Missionary envy
live well… wherever you are
I
‘ve always envied missionaries. Whether they are overseas missionaries in the third world or urban missionaries in some dirty corner of a metropolis, they must possess a sense of purpose that isn’t always easy to come by when you live in middle-class America. They cannot avoid strapping on their battle gear every day. They can lay their heads on their pillows at night, gratified to know that they turned their backs on the comforts of home to work for the Kingdom.
Recently, Captain Mark Gilden, who serves (with his wife Vicki) at the edge of a jungle in Belize, sent me an e-mail delineating some of the problems and irritations they face every day. It read like Paul’s list in II Corinthians 11: 24 - 28 (though not quite as severe). And yet, Mark added these telling words:
I do feel fulfilled and am at peace here…We’ve been blessed beyond description. We haven’t had a salary in seven months but we aren’t starving…Through it all, we haven’t cried foul, we’ve drawn closer to the Lord and not only survived in His strength but are thriving in His strength.
The payoff outweighs the sacrifice.
But many of us, though we have our ears to the heavens, waiting to be told to go to “Samaria and the ends of the earth,” are expected by God to stay here in “Jerusalem” (Acts 1:8). Our mission is our own front yard. And frankly, that can be a little disappointing sometimes. We miss out on the thrill of leaving home for lands or cities unknown. The romance of it. The opportunity to cling to Christ only, because there is nothing else to which we might cling. And we are more likely to wonder if the things we attempt to do for the Lord really matter.
Not long ago, I was at my son David’s end-of-season baseball party. I was sitting next to one of the dads, who suddenly turned to me and said, “I wanted to congratulate you on being part of The Salvation Army.” He went on to explain to me that he had once been given a new start through the Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center in Seattle. He was a veteran who had fought in the Gulf War in the 1980’s. Upon returning from war, he suffered that kind of mental anguish that only another war veteran can truly understand, and began to anesthetize himself with alcohol. He fixed his eyes on me and said, “You know, with you being in The Salvation Army, you never know whose life you might be touching.” He clearly wanted to impress this point upon me. He was intent that I should understand his gratitude toward the Army, and he seemed to want me to know that I too might be reaching someone with equal force. I was quite moved by his words, and the powerful emotions behind them.
I reflected on that conversation for the next few days. Then I remembered another encounter with a woman at my local grocery store. I had run into the store to pick up a few things, wearing full uniform. An employee behind a desk lowered her phone from her ear and called out, “Excuse me, Salvation Army?” I thought perhaps the store had a donation to give to the Army, and I was going to save her that phone call. I soon learned, however, that she was on the phone with her mother, discussing a grave family problem. Her brother had once gone through the ARC program, but had just turned back to alcohol. Their main concern was for his live-in girlfriend, whom he’d recently begun beating. When she saw me pass by in my uniform, she remembered that there was someone who could help. She cried as I described the programs we offered and gave her a number to call. She said it was fate; I said it was God.
Any Salvationist can recount stories such as these. It ought to give us pause to think. God needs agents in the worst segments of the hardest cities. And he needs agents in the jungles of Belize. But I guess he also needs people to walk through the Fred Meyer grocery store in uniform once in a while. What I mean is, you and I must be a reflection of our Savior wherever he places us.
There’s nothing too exotic about Shoreline, Washington (where I lived until recently). But there are lost souls there. There are people who need me. Reader, whether you be far flung from home or ten miles from the place you were born, there are people who need you. To be more specific, they need Christ; and they need you to deliver him to them.
You never know whose life you might be touching. So live well. Live purposefully.
Writer: Amy Reardon is a Salvation Army officer from the USA Western Territory who is taking up appointment this summer as editor of YS (Young Salvationist) Magazine. She has served in both suburban and inner city corps and in divisional youth departments.
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In a very real sense, we are ALL missionaries. Some of us have the joy of being paid to do what other Believers do without being paid for it!! A former colleague of mine put it like this:
“Adrian gets paid to be good; we are good for nothing!”
As a missionary among my own people, life is sometimes tough, but usually very rewarding. In my Community (the Jewish Community) the word “missionary” is one of the worst insults anyone can utter.
On my “business” cards I therefore have the Job Title as it appears on my contract, “National Evangelist”. It sounds quite impressive, yet it is very clear. My job is telling Jewish people all over the United Kingdom about Yeshua the Jewish Messiah.
The pay is dreadful, but the retirement package is out of this world!
Amy…here’s the thing. There’s no doubt that the impact TSA social service goes far out into the community. But as “missionaries” aren’t we supposed to be saving souls? It would make me happier, if more of those who benefitted from programs and their families were to find their way to the Church. Programs as necessary as they are and as wonderful as they are at their best offer just a glimpse of grace.
Thanks,Andrea
Andrea, the Gospel is actually about making a difference. We aren’t about “saving souls”. That is not found in the Bible - anywhere. The Gospel is not about “souls”, it’s about people. If the Gospel is not Good News for the whole person, then it is not Good News at all. If the Gospel does not make a difference, then it is not Good News. Personally I am not interested in whether people find their way into a nice comfy Church somewhere. I would say that I would advise new Believers or Seekers to actively avoid some Churches that I know, as they would be made to feel unwelcome. What is better, to help a person delevop a relationship with The Almighty outwith a Church, or send them to a group of people who will destroy not only their new faith, but their personality?
Adrian:
If I find myself in the end in one of those rooms in that house that has been prepared for us, then my soul is saved, no?
I am NOT arguing for giving up on service to the community. I am not suggesting any utilizing compulsion whatsoever to get people to church. It’s just that if we are going to have an impact on people in their entirety, eventually they are going to need church.
Not disputing that many churches are flawed places that stifle faith, but does that mena that we give up one of the most beautiful accountability mechanisms the Lord has given us?
Andrea
Hi Andrea
Thanks for a great post!
In answer to your first paragraph. . . . yes, I suppose that is one way of looking at it.
Do we need to introduce people to “Church”? Not necessarily, if that particular “Church” or expression is not a healthy one where the person would be fed and nourished.
People do not necessarily need “Church”. They actually need what we all need - relationship; love; acceptance.
We all know many Churches where there is a definite lack of love, which means that any idea of a relationship with a living G-d is a non-starter. I can think of Churches that I would advise people to actively avoid!
Fair enough, Adrian. But there are great churches, too. Everyone needs to be in Christian fellowship - Hebrews 10:25. That’s ekklesia, that’s church. I think we should reclaim the word; it doesn’t have to be so pejorative. You said “people do not necessarily need “Church”. They need…relationship, love, acceptance.” That defines true church, don’t you think?
Amy
Adrian,
I saw a play last night at Winnipeg’s Fringe festival. It is about family, and the writer/actor portrayed that all families have some level of dysfunction, and often people are so busy looking at the dysfunction of others that they actually fail to realize their own.
This to say, there is no perfect church, except for “The Perfect Church” in Atlanta (theperfectchurch.org). Every church has some level of dysfunction and messiness. The reason? It’s made up of people who’s lives are messy and to some degree dysfunctional. Are there churches people should avoid? Sure, but don’t be so quick to knock the church. Jesus told Peter He was going to build His church on Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah. The bride may not be perfect in her own efforts, but the blood of Christ makes her spotless.
Hey all!
Not only should we not dismiss, deprecate, otherwise disclaim the value of church, we also need to embrace it, because as Amy notes it’s part of being a Christian.
Sometimes when I hear testimonies by one Christian about bringing another to Christ (when the converted isn’t there), I wonder about what happened after the two got up off the park bench, out of the car, left the hair salon…what happened next. Why don’t I ever hear testimonies (or moreshamefully) why can’t I give one about how someone took a new Christian around to the necessary number of congregations, until they found the one that best fit with their faith?
One benefit (and there are a few) of living in a pluralistic society is that there are so many expressions of faith. Yes, there are times in our life because of barriers such as poor health that we can’t get to church, but proxies for taste and preference should never be cited as barriers…
Andrea
Good idea to take people to various expressions of faith andallowing them to make an informed decision on where to find friends on their journey.
In my experience this will sadly mean that the Salvation Army will be one of “thanks but no thanks” types. Few within the Army are prepared to accept new people - certainly not people who are not yet “one of them”.
This is why I (and a good number of my friends) will not darken the door of an Army centre, though we appreciate what the Army SHOULD be.
Adrian:
I didn’t suggest that we should merely shop around corps to new Christians.
Getting that out of the way, I don’t understand what you’re getting at about the Army. Insular, self-absorbed people are not unique to the this denomination…and they are not its only feature.
But since you brought it up, this denomination does offer a clear brand that transcends any particular personality (even, yes, by now the Booths) and an opportunity to offer our lives to Him.
Andrea
My experience of / in The Salvation Army, as a Messianic Jew, is that frankly Jewish people are not welcomed AS Jewish people. Even if we put on uniforms and “comply”, we are always being inspected to ensure that we are not being “too noticeably Jewish”, as it has been said.
Also, it is the case that for far too long The Salvation Army would not allow songs other than official Army ones; in many Corps the idea of mixing with people from other Churches was frowned on; even now, I can tell you of a Corps where the same 3 familes have always run things. One man was YPSM for over 45 years! Another was CS for over 40 years and the Bandmaster had been BM for 30 years the last I heard. This is sadly not unusual. As a newcomer I found it impossible to even contribute, and wouldn’t even try to suggest anything to anyone. I was an outsider after 4 years. (Not just in one Corps, either).
As I started to investigate what I could DO, I thought of Officership. My DYS told me that I would have to become less obviously Jewish! (I am an Evangelist with the world’s oldest Jewish Mission). As a matter of course, I do not advise people to even visit Salvation Army centres, unless they have at least 2 generations of Salvationists, preferably with at least one Officer in there somewhere. As for being “different”, that is a non-starter. Either have yellow red and blue blood, or go somewhere else.
Well, you did ask!
Adrian, you break my heart. I am a Gentile with a great fascination for all things Jewish. I have studied the Hebrew language, which captivates me, and use my Hebrew Bible on an almost daily basis. I am enamored with the Jewish culture. I have met some Christians (even Salvationists) who are the opposite of what you describe-because they are “grafted in” they try to pretend they are Jewish and adopt Jewish customs to an unnatural degree. And I, for one, have really appreciated your voice on theRubicon because of your perspective as a Messianic Jew. You are a gift to the conversations held here.
As for your experience with the Army, I don’t think everyone feels that way. I’ve seen many people embraced and I’ve seen many join the Army. But, I’ve also seen people stereotyped, snubbed, etc. Depends on the corps, in my experience. Also, many corps in my home territory (USA West) won’t give the time of day to people with Army roots - they only want fresh new voices to shape mission, program, etc. I think a mix of both is healthier.
Grace to you. Thanks for being here.
Amy
Amy, thank you! The more I hear / read about The Salvation Army in territories not my own (UK) the more I wish I could visit an Army centre (or even Center!) in another country! I have read about the Army in the US and in Australia. It sounds wonderful! The majority of Churches wher I have spkoen in the uS have been Baptist, with the occasional Pentecostal or United Methodist. Maybe the next time, it’ll be an Army Corps! Would it be possible for the US Territories to send some of this good feeling, love and sound teaching over here? PLEASE?
Blessings on you, Amy!
In Yeshua our King
Adrian
Hi Adrian,
I recognise with sadness the picture you paint of some UK corps. However, I’m glad to say that you would be warmly welcomed and valued for who you are in Forestdale, London South-East Division. The idea of rejecting anyone, or violating their identity in Christ, is utterly foreign to our way of being the church. The same is true of the corps I belonged to before entering training: Raynes Park, also London SE.
Thank you, Matt! I may well pop in. I’m in east London, at Christ Church Spitalfields, on May 9th for a CMJ 200th Anniversary Party. Doubtless I’l be down before, to sort out my details. Also, we do a lot of New Age stuff in London through the year. . . .