Friday 14th January 2011
As the clouds begin to give way to blue skies, CMS Summer School is drawing to a close.
CMS: working in partnership with churches, here and overseas
I spent morning tea this morning chatting with a missionary leader from an overseas missionary agency that is doing exciting work in a part of the world CMS does not yet work in.
As we discussed things, we were united in seeing the urgent need and immense opportunities for mission. Both mission agencies have outstanding missionaries. But as I have reflected on mission this week at CMS Summer School, I've realised that there are two things that CMS has going for it that are often taken for granted.
CMS is its members. This shows up in all sorts of ways, very obviously in its huge and active volunteer base, but also in CMS's support raising. It is not the missionaries who raise money for themselves: that would make a mission society that helps those on the field to do their ministry. Instead, CMS members give to the society - it is the members who are committed to ensuring the gospel goes forward, and our missionaries are fellow members who are on the ground in other lands.
The other thing I often take for granted is CMS's strategy of working with local Christians and Christian groups. This limits the cultural mistakes missionaries may make, and enables the local church to take responsibility for reaching out to their neighbourhoods and nations with the gospel.
The importance of understanding the culture
In fact, in Hugh Palmer's talk on 1 Corinthians 9 we were called to learn the traits of those in cultures we seek to reach with the gospel. It is loveless to expect others to do things our way. And at one of the missionary sessions I attended, we heard of cultural mistakes some of our missios have made.
One of our missionaries shared that they had invited another couple to dinner. They picked the couple up, enjoyed a nice meal, and then offered to drive their guests home. This all seems fine to me, but actually these guests were insulted by the encounter! The problem was that in this particular culture, you never make any suggestion that people may leave - and offering to drive them home did precisely that.
Financial support
One of the six suggestions for mission support through CMS's initiative The Mustard Seed Effect is to give regularly to CMS. Throughout the week, we've been seeing video interviews with CMS members on helpful ways they support mission. One comment really captured my own sentiments: "Giving through direct debit is excellent for regular giving, but not so good for thoughtful giving." That rings true. I give regularly each month, but then I don't remember my giving, which in turn means that I don't think about what else can be done.
The supporter who made the above comment said that every month when she checks her bank statement, she prays for her link missionaries and this reminds her to check whether she can give more. What a great idea.
