Published by Barnabas International • PO Box 11211 • Rockford, IL 61126 • Volume II • No. 9 • September 1988
LAREAU LINDQUIST, Founder
What a privilege to be involved in international ministry, in cross-cultural interaction. How grateful we can be that, as Corrie ten Boom puts it, "We have been commissioned to be WORLD TRAMPS…who have left our hiding places to travel the gap with the Savior."
I am pleased to be a partner with you in presenting the Good News about Jesus Christ to our generation. Both you and I have discovered that the true Church of Christ is multiethnic. Indeed, it is world-wide. Universal.
Perhaps we American missionaries have too often delivered an Americanized version of the Gospel and have inadvertently created "little Americas." This, however, is not our charter. We are called to deliver HIS WORD modeled by BIBLICALLY AUTHENTIC LIFESTYLES.
Always, we must avoid the temptation of seeking stardom. We cannot see ourselves as CHIEFS in ministry around the world. We cannot parade ourselves as "know-it-alls." There is no room for arrogance in ministry. RATHER, as we minister, we must recognize our roles as servants. We are also called to be partners with Christ, yes…but also partners with other missionaries, with national leaders, and with national believers. We are to be participants in a cooperative endeavor. And to do this well, I am discovering the importance of being a "LEARNER." Learning from others.
The American way (even in ministry) is not the only way. Perhaps, it is not even the best way. There is much for us to learn form those we serve.
Seven days ago, I returned from 18 days of ministry in Brazil. Our first week was spent in a cooperative venture with the Southern Baptists in Rio. Over 200 Christians from America were involved in an intensive week of ministry. At the conclusion of the week, we had an open sharing session. One of my American brothers shared the following…
"I wish I could take some of these Brazilian Christians back home with me. These Christians have a lot to teach us American Christians. We could learn from them…how to really be concerned for the lost…how to love each other with an "abraco" (that's Portuguese for "hug")…how to sing with life and enthusiasm…how to live simply…how to radiate the joy of the Lord on our faces…how to live simply…how to radiate the joy of the Lord on our faces…how to eagerly hunger for the Word. I have learned a lot from these brothers and sisters in Christ," he concluded.
There was spontaneous and sustained applause from all of us who had gone to Brazil to bless and to minister; but in the process, we were blessed and ministered to by Brazilian believers.
I find myself often praying…"Lord, give me a heart to serve and bless others…a mind to stretch and grow …eyes an ears open to learn."
Our effectiveness grows as we eagerly, and teachably learn from Brazilian believers…from Indian Christians…from Parisian Christians. I have a lot to learn. Don't we all.
