Category: From the Blog

What began a few weeks ago with two glasses of coolaid, five minutes with my iPad, and a Bible story exploded this week:

1. To eight glasses of coolaid (and turning some children away)
2. Five children getting iPad time
3. And about ten of them crammed onto my porch for a Bible story

Which is why I had a hard time refusing to welcome them today

It wasn’t supposed to be that way…in fact this afternoon was reserved for new people who had not gotten a glass of juice yet this week.  But instead I ended up turning them all away.

Now before you start thinking I’m some kind of monster…this refusal has to do with rules when you visit Mr. John’s house (adapted from earlier rules explained in a post two weeks ago).

• You can’t come till after 3:00
• ONE glass of coolaid will be provided for the first eight children, after that you will given water
• The first five get tablet time, others will be given juice and a Bible story
• When Mr. John says times up it’s up
• NO FOOD!!!!!
• And you must pay attention to Mr. John’s Bible story

Yesterday as the last child was starting his five minutes of Ipad time four other children came asking if they could play.  I explained they couldn’t, but invited them up to the porch for Bible story time.  This involves using powerpoint slides from Goodsoil Evangelism and telling them about a biblical event using my laptop.

I think having such a large group on the porch created a problem because the kids started pushing forward (trying to get closer to the picture) and some stood up to see it better which of course kept those behind them from seeing it.  Soon instead of listening to the story they were more interested in keeping other people from getting their spot and some light pushing took place…That’s when “mean John” made an appearance.

“Mean John” is what I jokingly refer to as the personality change that takes place when a group of children gets out of hand.  In this case it meant ending the Bible story early (they weren’t listening anyways) and telling them they couldn’t come back tomorrow.  I honestly don’t enjoy being mean john but it’s necessary to make sure those boys and girls knew there were some rules when they visited, and if those rules weren’t followed, consequences would come.

Sadly the question rarely is “will children see mean john?” but “WHEN will  they see mean john?”  This is usually decided by asking myself “what will happen if I don’t bring consequences now?

It didn’t take long to realize laying down the law was absolutely necessary because after two weeks I already had about ten kids cramming themselves on my front porch.  How many will show up when all the kids find out the crazy American gives out free coolaid?

So I sent the kids away

refused to let them on the porch

And even closed the door in the face of one asking for a glass of water

Because ministry without structure is just chaos

I don’t know maybe none of them will come back Monday (I doubt it) but even if they do it will be worth it because in the future everyone will know the rules for my porch are actually enforced.

When I came back to Barrouaille for a six-month placement, the original plan was to hold down the fort for a few months while the missionary I was replacing was in the States.  This seemed ideal because four months could be spent learning from him (someone who ministered over twenty years in SVG) how ministry is done on the island.

Of course God’s plans usually don’t fit with our own.  Because of some health issues and other circumstances, the missionaries return has been delayed for six-months.  Meaning I’ll probably be on my own in Barrouaille.

That is at the same time a very encouraging and frightening fact.

It’s encouraging because the work of God can clearly be seen in bringing me to the island for six-months, the exact amount of time the other missionary will be gone.  It also gives me plenty of work to do at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Barrouaille during my time here.

However this is also incredibly frightening since this will be the first time I’m not serving on a ministry team…in other words the buck stops with me.

This doesn’t mean I am totally alone without friends or help on the island of course (Church members and missionaries who lives about a half-hour away are a huge help). Instead this emphasizes the fact that I am now the one who launches ministries.

This is new for me since I’m used to being someone who works in the background with things like youth work, discipleship, children’s ministries, or outreach.  Most of this involved my asking someone else like a fellow missionary or pastor what they think should be done, and then doing it. Being in Barrouaille on my own means taking a very different ministry philosophy.

I’m no longer the person who is asking what to do next

Instead I’m the person who TELLS PEOPLE what to do next

And it scares me to death

Among other things the Lord is leading me to start in Barrouaille

1. An afternoon Bible club on my front porch with short game time using my tablet, and Bible stories
2. A one on one tutoring program in the school system (particularly reading and writing help) using the Gospel
3. Discipleship studies that cover major events of the Bible
4. And homework help program for children on the island

As I began praying and talking to Church members about these ministries it became clear it’s MUCH easier to become involved in them after they have gotten off the ground than to actually launch them.

Launching a ministry takes lots of hard work

1. Like putting together a strategy or plan of action
2. Approaching the right people who can help, and getting their assistance
3. Bringing things under control in the first few weeks (they are usually chaotic)
4. Taking responsibility for whatever goes wrong
5. And making the hard decisions

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why people prefer to work behind the scenes 🙂

In a way I believe the Lord planned things this way because it forces me to step out of my comfort zone and become a true leader.  One who plants ministries that not only meet physical needs of those on the island, but their spiritual needs as well.  One who picks up a shovel and digs into the stony ground of people s hearts instead of waiting for someone else to do it.

And most importantly someone who obeys the call of God even though it scares him to death.

Last night while I was eating supper an unsaved family from down the street came by and asked if I had any food.  This is actually normal since I give out things like cold water, juice, or an occasional peanut butter and Jelly sandwich.  It just so happens last night I was almost out of peanut butter so nothing could be offered (this family also comes by asking for things quite often so I have to be careful about giving away food too often, otherwise they would rely on me for it every day).

Once they found out there would be no sandwich we entered in to a “bartering stage” that ended with my giving them two slices of white bread and glasses of cold water.

Once they were finished with the bread one of the daughters asked me for laundry powder for washing, and money for a candle since it was dark outside.  When I refused she smiled and said “Pastor John doesn’t the Bible tell you to share!”  This girl was just giving me a hard time of course because they were sitting on my porch, eating my bread, and drinking my water!

This experience illustrates one of my greatest challenges in Barrouaille, and one on almost every mission field.  You will always find plenty of people in need of help…and if your American in many cases they will come to you for that help.  An obvious reason for this is what we call poor in the US is incredibly rich compared to the poor in that Country (especially when you factor in the stronger American dollar), but there’s also a compassion rising up in us that wants to help those in need.

That compassion is a very good thing that I believe is placed within our hearts by God.  But we must make sure it leads to hospitality (meeting basic needs, and giving a greater gift occasionally) instead of enabling (meeting every need that they come to you with).

Please understand I’m not discrediting the needs of the people.  I have no doubt the family last night truly needed some washing powder, and a candle so they could see their way home.  But if I met every one of their needs then my porch would be filled with people the next day demanding their candle and soap powder.

A Neighbor down the street who migrated from England flew some of her friends to Barrouaille earlier this year for a few weeks.  During that time those friends seeing the great need began buying things like flip-flops and giving them out to the particularly needy.  Since then people have constantly been coming to her porch months later ringing the bell and asking for their pair of flip-flops.  It’s gotten to the point where she refuses to come to the door anymore, and told me in a way she HATES the island because of the people constantly coming to get free things.

The truly sad thing is her friends were honestly trying to help by giving out gifts in love.  However they became enablers (people who would not say no) instead of offering hospitality (meeting a small need occasionally) so now the people see her as that enabler.

Okay so what is the difference between hospitality and enabling?

1. Hospitality offers what they truly need:  one of the most common requests is for money so a person can buy food (usually meaning alcohol) I instead invite them to my home for a glass of water and peanut-butter sandwich
2. Hospitality gives a VERY small amount of money sometimes ($1 or $2), and remembers who you give that money to (the family last night got $2 last Friday which is why I didn’t do more to help them more)
3. Hospitality understands exactly what they are asking for before agreeing:  I had a lady last night who asked me to buy “milk for her baby” (which she conveniently had nearby) I was confused as to why she wanted me to buy it instead of giving her some money so I continued asking questions till she told me the milk cost $50.
4. Hospitality has rules:  If I give someone money then they won’t receive any thing else for a week as a general rule (I usually break this, but they won’t get money twice a week)

Now this may seem a bit harsh considering the great need I’m surrounded by, but hospitality also offers things to people much more precious than money

1. A cool spot on the porch and a cold drink on a hot afternoon
2. A listening ear
3. Conversations that explain to them the Gospel of Christ, Bible stories, and a Christian testimony
4. A Church family that together can meet their most pressing needs
5. Bible studies that help them grow into spiritual maturity
6. Outreach ministries of the Church that minister to their deeper needs (counseling, tutoring and homework help)
7. And eventually the strength to go meet their own needs instead of relying on someone else

Do I enjoy sending away people who are in need?  Of course not!  But I take comfort in the fact that these unloving actions create some much-needed boundaries in the relationship.

It’s kind of funny sometimes the things that you take for granted until you no longer have them.  Take life in Barrouaille for instance, I can live without many of the conveniences found in the US like fast-food, large grocery stores, or anything I could possibly need being a fifteen minute drive away.

Those things don’t bother me

What I do struggle living without is air conditioning 🙂

Now before you think I’m just feeling sorry for myself please don’t worry too much because the combination of a fan and open windows will keep a person cool on hot days.  However being in a hot climate without air-conditioning in houses reminds a person just how awesome a glass of cold water is.

A few houses down the street from me is a large family that is cared for by the mother, and two older daughters.  I’ve gotten to know them pretty well since we see each other when I go on my walks through town, and recently they began coming to my house asking for a glass of cold water in the afternoon.  Being a very kind person (also known as a sucker) I would give it to them, and now hardly a day goes by when they don’t ring the bell on my porch.

This is actually fine by me because giving out a glass of water is simply a form of hospitality (helping those in need) and of course it gives me an opportunity to talk with them about the Lord.  Last week I even took a jug and glasses down to them on a particularly hot morning!

In a way it’s easy to view something as giving out a glass of cold water as unimportant but it’s important to understand this isn’t just a refreshing drink on a hot day.  Instead it’s a brick in the Gospel Bridge built into someone’s life.

In my opinion, a Gospel Bridge is the relationship that is developed between a Christian and Unbeliever for the purpose of sharing Christ and living out the Gospel

Now this doesn’t mean of course that every relationship a Christian develops with the unsaved has an agenda (the only reason I’m spending time with you is to share the Gospel) but Believers should be looking for opportunities to connect with unsaved around them.  In those relationships God will provide opportunities to live out the Gospel through a Christian testimony or share it verbally.

The thing about Gospel Bridges is you can’t build them overnight.  They must be built one brick at a time.

Saturday morning my neighbors came by and asked along with the usual cold water if I could fill a very large jug they were using to wash their clothes by hand.  Lugging the now extremely heavy full jug back to them I brought up casually “you know we are having a young people’s meeting at Church next Friday, you should come.”  After asking what time both of them agreed to be there.

I’m not entirely sure if they are actually going to back that promise up with action, or they were just trying to get me off their back.  I do know however that if I had tried asking them to a young people’s meeting the first night their answer would have been no.

Because I was just the new American missionary nobody knew anything about

Now I’m the American missionary who gives them cold water, and greets them by name every day.

It’s easy when trying to reach people with the Gospel to look for huge life-changing opportunities.  But this focus keeps us from noticing the simple everyday actions that can slowly but surely build a bridge into their lives

James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious (does all the outer works right), and bridleth not his tongue (does not grow spiritually, doesn’t bear fruit), but deceiveth his own heart (thinks God cares more about works than the heart), this man’s religion is vain (he cannot honor God or grow spiritually, this faith cannot save him).  (emphasis added)

Last Sunday I preached from James 1:26-27 on God’s caring more about our heart (a true relationship with Him) than our religious works.

This of course doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do good works like go to Church, but if a person is doing those things for the wrong reason or their hearts filled with sin, God will not be Glorified.  In fact Christ said that at the Great White Throne there will be many people who did great works for Him but refused entrance to Heaven (Matthew 7:21-23).

I was thinking about this while talking to a Church member about his friend (someone who visited Church from time to time).  This friend is one of those Christians that you sadly see in many American Churches who come to Church every Sunday saying the right things but live the rest of the week like the world.

For a while we talked together about how I as the Churches pastor could help his friend grow spiritually

1. Encourage to continue attending Church (which he hasn’t)
2. Checking to see if he is keeping up with his devotions (something he promised to do in the past)
3. And make sure he is continuing to memorize Scripture verses (something else he promised to do)

Now all of those are wonderful ways to make sure a struggling Christian keeps on track.  But was we came up with more ideas something started to bother me…each one of our ways to help him focused on outer works.

The thing is a person can quote 100 Bible verses and attend Church every day of the week.  But if that’s the extent of their relationship with God (no Salvation or Sanctification) then it does them no good spiritually.

1. By using Discipleship Material that gives foundational truths of Scripture from the Old and New Testament (He can see major themes of Scripture)
2. By using homework that makes him not only read, but THINK ABOUT Scripture and apply it to his life
3. By revealing his heart issues (inner struggles) and helping him deal with those in a Biblical way
4. By confronting his inner responses to God’s Will that don’t glorify Him

To be honest I’m not sure how this is going to turn out since it’s my first time going through discipleship with someone on the island.  It may be that he refuses to go through the study or doesn’t take it seriously, and more serious options will be visited.  However I believe the best thing that can be done for this man right now is not adding something else to the daily checklist that doesn’t affect his heart.