Vox populi | missions

I

have some good news and some bad news in regards to the plight of the poor and marginalized in our world.  The good news is… God has solved the problem of financial burden and poverty in the developing world.  The bad news is the answer is in the pockets, bank accounts and investments of people who sit in our pews.

Every year, around the time of Lent, The Salvation Army begins an appeal to Corps/Ministry Units/Churches to raise funds for overseas missions.  It used to be called the Self-Denial appeal when I was younger.  We were taught/encouraged to deny ourselves a luxury we would usually indulge, and instead, give the money we saved to missions.  The name has been changed to “Partners in Mission”, and this is only a guess, but I think it’s because denying self and giving to missions is something we do “to” others, but “Partners in Mission” suggests we do this “with” others.  We’re partners, not patrons.

This is a great idea, but sadly, if I approached my marriage partnership in the same manner we approach this partnership with those engaged in overseas mission I would probably be seeking a good divorce lawyer.  The last statistic I heard about our missions giving was that Salvationists in the Canada and Bermuda Territory gave 1.9% to missions.  If I could get away with a 1.9% share in my partnership with Deana in regards to the work required to run our household I’d be laughing, but I can’t.

Our partners in the world can’t get along with us giving such a small amount to missions either.  I want to encourage us as we make decisions regarding our financial role in supporting overseas mission to consider seriously how we might become better partners.  Stop praying for God to provide for missions.  He has already.  Start praying that God would make us a more generous people.  He has blessed us with so much because He trusted us to share it with others.

Vox populi appears every Friday on theRubicon. Find past Vox populi posts and a bio of Capt. Rick Zelinsky here.

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