Mission Competition

The other day I sat in on a webinar on Collaboration.  The idea of the webinar was to enhance collaboration between mission sending agencies, but the principles discussed are applicable in many different settings.  As one gentlemen put it, “If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.”

A good part of the opening was taken up with finding a common definition of the word itself.  While that sounds like a total waste of time and seems like semantics, it’s actually a very useful exercise, as the whole concept of collaboration is based on the idea of commonality.  If you don’t have a definition in common you’re probably not going to be collaborating much at all.  From the panel’s conversation and subsequent thought I would suggest the following order:

Chaos.  The order of things as we experience them without intentionality.

Competition. The initial structure reflects our inherently selfish humanity.

Cooperation.  As we rise above competition we cease hostilities, agree to disagree and respect each others’ boundaries, going so far as to encourage each other.

Coordination.  As we begin to perceive our commonality, we find ways of working together for common good.  This stage goes up to and including sharing part of our organizations –assets and perhaps even sharing tasks.

Collaboration.  True value is manifested – we share people and build off each other’s strengths without overdue consideration.  Organizations have only ideals and vision separate from each other.  

Commitment.  You can no longer tell which is which – the goals have become one and the same.

I thought it appropriate to share this because I keep having conversations with churches and people who seem to think we are in competition in mission, some even within our own organization.  Who will ‘get’ the money and people coming down the short term mission pipe?  Which missionaries will ‘get’ the best (in the context of the discussion - richest, largest) congregations in Seamless Link?  Which congregations will 'get' the best (in the context of the discussion - most charismatic and agreeable) missionaries?  Who will ‘get’ new converts in our town?  Who will ‘get’ the next role as president?

Are we really in competition?  In the eyes of those who cannot see beyond themselves, yes.  But in the eyes of God, absolutely not.  He is building His Kingdom without any regard for our fiefdoms at all. 

The question isn’t who ‘gets’ which person/resource/position.  The question is who is more prone to take those persons/resources/positions from God, add value to them and give them back to God.  After all - that's how the Father deals with the Son and how the Son deals with the Spirit.  It is and should be a question of discernment and maximizing eternal value, not a question of proportion or personal goal(s).

Reflecting on a week in Mexico

Well, we’re back from visiting the CMA mission field in Mexico.  We had gone there on a kind of scouting mission - with the expectation of creating a series of short term mission (STM) ‘blueprints’ that we could use for future sustained STM engagement.  We had gone there with the expectation of both being blessed by and being a blessing to those we visited, those we ministered alongside, those we worshiped with, those we prayed with and those we prayed for.  Worthwhile causes all.  Most of all, we went to see Christ in our brothers and sisters of faith, and to reveal Christ in us, and to consider how we can collaborate together to see His Kingdom grow both there and here. 

As is almost always the case however, what we experienced on arrival was slightly different than what we planned.  That’s more than OK – the fluidity of the mission field is itself expected.  So when we were not told the schedule in advance and it seemed to be being finalized day by day, we rolled with that.  When the days were lengthened to allow just one more additional meeting, we rolled with that.  When we were invited to participate in daily debrief meetings, even though it was very late and we were tired, we rolled with that.  When we were invited to take public transportation just to experience what the average Mexico experiences – we rolled with that too.  All of these things – and the thin air (Mexico City is at 2400m elevation), and the smog, and the excitement, and the great food, and the warm hospitality, and the joy, and the deep dependence on God, and the heartfelt prayer time and the exuberant worship and the just plain FUN of spending time with believers in another culture – all of these things are part of the STM experience.  They are common no matter the destination.  Anyone who’s ever gone on a STM can echo those memories.

There is one thing however, that no one can echo.  That is, the deeply personal way Christ speaks to you through the entire experience.  For He shows you more of Himself, and often more of His plan for your involvement in His Kingdom.  He’s consistent in doing that EVERY TIME we step out in faith.  Somehow - even though we know that and are even expecting it – it always comes a a bit of a surprise.

The very real blessing that that is, it is only a foreshadow of the blessing He means for us.  For the truest blessing is not in merely seeing/hearing Jesus in such a personal way, but rather in the daily living out of the changes that experience was given to you for.  It is in this – the day by day expression of His character and purpose – that He is revealed afresh to both you and those around you.  That is the real and tangible impact of short term mission on those who go.

But surely STM is not the only way to have such an experience.  Many people find a similar experience in going to Camp, or a revival weekend – and those things cost far less than STM.  For many, looking at STM as a steward of His resources causes some serious second thoughts about future participation for exactly this reason.

Of course, that precludes that we judge STM by the impact it has on US ALONE.  What of the people we visited/ministered to/with?  If we never go back, if we never develop a relationship with them, if we never take another step in faith WITH THEM – then ultimately, we probably would be better off going to Camp or a revival weekend.  Because if we visit once and that’s it – if it isn’t part of a strategic collaboration in advancing His Kingdom – then it really was just for us.  And just like not living out the first “foreshadow” blessing, we leave so much of what the Lord has for us on the table and walk away.   That’s kind of sad.

We don’t have to do STM that way.  We could purpose to develop relationships with brothers and sisters in the mission field that further His work and mission there AS WELL as here.  All it takes is a bit of thought, some planning meetings and a whole lot of prayer.   Well….that’s not all it will take.  It will mean a concerted effort.  It will mean co-operation between your mission committee and church staff in development of an actual mission strategy.  It will mean much communication with your STM partner.  It will mean repeated trips over numbers of years.  It will mean entire church involvement (in agreement and prayer) instead of just a few individuals.  Over the years perhaps many different people would go.

Mind you, if the Lord could bless us so very greatly in such a personal way when we were obedient in going one time in purposeful mission, HOW MUCH MORE can He bless both an entire church AND our STM partner in the mission field if we actually lived out purposeful involvement in mission on a multi-year and church wide basis?