{"id":1460,"date":"2020-04-15T14:45:34","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T18:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-potter\/?p=1460"},"modified":"2020-04-17T10:13:18","modified_gmt":"2020-04-17T14:13:18","slug":"is-missions-on-hold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/joel-potter\/2020\/04\/15\/is-missions-on-hold\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Missions On Hold?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We might feel like it, but Jesus said \u201cI will build my church.\u201d<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday we are canceling the apocalypse!\u201d shouted the leader of the protagonist in a heroes vs. creatures movie that my boys and I have watched a few times. And while the threat of losing the final fight for the existence of human life is far from the danger we face today, the sentiment shared by the leader is one we all wish we could say about the pandemic the world faces today. Can\u2019t we just cancel this thing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you for your patience. Your wait time is approximately\u2026 indefinite.\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today it feels like things are on hold as we come to grips with the reality that we can\u2019t simply cancel this global event. It feels like the momentum that was propelling great work by the Church all around the world, has been stopped in its tracks and those involved are stuck on the wrong end of a seemingly indefinite wait. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Missionaries around the world have had to make agonizing choices about whether it\u2019s safer to stay in place or return to their own countries for a time. They\u2019ve scrambled through airports, booking wildly expensive last-minute flights after having had to leave so quickly they weren\u2019t even able to say good-bye to good friends who are staying put. International schools have had to close, regular supply flights have been canceled. Not only do missionaries have the responsibility to obey and follow all in-country guidelines and laws, but they must also adhere to recommendations and limitations put on them by their home countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bible teaching is postponed. Ongoing Bible translation is reduced to what can be done remotely without the needed in-person feedback. The task of making disciples that Jesus gave to us, the Church, has slowed to a crawl in many places. Thousands of short and medium-term trips have been canceled. And the departure and allocation of new workers for their fields is indefinitely paused. When will we be able to resume this essential work?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will fledgling churches recently formed be able to sustain themselves? Will the dangers of false teaching creep in and be even more pronounced with a very real medical threat hanging over all people groups? Will what looked like open doors for future work in new people groups, be firmly closed when the world feels safe coming into contact with each other again? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fear<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are no, nor will there be any, shortages of opinions and predictions about the future of Christian missional effort in light of the pandemic the world faces today. I make no promise of being able to add anything of value to the growing body of thought on this topic. But for my own sake, I must get these thoughts out into the open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m afraid:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…that the open doors for new ministry may be shut indefinitely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…that the opportunistic criticisms against incarnational work among unreached people groups will intensify even more than it already has.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…that the countries my coworkers are all having to return home from won\u2019t allow them back in when it\u2019s safe to return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…that Great Commission work will turn into a \u201cluxury\u201d item for the Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…that giving to fund the mission workers and organizations supporting this work will evaporate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…that toilet paper reserves will never be replenished (cue eye roll!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The list could go on.. And while these fears are all founded and could be realized in reality, I\u2019m reminded by my God, whom I strive to serve with my whole heart, that He has already addressed these things and given me a reason to not be fearful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, is missions on hold?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All of those fears are of situations that have happened when a pandemic wasn\u2019t dictating terms with the human race. So, they\u2019re not unique to right now. Faith-supported mission workers like myself (missionaries who are responsible to raise their own living expenses and salary) have always lived with the possibility that the vital funds given to support their ministry will unexpectedly drop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The criticisms of efforts to give unreached people groups the free choice to understand the story of God in their language have always been leveled at work that tries to emulate Jesus\u2019 incarnational method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The possibility that the landscape of missional efforts will change as the human race copes with a pandemic like this one, is certain too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, has the blinking light of \u201con hold\u201d appeared when it comes to Jesus building his church?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus Christ has always been the power behind any growth, any forward movement, any fulfillment of his Great Commision. And if he is the power, is he on hold?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, none of the current events should make us afraid! To be afraid of something is to see no way that it can be any other way. It\u2019s to resign ourselves that those things are inevitable and un-overcomable. And that\u2019s what we should truly run from. We may be in a \u201cholding pattern\u201d but the work, the movement, the growth, none of that is on hold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Scene from the quarantine in Spain: Photo by Manuel Peris Tirado<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Consider some of God\u2019s encouragement to us in the face of a global threat such a pandemic:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n