To view our Team Vision & Strategy paper, click here.
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MISSION MANIFESTO (From our December, 2011 Newsletter)
[I outlined some of this in a sermon from November, 2011. You can listen to the sermon online here: On Being Called ]
Yes, I realize this is long. And it probably breaks the Rules of Newsletters. Oh well.
We’ve been on this road to Cambodia for 3 years now, and during that time we’ve tried to really process the question, “What does God want us to actually do in Cambodia?” Well, after much prayer and counsel-gathering, here’s what we’ve got…
Language and Culture Learning – Although we will never be Khmer (the name for the primary people group in Cambodia), our primary aim during the first two years of life in Cambodia is learning the language, paying special attention to the underlying culture. We’ve been warned by experienced missionaries that getting involved in too much ministry too early can be very tempting, but very harmful to long-term effectiveness. After all, language learning is ministry. So, our stated goal for the first two years of life in Cambodia is not to plant churches, see hundreds come to Christ, or save the world. Simply put, we aim to be proficient in the Khmer language and have a deeper understanding of the cultural and religious heritage of the Khmer people. Our Field Coordinator and mentors at Team Expansion completely agree with this simple (but not easy) goal. Please pray that we will stay focused on this primary goal – language and culture learning. And while you’re at it, we’d really appreciate prayers for language aptitude!
Church Planting – Although we’ll be learning the language forever, we’ll be done with the most intense part of it by the two year mark. From then on, our express goal is church planting. Team Expansion’s mission says it well, “Transforming communities among the unreached by planting Biblical churches.” With some background in healthcare, and a great passion for the human trafficking issues, why aren’t we doing those things? Again, good question. But first, let me ask you about the Sin Tree…
Have you heard of Cambodia’s Sin Tree? If not, no worries; I just made it up. I think every country’s got a Sin Tree, and every Sin Tree’s got branches. As far as I can tell, Cambodia has its fair share of branches.
- There’s the branch of human trafficking, a horrendous blight on humanity, causing unimaginable pain and suffering to the weakest and most vulnerable in the society.
- There’s the branch of alcoholism, so rampant and deadly, destroying families left and right.
- There’s the branch of idolatry and paganism, causing folks to offer sacrifices so their dead ancestors don’t haunt them or so they’ll have good luck.
You get the idea? Anyways, there are many, many workers in Cambodia attempting to cut off branches, and I’m so glad they’re there. There are medical groups, social welfare groups, anti-trafficking groups, etc. These groups are amazing and I believe with all my heart that God has put those people there to do the ministry (and church planting) He has called them to do. Even so, after much soul-searching and counsel-seeking, I realized that that is not what God has called me to do.
I feel deeply called to cut down the whole tree. Of course, it’s not me that does the chopping, it’s Jesus Christ, through the wonderful working of the Holy Spirit, for the ultimate glory and joy of the Father. Ah yes, this is what I pray for.
Pray with me that Jesus Christ will root out the Sin Tree in Cambodia, that families would be healed, relationships restored, communities transformed. Only he can do it, but it’s why he came, after all; to deal with Sin.
When I look at the Scriptures, it becomes clear that the way he wants to attack Sin is through his Bride, the church. That is, the Church of Jesus Christ spreading the “Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.” A community of believers inviting others to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” A life-giving group of Christ-followers spreading the word about how sin wrecks but Jesus restores.
So, our goal is to plant churches. Not to count churches. Not to even build buildings. But to join the timeless work of our Savior in freeing people from the clutches of Sin and death and pain, restoring their lives both here and forever.
Pray with us, that God would continue to build His church all over Cambodia, that millions of Khmer would embrace Him as Lord, Savior, Lover, and Friend.
