Missions Catalyst 10.14.09 – Practical Mobilization

In This Issue: Listening to My Heroes and Making Christmas Lists

• FEATURE: Shoes I’m Not Worthy to Tie
• SUBVERSIVE MOBILIZATION: It’s Time to Think Christmas!
• RESOURCES AND EVENTS: Related to our Feature Story

Missions Catalyst is a free, weekly electronic digest of mission news and resources designed to inspire and equip Christians worldwide for global ministry. Use it to fuel your prayers, find tips and opportunities, and stay in touch with how God is building his kingdom all over the world. Please forward it freely!

Practical Mobilization, by Shane Bennett, is published monthly.

FEATURE: Shoes I’m Not Worthy to Tie

By Shane Bennett

In the past few weeks I’ve had an unusual number of interactions with heroes. They aren’t celebrities, athletes, politicians, or rock stars. Most of them are older than what is usually considered prime in my American culture. (We could learn a few things from cultures that honor age and experience.) And unless they hide it well, none of them has a lot of money.

Eagle Scouts? Nuns? No, but close. The three couples were veteran missionaries from and to various parts of the world. As I listened to and interacted with them, I found myself thinking, “I’m so lucky just to be in this situation right now.” I want to tell them how great they are; that they’re my heroes. I want them to be my friends. (Partly because I hope they’ll invite me over in heaven. They’re gonna have the absolute best digs there!)

I won’t use their real names because they’d just be embarrassed. But if you want to talk to them, email me and I’ll try to pass on your message.

My New Friends in Modesto

I spent a night and most of a day hanging out with Frank and Esther. I smile just thinking about it (and not just because they buried me in almonds!) These two served with Wycliffe Bible Translators in the Philippines for 43 years. During their tenure they translated the New Testament into two different languages. Copies of these Bibles sit on a table in the living room of their modest double-wide trailer like original Monets gracing the poster rack at Hobby Lobby. I suppose when they look back on their life’s work, it’s pretty easy to see the measure of their days: When they sailed out the Philippines, two nations didn’t have the Bible, but now they do. God help us all to count for that much.

Frank started using computers to aid their translation efforts when computers were as big as boats. His first dictionary was stored on punch cards! Frank kept pace with computers as they got smaller, faster, and more effective. His early adoption of new technology was helpful to Wycliffe and is one of the reasons I’m typing this column on a blazing fast, very small, relatively inexpensive MacBook. Thanks, Frank, for that – and much more for your 40+ years of effective service.

Pakistani Pals

Jacob grew up in Pakistan as a Muslim and began to follow Jesus when he was 21. He and his wife gave decades of bold witness for Jesus in Karachi. They were part of a group I spoke to recently. And I was teaching them? Right!

Jacob shared with us some of the ways he explains his love for Jesus to Muslims. He also challenged some common attitudes we Americans hold. It stung a little bit, but it was good to hear. I had a clear sense that this brother had paid the price to earn the authority from which he spoke. I was honored to be in the room with Jacob and his wife.

Friends of Afghans

Finally, I want to tell you about an octogenarian couple who have given more than 20 years of their lives to sharing hope with Afghans. Dale and Bernice have lived and worked in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, always prioritizing building relationships with Afghans.

As we prayed in a circle before a recent meeting, I looked up and noticed Dale squatting in a characteristically South Asian way. I thought, “This guy has spent a lot of time in prayer in that posture.” Perhaps he prayed with many Afghans who were learning to follow Jesus through his example.

He and Bernice spoke up occasionally and circumspectly, not putting themselves forward. I was impressed by their humility. I was also impressed with their tenacity and intentionality.

They’ve recently begun advocating for a people group in Afghanistan called the Qizilbash. As far as they know (and other research backs them in this) no one is on the ground living among the Qizilbash with the intent of lovingly and respectfully inviting them to follow Jesus. Dale and Bernice intend to see that change. I’m honored to have met them.

Our Response

Hanging out with people like these six saints pushes some buttons in me.

1. They make me want to make my life count.

2. They encourage me to order my life now so I’m as holy as they are when I reach their age.

3. And they make me think, “These stories need to be told because they need to be heard.” Examples of lives lived like these will help fuel renewed efforts on behalf of peoples without Christ. They can encourage wanna-be veterans like you and me to stay in the game, work hard, never give up, and hold fast to a faithful God who will accomplish his purposes.

Can I ask you to do something in response this article?

Find some people like this around you. Maybe they go to your church. Maybe they’re checking off their remaining days in the denominational rest home. Or maybe they’re coordinating “Perspectives” and kicking young people like you and me in the bum!

Forward this to them and add your personal thoughts about their lives and ministries. Or maybe better yet, go have coffee with them.

I know this: It will do your soul good to look an aging veteran in the eye and say, “Please tell me more. This is fascinating.”

When you depart, take their hand in yours and let them know you are honored and humbled to have had a conversation with the likes of them.

As you drive off, thank God for their years of service and ask him for the ten young people it will take to replace them!

Maybe determine you will be one of them yourself.

SUBVERSIVE MOBILIZATION: It’s Time to Think Christmas!

About this time each year your good friends at Missions Catalyst produce a couple of Christmas lists. (We also each do our own, but you wouldn’t want to see them, would you? Because you know, if you did, that could probably be arranged.)

1. Gifts for Mobilizers to Give

This list consists of ideas for gifts we give to friends and family to show our love while at the same time maybe advocating a little for other people we also love who need more of Jesus.

2. Gifts for Mobilizers

This one lists ministry tools, books, or things that might just be fun for someone who is so odd that they spend their days helping other people get connected with the world.

Suggestions?

If you’ve got an idea for a gift that would help someone grow a vision for the nations, or that would bless a fellow mobilizer, let me know. I’ll compile the suggestions, add a few of my own, and publish the results in plenty of time for Christmas.

>> Shopping extra early? Check out previous years’ lists.

RESOURCES AND EVENTS: Related to our Feature Article

Want to follow in Frank and Esther’s footsteps in Bible translation? Wycliffe has endless opportunities.

Just now, you can even explore the world of Bible translation online alongside your kids through the OneVerse online course.

If you think you could be part of the answer to Dale and Bernice’s prayers for the Qizilbash, you might want to contact Frontiers. They’d love to help you be among the first to go to the Qizilbash or other priority groups.

Considering a mid-life change in direction? Check out the ministry job matchmaker Finishers Project. It’s free!

The UK information service OSCAR also publishes an extensive list of mission-related job opportunities (and has lots of other great resources as well).

Those in the younger set might consider this year’s Urbana conference (December 27-31). Register this week for the best rates.

Find many short-term mission opportunities at shorttermmissions.com.

For help and encouragement in living wisely, seek out the living examples around you first. But know that many excellent books are available. You might want to pick up Gordon MacDonald’s A Resilient Life.

New on the Events Calendar

247 TO GO Workshops: That’s 247 large, unengaged Muslim people groups! Come explore what you can do. Sponsored by our friends at Frontiers.

October 17, 2009 – Seattle, WA
October 23-24, 2009 – Minneapolis, MN
November 20-21, 2009 – Toronto, ON
January 29-30, 2010 – Portland, OR
February 5-6, 2010 – Atlanta, GA
February 26-27, 2010 – Phoenix, AZ
May 21-22, 2010 – Colorado Springs, CO

More details on the 247 website or send an email.

Questions, comments, submissions? Contact managing editor and publisher Marti Smith.