DIG
IT
SEND THE CA$H
OR SEND THE CREW
what adds more value in cross-cultural mission?
I
magine if we heard about a church a long way from our
home that was being led by people who had themselves
only recently started following Jesus. We hear they were
doing things differently to what we have known. Unusual.
Unconventional. Should we, or our established Church’s
representatives go and check it out, to either pull them into line
or encourage them in their experimentation and innovation?
Could we send the latest Koorong catalogue, worship CDs and
a few thousand in cash and hope for the best? Should we avoid
interfering and leave them alone to work it out by themselves
and trust that with the Spirit they’ll be able to develop their
own distinctive ways of following Jesus?
This was the sort of situation that we read about in Acts1 and
that was facing the early church. The message of Jesus had
spread in various places among the Jews, but in a place called
Antioch, a new thing was happening. The message was also
being told to the Greeks, who responded in faith.
The church in Jerusalem thought they should send someone
to check it out. They chose a good man, full of the Holy Spirit
and faith, by the name of Barnabas. He oozed encouragement
and looked for where God was at work. He worked
alongside people in that community and helped them
develop their own distinctive ways of following Jesus.
Through the leaders and Barnabas, a great number of people
came to trust in Jesus. He looked to build a team of people
rather than doing the ministry all by himself.
Barnabas’ team included another foreigner, Saul, but mostly
the team was made up of local people with whom Barnabas
and Saul became fellow travellers and learners, equippers
and mobilisers. Barnabas’ team however was larger than the
people on the ground in Antioch. It included people back in
Jerusalem who prayed and gave and with whom Barnabas
would share stories of God at work.
Last year I had the privilege of travelling to Malawi and
visited some areas where Global Interaction cross-cultural
workers were involved. Prior to going, during my visit and
since then, I have pondered the question about whether
it is still necessary to send cross-cultural workers to other
resonate · issue 28 · page 4
countries. In Malawi I found people like Barnabas. They
had an optimistic outlook, good emotional intelligence and
shared the Gospel with small groups of people who had never
heard it before! They had particular skill sets and experience
that complemented those of the few national followers of
Jesus. Working humbly and with mutual respect they added
significant value to what was happening locally.
I also saw the value in Malawi of having both national and
foreigners on the ground to help invest donated resources
strategically rather than simply directing money at random
projects. Doing this brings a greater sense of responsibility
and ownership for local people as well as those who are from
other places in the world.
Followers of Jesus are commissioned by him to make disciples
of all nations2 and to be witnesses to him in local, regional,
national and global arenas3. In addition, being recipients of
the love of Christ leaves us with no options but to be people
of Good News wherever we go⁴. In fact, God wants to make
His appeal through us⁵.
When we talk about global mission initiatives there are often
comments about whether, rather than sending people as
cross-cultural workers to another culture and country, we
should just send money to resource national people to fulfil
the Great Commission in their context.
It is an excellent question, both from a strategic and
economic perspective. When you think about the situation
from the Book of Acts, or the situation I described from my
trip to Malawi, how would you respond to that matter?
I put it to you that the era of sending cross-cultural workers
beyond Australia is not over. However, we do well to be wise
and strategic in the sending… and please God let us see a
great number of people coming to know you.
BILL BROWN
Australian Baptist Ministries National
Council Chair and Senior Pastor
of Syndal Baptist Church, Victoria
1. Acts 11:19-26
2. Matthew 28:18-20
3. Acts 1:8
4. 2 Corinthians 5:14
5. 2 Corinthians 5:20