The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
Author: Mary DeMuth
Date: 24.08.2010
Category: Evangelism Training
I wrote this piece this week. You can also view it here.
It’s about telling the truth in ministry failure, in seeing God’s hand when success isn’t there. I can honestly say I learned more in failing in France than I’ve learned in wild success.
So why don’t we share honestly about our failures? Isn’t it true that God is strong in our weakness? And in our strength, He can’t work? So why do we try to hide behind sterile statistics, hoping people will see our victories and not rile us for our defeats?
It’s all for His glory anyway. At least that’s where I’m resting.
Keywords: France, church planting, truth about ministry
Views: 7245
Comments: 7
Recommendations: 1
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China
I love the Bonhoeffer quote.
If God’s followers always experienced success, then how could we relate to a world bound in pain and struggle? I believe that our unwillingness to be honest about struggles and failures in life and ministry is a great barrier to the spread of the Gospel. To look at this again from another angle, how can we expect people to pray effectively for us if they are not aware of our failures as well as our successes?
I can think of many other troubling questions to ask, but the truth of the matter is simple. Grace in suffering is a powerful witness: the world sees His strength most clearly when our weakness is most apparent. To imagine that God is only involved in our successes is simply wrong.
Thank you for sharing.
02.09.2010
United Kingdom
You were faithful. You persevered through mounting trials. You kept the faith. You developed empathy. You endured slander.
These are enormous victories that can take their place alongside any other perceived successes in the Kingdom. ‘Well done good and faithful servants’.
25.08.2010
United States
@ H_Benjamin:
Yes, it’s those hidden things, those character traits, that I can rest on now. Thank God He brought something deeper in my heart!
25.08.2010
Kenya
This little piece is deep and wide. Should I beat my breasts in confession (tax-collector), or do I consider myself innocent of this ’crime’ (pharisee)?
Wonderful strategies always seem to be available in the West for reaching ’Africa’. On the ground, well, it’s a bit different. So different in fact, that ’donors’ can’t really be expected to understand, so then to keep the money flowing (which of course is important) one has to compromise on the truth. ...?
Lie builds upon lie builds upon lie builds upon lie ... so where art thou truth? This reminds me of Donovan’s book that was (at least some years ago) heralded as the ’way forward’ in mission (Christianity Rediscovered). My suspicion on reading it was from early on that it was concealing some truth, as it seems to represent an apolitical world. ...
Of course when people plan their projects, they have to ’sell’ them, and predict what will happen, and forecast success, or they don’t get support. Once the project has failed, its failure never gets the attention that the anticipated success had ... Hmmm.
25.08.2010
United States
@ Jim_Harries:
Unfortunately I’ve known missionaries who spend a great deal of time promoting their work, but their promotion is hardly accurate. They feel the pressure to perform, to give positive statistics, in order to keep the money coming.
25.08.2010
United States
Success and failure are seen through the eyes of "us" . . . as your article so beautifully and accurately points out. When I was reading your words, I thought of Jeremiah . . . talk about a failure in the eyes of "us" but what a success from the divine perspective. Thanks for sharing your heart and your life. Your words drip with authenticity as they lift our perspective and adoration to our Heavenly Father who does all things for His glory and, in our lives, for our personal Christ-like development.
25.08.2010
United States
@ WordTruth:
Thank you, WordTruth. I appreciate your kind words. As long as I rest in what Jesus thinks, I feel validated!
25.08.2010
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