(e)mergent Voyageurs

Previous Post - Out Of Town & Topic Question

Last week I pointed to and commented on Mary's post on missionary support. She has come out with a second post on this topic, looking at supporting indigenous missionaries rather than investing so much into sending Western missionaries. This has raised some excellent questions, again with great dialogue in the comment section. I really want to weigh in on this one. Before I begin, I want to say that I am in agreement with Mary that there is a great need for more indigenous leadership within the global missional movement. We do need to rethink who and how we send people from the West into non-Western missions contexts. That being said, there is much more to the issue that must be explored.

First, K.P. Yohannan's book "Revolution In World Missions" is a well known example of strongly calling for indigenous missionaries (supported by the West) and fewer Western missionaries being sent, cited by Mary and some commenters. It has some very good truths in it. However, I am not convinced that Yohannan's organization has always accomplished this task appropriately. This doesn't undermine the merits of the principles of the book, but it does demonstrate that application is far more challenging.

Further, there is the concern of producing ethnocentric faith communities. Ironically, the response to this issue within Western Christianity (that is, as we realize our own ethnocentric Christian expressions) is to push for indigenously lead faith communities abroad. While this intention is good, it can unintentionally produce different cultural versions of the very problem it seeks to overcome- that is, churches that are too narrowly defined by their singular culture. After all, Scripture clearly shows us that God's Church is a diverse one. To that end, cross-cultural missions offers that benefit, both for the sending and receiving cultures.

Neither can we deny that we have sown the seeds of colonialism throughout the world, where deep roots have taken hold. We consistently find ourselves in cultures that, despite our best attempts to change things, still buy into these lies. Most recently our team was in Uganda where many still embrace the mythology that Western Christianity (including broader Western culture) is the ideal to pursue (and look to their own culture as "inferior"). The reality is that we will have to play a role to undo much of this damage (albeit a supporting role), even as they play a role in undoing the same damage here in our contexts.

Connected to the previous point is the need for Western Christians and churches to have their eyes opened to the global reality they live in. They need to see the complexity of God's people and Creation, recognizing how the simplest of our choices in our local context can have devastating or positive impact half the planet away. Our own Christian worldview is too narrow, therefore cross-cultural relationships are crucial.

Despite the many mistakes and failures of Western Christianity, we must humbly acknowledge our strengths as well. We have a rich history of religious practice and freedom (though often fraught with problems), which means we have a great deal to offer other cultures. I want to be careful not to suggest we have more to offer, but to recognize that, especially given our massive wealth and freedom (often enjoyed at the expense of the very people we are sending missionaries to), we do have a great deal of repsonsibility. Where much is given, much is required. Our methods and stance need to change drastically, but indigenous missions is not a sufficient model on its own without addressing these and other specifics.

Finally, while not underestimating the importance and power of financial resources in the context of world missions, nor wanting to understate the embarrassment of our excessive wealth in the West, we must recognize that money is but one aspect to this issue. I fully affirm the need for better stewardship and greater generosity, all of which (in my opinion) demands that we live simpler lives as Christians, counter-culturally I might add.

However, God is our provider and His calling to us may not always be the most financially efficient approach. This is not as excuse for irresponsibility or excess, but through the fear of God and sensitivity to His Spirit, we must recognize that the financial merits of our models are not enough to really inform the change that needs to take place.

Again, check out Mary's blog and join the discussion. Also, let me know what you think here.

Previous Post - Missional Partnership: Help Wanted In Winnipeg

With our DTS coming to a close, our staff retreat is fast approaching. As is our tradition, we are heading out beyond the reach of internet technology, so things are going to be quiet here on the blog this coming week. I do hope to do some writing while at the cabin, so look for some new content to follow my return.

In the meantime, what do you want to see here? What topics have I missed that you want to explore here? What do you wish I had given more detail to? I so appreciate all of your input, so let me have it! Peace and see you soon!

Previous Post - Prayer Request for DTS



Summer is just around the corner and I am excited to say that plans for The Dusty Cover (our missional third place bookstore, which is likely to be renamed prior to opening) are coming together wonderfully. We have thousands of books donated, some plans in place for serving the community and a location confirmed. We are slowly receiving interest from a few willing to invest some financial sponsorship.

However, as we plan and pray, we are increasingly convinced that we (YWAM) need to find a local group/church to partner with us in this endeavour. In order to develop an effectively missional stance in the community, we feel that we are stretched a tad thin with a recent staff change over. Further, we see it as an opportunity to build bridges within the Christian community in our attempt to build bridges in our neighbourhood and city. Granted, forging such a partnership is no easy task, so we are moving forward with this very carefully.

For those of you in Winnipeg and are interested in this possibility (or know someone else who might), drop me a note. For those too far away for such a partnership, we are still looking for sponsorship partners as well. Above all, we are looking for the prayer support of everyone in this exciting venture. We aim to open doors by the end of the summer at the latest.

Previous Post - Responding To The Critics

Well, after five month- after three months of inner city community living and service, dedicated to missional and spiritual formation; after two months of service and missional community throughout Uganda- our 2007 Discipleship Training School (DTS) comes to a close this week. For those who want to read more about these months, check out the DTS blog here.

As we seek to bring a closure to our time as a community and help process the next stages of our individual and collective journeys, we are facing a few bumps in the road. While I cannot go into detail here, there have been complications that I deeply believe are an attack of the enemy on our group. While the specifics relate to two of the six students, the impact is obviously on the larger group.

Please stand with us in prayer and authority as we seek God's best through these tough situations. As much as I see the enemy's hand at work, even more I see the seeds of Kingdom potential. All of your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Previous Post - Can We Choose To Whom We Are Called?

I recently read about an exchange between an emerging church leader and one of its critics. The more I read, the more upset I became at how this EC leader was treated during and following this public exchange. The treatment was neither fair nor accurate, but was presented with an almost arrogant confidence and self-declared authority. (I will not name who I am specifically speaking about, as I do not feel it is beneficial for anymore attention to be given to such a poor example of a critic, despite how much attention they seem to get.)

Now, I am more than aware within the emerging church discussion (in which I place myself without reservation), many are equally as unfair in their treatment of critics and/or the established church. Grace and humility must be a mutual commitment from both sides of the discussion. Further, I deeply believe that the emerging church needs to honestly face the critics and examine the critiques, as there is much truth and wisdom to be found there. There are excellent examples of gracious dialogue (and even debate) that is beneficial for all.

However, when we come across the critics who seem determined to be unmoved in their rejection and/or condemnation of the emerging church I am not convinced that we are wise to engage them in conversation, at least not in the public forum. I am not suggesting that we ignore them completely, nor am I denying that there can be at times a fine line between those who fairly critique and those who are senselessly attacking. This is not simple matter.

When we realize that a person is not truly asking honest questions seeking honest answers- when they demonstrate that they will not be happy with anything less than open admission of sin and an acknowledgment of their position as the right position- I believe that we can do more harm than good by continuing to engage them on these issues. This is especially true in public forums, be it on blogs, radio or conferences.

Too often, in genuine and empassioned attempts to respond to the harshest critiques, we simply add fuel to the destructive fire that many of such situations present. This danger is very real and can as easily harm those who are within the emerging church as those outside it. This is especially true to those Christians with less maturity and experience who could end up mimicking our example. And this says nothing of the example it can set to those outside of the Church who might be watchng- and be sure, that are watching.

Honest questions, even where there is some deep differences in belief, deserve honest answers. By "answers", I am not suggesting that, for example, should critics ask us to present a unifying theology or doctrinal statement, that we attempt to do so, but rather that we must endeavour to understand and be understood as best we can. We must listen and share with open hearts and minds, both each others wisdom and the leading and conviction of the Holy Spirit.

What do you think? Is this fair? Do the harshest critiques who are not open to being convinced deserve the attention so many of us give in response? Have you seen good examples of how best to deal with such issues?

 

Previous Post - Rethinking Missionary Support

In our recent YWAM regional meetings where we discussed our responsibility as a Canadian ministry in relation to the First Nations peoples, many of the ministry leaders raised an interesting point. Our First Nations guests shared various perspectives, but generally believed that as Canada's first people- the host people of the land- it was critical for all Christian communities to respond to this issue in their region. While some of us are engaged in and relating to the First Nations community, many of our other leaders are not. Because of this many of them questioned if this was really a regional or national issue rather than a context specific issue to those of us it was relevant to.

This raises some serious question, both specifically with this issue, as well as with the broader question of what level of freedom do we have to focus our missional emphasis on specific groups- or lack of focus, for that matter. In respect to the issue of the First Nations people, I deeply believe that as North American Christians we must own our responsibility in both healing the wounds of the past, as well as move forward to a mutual future of relationship and unity. This does not mean we will call the shots in this process (as this is part of the problem in the first place), but rather that we cannot decide it does not apply to our specific context. Almost without exception it is something we must address.

On the broader issue I am less certain. I truly believe that we must be strategic and authentic in our missional engagement with communities, cultures and sub-cultures. It requires an intentional contextualized approach that cannot always works across the spectrum of our diverse society. That being said, we also must acknowledge that we are called to love and serve all people. Too often the church uses specific calling to justify a failure to respond those areas of great need. This can be seen in many areas, including the urban poor and the racially marginalized.

So what is appropriate? How specific can we or should we be in our missional focus? How have you seen this done well? Please share.

Previous Post - Fiction Fridays - American Gods

This evening I came across an interesting post by Mary over at One Thing Is Needed about the challenge of missionary support in the changing culture of the church. Being a missionary that relies on such support, I believe she rightly points to this change as one of the most critical questions facing the Church (in both its modality and sodality forms). Here is what Mary asks:

"I have a question that’s been in the back of my mind for a few years now. Since the face of Western church is changing and many people have left and continue to leave institutional church (IC), what does that do for missionary support? I have friends who are missionaries overseas who have either had their support cut in half or dropped altogether as their supporting churches, and consequently the budgets, have gotten smaller. How do they build their support base back up? I also have friends who have left IC and believe that God is calling them to overseas missions. Their house church just doesn’t have the financial resources that can be found in a large church. How do they raise support? As people find other expressions of the local church, are there new ways of handling missionary support? I have more questions than answers. What are your thoughts and insights?"

Here are a few of my thoughts.

Tentmaking (that is practicing a trade to finance ones own mission) is a common response to these questions. It does work in many contexts and it requires a healthy integrated, missional view of life within a culture. Living in commonality/mutuality with those to whom are called is essential, and this can help develop that. It also requires a level of creativity that can be very beneficial. However, not every culture, context or circumstance allows such options. Speaking personally, the level of work I do in my ministry could not be accomplished should I try to keep another job- even 1/4 time. It just wouldn't work. Some missional endeavours require a more consuming involvement. This is not better nor worse than tentmaking, it is simply a reality.

Part of this challenge comes as a result of churches learning that to be missional they must connect to the communities they find ourselves in. A challenge for the truly missional church is to develop this local connectedness while maintaining (or discovering, as the case may be) the global identity that is and must be inherent to Christianity. The beautiful eschatological image of worshiping before the throne of God- with every tongue, tribe and nation- brilliantly affirms both our local identity and our unified diversity.

One of the approaches that YWAM has maintained to offset some of this is that the missionary connects individually to each supporter. While YWAM may offer the service of processing the support, the line of relationship goes from the missionary directly to the individuals or communities that support them. This brings with it other problems and some additional work, but it has helped bypass most organizational overhead and casual or habitual giving (as opposed to relational giving).

Further, even small or house churches- more specifically those Christians who are part of them- must recognize that their own lifestyles must change if the challenge to support missional endeavours is to succeed. (I should add that is also essential to support their own missional engagement). We need to be honest about the fact that most of us in the West live incredibly rich lives, especially given the level to which we fail to live practically as communities. I have learned much about living simply within community from years of being part of a missionary organization that values this. (This point deserves a post unto itself).

I should also say that, as my recent post on relational leadership touched on, when I refer to being a missionary (an awkward term weighed down by centuries of mixed history) I am not referring to a professional worker, but someone responding to a very specific spiritual vocation. The nature of this vocation may more explicitly involved in what is seen as "ministry" in the traditional Evangelical sense, but it should not be seen as having any more value than those responding to their missional vocations as teachers, plumbers, doctors, mothers, etc.

The reality is this- things are changing. Missionary support- nay, the whole concept of missions- must change as well. However, it is not about abandoning one system for another, but rather shifting and developing as is needed, led by the Spirit and fueled by the gifts He gives.

What do you think? What have you seen that works? What are your questions?
(Be sure to join the conversation over at Mary's blog too)

Previous Post - Relational Leadership As Missional Leadership



A few years ago my brother gave me a copy of Neil Gaiman's novel "American Gods". I promptly forgot about it, leaving it on a shelf to collect dust. Months later, desperate for some fiction to read I pulled it off the shelf. I couldn't put it down. Now, before I go any further, I need to make something clear. Gaiman is not a Christian author, nor are his books what one might call "Evangelical friendly". However, he is a brilliant storyteller, character builder and insightful thinker. This book is a prime example of this combination.

American Gods is a creative blend of mythology and Americana, following the mysterious character Shadow as he travels throughout America serving as a bodyguard for the equally mysterious Mr. Wednesday as he visits other- you guessed it- mysterious characters. We soon learn that these characters of the gods of mythology whose powers are slowly disappearing as their believers forget them. Instead, the new American Gods, such as internet or the media, are taking over. Thus the battle field is set.

Beyond being a very readable book, it is also a fascinating look at beliefs and how our own ideas about God sometimes represent more of ourselves and our cultures than they do of God's actual nature. While the book is not written to explore the nature of belief, it inevitably raises such questions to the thoughtful reader. It is not a book for all readers, but it is certainly worth reading for the more daring.

Anyone else read it and want to share their thoughts?

Previous Post - Revival In Greenland

This afternoon brought to a close our recent YWAM Western Canada Leadership Team meetings hosted here in Winnipeg. After hosting more than about 20 people in our house (it used to house an inner city gang, so it's quite big), things are eerily quiet now. Well, "urban quiet" that is, the gently song of the sirens (police & ambulances) and screaming children still drift in, but that's pretty typical.

While I won't go into specifics, todays discussion was one that reflect an important growth in our district leadership/ministries. More and more we are finding that the structures of organization, tasks/jobs, policies, etc. are not effective or genuine for the nature of our interconnectedness as a ministry. Increasingly we are defining our structures and responding to challenges without escaping into the easy convenience of institution, but as a organic, relational community- a family.

We have not perfected this by any means, though I feel we are significantly unique in this respect compared to much of the international organization. We find ourselves stretched by the oft enormity of emotional and pastoral dynamics involved by taking this path. And yet, as we do so, the nature of our missional engagement in our communities and those communities we travel to continues to reflect fresh Spirit-led innovation and creativity, rooted in relationships above all else.

This is exciting to me, as we have worked for a long time to see this fruit. It is tentative and will need much nurturing, but I am very hopeful. In the same way, I wonder what would happen if other ministries and churches took this journey, even on regional and/or denominational levels. Our district covers a region from Vancouver Island to Winnipeg, with dozens of ministries centres throughout. If we can do it on that level, I believe it can be done in other contexts as well, large and small.

What have you see that reflects new ideas and approaches to leadership, community and ministry that are born out of relationality?

Previous Post - Protocol & Worldview In First Nations Culture



One of my missionary heroes is a fellow YWAMer named Errol Martens. Errol has been serving the people of Greenland for nearly 25 years. While he now lives in Kelowna, BC and frequently travels to Greenland, he and his family lived in Sisimiut for many years. He was also significantly responsible for the Jesus Film to be be dubbed in the Greenlandic language, the first feature film in their own tongue. He has served these beautiful and often forgotten people faithfully since 1984, but it has only been in the last few years that he has seen significant fruit, coming from an unexpected source.

A few years ago Errol met Dr. Clair Schnupp, a counsellor and pilot, who has developed a powerful counselling model for Aboriginal communities (though with application to non-Aboriginal as well). In addition to solving an expensive travel challenge (as Clair flies up to Greenland in his own plane regularly), this model has revolutionize the hearts of the people of Greenland. Both through those who are counselled and the dozens who have been trained in the model, a genuine revolution is taking place in Greenland. It is a true revival- a word I do not use lightly.

If any of you are seeking to incorporate spiritual & emotional healing with missional outreach, I highly recommend you look into this model. If you want to read more about this exciting work in Greenland, check out this article by the International YWAMer here.