Three Phases of Christian Missions (from one perspective at least)

I was listening to Darrell Whiteman (missiologist/anthropologist) on the Missiology Podcast. He was talking about how the average time a missionary (he prefers the term “cross-cultural witness”) is 7 years… and yet he believes that it takes around 10 years to truly be effective. That can be a problem.

For me and my wife, I feel like with have go through three phases— and those phases I think are… not uncommon. I will repeat… this is not meant to be universalized. This works for my wife and I… and maybe some others can relate.

Phase 1. Doing what others can do without you.

This may have two sub-phases. The first part can be more thought of as a training. During this time, your presence is important long-term as an investment in the future. As such, in terms of productivity, you are a bit of a drain. Others can do it better than you, but the hope is that later you will improve and because a productive part of the team.

The second sub-phase is where you have learned and have become important as a part of the team. However, what you are doing is what others can already do. You are now productive, but if you were not there… others would simply do it without you.

With us… soon after arriving in the Philippines in 2004, we became involved in medical missions. In the first two years, we were definitely learners. Our presence was welcome… and we were able to invest time and some funds that others did not necessarily have. However, it wasn’t until a bit later when we were truly productive members as team leaders and organizers. That being said, our absence did not lead to collapse because we were doing what a lot of other people could do. And the few things that did kind of stop when we stepped away (such as tracking statistics and maintaining the website) was because others chose not to embrace the role, not because they were unable.

Phase 2: Doing what others can’t (or won’t) do Without You

This phase may not happen, or it may happen incompletely. However, especially when one is involved in new strategies or projects, you may be the driving force and the expert. As such, if you were not there, it is quite possible that things could not continue without you.

This may not be because amazing or unique abilities that others lack. It can be much more prosaic. Perhaps you are planting a church. It may be reasonable that others have the ability (in theory) to do it— but they didn’t, and perhaps won’t.

Celia and I were part of a team that set up two organizations in 2010 to 2012. While we did not have skills that no one else had… in the end, we were the continuity of vision and effort that kept things alive during years of uncertainty.

Phase 3: Doing less so others do more

Missionaries are not supposed to do it all. In fact, when a missionary must leave, ideally the work continues unabated— perhaps functioning better. The goal is to train and empower others so that the missionary gradually becomes less necessary.

There was a period where if my wife and I stopped doing what we were doing… much of the ministry would die. In fact, there was a period of transition that was hard for us. This was where we wondered if our work was (for a lack of a better expression) ‘worth it.’ However, as more people joined the vision and began taking on roles that we had ourselves… we began to see our work truly bearing fruit.

Right now, in our main ministries, we are not really that critical— things would keep happening without us. That is not a cause for great joy. Now we fill in the gaps and assist.

I suppose if one wanted to chart this, it may look like the diagram below:

Phase 1 involves growing in productivity. However, one may be limited because that role is one given you, not one that relates to one’s calling, gifting, and general uniqueness.

Phase 2 involves embracing your own unique role. Perhaps this is starting a unique ministry in a new location, a church plant of something else. The shape of the diagram can vary considerably. But often there is a drop in productivity because of the challenges of designing a program, forming a team, and storming the challenges. Eventually, things will start to be more effective as the team is performing.

Phase 3 involves a drop in dependence on you. Others know their jobs and may well do them better than you would anyway. Because it is not now dependent on the “superman” model of getting things done, the growth potential is no longer limited.