Relocation as a Ministry Strategy
Relocation as a Ministry Strategy
Questions We've Gotten about Relocation as a means of Restoration
A couple of the resources we recommend that people doing ministry or missions in foreign cultures read are "When Helping Hurts" by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert and "Toxic Charity" by Robert Lupton. These books provide a very important perspective on how ministry among the poor and people who are different from us can have unintended negative consequences. They also, though, have caused people to ask me the following questions. And for every person that asks, we figure there are several others thinking them and not asking. So, we want to share our thinking on the challenging and at times controversial issue of cross-cultural and poverty focused mission work.
For those living in a more resourced community:
Does God want everyone to move to under-resourced or poor communities or countries? Unconditionally and absolutely NO! God is in every community . . .from the richest to the poorest . . .and He desires His followers to be in every community as well. In fact, He may even call some people to move to a wealthier community! But (you knew that was coming), He does want SOME people to move out of materially comfortable environments to be in closer proximity to a people group or community He has laid on their hearts. Only you know whether God might be calling you to that, and if you think He might be, we encourage you to not ignore the promptings.
Does God love people more who move to under-resourced or poor communities or countries? We are pretty sure the Bible says that God loves everyone equally. Rich. Poor. Black. White. Those in Haiti. Those in Beverley Hills. Those in East Aurora. Those in Naperville. He even loves those who choose to ignore Him. But (there's that but again), it is easier to sense God's love when you believe in your heart you are where He wants you and doing what He wants you to do. So, it is worth asking the question, "Am I really where God wants me to be, or could I better experience God's love in a different environment?"
What's the best way to make use of our mission trips to poor communities and countries? We believe that God loves anything that is done with His spirit and with the desire to be a part of helping to bring His kingdom here to earth. He loves when his children desire to experience and witness poverty in our world, because that is how we can be motivated and inspired to do something about it. But, (yep, again) because God does love everyone and desires the best for everyone, we believe He wants us to be responsible in the way we approach trips. We don't want to do things that actually end up hurting (i.e., if we paint a building when really someone locally could have been paid to do it thereby gaining employment and skills. Or, if we unintentionally support an organization that has created a business out of hosting mission trips to help orphans, when what the orphans really need is for someone to find a way for them to be cared for on an on-going basis by their community). Mission trips can be life changing, probably more for us than for the people we go to serve, and can lead to incredible good if people return and become advocates for change. We just believe that God wants us to be wise in how we approach mission trips.
How can missionaries to foreign countries be most effective? God desires that everyone will find their way back to Him, and He can use all kinds of people in all kinds of situations and circumstances to draw people to Him. However (just a different way of saying but), we believe He wants missionaries to be wise and effective when they go abroad. That means adopting a posture of listening and learning and not entering a place with an agenda and a savior mentality. We believe God calls all of us to serve Him and others in different ways. We just want to be wise and sensitive in how we do anything in His name, especially when it involves working in different cultural contexts.
For those living in a more under-resourced community or country:
Why are they moving/coming here? We don't need charity. Every community and every person is rich in some ways and poor in some ways. Communities that are rich materially are often poor in relational connections and neighborliness. One of the privileges that comes with resources is having choices. Money allows you to choose which neighborhood you live in, which also means you can basically choose how good the schools are that your kids go to, how much crime is in your community, and at least to some extent the cultural and racial mix of people you interact with. Those choices are not available to people living near or below the poverty line. That inequity in options is not reflective of God's kingdom. Sometimes wealthier Christians feel called to live among people who do not have the same options they do, but who experience "richness" in other ways. So, they choose to give up a certain material lifestyle in order to help work for a more equitable system for everyone, and to get better at valuing people and relationships more than things and prestige. They aren't coming to be charitable. They are coming because they believe they have as much or more to learn from you as they have to offer. And they believe that by living with you they can work with you to create a community that has both options AND neighborliness . . . a community that is more reflective of God's kingdom.
Are these people moving here better than me? Unconditionally and absolutely NO! The Bible says that we are ALL created in His image and equal before Him. We are each created with unique gifts and talents, and we all have our flaws and weaknesses. We are all made better when we live life in community with people who are different from us racially, culturally, economically, because we can all learn from each other. We are not all the same, but we are all equal, and God wants us all to be at the big banquet table in Heaven together!
Are these people going to try to control us and change our neighborhood? Control you, no. Change your neighborhood, not without your help, and not without listening to you first! It is unrealistic to deny that in lower-income neighborhoods there are challenges. Whether it is individuals having a hard time paying their rent or businesses that can't afford to stay open or kids that have to drop out of school to get a job and help pay the bills, most people living in the neighborhood would say there are things they wish were different. Those are the kinds of things these people moving in would like to work with you to try and change. But they are not able or interested in doing anything without your agreement and help.
How should I react and relate to these relocaters?
They
hope you will relate to them as you do your neighbors, friends, and
family. They are coming to a neighborhood where they may not know a lot
of people, and they want to build relationships. They may look
different, and may not speak the same language, so they will probably
feel uncomfortable. What they want more than anything is to be your
friend. They also know they are probably going to mess up, and may do
things that offend you. So, they hope that you will be honest and work
together with them so that you can all help make the community a place
where everyone is happy to live!