Why do We Romanticize Foreign Missions?

[Charnock]

I love foreign missionaries. I love pastors. I love my co-laborers in the harvest. But I am sick up to my eyeballs of the guilt trips laid on American ministers and churches by folks who are fully funded to fulfill their calling. I want to be clear that most missionaries I know are hard working folks who give it everything they've got but, lately, I've come across a few who have a sense of entitlement and pride.

I become very annoyed by people who assume that foreign missionaries are the only people in the world who sacrifice and suffer hardship. In reality, many foreign missionaries live extremely well. They get "free" cars, appliances and many other perks. In the UPC, foreign missionaries are fully funded.

Here's the deal. It's one thing to know about, and be moved by, an incredible poverty among the people you're laboring to reach, another thing entirely to become personally impoverished specifically because you reach for that field.

When you have no power, no water, and few groceries you will have the right to lecture me about American laziness and apathy. As a former church planter, I have gone without those things so that the "work of God" could prosper, and so that others would not suffer. I do not say this to brag, or out of some plea for sympathy. I post it to make a point. There are men and women all around you that are waking to the fact that this continent is adrift. They are sacrificing everything to reach it, and giving to foreign missions as well. Reality is, you would have to change the way you operate if not for those wealthy, apathetic, Americans who are working their tails off to build God's kingdom here and there.

Don't insult their gifts and sacrifice by talking about the wealth and apathy of the American church.

[Charnock]

Home Missionaries give to foreign missionaries. They feel it's an obligation.

Do foreign missionaries give anything to home missionaries?

[Charnock]

At what point should a work become nationalized? Why do we need career missionaries?

To me, it points back to colonialism.

Shouldn't we build a work and then leave?

[Praxeas]

I haven't seen any guilt trips. I haven't seen romanticized versions of Missionary work.

[Charnock]

AFF will allow personal attacks on American pastors at will.

But don't even consider talking about the finances and attitudes of foreign missionaries.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Charnock

At what point should a work become nationalized? Why do we need career missionaries?

To me, it points back to colonialism.

Shouldn't we build a work and then leave?

In many areas we (meaning the UPC) are able to do just that. It's done with a lot of prior financial support as well as other kinds of support to build the infrastructure.

But the problem is in many areas of the third world nation it's hard or impossible to do just that in a short period of time.

And in Sis Alvears case, she is not connected to an organization. She get's little financial help, let alone other helps, so that process is going to be painfully slow

But even then, what should a person do who has a calling to a third world nation? Not go because we should just leave?

Why not pull out of many US cities and allow the people who live there take over?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Charnock

AFF will allow personal attacks on American pastors at will.

But don't even consider talking about the finances and attitudes of foreign missionaries.

What personal attack?

Sister Alvear is a board member, and we allowed you and OP to do your little song and dance on her too! What a lame argument.

Did an Admin tell you that you can't? I don't see any Admin telling you you can't

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Charnock

At what point should a work become nationalized? Why do we need career missionaries?

To me, it points back to colonialism.

Shouldn't we build a work and then leave?

Yes, I wonder the same thing. The work the apostles did was that of missionaries. They built works and traveled about reinforcing those works and then committed them to God and his word.

Something else I wonder about is why we Americans send missionaries to countries that already have the gospel, like Wales, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Mexico, etc? Why?

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

In many areas we (meaning the UPC) are able to do just that. It's done with a lot of prior financial support as well as other kinds of support to build the infrastructure.

But the problem is in many areas of the third world nation it's hard or impossible to do just that in a short period of time.

And in Sis Alvears case, she is not connected to an organization. She get's little financial help, let alone other helps, so that process is going to be painfully slow

But even then, what should a person do who has a calling to a third world nation? Not go because we should just leave?

Why not pull out of many US cities and allow the people who live there take over?

How long do foreign countries need missionaries to come and start works in their countries? When should the nationals take over the work themselves and support it themselves?

I'm not sure I understand your last sentence.

[onefaith2]

Is this discussion under the same category as whether we should give more to feed hungry Americans instead of sending money overseas to starving Africans?