1. Understand one's role as a servant
Keyword: Humble
When a missionary
arrives at his place of service, he must learn to
understand his role as someone who has been "called
by God and sent by the church" to achieve, to
work towards, and to accomplish certain objectives.
We can best be a humble
servant leader if we:
- Don't get carried away with eagerness
- Develop a low-key, but genuine, rapport
- Are encouragers and true shepherds
- Are positive, helpful, and supportive without
being bombastic
A Christian leader
has to understand that he is an ambassador for Christ.
So, to study the life of Jesus Christ will be a most
helpful devotional exercise.
2. Learn the culture
Keyword: Sensitive
Culture, in this
instance, is loosely defined as "the way
things are done by a group of people,"
whether an ethnic group or a local church or district
situation. A Christian leader is to demonstrate that
his interest cannot be primarily directed to his own
family, their comfort and security. A missionary must
recognize that there are already enough differences
between him or her and the constituency. No extra
differences or barrier are needed.
As much as possible, we
should strive to fit in with the local Christians
while remaining mature Christian models, examples, and
teachers. We must ask for God's wisdom in knowing what
to accept as culturally neutral (and therefore not
inherently sinful or wrong) and what to challenge as
anti-Christian.
3. Learn to speak the language
Keyword: Determined
If one wants to
understand the "soul" of a people,
one must be able to speak their language or at least
understand it.
Learning a language is
not easy. Anyone who has attempted this will remember
that he or she initially undergoes an outward
personality change (someone speaking a language
brokenly has great difficulties projecting his or her
true personality when speaking to people).
Learning a language can
be a humbling experience. Yet, it is necessary because
unless we a people's language, we will never
understand completely their mind-set, their thinking
patterns, and their emotions. Without mastery of the
language, we shall be prevented from getting beyond
surface masks of courtesy and politeness. [ more
on language learning ]
4. Keep a sweet and honest spirit
Keyword: Sincere
This becomes
important after you have been in a given area for a
while and after the first disillusionments have jerked
you into facing reality. Unless you can be accepting
of ways which are as different from yours as night is
from day, you will have problems in your
relationships.
It is a subtle
temptation for the long-term missionary at this stage
to become somewhat cynical. This can manifest itself
in snide remarks or jokes about the local people and
will eventually negatively shape attitudes when
dealing with them. Thus, it becomes necessary to keep
a sweet, open, accepting spirit to prevent attitudes
from sabotaging our effectiveness as leaders.
5. Adjust to a new environment
Keyword: Adapt
The best advice here
is to be noncontroversial. Some years ago I went to
visit a missionary. I did not find him at home. When I
asked where he might be, I was told that I would find
him at his home country's Embassy library. Everybody
knew that the brother was there twice a week. This
made me curious, so I went there. Sure enough, there
he sat, watching sports on television.
Of course, there is
nothing wrong in doing that except that in his case it
typified his lack of adaptation. I asked that
particular missionary how many times he had watched an
African soccer game in the maize fields. He did not
know what I was talking about. He had never been to
one.
It is quite acceptable
to maintain your own personality and culture within
reasonable bounds, but it is also wise to build
bridges by developing interest in local enthusiasms as
well.
6. Identify with the people
Keyword: Adopt
Make conscious
efforts not to speak about "back home" or
"over there" even if you need to make
comparisons.
In the same vein, when
we talk about "our" president, we
need to mean the one of the country in which we
reside. When we talk about "our country"
and "our law," we again talk about
our place of residence.
Once we adopt the people
and the nation in which we live as our own, new
horizons will open up. We too shall be adopted.
7. Affirm a call to serve
Keyword: Minister
Do not expect others
to do what you are not prepared to do yourself. One of
the most subtle excuses can be that "they are
used to it."
Nothing is so demeaning
to people as to be given a task by a leader because
that leader is not prepared to accept that task for
himself.
8. Focus on the assignment
Keyword: Vision
Know your direction.
Be clear about what is expected of you. Know what the
church requires from you as a "partner in
ministry." Have a clear picture of your
assignment. Let everybody see that you have a plan and
that you have set out to accomplish a certain task
within a certain time.
Let everyone see that
you enjoy your challenge and that you work with
enthusiasm. Think big, and get your fellow laborers to
think with you.
9. Be accountable for decisions
and actions
Keyword: Conscientious
Be transparent in
your dealings, whatever they are. Be ready to give a
rationale for what you do and why you do it "this
way." Always make sure that there is a
report-back system. If people see that you are
amenable to someone for what you do, they will find it
easier to develop accountability as well.
10. Live close to the Lord
Keyword: Spiritual
Become known as a
person who seeks God's blessings and His guidance. Do
not neglect prayer,
public or private. Do not yield to the temptation to
think that a problem could be too big for you. Believe
within your own soul that solutions exist for all
problems. Even personality conflicts can be solved
when people meet at the cross. Give credit to others
and glory to God.
Originally published in Trans-African,
March/April 1995.
