I've prayed before while walking but I've never been on an official “prayer walk.” I'm not sure what exactly makes them official, perhaps a hat or a map of the place you're going to pray through. It's hard to tell because different people have different definitions of what a prayer walk includes, but for some people it includes what is known as a "vacation."
I say that because someone I know went on a mission trip prayer walk in Rome, Italy. Before you send in your support money and offer up a hedge of protection for them, let me first and foremost say that fear not, they returned safely months ago.
That's the kind of mission trip that makes me a little cynical. When I hear about trips like that, the grumpy old man inside me kicks over the rocking chair on his metaphorical front porch and wants to ghost ride his rascal scooter off a cliff after using some World War II era profanities at some neighborhood street youths.
But who am I to judge when a prayer walk is a mission trip and when it’s just a nice chance to walk through an amazing city while also occasionally praying when you’re not buying fine leather belts? It's not like there's a helpful questionnaire that allows you to determine if someone is a missionary or a vacationary …
Missionary or Vacationary?
1. Where are you going?
A. To a country that last saw a tourist in 1987.
B. To a country that people regularly honeymoon in, retire in or go on "shell collecting excursions” in.
2. How many personal suitcases are you bringing?
A. The entire team is sharing one so I'll be required to wear all the clothes I want to bring on the plane. I'll have five pairs of pants on at once.
B. Whichever matching set I feel best complements the native flora and fauna.
3. How many bathing suits are you packing?
A. None, there's not an ocean or there won’t be any time to swim.
B. As many as I can fit in my suitcases.
4. How many shots do you have to get beforehand?
A. At least 14.
B. Ouchie, no thanks.
5. If you'll be doing a prayer walk, where will you be walking?
A. Through the Kibera slums in Kenya.
B. By the Pantheon, the Trevi fountain and hopefully the Sistine Chapel. Fingers crossed!
6. What's your greatest worry about the trip?
A. I can't pick just one. Probably malaria or that civil unrest would break out with a government coup started inevitably by a General that has a really thick mustache.
B. Wicked bad sunburn from not getting enough of a base tan before we leave.
7. Can you drink the water?
A. No. If we boil it and then run it through a filter system and then dissolve these charcoal tablets in it we can use it to wash our hands. But drink? No.
B. Yes, and it will be sparkling. Probably Pellegrino if I had to guess.
8. What will the reaction of friends and family members be when you get back?
A. "I'm so glad you made it home safely!"
B. "Did you get me a souvenir? Did you remember I am a size medium t-shirt?"
9. If you post photos of the trip on Facebook, what will people write in the comments?
A. “I prayed for your safety! Are you sure you should be posting photos that mention the location like that? I thought that country had serious issues with Christians being there?”
B. “I love that place! We're going next summer for vacation! Staying at a Sandals!”
10. Did anything about the trip leave an impression on you?
A. “Yes, a small knife that a thug used to cut my fanny pack off left a scar on my lower back. I will never forget that.”
B. “Yes, the food. I ate a piece of caper glazed sea bass that danced on my tongue like Michael Flatley, the Lord of the Dance."
If you answered A to the majority of those questions, then congratulations, you're a prayer walking missionary. My younger brother for instance goes on regular prayer walks through the neighborhood he and his wife live in East Nashville. They pick up trash along the way and given the homicides and gang violence are prayed up long before they walk out their front door. If you answered B to the majority of those questions however, then congratulations you're a prayer walking vacationary.
Please just know that if you send me a support letter I am going to call your "if you can't give money, please just give prayers" bluff and send you back many, many prayers. I'll save some for me too though because I am sinning in my heart right this second and am clearly struggling with an amount of judgmentalism that makes your vacationary plans pale in comparison to my own nonsense.
I keep trying to raise funds for a prayer walk in the Bahamas. So far, no dice. But I just know that God wants me to pray for stuff in an exotic location, with an umbrella in my drink, 'cause I don't want the ice to melt too fast. (that is what they're for, right?)
ReplyDeleteHey Jon- there are lost souls in exotic places too! Especially in the lush green grasses of Ireland. Hoping to get to go play, I mean PRAY there someday.
ReplyDeleteDang it. I'm going to Hawaii with my wife in a few weeks for our 10th anniversary. I mean, to minister the Hawaiians in celebration of God's blessing over our life. Yeah, that's it. I will look up your blog post on asking for money to get some tips on how to get people to finance our junket, I mean mission.
ReplyDeleteResponses to the 1st question seem switched. Going to a honeymoon destination is a "B", am I right?
ReplyDeleteThank you for telling about this prayer walk idea. My church keeps organizing trips of "teams" that go build churches and such in poor countries, but this sounds much better!
Your final sentence simply must be preserved for posterity.
ReplyDeleteNice Jon. I think that some missionaries should get together and sponsor you to write ideas on how to change the overall format of how churches do mission today. Your style of writing could make some really good points to churches in a way that doesn't offend; well, at least not too badly. ha
ReplyDeleteAs a missionary in Taiwan... I sponsor prayer walks. I can tell you that they are no vacation. I can't even begin to tell you the number of people who have become regular bible study attendees, seekers, and believers here in a very difficult field all because they came in contact with prayer walkers. I am an active leader during the walks and they are very productive times. I have witnessed prayer walks and walkers that are nothing more than vacations, and in some cases pharisaical vanity, but one should know that here they are invaluable parts of the mission to unreached people groups in Taiwan.
ReplyDeleteMaybe even the fact that you can prayer "walk" the area is the giveaway. Surely the ideal location is so sin drenched and dangerous that a prayer "run" is called for. Interspersed with the occasional prayer "dodge".
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ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteWe know some full-time missionaries/vacationaries, and we get their monthly email newsletter. They live in a country that people regularly seek out for honeymoons. If that wasn't enough, we often get donations requests from them so that they can (in no particular order):
buy a new jeep (I want a new jeep!)
buy new carpet (I want new carpet!)
go on to a missions conference to Australia (I want to go to Australia!!)
buy new $600 curtains for nursery (well, I don't really want that...)
If that's being a missionary, baby, sign me up!
Grumble grumble. Sour grapes. Sorry.
David Carrel, check out Jon's mission trip fundraising letter:
ReplyDeletehttp://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/2008/05/256-mission-trip-fundraising-letters.html
First time I've ever heard the word "vacationary" :) When it comes right down to it, though, there are lost and spiritually needy people in all locations. Guess it really comes down to our motives...
ReplyDeletebeen on a few "official" prayer walks...not sure what makes them official, other than the fact i can pray and walk at the same time, but i highly recommend not closing your eyes...you may be the one needing prayers....
ReplyDeleteLOLOLOLOL
ReplyDeleteaaaaaaaaaaand you have just made my year, thank you
You, sir, are what is keeping the gospel from advancing in Western Europe.
ReplyDeleteNot really, but that sentiment is definitely not helping the cause. I've been to Sweden 2 times on mission trips. And, while your post is a funny look at the topic, the response to my pleas for support is decidedly not funny. Well, funny in a "I didn't know you could write checks for less than a dollar" sort of way....
I'd love to go to some thoroughly unwestern country, but God keeps calling me to reach Swedish college students. And I can't wearthe same outfit every day, or they won't listen to me.
Grumble... ... incoherent mumble.....
I had similar feelings when I met a woman who had done a spiritual pilgrammage through Italy. Going to chapels between vineyards on a guided tour doesn't fit my idea of when God speaks to you.
ReplyDeleteBut, I've always said that God speaks to us however we will hear.
I'm happy to see it confirmed I've been on real mission trips :)
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ReplyDeleteBen -
ReplyDeleteAwesome point about where God calls you vs. where other people think he should call you. As a lot of people mentioned, there are hurting people in every country on the planet. Thanks for jumping in and sharing your thought on that. I love that Sweden is where he has your heart headed.
Jon
I got a lot of A's because I've been on missions trips to mexico... BUT not to Mexico City or anywhere you would vacation in... to the tiny little poverty-stricken border towns. Like, people literally living in shacks, children going barefoot on dirty streets, etc.
ReplyDeleteWe had to counsel the younger people not to give the kids their shoes. It was really shocking and saddening for them. Big reality check!
Just stop supporting any "short term" missionaries unless they meet the following criteria:
ReplyDelete1) Short term means at least 1-2 years.
2) They are intending (or at least seriously considering) moving there full time sometime after their trip.
If one of those two things aren't true--you're better off sending the money to the full-timers who are there in the thick of it!
This one's hard for me because I'm going with my family to Greece. Of course you got half of the cities mentioned in the NT, it's just chock full of natural beauty, and history's there crumbling waiting to be photographed. But, it is also the vortex of the sex trafficking world. And when my husband worked on a AF base, we couldn't go there at all because it was on the "no travel" list for harboring terrorists.
ReplyDeleteBeing on the island where John wrote Revelation and tracking Paul through Ephesus, Corinth, and Athens was my reason for wanting to go there. But honestly the modern crime issues will compel me to pray far more than I would say at Disney World (although I'll pray there between rides and parades and character sightings and such).
I spent 2 months in San Diego one summer as a missionary and my wife (platonic at the time) spent the same 2 months in Vancouver as missionary. As you can imagine, we both got similar responses.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who is about to move out the country as a missionary, this has been on mind. I fear people will think I am on a "vacation".
ReplyDeleteAll though the being held at gunpoint story last time around should assure we are not on vacation.
I have promised to never say "if you can't give then please pray."
To Anon at 8:57, I have to disagree. A lot of the short-term missions trips I've seen are to help out long-term missionaries during a specific time of need. So, yes, they may not be in it for the long haul, but they have been deemed integral by the "long-termers" and without supporting them, you are denying some much needed assistance.
ReplyDeleteAn example, I know a girl who is going to Nepal for 2 weeks because some missionaries who are there through her church have asked for a team of college-aged students that would have the stamina to climb the mountains and preach to villages up there. Without supporting her financially, she would be unable to go and the missionaries would be unable to reach that group of people.
I have a completely different definition of prayer walk. For me, over the past few years, prayer walking was going through campus (I just graduated from college) and praying for the students in the different dorms/majors/colleges/religions.
ReplyDeleteAs for the missionary thing, I'm going to be a missionary of sorts to students in San Diego. I didn't choose it, but I'm not complaining. You can imagine some of the responses I get when I tell people my mission field is in San Diego. It's nonetheless a largely unchurched area and those students need Jesus bad, and so I'm there.
If you'd like to donate to my ministry, go here: https://donor.navigators.org/dp/donate/controller.cfm?action=showDonation&staffID=23769342. Just kidding, but seriously, if you want to, it's there.
You encourage us to find out why someone is going to to a location. However as some who is call to teach in countries I can tell you that believers in America like to give money to someone working with orphans. But what if that isn't where He wants you? What if the need was great? What if the job description not typical? What if the danger, ever real, ever present is hidden?
ReplyDeleteYup there are people who go for the wrong reasons, and they make it harder for everyone else to get support.
On the flip side, good advice I received was to never honeymoon in a place where people can take pictures of impoverished children from their missions trip. We heeded this advice and went to Italy:)
ReplyDeleteAmen. I don't think it's that people are going on mission trips to places that also happen to be vacation destinations, it's that they approach the trip as though it is a vacation.. that they want others to help pay for. If you come home and all your stories involve the food, the sights, the shopping, and the beach, with little to no reference to the people and how God worked to change lives, including yours, then you are not a missionary, you're a tourist.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said:
ReplyDelete"Just stop supporting any "short term" missionaries unless they meet the following criteria:
1) Short term means at least 1-2 years.
2) They are intending (or at least seriously considering) moving there full time sometime after their trip.
If one of those two things aren't true--you're better off sending the money to the full-timers who are there in the thick of it!"
I couldn't disagree more with this anonymous post. Most missionaries who you refer to as being "in the thick of it" are there because they once went on a short-term, one week trip and caught the vision for reaching the nations!
I am a missionary in Western Europe who frequently uses volunteer teams and find them quite beneficial to the ministry and provides us with encounters on a mass level that we wouldn't have had on a smaller level. So don't discount it just because it doesn't work for you.
I agree that it may depend on WHERE you go, but as a full-time missionary and mobilizer for short-term trips, I can say that there were parts of this post that were right. I, too, struggle with that inner, angry old man. Thanks, Jon.
ReplyDeleteThis is good Stuff. I especially giggled at #10.
ReplyDeleteThis made me chuckle a bit; I actually just recently returned from a short-term trip to Cambodia, during which we prayer-walked. For the most part, I answered A... But I'm not gonna lie, the last question got a B - Khmer food was amazing. And for the record, the support letter I sent out was a variation of the one you posted. And it worked.
ReplyDeleteWow. If only I had a ministry job with a salary. I could travel to places like Rio De Janiero, fit in a little prayer while I'm down there, and write the whole thing off as a "spiritual business expense." Haha! I'm brilliant!
ReplyDelete...oh wait, aren't there a lot of televangelists already doing stuff like this with their ministries money???
Doh!
For me, a "prayer walk" is in a darkened room, travelling through different prayer stations with lots of candles! These prayer walk/paths might make a good post!
ReplyDeleteAs a youth pastor I often take my youth on "short term" mission trips for only a week or two and see great value in them. We meet people's needs, give our time and resources to other organizations and expose the teenagers to what it means to serve others. And we also do some fun and crazy stuff because they are teenagers! This summer we have talked about living 'missional lives' as opposed to just going on a 'mission trip'- the youth are required to do several local service/volunteering projects before going on the trips. The comment from Anonymous upset me because I know God has called us each to serve in different ways and for different periods of time- taking my youth on short term mission trips is not a bad thing!!!
Hm. I'm actually with anonymous on this, and I come from a background of a short-term missions trips every summer. I have different criteria for what I support, and let me explain why:
ReplyDeleteI think reaching people for Christ requires two sides: firstly, evangelism. Not the American evangelical church, but evangelism in its purest form, whether that be a Jesus film, a puppet show, or a soccer ministry. But secondly, and often forgotten, is discipleship. Converting someone to Jesus is the most amazing thing in this life - showing them how to live like Him is the most important. Thus, the basic style of many youth short-term trips - vacation Bible Schools, day trips to pools and theme parks, more vacation Bible schools, are great in theory, but neglect the second focus of Christianity greatly.
I don't disallow that short-term missions tend to change particularly teenager's lives for the better, and that sometimes, like in the case of the poster who recently visited Kenya, will ignite a fire for missions. However, often, in considering both practical needs of those you're trying to reach and the relationship that must be developed in order to lead converts in discipleship, the thousands of dollars that get spent on plane trips, amusement park tickets, beach days, new clothes, new luggage, etc., could be much better utilized by a full-time missionary who has a relationship and needs the resources to continue that relationship for discipleship purposes.
I do think many exceptions apply, such as in the Phillipines example given, or in a "work" missions trip, like the one I went on when I was 17 to Mexico where we spent two weeks building a church literally from the ground up. In those cases, the time spent to improve situations is much more valuable than money, since the labor was unable to be gotten or afforded otherwise. But as John so tongue-in-cheek noted, often missions trips are an excuse to see beautiful places like Greece or Italy, ways to expose teenagers to "the real world" or a trip for teens or couples to go on an adventure. In those cases, much as they seem like a great idea, short-term missions simply do not provide the impact that is needed to disciple the world (Make disciples of all people, anyone?) or to make permanent changes, like giving a town the resources to grow their own rice, rather than bringing a bag of rice with you to give them once.
So my criteria for donatign to missions is:
People who ask me for funds for long-term (one year or more) will get my full support and regular, monthly donations to their cause, wherever it may be.
Those who are going on short term missions I will support once, if it is a work trip or their first missions trip, for the experience.
lecrabl: The type of animal one sees in South America, on a missions trip, while spending a three-day break touring the Amazon on ziplines and cruise boats.
Never been on a prayer walk. I have a tendency to be rather ADD when I pray so it is best that I do more activities when going on a trip. That said, I am going to the Dominican Republic for a second time this year. We build water purifiers and host medical clinics at Haitian Refugee camps. The place we stay at, a kind of camp, has a pool. Last year I got swimmer's ear. Try explaining to people that yes, you worked hard building water purifiers in shacks and playing with orphans, but you also swam every day resulting in said ear infection. I think it is the main reason why I am having a hard time raising money this year. Tell you what, I will definitely not be swimming this year.
ReplyDeleteI've been on prayer walks, but unfortunately they were not in beautiful places. The first was in a poor part of Nottingham (the apparent gun crime capital of the UK, so it has the unfortunate nickname 'Shottingham') and the second in a rough estate in Cardiff. Roll on the UNESCO Heritage site prayer walk (or jet-set/cruise). They need our support.
ReplyDeleteHey! I lived in the Kibera slum for 6 months, have you been there? Or just heard about it? Or sponsored a missionary there? I'm hoping to go back this January. Random.
ReplyDeleteWV: Alfan- the dyslexic pronunciation of "Aflac!" (substituting n for c)
*snickering*
ReplyDelete*deleting everything I just typed*
Let's just say I've received some "missionary letters" in the past that have been doozies. DOO. ZEEZ.
This is all such good food for thought, which is why I appreciate your humor. I love to step outside of Christian Culture and ask WHY DA HECK are we doing what we do?
This question came up when Hubs and I adopted internationally. Lots of people we knew sent out support letters, but we chose not to. Not b/c we were too proud to ask, not b/c we were filthy rich, but it didn't seem right to ask people for money to pay for our kid. Then again, I didn't see our adoption as a Mystical Calling From God Which Therefore Required A Letter Asking For Support.
I actually was a missionary in Florence, Italy for two years. I absolutely LOVE your blog but I have to say, you are wrong about many of the missionaries in Italy. The two years I spent there (in an undeniably beautiful spot) were two of the darkest and most difficult years of my life. The spiritual atmosphere is so dark and there is a violent, full-on spiritual war going on against those interested in knowing God and especially those few italians who actually know Him. It is heartbreaking. I knew a few students who were on "semester at sea" in Florence who spent their days studying art, shopping, and sight seeing, and their nights drinking and partying (they were staying in a hotel next to our apt). That certainly was not my experience, but I think most people who didn't ask me about the spiritual climate (instead asked about the food, etc) assumed my life was like that as well. I want people to know how much of a spiritual desert Italy is, and I still pray for that country (and the missionaries there) with all of my heart.
ReplyDeleteI know it wasn't officially a missionary post ... but we have dear friends in Italy who are so isolated and alone. They can't find a single believer to fellowship with. Europe is sadly becoming (many say it actually IS) a dark continent again when it comes to the gospel. And they begged for us to try to come and visit when we were working with refugees in ... Austria. Yes, another vacation destination. We got only one "must be rough" comment. But it did hurt. We aren't the type to even use motels (we camp) let alone take children overseas. But we felt God leading us there. And back again.
ReplyDeleteWe have dear missionary friends in England. When they go to France for a missionary conference, it's like us going to Idaho for a meeting. That's where the meeting is, that's where they go.
But that being said, we've never received fishy missionary support letters. That would bother me if I were suspicious of those motives.
michele
I am leaving for Nairobi in two weeks - to do some work in Kibera! Guess those walks are gonna make a missionary outta me yet! Theanks for the mention of Kibera - you made my day!
ReplyDeleteI don't think Jon was putting down being a missionary to Italy or anywhere for that matter - it seems it was more about the attitude going into the mission trip. Italy needs the gospel just as much as Kenya, Indonesia, or Iran. But if your attitude is, "Cool! we are missionaries to Roma! I can't wait to have some lasagna by the Colosseum!"...It's time to check your heart!
ReplyDelete@ Anon @ 8:57am--
ReplyDeleteHow about those on semester long trip? I spent five months in eastern Germany-- a "vacation spot". It was no vacation and it surely didn't feel short term.
I agree with Ben. Though there are those out there who have lost sight of what pouring your life out really means, I met people who have never even seen a Bible (Germany!). I had bottles thrown at me often. I prayer walked at night, in the snow, in the rain, and yes even in the nice weather.
This does not make me better than anyone, but I just wanted y'all to know that Western Europe is hard. People leave the field more in WE than most any other place.
to xtrainingwheels,
ReplyDeleteAre you that naive? Why did those missionaries in Nepal ask for a short term group of college students? Because they couldn't find any national Christians to send? Because these college students are more adept at mountain climbing in Asia than seasoned native preachers?
There are two reasons they asked this group to come:
1) Perhaps they think they'll get a long-term partner out of someone who comes.
2) Publicity. They know these people will return home feeling like they've conquered the world and will speak of the amazing work the missionaries are doing. This will help the full-timers either keep their support or raise more.
No one needs to fly to the other side of the world so that they can offer labor that cannot be found locally. It's publicity and church relations.
Full time missionaries tell short termers they are so important because if they didn't, the short termers would go home with mixed or bad feelings and their supporters would begin to question them.
This post makes me sad. Please do some research on the spiritual state in Europe before poking fun. One of the hardest battles that missionaries have to face is convincing people that Europe is a mission field. Muslims are flocking to Europe - therefore we can reach Muslims in Europe whereas often we can't get into their countries. Less than 2% of Europeans truly believe in Christ and follow Him as Lord and Savior. I believe you are participating in a Christian Web Conference with Andrew Jones, otherwise known as Tall Skinny Kiwi sponsored by Biola in a few days- ask him to tell you about the spiritual state of Europe.
ReplyDeleteAnd I understand that your site is mainly satire and people respond in their comments with more satire. And most of the time I appreciate your satire. But this post implies that Europe is not a real mission field as you seek to make your point that perhaps prayer walking mission trips aren't exactly the best idea. Europe is a real mission field and those of us who labor here rarely have the money to do any kind tourist activities - we are often under supported. And some of us do run the risk of being deported because of changing visa laws - for that I remain anonymous.... but please, please, please - don't imply that Europe is not a real mission field as you employ satire on your site.
I spent about four years in Africa, and trust me, plenty of short term volunteers show up there for all the wrong reasons too. War tourists, adoption hunters, guilty consciences, people who want to show off at church...it goes on. I also know some great folks who serve in the more "fun" places and are there because they know God wants them to share the truth with the lost.
ReplyDeleteIf a litmus test is what you want, examine the person BEFORE they express interest in going overseas, what is their ministry like in the States? Do they care a bit about their lost neighbors?
Anon,
ReplyDeleteYes, I suppose you could say I am that naive. But who cares if there are ulterior motives to asking short termers to come help? It's a great opportunity for my friend who has being growing in her faith a lot over the past year and really wants to reach people that are hard to reach.
And I'm sorry to hear that you have such a low opinion of the motives of long term missionaries and the reasons they ask for help. I personally would rather be naive, than to sit back and grumble that every good deed is some kind ofsham and not try to make some kind of difference. Even if it is only a tiny, "insignificant" one.
Joining the discussion very late...What I have a difficult time with is people asking for money for a short (or long) term missions trip when there is no evidence in their life of caring about the spiritual condition of those they live around. Start having meaningful conversations with your friends and neighbors, volunteering in your community, and acting like you care about the eternal destination of those around you, not just in some foreign destination. I think this needs to be a requirement for people going. At least for me to give money.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I also want to see that if I am going to be sacrificing my money for you to go, I want to see you earning/sacrificing money for you to go.
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ReplyDeleteLoved your drinking water description! Spent some time in a village in northern Haiti where fresh water is nearly nonexistent.
ReplyDeleteEven though I was careful and drank only Coke and beer, I was sick for an entire month after we got back.
The sad truth is that to arrive at many of those honeymoone locales, you have to drive past unspeakable poverty. Just take a look at the Bahamas, Jamaica and Costa Rica. The crime isn't that missionairies want to serve in vacation destinations, but that vacationers can find respite in the midst of such obvious despair.
ReplyDeleteJon,
ReplyDeleteYou started a real conversation here. I think there are two main deals you have to deal with:
1) The legitimacy of short term missions in general.
2) The validity of many places in Europe as a mission field.
Do you have something to say?
"I personally would rather be naive, than to sit back and grumble that every good deed is some kind of sham and not try to make some kind of difference."
ReplyDeleteThe sad state of Christianity in the West is that we would rather be naive and think things are great than to face the truth about the world.
I certainly do not think every good deed is a sham. Only some. Mostly those good deeds done by people who prefer naivite' so they can convince themselves they are making a huge impact. There are those making BIG differences in the world, but they are mostly those who have spent enough time in a place to suffer through serious language learning and culture shock, and have gotten past the "honeymoon" stage of missions.
HA!!!
ReplyDeleteOh I know me some... I know me some...
Honestly, it's okay. You are allowed to go on a vacation - no need to over spirtualize it. Just go.
Okay, I get what you're saying, but I have to say that a few years ago, my daughter and her husband, went to plant a church in England and lived there for a year. A lot of people were like "Ha ha, well, that's a cool way to get to vacation in England for a year."
ReplyDeleteSounds like it, eh? But the truth is that it was hard, incredibly hard, to minister to a people who are in what is considered by many to be a "Christian" nation, and for that reason were hardened to the word of Christ probably much more than any people in an undeveloped country.
My daughter and her husband worked very, VERY hard to help establish a church in an industrial city there, which was no vacation, let me assure you. They existed on a very bare amount of money from their church until they could find full time jobs, and lived in a tiny, seedy apartment in an area that was regularly filled with people drinking, fighting, and sometimes rioting after soccer games. (I'm not kidding)
In England, the police stand by and do nothing when there are fights, even if there are weapons and danger to bystanders, because if they get hurt, their insurance won't pay treatment of their injuries. They just wait and arrest whoever is left standing.
My daughter and her husband both worked full time to supplement their stipend from the church, and then worked after hours and weekends on and for the church. My daughter would often have to walk home alone at night, because her husband was still at work and she couldn't afford a cab, and there was no bus that ran near their apartment.
So, the "vacationary" definition doesn't always depend on whether or not there is running water in the vicinity, and whether it's considered a tourist destination. I feared for my daughter every day she was there, and prayed fervently for her protection. I was so thankful when she came home. So yea, a little judgey, this time. But I'm still a fan, because you admit it. And I've certainly done worse. :)
Just wanted to add that I realize missionaries and church planters are often faced with much greater obstacles than a bad neighborhood and little money. But the point I was trying to make was that my daughter and her husband went to England not for a vacation, but to bring the word of Christ to people who need him just as badly as those in third world countries. And it wasn't easy, and it wasn't a lot of fun. It's all about the heart, not the destination.
ReplyDeleteI got a support letter from a college kid who wanted to raise money for his summer class in England because while he was there learning he hoped to have some ministry opportunities.
ReplyDeletePastor Bob
ReplyDeleteGreat points. Here's what I think about the two subjects you mentioned:
1) The legitimacy of short term missions in general.
I think short term missions can be awesome. I've gone on some, have had friends go on short term missions and hope to do that again in the future. I regret if this piece came off as me saying short term missions were not legit.
2) The validity of many places in Europe as a mission field.
I think any place on the planet where someone is lost can be a mission field. I think any place on the planet where you go with the wrong intentions cannot be a mission field. I think a lot of it comes down to intent. Is Rome a mission field? Certainly. Could I go there under the guise of missions but do it in a way that was selfish? Without a doubt.
An equal point that I was trying to make in that post, that unfortunately got lost in all the points about missions, was that I really struggle with being judgmental. That was what I was trying to get across with the sentence:
"I am sinning in my heart right this second and am clearly struggling with an amount of judgmentalism that makes your vacationary plans pale in comparison to my own nonsense."
And the truth is, I'm going to get these things wrong. That's the beauty and terror of a blog. You post something, a conversation you're having in your head right now and then people help shape it by challenging it and critiquing it and showing you a million points of view you didn't think of or things you missed or just dumb mistakes you made. A missionary emails you and says "I loved that post so much I'm reposting it on all our mission websites" and then in the very same day a different missionary says something like "I serve in Rome and felt like that was unfair." And so then you go back to your little piece of the planet with a new perspective and try to think about how you might do it differently next time, grateful that someone cared enough to call you out but frustrated that you took the wrong angle on an issue.
I'm rambling at this point. Thanks for raising those two points. I appreciate you adding to the conversation.
Jon
Anon,
ReplyDeleteLet me just clear something up here. I never said that everything was great in the world. That's why I believe that even short term missions trips are important.
And I certainly don't believe that I'm making a BIG difference in any way. But I do know that the little things count.
I consider every type of short term missionary trip of the vacationary kind unless the people involved are also helping to build up their, or a nearby, community. It never ceases to amaze me how people can be so full of love for African babies and speak of wanting to end poverty by building schools for three weeks, yet step over the homeless every day on their way to work, school, or the grocery store. You can't help everybody, but you can try. And the first step is acknowledging that people are people wherever you go. My home situation really drove home the lesson "there but for the grace of God go I". My mom was addicted for twenty years, and would have ended up on the streets if she had had less of a support system. On the streets, she would have been ignored by those same Christians that appease their conscience by donating to the local youth group going to Brazil or Rome or Mexico. So no, exotic missionary short trips do not cut it with me. It's just an easy way to go somewhere exotic for cheap and get to feel good about yourself. It has little to do with other people. In most cases, at least.
ReplyDeleteHi Jon,
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I don't have the time to read through 62 comments to see if someone has said this already, but I'd just like to say that in my experience as a missionary both in Africa and Europe, while Africa is an understandable mission destination because of its MATERIAL need, Europe--at least France--is WAY behind when it comes to SPIRITUAL need, and is in desperate need of missionaries and people who are willing to give up their lives to work there. Yes, it is 'cushier' in terms of environment (which ironically makes it so much harder to raise support), but the need is so very great, and the work is hard and laborious.
So, if you come across anyone who wants to work as a valid missionary in the beautiful French Alps, I know a camp there that desperately needs a fulltime administrative assistant who is willing to work for no pay. And yes, benefits such as a ski resort just up the hill are included. :)
(But thanks, as always, for the good post and making me think!)
What you said, "When I hear about trips like that, the grumpy old man inside me kicks over the rocking chair on his metaphorical front porch and wants to ghost ride his rascal scooter off a cliff after using some World War II era profanities at some neighborhood street youths."
ReplyDeleteAll I can say Jon is BRILLIANT!
i generally enjoy your posts and have a good laugh.. but this post really hurt my feelings. it echoed a sentiment i have come across so often in the past few years. i have been in full time missions in germany since 2001...
ReplyDeleteit is increadibly hard to raise support because people think i am just on "vacation." this is no vacation. and, its actually really expensive to do missions in europe.. i live far under the poverty threshhold.
one man actually came up to me after a speaking engagement in the states, and asked me in all earnestness "now if i give you this, are you going to go off and use it to buy a lambourgihni?" before putting a dollar in my hand.
Hi Jon,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for commenting with such length and detail to my question.
Hey... this is what I have to say... most long-term missionaries really care about what they're doing no matter where it is and they suffer to do it.
About what you said regarding one person taking it in a good way and another taking it in a bad way...
This blog is a crucible for your ideas. Instead of being frustrated by that, be thankful for it. It's just a blog. It's not a final "stance paper" you are presenting to God to see if you pass. By putting your thoughts out there you get a lot of help from others to work them out, and for you to change your thinking by considering things you never considered before. If you only had two "yes man" commenters, you couldn't do this so much. But you have hundreds of commenters of people willing to both praise and challenge you. That is a real blessing.
You know how it says in Proverbs that iron sharpens iron as one man sharpens another. You have those people to help sharpen you. Be very thankful!
You know what would be very interesting... for you to a post... or series of posts... of things you've learned or changed your thinking on BECAUSE of comments people have left that made you consider things you never thought of before.
Thank you.
Jon,
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you created a post hell-bent on humilating and belittling every Christian who ever attempted to make a difference on the continent of Europe. Shame on you for mocking the reformation and spitting in the face of Martin Luther and John Calvin. What's next? A C.S. Lewis book burning???
Oh wait, let me re-read your original post a moment... ahhhh, I see. You were just questioning people who say they went on "mission trips" when they did no sharing of the gospel.
Well, your "Missionary or Vacationary Questionnaire" is not 100% theologically correct. Perhaps you should take it before the Nicene Council, Council of Orange, and Geneva Convention for review and approval.
Desperately searching for ways to be offended,
Jason
p.s. what does 'fecicious' mean?
The thing is, you have to do prayer walks in exotic, touristy places. And here is why: it's a disguise. In a normal situation, if you have 15-30 people walking down streets together in a mob, it just looks weird. Or dangerous (which is not a good idea in a third world country). But in a tourist location, it looks like you're part of a tour group! You can sneak in and bam! know one knows you're praying. Sneaky!
ReplyDeleteLet me qualify my previous comment.
ReplyDeleteI am poking at the idea of prayer walks in general. I find them awkward. I know prayer is important and I know prayer does mighty things. I just think that frequently we could do it... differently... I mean, if I lived somewhere and saw a mob walking past my house, and especially if I knew they were praying, I would wish they were doing something tangible for me to see. Maybe pick up trash. Or engage people in conversation. Something.
(I'm sure somebody's already said something to this affect, but I'm too lazy to read all the abundant comments.)
ReplyDeleteI was skeptical about a good friend of mine who "suffered for Jesus" serving with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in Hawaii and Fiji. Turns out, however, that she was spending her time with homeless people, drug users, and prostitutes scraping by in tropical paradise. I felt more than a little stupid for prejudging that one.
And I'm writing this from my patio in East Nashville. How fun that your brother lives here! It's a wonderful place :)