EMQ » January–March 2018 » Vol. 54 Issue 1
Editorial
by Marvin Newell
In a recent visit to Singapore at the international headquarters of a long-established mission, I was greeted at the entrance by words in huge letters, “Have Faith in God.” Clearly that mission, like many others, places a high value on the faith principle—high enough so as to prominently display it to the public.
Having an active faith in God is fundamental to the work of missions. If the glory of God is the fuel of missions, then faith in God proves it to be so. We evidence this faith by prayer. Missions of faith are missions of prayer. There are times when, by faith, missionaries and mission administrators do things that seem counter-intuitive because, in full reliance on Him and after deep communion with Him, the Spirit of God has lead them to do so.
Here are some observations on missionary faith that we in the mission community do well to acknowledge.
Missionary faith has it own peculiar culture and identity.
The first editor of this journal, writing in its inaugural edition in 1964, recognized this. Jim Reapsome wrote:
Missionary faith is concerned almost entirely with supernatural values, principles and ideas. The real meaning of regeneration of men by the Holy Spirit can only be comprehended by faith. Missionary faith is willingness to live and die for truths that have little significance if one’s standards are solely those of natural reason and empirical observation.
We need to realize that missionary faith is no different from any other expression of faith; however, it is applied differently.
Missionary faith extends beyond the procuring of funds for missions.
At times we lean toward thinking that the faith principle in missions relates mainly to fund raising. Although important, we dare not limit our faith solely to that. Again, Reapsome is helpful:
The faith principle has at times been equated improperly with only a method of financing operations. Faith has been clearly manifest in heroic efforts; many have gone forth to serve, looking only to God and abandoning dependence on any humanly guaranteed resources. What was basic was not the procurement of living allowances and project funds, but unqualified commitment to God and a burning desire to do His will in the world.
We need to remember that missionary faith is multifaceted in its application.
Missionary faith must be passed from one generation to the next.
What I like about that entrance sign in Singapore is that it implores us to continue to perform our ministries by faith. “Have Faith in God.” Missionary faith can diminish over time. Every generation of missionaries and mission administrators must reaffirm their dependence on the transcendence of the Person they serve. They must astutely navigate the tension between day-to-day managerial routines, human ingenuity, and applied technologies, with unqualified reliance upon God. Let us remember that, if not maintained, missionary faith is vulnerable to erosion.
I often hear that our current “missionary model” no longer works. No doubt you have heard that also. Most of the time it relates to our current funding model–a model based on faith. My response it this question: Is it the model that is no longer valid or that the faith principle that undergirds the model has weakened dangerously? Let’s pause and give this due consideration before hastily abandoning what has worked for generations.
Missionary faith must continue to be foundational to the work of missions. It is the bedrock upon which our labors rest and our efforts endure. God is pleased when we express it by our prayers to Him. We are confident and more assured in what we are doing when we exercise it together. “Have Faith in God.”
Marv Newell is Senior Vice President of Missio Nexus and Editor of the Evangelical Missions Quarterly.
