Many Missionaries are Struggling
Has someone checked on the missionaries lately? Because many of us are struggling. We are struggling over how fast things are changing concerning immigration, something that affects every missionary who migrates to a new place. How the American government sets immigration/global policy affects how every American citizen abroad is treated, and how missions involving American citizens is accepted by those communities. Missionaries embrace a calling to be tied to only Christ, but we are still bound to our passports and our passport country.
Historically, most missionaries have tried to walk a careful line of political non-involvement, especially in their country of service. There are sometimes tricky things to address (when called by God to address them, such as Sati, where widows are burned at their husband’s funeral pyre), but mostly, we understand that many political and cultural things we don’t fully understand, and it is wisest to be the listener and learner in most of these situations. I think many missionaries are surprised to be struggling at both ends: how they deal with the local government they are under in their host country, while making sense of how their own passport country is rapidly changing into something different, with many of their churches and supporters overwhelmingly (82%) being supportive of this current administration, some of them very vocally supportive.
When I was in the field, I remember the times I scratched my head as I watched from a distance wondering: “What is going on in America? What is going on in the American church?” It also led to a lot of the local people I was serving asking me, “What is going on in America?” When I still didn’t have an answer.
There is something really powerful about living in another country and seeing things from the outside. There is something life-changing about joining a local church in another country and realizing that the whole church isn’t white American evangelicalism. There is something liberating about knowing God’s people are all over the world, shining out different facets of God’s character in different ways. There is something heartbreaking about returning to your home country and seeing a lot of the church (in general) you grew up in hold to destructive beliefs that are bringing dishonor to the Lord’s name. To see so many of the people you grew up with leave the church, and the following generations turning away in droves—not because of the beautiful ways of Jesus, but because of the ugly manifestations of some of those who claim His name.
One of the hardest parts, for me, has been when I disagree with someone politically in my home country, I get some kind of response like this: “Well, when you “Get right” with God, you will agree with me about (fill in the blank political stance).” As a missionary, I have been told multiple times to “Stay in my lane.” I can either be a missionary, or I can be someone who cares/speaks about politics. To me, the things I’ve been speaking out about are about family: either about my physical family (made up of immigrants), or my spiritual family (speaking about the things I believe God has asked all Christians to take a stand on—specifically the poor, the widows, the fatherless, and the immigrant). I am a missionary, and I am not okay with how things are going. It is a sad day when we see Christians reacting negatively to a Christianity Today post called “A Closing Door to Persecuted Christians.”
Let’s check in with some other missionaries who have written/blogged about how things are currently, because yes, I know most missionaries haven’t written things. Whether it is because they agree with how the American church and the current administration are, or because they don’t have time, or they feel the need to “Stay in their lane,” there are a million reasons why we won’t get to hear from them about this. But here are some, that I’ve gotten to know over the years of being a missionary, that I’ve grown to trust. Here are the alarms that they are sounding:
Jonathan Trotter: Digging in the Dirt podcast, A Lament for the American Church: “If our core identity hinges on our church or political identity, we have erred terribly…the local church-even a great one—is not the hope of the world: Jesus Christ is the hope of the world…protecting the reputation of the church is a fool’s errand, and it usually ends up meaning we protect the reputation of our leaders. If a narcissistic politician promises to protect our churches, and our Christian rights, then we must protect him too, and hold him above reproach. This is wrong, and it is harmful to our nation, but we learned it in our churches first.”
Amy Medina: Thoughts on foreign aid, immigration and American privilege: “When I sense this mood of anti-immigration swirling around me, I take it personally. I see the faces of friends. I see the faces of my own children. And I know people would never say that my children aren’t welcome here. That my children aren’t those kind of immigrants…Let us remember that those of us who were born American and have access to a U.S. passport did nothing to deserve it. We won the DNA lottery. In God’s sovereign grace, He has chosen us to belong to this privileged country and time in history. Let us live as those who recognize the depth of the privilege we possess. And to whom much has been given, much will be required. We may not have control over government policies or executive orders, but there is much we can control. We can cheer on reform but still speak well of immigrants, welcome and befriend them well. We can give generously and then give some more to international development projects. If we are involved in international business, we can choose justice and integrity over profit. We can advocate for America to welcome refugees – arguably the most deserving, most vetted, and the most vulnerable immigrants out there. And we can live our lives in a way that prioritizes the kingdom of God so much more than a kingdom on earth.”
And The Executive Order That Makes My Blood Run Cold (spoiler, its halting the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act)
Marilyn R. Gardner: God mend thy every flaw: “America was going down far before this administration took over. But now the speed with which we are watching her fall feels terrifying. Our leaders seem to care nothing for things that are true and honest, just and pure, lovely and virtuous.* Instead might and power, the putdown of others, lies and rudeness, gold and silver are upheld as virtuous and necessary… (sanity and wisdom) are in the voices and actions of those who feed the hungry, tend the sick, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the prisoner, and invite the stranger into their hearts and homes. I think they are in the clergy who invite us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. I think they are present in humility and self-control; in recognition that we are small and God is big. I think you and I can be those voices, and I pray to God that we will be.”
The day that Caid and I got our green cards (that for us, were orange).
As missionaries, we’ve been immigrants. We’ve seen the process and been part of the process and know very well that it is broken, and that it is complicated. None of us (that I know of) are calling for open borders. All of us (that I know of) want safe, secure, efficient and just immigration regulations. We are willing to do the work it takes to legally do what we feel God has called us to do. Here are some Christian resources I have found to help us move forward in healthy ways:
World Relief, We Choose Welcome, and Women of Welcome: their Instagram and Facebook pages offers some really great graphics to share, as well as dispelling lies and spreading truth. Their websites are full of free resources. They also offer courses and webinars to give next steps, and send encouraging emails full of action steps you can take. I have really appreciated signing up for the “Neighborhood Notes” emails from Brittani Farrington of Women of Welcome.
As far as calling the Christian church to a biblical stance on what is happening around them, I have appreciated Rich Villodas (his books are great too!), Benjamin Cremer, and the And Campaign on Instagram and Facebook. I have also taken deliberate steps to give myself space and margin away from the news and the discussion of it. I haven’t been able to check in with all the missionaries I know (yet). I hope that they (and all of us!!) are finding healthy ways to answer the questions they have, and that those around them have about what is happening in America today.