One of those days…

            We called the propane gas company to find out when there would be any gas for sale.  We use gas to run our stove and refrigerator.  We were told that there was a national shortage and that gas was only being sold to the big companies that depended on it.  IF there was any left over after the big companies purchased, then they would sell to private individuals.  O.K.  no gas for cooking… we’ve been there, done that.  But no gas for refrigeration?!

“Brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

James 1:2-3  KJV

Just as we thought that we might have to count something “all joy”, we received news that resolved our potential trial:  our one grocery store in the town 30 miles away from us burned to the ground.  So now we don’t have to worry about not having refrigeration… there will be no food to put in the fridge anyway.

You ever had one of those day?!

Brian, Sondra, Noah, & Bryson

Pictured:  spoiling Sondra with a new, fully equipped Kaonde kitchen.

MISSIONARY JOURNEY: Values (Team Strategy conclusion)

Our team strategy wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the set of values that our team has chosen to guide our decision making process. All of our values are derived from theological reflection, but some fall more into the theological camp and others fall more into the missiological camp.Under the theological, we attempt to make decisions that are Biblical, in Kingdom context, Christ centered, Restorationist (that we restore ourselves to the ideal in the mind of God as revealed in the New Testament), Transformational, and Incarnational. By incarnational, we mean the attempt to embody Christ among our target community by living among them in a transparent fashion, identifying with them, and opening our hearts for reciprocal relationships with them.

Under the missiological, we attempt to make decisions that are indigenous, sustainable, accountable, non-institutional (specific to the church planting focus), holistic, and cooperative. Three of these terms may warrant further definition. By indigenous, we mean the attempt to plant something that can grow naturally. We believe the seed of the Kingdom is universal, but we must be careful not to mix our culture’s peculiarities into the formula lest the end product cannot grow naturally in the host culture. For example, the mixing of the value of western physical facilities within a subsistence farming community who could never replicate the same. By sustainable, we mean the implementation of programs that can be fully supported and sustained by the local economy. This produces mental ownership and functional control of the church within the hands of the host culture from the very beginning of the work (which is essential for indigenous growth). And by cooperative, we mean the awareness that in many cultures (including developing ones) maturing fellowships already exist that want and need to work hand in hand with their sister congregations from more developed economies. These maturing fellowships – when willing to assume the full responsibilities of true cooperation – are a gold mine of skills, gifts, and servants called of God to participate in His mission. Furthermore, their fellowship’s continued growth and maturity depend on the opportunity to engage in ministry outside of “self”. We mustn’t let our “formal education” or our “economies” cause us to assume that we alone are equipped to serve. Our brethren in the farthest corners of the world have store houses of faith, knowledge, and the will to self-sacrifice that sheds light on some gaping holes in our western fellowship’s maturity. We very much need each other.

I hope these 10 journal entries on team strategy specific to our setting have been helpful to your understanding of what we are perceiving God to be doing among the Kaonde, and how we are trying to participate with Him… empowered by Him.

Thanks for taking the time to read the more lengthy “boring” entries along with the ones that attempt to be short but pithy,

Brian, Sondra, Noah, & Bryson

Pictured: a gathering of elders, missions committees, volunteers, and missionaries discussing our team values as our strategy takes shape.