Comments on: We Need More Blogs of Missionaries http://necessaryroughness.org/archives/1708 two kingdoms, hundreds of thousands of miles Fri, 16 May 2008 11:22:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: RPW http://necessaryroughness.org/archives/1708#comment-15063 RPW Thu, 08 May 2008 17:25:36 +0000 http://necessaryroughness.org/?p=1708#comment-15063 I mentioned that our missionaries are being pulled out all over the world in my blogpost yesterday. This came from a conversation I had with my husband who had sat down with a gentleman that he knew who started talking about how he got pulled out of Latin America with barely a thank you after years and years of work and he had seen many people come to Christ (after I wrote it, I searched the blogs and realized that a letter was circulating from a missionary). After he was done, my husband asked him "why aren't we hearing about this from the missionaries? Why aren't you letting your sponsoring congregations know? Why aren't missionaries blogging about this? Maybe it is that this gentleman is studying. Maybe it is that missionaries are conditioned to avoid talking about difficulty after years of diplomatic pleas and sabbatical trips to congregations for fundraising. Maybe it is hope to be restored at some point or another and not wanting to rock the boat. Maybe it is the sense of isolation that missionaries feel that they don't believe others really care. Maybe it is fear of hurting their colleagues who are still out there. After all, if congregations don't believe that their funds are going to missionaries, will they donate? This is a much bigger issue than confessionals vs. moderates. Many moderate churches would be VERY upset to find that the money they are devoting themselves to supporting missions and those missions are not being supported. This is an issue that if it is talked about, if information is sent out regarding it, that can really light a fire under the whole Synod (talk about setting things Ablaze (TM)!) While I have no idea what the national level of LWML would do, I can only imagine what would happen if the average LWML group in any congregation USA would do if they found out about this!! I mentioned that our missionaries are being pulled out all over the world in my blogpost yesterday. This came from a conversation I had with my husband who had sat down with a gentleman that he knew who started talking about how he got pulled out of Latin America with barely a thank you after years and years of work and he had seen many people come to Christ (after I wrote it, I searched the blogs and realized that a letter was circulating from a missionary). After he was done, my husband asked him “why aren’t we hearing about this from the missionaries? Why aren’t you letting your sponsoring congregations know? Why aren’t missionaries blogging about this?

Maybe it is that this gentleman is studying. Maybe it is that missionaries are conditioned to avoid talking about difficulty after years of diplomatic pleas and sabbatical trips to congregations for fundraising. Maybe it is hope to be restored at some point or another and not wanting to rock the boat. Maybe it is the sense of isolation that missionaries feel that they don’t believe others really care. Maybe it is fear of hurting their colleagues who are still out there. After all, if congregations don’t believe that their funds are going to missionaries, will they donate?

This is a much bigger issue than confessionals vs. moderates. Many moderate churches would be VERY upset to find that the money they are devoting themselves to supporting missions and those missions are not being supported. This is an issue that if it is talked about, if information is sent out regarding it, that can really light a fire under the whole Synod (talk about setting things Ablaze (TM)!) While I have no idea what the national level of LWML would do, I can only imagine what would happen if the average LWML group in any congregation USA would do if they found out about this!!

]]> By: Dan http://necessaryroughness.org/archives/1708#comment-15061 Dan Thu, 08 May 2008 14:51:47 +0000 http://necessaryroughness.org/?p=1708#comment-15061 Evan, thank you! I was just looking through those. Christina really brings the words! :) Evan, thank you!

I was just looking through those. Christina really brings the words! :)

]]> By: Evan Gaertner http://necessaryroughness.org/archives/1708#comment-15060 Evan Gaertner Thu, 08 May 2008 14:16:51 +0000 http://necessaryroughness.org/?p=1708#comment-15060 Two good missionary blogs: <a href="http://esalas.org/" rel="nofollow">Esalas.org</a> and <a href="http://christinariddle.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">christinariddle.blogspot.com</a> The Esalas are a family working with the Komba people so that they can hear the scriptures in their own heart language. Christina Riddle has joined them this year to help teach their oldest daughter Karissa. Christina Riddle is a great writer who shares the cultural shock of a westerner experiencing Ghana rural life. Two good missionary blogs:
Esalas.org and christinariddle.blogspot.com
The Esalas are a family working with the Komba people so that they can hear the scriptures in their own heart language. Christina Riddle has joined them this year to help teach their oldest daughter Karissa. Christina Riddle is a great writer who shares the cultural shock of a westerner experiencing Ghana rural life.

]]> By: Barb the Evil Genius http://necessaryroughness.org/archives/1708#comment-15059 Barb the Evil Genius Thu, 08 May 2008 14:05:43 +0000 http://necessaryroughness.org/?p=1708#comment-15059 The cynical part of me says it doesn't matter, as the future of missions in the LCMS looks bleak. Honestly, I also don't know what to do about the various problems in the Synod. I can't run for office (not that I object to that), and I'm certainly not important even in the Lutheran blogosphere. The best I can do is fulfill my vocation as mother to raise up the generation of Lutherans (which is not a bad calling.) In my vocation as wife, I can also alert my husband to any news I come across. The cynical part of me says it doesn’t matter, as the future of missions in the LCMS looks bleak. Honestly, I also don’t know what to do about the various problems in the Synod. I can’t run for office (not that I object to that), and I’m certainly not important even in the Lutheran blogosphere. The best I can do is fulfill my vocation as mother to raise up the generation of Lutherans (which is not a bad calling.) In my vocation as wife, I can also alert my husband to any news I come across.

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