Go Forth 2008

I had the privilege of attending the full Go Forth conference, sponsored by my company. I was thankful for the 4 day break away from work and to learn about missions. Didn't realise there were so many aspects to consider! Felt before I went for the conference, there was something God wanted me to learn from there. And yup, I have been blessed, inter-mingled with other things past and present.


1) Social Entrepreneurship -innovative methods for missions

Today strangely at service, I was reminded of this image in 2004. I was waiting for the bus at Thomson Road, outside MCYS. I first came across this term "social entrepreneurship" when I was in NUS. They advertised for a internship position to help with social enterprise projects. My heart was excited when I got the job, cos I always knew that I studied business for a purpose, and this concept seemed to combine social and business skills together. Visiting those SEs, and meeting SEs was always so uplifting. One person who inspired me till now is Pastor Don Wong, who runs a halfway house for ex-convicts, whom I went with to Indonesia 2 times so far. =)

It was good that Go Forth talked about Social enterprises and micro enterprises, because it is definitely a platform for outreach and missions. I liked what Ajith Fernando said "Innovation comes out of servanthood, innovative servanthood opens doors for the gospel, it is never an end in itself". Through these micro/social businesses, we help to meet the needs of the poor in a sustainable manner, and we are granted access into countries which we previously cannot.

I was inspired by this other lady, Penny who was a lawyer, and went to India for 9 years to build a garment factory etc., because she had heard God's call. She talked about making God relevant to the poor. I couldn't agree more. I guess this is helping me to remember the dream I had to set up SE.

A few years ago, through my thesis, on "Cross sector alliances between companies and non-profits", I interviewed Claire Chiang. Her Banyan tree retail shops sell items made by women from villagers, and she shared abt herself going there to work with the villagers, with jeans, mud, hat etc. Guess that was something I wanted to do. I'm not sure if she is a christian though. ;p

But something that sets apart us as christians is the idea of servanthood.

2) Radical servanthood
Ajith emphasized the importance of dedication to God, and commitment to Jesus. I always thought we will be fulfilled when we find the place where we can fully use our talents. People always seek to work in the big, established organizations and churches. But he says we are fulfiled when we "die for the people". I understood what he meant when he gave this example. A pastor who was previously preaching to 2000 people congregation decides to go into the missions field. Now he is only preaching to 4 people every week, the husband, the wife, a colleague, and one new convert. It was so "wow" when I heard that. And it struck me that the world measures success by effectiveness, but in God's kingdom, it is all about obedience and commitment to Christ. He also reminded us that the church ought to send the BEST to the missions field, like how the antioch church sent Paul and Barnabbas, their very best.

Anyway it is a kind of a faithful obedience. Sometimes we even don't see fruits in our lifetime-like those heros of faith quoted in the bible. It struck me that it is so hard for me to surrender this area to God, tho I did pray and ask for His grace to do so. On many ocassions, when I walk to upper serangoon road, into my office with less than 10 people, I ask myself, what on earth am I doing here! And sometimes, I remember the nice airconditioned lobby and building, and office and desk I used to have. He is poking at this area in my heart.

Another thing Ajith shared was how in reaching asia, the people perceive christianity as a western invasion, with bible in one hand, money/sword in the other. What will really set us apart is radical servanthood. And yup, in order for the church to grow, it has to suffer. This is a cross-based theology, as opposed to the consumerism theology.

3) Emotional health
Related to the previous point, I realised how impt one's emotional health must be in the missions field. Quite a few of the speakers spoke about how they were stripped of their ability to speak in the new environment- whereby they could not speak the language there. Someone said, he was reduced to being a 2 year old. Taking transport was a problem. Every small thing required assistance. And also because of the sensitive nature of missions, u can't tell people u are a "missionary". So u are suddenly status and titleless. Again another wow. Someone said something like "God stripped me of my linguistic skills, I could not speak, but He used my actions to demonstrate His love".

So I think it is important for one to be secure about his own identity. Otherwise, there is bound to be identity crisis there. Esp for someone who prides his self worth upon his work. And also when there is no fruit after labouring for a long time, it is important for one to be secure in God, rooted in Christ. Otherwise frustration will come in.

Even as He is working some very deep seated emotional issues in me....I know it can only be because to build high, there must be a solid foundation.

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So anyway I did not respond for the altar calls to be a missionary. Such a sacred call it is. Not to be casually taken into. But yes, I am missions-minded. How can someone know God and not be burdened for the lost?
John Piper-
"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the Church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever."