Missions are Not Congregations

Re Sustaining Missions, May

It was wonderful to read and feel that someone really ‘gets it.’ It is more than one person can possibly do and most of us in the mission works of the church are trying to do it all. I have recently taken my second medical leave in the 20 years I have been in the Cariboo, and in returning to ministry, I don’t see how the situation is going to change much.

I especially appreciated the recognition between how missions differ from traditional congregations in this area. This is a key observation for those of us who are ministering in missions and often it feels like the rest of the church doesn’t completely understand that. Here in the Cariboo that line can seem blurry because in the eyes of some we are a congregation that, though different in how we worship, is like other congregations.

Although we do have some of our funding coming from within the church (our folks give sacrificially to the work), this is primarily a mission bringing the love of Christ to those who live beyond the traditional church, and mission costs money. In our end of the ministry, the Nazko and Area Dakelh Outreach, we are trying to be the living presence of Christ among our First Nations neighbours. The poverty of our community means there are no funding sources from within. In other parts of the Cariboo, our sisters and brothers are living well below the poverty line and yet giving all they can give. It still requires and always will, the support of the wider church to keep this mission going. And that demands, yes demands, administration and financial know-how and continued exposure to people who want to share the work of God.

I appreciate the recognition that there are no villains. Canadian Ministries can only provide what they receive through Presbyterians Sharing and that is going down each year. Our grant for the Cariboo house church ministry was reduced by nearly 40 per cent in the past year alone. People in the church give passionately and generously and deserve to be thanked and acknowledged. Governments and foundations must be responsible with how they give out monies. In the end, we create more and more bureaucracy which ultimately takes ministers out of preaching/teaching/pastoral work and puts them behind a computer, desk and phone.

I have no answers, but it feels good to know that someone recognizes the struggle and reality that we face in mission in the church today. We long to have the abundant life that Jesus came to give so that it will flow right out of us to the hurting people around us. Lord, let your river of life flow.