The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
Author: Cody C. Lorance
Date: 15.09.2010
Category: Social Justice, Leadership Development
"Ministry and frustration go hand and hand. And I was very much concerned that people were interpreting frustration as a sign that this is not where God wants them to be. And because of that I felt that many people were leaving the call that they had gotten and were missing God’s best for their lives . . . what I found was that people were leaving for the wrong reasons . . . . I really felt that those of us who are trying to serve God, whether it is in vocational ministry work or in the marketplace or wherever need some sort of theology of suffering . . . of frustration—to help us to stay in the difficulties that we encounter."-- Ajith Fernando
I offer my reflections from the recent Lausanne Blogger Network interview with Ajith Fernando:
Keywords: ministry, suffering, theology, endurance, interviews
Views: 6907
Comments: 7
Recommendations: 4
Conversation Post Comment
Kenya
This is fascinating. I could make a similar point like this: should our love to a people be dependent upon the success of our project?
E.g. church X in USA decides to help community Y in Bongoland (Africa) by doing ... whatever. The project fails, the people are found to be corrupt, the money is eaten, church X has had its fingers burnt and is never seen again. No.
Love is first relationship.
But, if this is the case, then why structure interventions around projects and donations in the first place? ...
17.09.2010
United States
@ Jim_Harries:
It is a good thought. And a challenging one. Just the idea of abandoning love -- the love commitment at times of difficulty and frustration. If I remember correctly, Ajith spoke to this a bit. I’d have to go back and listen to the audio.
On the issue of funding, its relevancy in this conversation doesn’t immediately present itself to me. You might have to help me with that.
Blessings!
20.09.2010
Kenya
@ Cody_Lorance:
The more money one uses, the more important are avenues of ‘accountability’. These tend to be ‘results’ oriented, in a relatively narrow sense. People give for clearly defined projects, and not for ‘relationship’ that has no clear foreseeable end.
Is that clear? The missionary who uses $100,000 per year is accountable to more people than he who uses $10,000? (Western) people (who have a relatively poor understanding of what he’s at) will therefore tie his hands more. He’ll have to spend more time ‘justifying’ what he’s doing and so on. There’ll be more pressure to pack it in if it ’doesn’t work’, and so on.
20.09.2010
United States
Trials associated with life and ministry come in many forms. Yet, as the article indicates, there is spiritual growth resident in all of them. Recognizing a kinship to this article , we humbly submit a "quick read" of God’s many purposes that can accompany personal trials. The article is titled: Trials . . . God’s Pathway for Growth and Grace. May God’s people learn more of Christ as we submit to God’s plan revealed in our suffering.
http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/conversations/detail/10810
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19.09.2010
United States
@ WordTruth:
Thank you for sharing this comment and paper.
19.09.2010
United States
@ WordTruth:
Yes, thank you for posting these thoughts that are along the same vein. Many blessings to you. I’m grateful that the article has been helpful to many.
20.09.2010
United States
We want our whole staff/team reflecting on Ajith Fernando’s thoughts.
17.09.2010
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