Responding to the call . . . of affluence

by Don Ratzlaff

Maybe it's a nostalgic notion, but I seem to recall a day when prudent North Americans prefaced a decision to buy something with a simple question: "Do we really need it?"

Those days apparently are long gone. In a culture swimming in unparalleled affluence, the only question seemingly worth asking is: "Do we really want it?" A remnant still look down their fiscally responsible noses at this, but most North Americans pretty much accept the notion that they have the right to purchase anything that catches their fancy as long as they have the means to pay for it. The question of "need" or "prudence" is seldom examined seriously.

Mennonite Brethren have traditionally held to a higher standard of financial accountability. It begins with the odd belief that our money isn't ours to begin with--it belongs to God, and we are merely stewards of it. Thus, we are compelled to ask ourselves with every significant expenditure: "Is this a good use of God's resources?"

Those days may be waning, too. At least, I begin to think so when I observe the growing number of North American Mennonite Brethren involving themselves in international adventures in the name of global mission. Some of these adventures are initiated by local congregations, others by parachurch or MB agencies such as Youth Mission International, Church Partnership Evangelism and MBMS International's new Prayer Journeys program.

Each of these programs has its unique target audience and purpose, but the approach is essentially the same: invite volunteers to travel at their own expense to other countries to participate in evangelistic or social ministry activities arranged for them by the sponsoring organization. Participants need not have mission experience or training, or even speak the language of the host country. Supervision and translators will be provided as necessary.

For the most part, these programs have commendable intent. They provide an opportunity for "hands-on" involvement in the global mission enterprise; they can broaden the world view of participants; participants might become more generous later toward more traditional mission ventures; especially in the case of YMI, some participants might be inspired to become long-term missionaries or at least long-term contributors to missionary causes; and it's conceivable that their efforts might even result in short-term and perhaps long-term good among the host people.

But at what cost? Most overseas trips require a minimum of $1,000 in air travel alone. Add to that discretionary purchases of souvenirs, clothing and other "necessities", and the investment of money is significant--if not by North American standards, then certainly by the standards of most international hosts.

We can talk about the potential benefits for participants and sponsors, but let's be honest: Right or wrong, this is a mission strategy born of an affluent church. It is at best a financially inefficient model for doing global mission; at worst, it can easily become a "spiritual" justification for self-indulgence. We must ask whether God made us rich Christians to benefit ourselves or the Kingdom of God. If the latter, then we need to think seriously how best that can be advanced.

I am not critical of MBMS International or other MB agencies for offering these self-funding excursions. For the most part, they are simply responding to a trend that was growing regardless of their willingness to become involved. Rather, I am addressing those of us who demand such programs. Do we really believe our brief on-site involvement is more pleasing to God than an investment of equal amount in trained or indigenous personnel?

Some would say the money spent on these self-funded mission trips would never come to MBMS International anyway. If so, we must ask ourselves why that would be true. Why are we quick to spend several thousand dollars to send ourselves on a short-term junket, but slow to invest the same amount in workers trained for the long haul? Is self-interest a more important factor than we want to admit?

Don Ratzlaff last summer completed 20 years as an editor with The Christian Leader, the US MB periodical.

This article was originally published in the July, 1998 issue of The Christian Leader. It generated considerable response, including the following three comments.

by Rose Buschman

In the middle of packing for our ministry trip to Africa, the editorial "Responding to the call of affluence" sent me reeling. I certainly knew the high cost of an overseas mission trip. Our airline tickets cost over $2,400 each, and there were related costs--clothing, other necessities and $125 per person for shots and antimalarial medication. Our church gave a substantial love offering toward these items, but the trip was still a big chunk of money out of our budget. Was it worth the expense?

I struggled with that for a few days. As I was paging through my Bible one morning, a verse caught my attention rather forcefully; "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last" (John 15:16). At first, I tried to ignore it. I don't believe in looking for biblical prooftexts. Finally, after several days, I had to admit to myself that here was my reassurance: God had chosen me, and I was to go and bear fruit.

I've asked a number of people who have gone on ministry trips about the cost/value ratio of their experience. All have been positive in their responses. A friend who went to see her missionary children said, "It was worth every penny of it. I saw how people accepted my son and his family, how they lived and worked. Now I can pray more effectively for them."

My friend Gillian has been on a number of short-term trips and offers this advice: "Mission trips must have a purpose, and result in relationships formed with people in the countries visited. This will help us support our new friends in prayer, with encouragement and even money when needed."

My husband insists that trips of this nature should be funded from the "vacation budget", rather than with funds designated for missions. That's a new thought!

We live in a global world and need to think more globally. Overseas missions trips will help us do that, but our giving to and praying for missions must increase as a result of any mission trip. Many of us have more discretionary income now than we have ever had before. How much we give to the Lord's work is more a matter of priority in how we spend our money than of the availability of funds.

Imagine what we could do missionwise if we did what the Burkinabe Christians do. Every Sunday they prepare to give two offerings. The first is their tithe offering, which is designated for "evangelism and missions". The second offering (above their tithe) is used for local church expenses.

Rose Buschman is a regular columnist for The Christian Leader.

Ron Penner

"Responding to the call of affluence" is a wonderful assessment of the many short-termers we get here in Mexico. There are literally thousands of youth in Baja each year on short-term missions trips. Some programs boast 5,000 participants in one year. Houses are built, vacation Bible school programs are run, orphanages are helped, and churches are established. Our own experience includes hosting 400 Youth Mission International volunteers each year and participating in the site selection of Baja Mission Outreach, the Fresno Pacific University short-term missions experience.

What isn't reported is what happened in our church this past Sunday. After the groups left with a rousing Saturday afternoon program, we invited the church full of guests--mostly children and moms--to come back for Sunday school and our service the next day. To our frustration, not one new child or adult came. When I wondered aloud at this, the Mexican church members responded, "To get the crowds we would have to change our skin colour and have money. That's why they come, not because they are responding to a spiritual need."

My wife Fran and I believe in short-term evangelism. We intend to continue our involvement in helping these groups, and have supported our children's short-term trips. We recognize the tremendous discipleship and life changes that take place among our youth while on these trips. Several converts in our church were reached through short-term missions.

But we are disturbed by what many perceive short-term missions to be. It does not alleviate one's own responsibility--many who come on a missions trip have never before shared with anyone in their own country. Others come for the fun of it. Others have the attitude that it is all right if the work is done carelessly or thoughtlessly--after all, we are in Mexico.

The finances are staggering. YMI's SOAR Pacific has a nominal fee for its 18-day program, including nine days in Mexico. This includes a fantastic orientation program and all on-site transportation and costs. But it does not include the cost of travelling to California. The amount spent on this one trip is several times what we give to our Mexican national church in one year for their ministry--and they really could use more help.

How do we justify this while we spend so much on our own trips? We know of churches which contribute more to short-term mission trips than to long-term missionaries or to MBMS International. Do we really think it has a greater effect?

One thing the short-term missions trip just completed showed our small congregation is that the Mexican Christians will have to do the evangelizing themselves. Short-termers will not get it done for us. Incarnational ministry is long-term.

Does that mean short-term missions groups are not welcome? No, please come! But when you come, please come for the right reasons. Come to help the Mexicans do the work. Come prepared, and, if possible, come with some experience. Let the nationals set the agenda, and work through the local church.

Ron Penner is an MBMS International missionary in Tijuana, Mexico.

Dave Thiessen

Not long ago, I shared Don Ratzlaff's attitude towards expensive, short-term mission trips by inexperienced participants.

My attitude changed, however, when I visited with an experienced missionary who was about to return to India. He was encouraging our church to send a short-term team in the following year. I asked him, "Wouldn't it be better for me to send you $1,000 in support than to spend $1,000 on a plane ticket?" The answer was a decisive, "No."

He explained that there are always people who are content to send a support cheque, that a short-term time can be a shot in the arm for long-term workers and that short-term experiences often lead to a lifetime call to missions. In fact, this "lifer" was a product of a summer outreach into the Middle East.

My attitude was further rearranged when our church sent two individuals to Lithuania to encourage and pray for an MBMS International missionary family sent out from our congregation. These missionaries were in the midst of hard times, and the ministry they received during that 10-day visit was a critical factor in their decision to complete their term.

For these and other reasons, I am an ongoing supporter of short-term missions teams. Our church is committed to pursuing one mission each year, and we already have a three-year waiting list of sites.

There are going to be people who want to go for the wrong reasons, but there are also many people who go with compelling reasons. Missions trips will continue to be a critical part of world missions strategy.

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