonight and I will continue my journey tomorrow.”

“Oh, I can’t do that,” she said, “As your flight has not yet been cancelled.”

“So, you can’t get me to Milan to get my connecting flight and you can’t give me a hotel because officially it isn't canceled? So what should I do, wait another five hours before you do cancel the flight so I can get a room?”

Eventually they put me on a Lufthansa flight and I arrived in Delhi the next day. I thought about the events of this journey and how interesting standard operating procedures prohibit people from thinking rationally. I realize procedures are put into place for a purpose, but procedures, sometimes, confine people inside a process box that does not allow them to logically view problems and seek alternatives. You would think that there would be training, especially in customer service, that would help employees solve problems whether it is within procedure or not. Here are some training tips on how to help employees think outside the grid of rules and regulations.

1. Your First Responsibility is to Solve The Problem - If the predicament is the company’s fault, the representative for the company should be trained to solve the customer’s problem? The lady at the Alitalia service(?) counter would have been happy to book me for the next day’s flight, if I paid for my own hotel room. She was trained to follow procedure, not helping me, the paying customer, to rectify a situation that was clearly the fault of the airline.

2. Problem Solving Is Profitable - Solving problems for the customer, in the long run, will add to the bottom line, not detract from it. I suspect Alitalia was trying to save a few bucks by not paying for a room to keep me that night. I’m not sure how they come out better by passing me off to Lufthansa but, it seemed apparent to me the lady was trained to think about how to save the company money, not how to help the customer. When a company has that mentality it shouldn’t come as a surprise when they loose market-share. Next time perhaps I will simply book on Lufthansa as I am not sure Alitalia will help me in a pinch. If the company would have solved my problem it is a company I am more likely to want to do business with in the future. If I have to solve problems created by others, I will find another travel option.

3. Take Responsibility - After two hours standing around in an stuffy lounge, the natives were getting restless. When people asked those at the desk for information, i.e., what is the estimated time we might continue our journey; who will help with the connecting flights? those with the walkie-talkies and badges merely shrugged their shoulders and said, “I’m not in charge.” Hey, we don’t want you to be in charge, but since you do work here it would be nice for someone to say, “I’m not in charge, but I will find the person who can and will help.” Maybe they won’t be any more helpful than the lady behind the customer service (?) desk, but, as Taco Bells says, think outside the bun -- take responsibility. It’s called taking initiative, which seems to be lacking in customer service training.

The good news is I made it home with just a 10-hour delay. Through it all I never lost my temper, was never rude and didn’t act like an idiot, which is more than I can say for some of my fellow passengers. It does no good to burst a blood vessel when things go wrong, especially when it's things out of my control. My outlet is this blog, which few people will read. But, who knows, maybe someone from Alitalia or someone else in customer service will stumble across it will and be of help. Either way, I’ve got it off my chest. Blogging can be so therapeutic.

Back Home

I just returned from a five-day trip to Belgrade where I taught church leaders from Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria. The challenges of ministry in Eastern Europe are immense, but God is working through some very faithful leaders.

It’s ironic that I was in Serbia while the funeral of Slobodan Milosevic was taking place. Milosevic single handedly destroyed that country in his attempt the make the former Yugoslavia into a greater Serbia. He was in the Hague for war crimes against humanity when he died of a heart attack. The funeral drew many supporters, but for most of the Serbian people the week’s events was just a reminder of a painful period in their life and were anxious to get him buried so they could move on in life.

While in the airport I saw Ramsey Clark. Clark was once a defense lawyer for Milosevic but took time away from his present client, Saddam Hussein, to attend an old friends funeral. Of course Clark wasn’t the only Communist present, as the airport was full of Red supporters from Russia and other eastern block countries. Absent from the funeral was Slobodan’s wife and son, who have arrest warrants out for them which kept them in Russia where they are in exile.

It will take me a couple of days to collect my thoughts and reflect on my time in Serbia, but the contrast between meeting with men and women of God who are trying to be a positive influence in the region to that of the Balkan Butcher, couldn’t have been greater. I’m grateful that my life work is around people who are messengers of life rather than those who seek to destroy it. We are not seeking a greater Serbia, Russia or even the United States; our focus is on a greater Kingdom that is not built through ethnic cleansing, but a cleansing that comes through the cross.