Austins in Thailand

I write this as I look out at my garden filled with flowers. There is a small - very small - yellow bird flitting around the green, red and white of the garden. The rainy season has just begun here in Thailand and moisture clings to everything. After 5 long, dry, and recently very hot months, the rain is falling again, sometimes with great force, sometimes with gentleness.

Sometimes, especially in March after 4 months with no rain, I start begging God for rain. I remember the green of November, the raging waterfalls and sky filled with rain. I remember the rice fields filled with water and the clean fresh air. The memory gives me hope.

For 400 years the Israelites toiled in Egypt. It was a long time of suffering. But God heard their cry and led them out of slavery. Over and over again in the story of Exodus God directs his people to remember. Remember you were once slaves. Remember, God saved you. Remember who you are, where you came from, who loves you. Remember.

Exodus is our story. Like the memory of the green of November, our memory of God’s saving actions give us hope in the troubled times. We were once slaves in Egypt. We were once dead in our sins. God saved us. God broke the power of Egypt and the power of sin. There is nothing God cannot do. It may be dry and hot - but the rain will come. We may be suffering now - but God will rescue us. Remember.

Remember.

Recently I visited with new friends at the Garden of Hope in Chiangmai, Thailand (Gardenofhopeasia.org). The Garden of Hope seeks to serve and ministry to women and children at risk or involved in prostitution. It’s difficult work. We had a conversation about stereotypes and being true representatives of love. . .

The ministry of the Garden of Hope is not one of sensationalizing the situation but one of incarnational, day-by-day, work and love. I was impressed that despite the heart breaking work, there were no signs of despair or anger. I asked what they thought of the men who came to use the women. Their response was the same response I believe we would receive from Jesus, “They need love too. They need healing as well. They are God’s lost children also.” We discussed the need to remove barriers and stereotypes. Nothing is black and white. Instead of labeling, which is the easy thing to do, we should instead be true representatives of love.

The people at the Garden of Hope reminded me that we are all - everyone of us - God’s children, made in his image, in need of love and healing regardless of our situation.

I want to be a true representative of love.

Joel writes: “When I read the quote (see the quote directly below), the question that came to my mind is how do we work together with other like-minded organizations in our field without attaching our particular label (denomination or mission) to the work? We can do that in some limited ways but with current funding structures, people in N. American churches want to see that their resources are being used to further their particular brand of ministry.”

This is an excellent point.

My response is that we must first and foremost be advancing the Kingdom in anyway, every way, with everyone we can. The funding structures and our partners in N. American churches need to submit to this vision. It’s not about us. It’s about God and his glory. If our sending agency can not accept this vision, then maybe it’s time to be a prophetic voice calling for change or we may even need to find a different agency.

Our structures from the top to the bottom must be first and foremost about God and his Glory. Also, we need to seek partners who share this vision. There is too much work to do, too many souls at stake to be distracted by politics or short-sidedness. We can accomplish far more partnering with others on the field than we can acting alone.

What do you think?

“We still do missions as we did it two hundred and fifty years ago. we want to learn a language; we want to send our missionaries to plant churches; we ignore the presence of an indigenous church movement, the restrictions of nations. . . The world outside the church is telling us, if we are going to get the bottom line to have its highest return, we must move from the paradigm of independence to interdependence. Missions in the context of globalization must understand that there is greater leverage in building synergy than establishing our banners. It is amazing how secular organizations have understood the concept and developed partnerships that have brought great dividends to their companies. . . . It’s time to stop establishing our identity and begin to bring our resources together and work together in the context of interdependence. We must find ways to enter nations from all sides and with every opportunity; we should let the values of the scripture speak through us so that the lost are reached and discipled into the kingdom of God. . . The missionaries of colonialism failed the church when they failed to see the handwriting on the wall and prepare national leadership.”

Dr. Paul R. Gupta, President of the Hindustan Bible Institute and College in India

The key question is, “what is our motivation?” Are we motivated by the love of God? Are we motivated by self interest? Are we motivated by a savior complex?

There is a fine line between paternalism and service. It starts in the heart - then becomes a motivation - then becomes a series of actions, good and bad. Service is love in action which expects nothing in return. Service is done in a safe environment of acceptance. Paternalism is narrow and rigid, expecting something in return.

We are all needed to change the world. All of us working together, using our gifts and passions. We can not afford paternalism, politics and self interest.

I found this advice convicting and compelling. . .

“First, I would suggest that all of you Christians, missionaries and all, must begin to live more like Jesus Christ. Second, practice your religion without adulterating it or toning it down. Third, emphasize love and make it your working force, for love is central in Christianity. Fourth, study the non-Christian religions more sympathetically to find the good that is within them, in order to have a more sympathetic approach to the people.” Mahatma Gandhi

The other day I was passing through a well known store in the Seattle area. I glanced at some clothes and slowed down. I couldn’t believe my eyes - $282 for a pair of jeans. I stopped. Picked them up. Looked for the gold thread. I couldn’t believe it.

As I looked at the other over priced clothes on the table accompanying the jeans I kept wishing that a sales person would ask to help me. I wanted to ask them why - why are these jeans worth $282? I also wanted to tell someone, anyone, that 1/3 of the world’s population lives on less than $1 a day. In other words - 282 days = one pair of jeans!

God help us!

Ending Slavery is the title of Kevin Bale’s latest book. It’s a must read. Log onto the Free the Slaves website and buy three for $30. Keep one and give the other two away. . .