Please Forgive Me, But…

Fifteen young men and women completed missionary training today and will be visiting various nations that are hostile to the Gospel for the next two months. They depart early Wednesday morning, but one young woman from the group will be left behind due to lack of funding. I’ve seen it happen many times before because I live in an impoverished nation, where family and friends struggle with daily survival. All giving here is sacrificial. It’s tough to watch people with pure intentions who want to participate in ministry get left out because they don’t have enough money. I’ve seen youth from disadvantaged families that can’t participate in youth camp because they lack a mere three dollar sign up fee. For such small amounts I’ve anonymously provided what was needed so that the less fortunate could participate with their friends. It’s often dismissed as “the Lord’s will”, when money can’t be raised, but I struggle with that assessment. God’s desire is for his people to go with the Gospel, and this young missionary woman has boldly stepped forward and said, “Here am I. Send me.” I don’t think God views her as an exception to his commandment in the Great Commission. Perhaps the problem lies elsewhere.

We swatted at the swarming mosquitoes as we waited for the graduation banquet to begin. One young woman, clearly troubled, borrowed the room key from her roommate seated at our table. She quickly gathered her belongings from the room and returned carrying her backpack, handing the room key back to her roommate. Then she tearfully began to hug her classmates before leaving. She planned to leave quietly before the celebration. She felt ashamed to attend the banquet now because she wouldn’t be going with the group. Even though she had completed the full eight days of pre-departure training and had a round-trip ticket to go she would remain behind. The students had bonded tightly from daily teambuilding exercises during their training. Her classmates encouraged her to attend the banquet and spend the night with them. They’ve clearly grown close to one another in a short period of time.

“Why would you leave now?” my wife asked her. “Celebrate with the others, and we’ll also pray for you as we pray for the others.”

She was emotional and fought back tears as she explained that she used her own savings to pay for the training and purchase the airline tickets. Her friend pledged to provide the additional $600 needed for the two-month mission trip, but failed to deliver on the pledge. There was no other option; today was the deadline and she didn’t have the remaining money required for the trip. She would forfeit the non-refundable tickets and return home. “Maybe next year,” she said, as others from the group hugged her.

During the training she was required to make her “Last Will and Testament.” Instructions for the disposition of her body were included in the document. She also submitted hair and toenail clippings to be used to identify her body if she should be killed during the trip. These things might seem like theatrics to those who go on “safe” mission trips. But she was preparing to visit some very hostile regions where there is no guaranty of safety. She was willing to lay down her life so that eternity might be changed for others. But that won’t happen. Six hundred dollars stands in the way.

I’m not making an appeal for the needed money. It’s too late. She’s missed the deadline for her support to be turned in to the trip organizer, so she won’t be on the Wednesday morning’s flight. She can reactivate her Facebook account and use social media now without fear of reprisal for her strong Christian faith. She can pray for her classmates and pray also that the door will be opened for her to participate next year.

I’m troubled that “the church” has failed her. I’m not referring to her home church, which likely collects less than $600 per year in tithes and offerings. I’m referring to the universal church, the body of Christ. How many churches in the United States are unable to raise up a single missionary willing to surrender his or her life to reach the nations? Yet how many of those same churches are expanding their facilities rather than the Kingdom of God? I don’t have the answer to “Kingdom allocation” issues, and I don’t like pointing fingers at others because I’m too guilty of my own shortcomings.

But I believe that God owns all the resources in the universe, and I’m troubled to witness totally committed servants of Christ suffer from a resource shortage. Perhaps those resources have been entrusted it to the wrong people. Did I just say that? Please forgive me. What I meant to say is this: If God has entrusted you with much, then much is expected. You’re a steward, a mere manager, not the owner of what has been placed in your care. We seem to forget that we will all be held accountable to God: accountable for our careless words, for our actions and inaction, and accountable for everything that has been entrusted to us. That includes me, and, quite honestly causes me concern. I’m guilty on all counts.

Maybe accountability is at the center of the problem. Most of us have nobody to whom we are spiritually accountable. And accountability to God seems so archaic. Today I want accountability. This evening I want to speak boldly, like the prophets of old, and demand that God’s people stop misallocating his abundance. But more than that, I want to cry for this young woman who has offered everything to the Lord, even her life. She will tearfully return home tomorrow and will likely accept her situation as a test from God; and she will be stronger as a result. But I believe that the Lord has permitted me, as a witness to her situation, to become her voice and the voice for all His suffering servants. When it comes to missions there are only three options: send, go, or disobey. I encourage you not to employ the third option.

I won’t be as preachy next week, I promise. Peace.

— — —

Barry Phillips is the author of a short-term mission trip “survival guide” named “I Planted the Seed (and Woody Squashed It)” and the novel “The 24th Province” available on Amazon.com. You can follow him on Twitter and Pinterest: @barrydphillips