Not exactly the world’s worst commute

Have you heard about Quaker State’s “The World’s Worst Commute” contest? Some of you may be thinking of entering it.

I can’t. I usually walk to work. But the other day I got an opportunity to identify with your commute. I commuted to work. I went out to my car, drove across the street, and parked next to my office. At the end of the day, I drove back across the street.

At this point you may be thinking, “That’s dumb.” Or maybe you’re thinking, “That’s wasteful.” Oh, who am I kidding? You’re thinking it’s both, aren’t you?

That’s because you don’t have all the facts. There are good reasons for what I did, but I didn’t share them with you, so you have no choice at this point but to think me foolish and fuelish.

And I think we sometimes do that in missions too.

It can take NTM missionaries years – even decades – to establish a church among an unreached people group. That doesn’t seem terribly efficient when you hear, as I did the other day, that a church in our area is sending a team overseas to plant some churches this summer.

Is NTM wasteful or dumb? Or are there good reasons that it takes so long?

Well, there are good reasons. And I’m not just saying that because they pay me to say that. They don’t pay me. But that’s another subject …

So let me explain by asking a question. The Great Commission tells us to make disciples of all nations. How long does it take to make one disciple? If you are working with someone who speaks your language and lives in the same culture as you do, how long does it take?

Yes, that’s a question, not two. I just rephrased it. Getting picky, are you? OK, then, I’ll make it harder.

Now consider that you don’t speak the language of the person you’re going to disciple, and they don’t speak yours. Will it take longer?

And they’re from another country. They think differently. Does that add to the time it’ll take?

But wait, there’s more!

There are no Scripture verses or Bible lessons in their language. That might add some time, eh?

Oh, and before you can translate the Bible and lessons, you need to figure out how to write their language, which has never been written before. Then you have to teach them to read and write their own language.

And you’re trying to make not just one disciple, but many. Your end goal is a body of believers that is able to stand with other churches and take its place in the Great Commission.

Years and even decades make sense now, right?

So next time you’re stuck in your commute, or even just driving somewhere, please take a moment to pray for the missionaries working through what must seem even to them like a loooooong process.

Oh, yeah, and please pray with your eyes open. Thanks!