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What’s Your Status, Gladys?
Setting a Course for Global Engagement
By Shane Bennett
My
wife and I have a text message shorthand question to ask how things are
going when we’re apart: “What’s your status, Gladys?” Neither of us is
named Gladys. I just like the rhyme. And I’m hoping it will stick in
your mind as I ask you what your status is relative to God’s work
throughout the world. You know: missions, the Great Commission, call it
what you like.
What’s your status, Gladys?
What is your part and how well are you playing it?
If
you’re the epicenter of your church’s cross-cultural efforts, if you’re
confident and comfortable in the role God has you playing right now, or
if you’re up to your ears with an unengaged people group, this article
isn’t so much for you. It is, however, for people in your sphere of
influence, so please consider passing it along.
If,
on the other hand, you sense God asking you to engage in a more
significant way, if there’s a niggling somewhere in your heart or mind,
and you’re not sure what to do or how to get going, read on. This is
going to help.
The process is simple:
A. Set a course.
B. Determine the very next step.
C. Kick down the obstacles.
B. Determine the very next step.
C. Kick down the obstacles.
Let’s take a closer look.
A: Set a course.
Maybe
you’re thinking about the world for the first time. That God might be
asking someone like you to join someone like him in amazing global work
is a new concept. You’ve got to figure out how to get going.
Or
maybe you’ve been following Jesus for a while and always thought
missions was a cool idea, but never actually took the leap. Now God’s
saying, “The water’s great. Get in here!”
Perhaps
you’ve been logging hours for the world but have this crazy hunch that
God wants to strap some rockets to your efforts and light the fuse!
The
first thing to remember is that you can’t do everything. If you try,
you’ll be lousy at the whole list. Paul was right about that body of Christ
thing: God is smart enough to equip each of us so that together we can
accomplish what he has in mind. The trick, of course, is determining if
you’re a hand or a heart, an elbow or an epiglottis. (Is anyone that
part of the body?)
You
didn’t ask for advice, but here it is: Don’t let this decision paralyze
you. Trust in the equipping (and when you goof, the redeeming) power of
God and get moving.
Some people shake out the basic modes of involvement in missions into praying, sending, going, welcoming, and mobilizing.
Consider simply picking from the list and moving in that general
direction. Definitely seek God at this point (and every other). You’d
also be wise to seek the input of people who are wiser or more
experienced than you are.
Keep in mind: These categories can overlap. Choosing one as a focus doesn’t lock you in forever.
If
you can honestly say “I feel that God wants me to play a bigger part in
his globally expanding kingdom, but I don’t know what part,” let me
offer you two options to consider:
1. The unengaged
Focus your copious skills and energy on an unengaged Muslim people group. Read this Practical Mobilization column from a couple of months ago. Check out this list from the International Mission Board. Then talk to someone like the kindly mavericks at Frontiers about how quickly you can dive into the deep end!
2. The overlooked
Let
me invite you, as personally as I can in an article like this, to join
me in a growing effort to respond to the heart-wrenching humanitarian
crisis and amazing gospel opportunity unfolding in Sicily right now. I
think there’s a place for you in what God is launching, and I’d love to explore that with you. Let’s do something epic together.
B: Determine the very next step.
Regardless of the general direction you choose, education might be your next step. Perspectives classes,
which may be the best introduction to God’s global purposes, are
starting up right now all across the U.S. and beyond. There are other
classes and curricula that cover similar ground which may be in the
works in your church or town. Ask around!
Signed
up for Perspectives, now what? Generally, look to see what your tribe
is doing. How does the direction you want to head in work at your
church? How could you contribute there? Is God unfolding something cool
at your church that he has in mind for you to contribute to? Moving
forward with your tribe can be very powerful.
For specifics, this site has some great ideas for each main role. Also consider these:
Praying
Set
an alarm on your phone for 10.02am and simply pray as Jesus said to in
Luke 10.2, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvest.”
Sending
Tell
a fund-raising friend that you’re trying to learn to send, so you’ll
support her $20 (or $200) a month for six months and then re-evaluate.
Ask to get on her email newsletter list.
Going
Get a passport! You may not be able to go anywhere cool without one.
Welcoming
Call
the closest university and ask if any international students have
signed up to be paired with local friends. Agree to be one of those
local friends.
Mobilizing
Forward this email to three friends who might walk with you as you move toward the world and God’s work in it.
C: Kick down the obstacles
It
would be so cool if knowing your general direction and clearly
understanding the very next step led seamlessly to action. Sadly, in the
real world, things like fear, apathy, and busy-ness conspire to keep us
where we are. Might as well be honest about it. What is most likely to
keep you from taking your next step?
Thinking your friends will think you’ve lost it?
Wondering where the money will come from?
Mired in uncertainty?
Do
this with me: Name it and un-claim it! Seek God’s power and a friend’s,
pastor’s, or mom’s support—whatever is required. Take that very next
step.
One
caveat: If it’s all you can do right now to breathe and your next step
is pretty much just trying to stay alive, please don’t let these words
further burden you. My prayer for you is that God soon brings you out of
the valley into refreshing green pastures and quiet waters.
Conclusion
So
what’s your status, Gladys? What’s the main direction, what’s the very
next step, and what do you need to kill to take it? God’s grace to you
and to us! I’m hungry to see his purposes fulfilled on the earth. I want
to see his blessing blossom in every family.
And both the Bible and experience indicate it’s going to take a lot of
us showing up with all the strength and smarts and persistence we can
muster, coupled with the empowering of the Holy Spirit. We need you.
Your contribution matters. If God is nudging you forward: engage!
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