For the past several years, I
have been hearing and saying a lot about vision. When I was a
business teacher I used to emphasize the importance of a clear
vision, as it defines our destination. Lacking vision, we end
up concentrating on the activities that keep us busy, and help
us “forget” the fact we do not have a destination.
I find this phenomenon in mission work, perhaps even more pronounced
than in the commercial world, where bottom line profit is universally
accepted as an important goal.
On the way back from the States, I was able to break the trip
at Bangkok and make a quick visit to Lahore, Pakistan, to attend
a meeting between the PC(USA) and our mission partners in Pakistan.
I was very glad to be at the meeting, not that I was contributing
much, just glad to be there! The meeting was to discuss the uses
and management of PC(USA)-owned properties in Pakistan in God’s
ministry.
When I listen to the concerns of partners who have a clear vision
of how they are to demonstrate the love of God to His children
in the world, we can generally overcome procedural difficulties
and find a way to serve the people and God. However, those who
lack vision tend to bicker over minor issues and are not able
to see the big picture. Based on my training, my hypothesis is
that when the future is uncertain or the goal is not clear, the
future is discounted heavily, risk-adjusted discount rate, and
we tend to concentrate on preserving the present, no matter how
meager the present might be. Making a commitment of time and resources
at the present for the future is not seen as a prudent investment,
but as a sacrifice. It was heartwarming to see and listen to the
ministry plans of educational and medical institutions in Pakistan,
which are infused with hope and the vision of serving the people
in the name and Spirit of Jesus Christ. Especially in the case
of Christian schools in Pakistan, where the schools were nationalized
30 years ago and were only recently returned to the Church in
dilapidated states, both in facilities and in educational activities.
The challenges that remain are numerous, but the staff and alumni
are committing themselves to restoring the places of education
where they grew in knowledge and spirit many years ago. I know
God will be blessed by their efforts and God will bless their
service.
PC(USA) mission worker Dr. Carol Brees and the hospital director,
Dr. David Sohail, at the Christian Mission Hospital in Sialkot,
affectionately known as “the Mission” by the locals,
were recently recognized by the Islamic government for their love
and care of the women and children in the region. Together with
300 other Christian and Muslim staff members, they serve God by
educating and providing health care to a mostly Muslim population,
because they know what God calls them to do so. I believe God
is blessed and honored when our services in obedience to God are
received by this world with joy. Sharing in their vision is our
mission, and I was grateful to be a part of the discussions.
Sadly, there are other partners who do not seem to have a clear
vision, thus they end up blaming others for their failures. Cooperation
and shared responsibilities demand too much “sacrifice”
in the absence of a shared vision. I am certain this difficulty
is not limited to worldwide missions of PC(USA), and you don’t
need us to tell you more examples.
Another behavioral difference I notice is the patience. When
one is confident that the vision is one that builds up others
and is correct before God, one can wait for others to share the
vision, rather than to force a solution that usually does not
work. Looking back on our limited mission experience, I can see
many situations where I forced a solution or discipline to obtain
desired results. I still believe many of them were correct solutions,
but forced solutions never took roots and bore fruits. I do not
know why I was not more patient and sure of my own vision or did
not trust that the partner would eventually come to the truth.
Perhaps my lack of faith in God (Heb 11:1) led me to doubt my
own vision or did not have enough trust in the partner. I know
now that I have no solution other than to be patient and share
the vision.
As we prepare to meet the risen Lord in a few days, I pray for
my firm trust in Him and to be sufficiently convinced of God’s
plan to patiently share with His other children and wait. Problem-solving
activities can wait until we experience the risen Lord together
and partake in His vision. May this Easter finds you walking with
the risen Lord, and showing the world that He lives.
Simon
The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
203
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