Do you already have a plan for fishing or are you open to be
bait? In this second look at Nik Ripken’s book Insanity of Obedience, I expand upon the story of the Westerner
seen as coming over to fish for lost souls but is challenged to be bait instead
of the fisherman. Nik is a common soul from Kentucky who spent over 25 years in
the mission field of the persecuted Christian Church in over 72 countries. He
and his wife, Ruth, have experienced joy and suffering of our fellow brothers
and sisters across the world. From their experiences, Nik shares what they
learned about going into foreign lands to share the good news of Christ.
As
mentioned in the previous post, Serving and Leading Across the Street & Around the World, I find the teachings pertinent to everyone who goes out to
serve and lead in environments different from their own. Environments may be
across the street or around the world. Sometimes we find the situations within
our own home or family. In this post, I examine the teaching on serving the
movement versus leading it. The last post spoke about collaboration and
including others in the process. Again here the story begins with the Westerner
seen as coming in with a plan failing to see the larger impact they may have
both negative and positive.
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| Fishing US & Ghana |
Instead the
believers suggest another plan. “We know our people. We can choose the best
fishing pole and the right weight of the line, and we know what size hooks to
use.”[2]
They ask, “As we fish here in our own culture, can we use you as fishing bait?
… Are you willing to give up the central role that traditional workers have
modeled and allow us to fish with you? … So are you willing to be bait for
Jesus and allow us to gather in a harvest of local souls?”[3]
Are you
open to setting aside your personal and societal expectations to open your
heart and mind to the culture, tradition, and personal needs of the people you
encounter? There exists a core set of needs and principles around the world but
the systematic approach in which they are instituted varies widely based on the
culture and traditions of the people. It is important to meet the people where
they are. In 2015, I spent time in Cairo, Egypt, an Arabic, primarily
Islamic/Muslim community. My friends and I were at the
Cairo Festival City Mall
one Friday morning in the Lego store when a worker came up to my friend. The
worker explained to her that the store would be closing shortly in order for
the workers to participate in noon prayer. Most of the smaller stores closed
their doors just prior to noon for a little over an hour so the workers could
participate in their faith tradition. The applicability here is that in Egypt
scheduling something to occur at noon would not be beneficial. Instead in most
Arabic countries, primary conversations occur late at night after the sun sets.
This calls for Westerners to adjust their expectations of timing to align with
that of the people in order to properly fish in their waters.
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| Mosque of Muhammad Ali & Cairo Festival City Mall |
Another key
is to not make the outsiders help appear superior to the work of the local
community and country. One person cannot make a difference in everyone’s life.
One is called to teach not just do in order to empower people to maintain and
enhance their own community. If the outsider does all with no involvement of
the community, then what happens when the outsider leaves with no ownership or
pride of the locals in the work completed? Depending on the project, the work
may be completely abandoned once the outsider leaves. Where when the community
is involved, the project continues and even thrives after the foreigner
departs.
In 2016, I
spent two weeks in the state of Zacapa, Guatemala primarily in a small
community which our church group has continuous investment. This was my third
trip in two years and on this trip, the group helped build a small concrete
home for a family who had a tin roof over their head. The father had worked
tireless hours on many other projects within the community, and this project
was no different. His pride in being able to build a home for his family and
the generosity of the group as well as local community members was
breathtaking. He started work before we arrived and continued afterwards to
make sure things were ready for the next stage in the morning. He even took off
work those two weeks in order to be there with us as the house came to
fruition.
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| 2016 Guatemala |
Could the process been different?
Sure but would it have brought the same impact and emotion. No not for the
family or the members of the team local and foreign who worked on it. The
communal bond between the US team of high schoolers through adults and the
local children to adults made this experience remarkable and life altering. All
it took was taking the time to engage in the local community and ways of life
to build a home from the ground to roof with everlasting impact, pride, and
love.
Are you
open to be bait, to serve and follow as the local fishermen guide and direct?
Next, I look at the importance of priorities of organizations and individuals
as they go out into the community serving. Where is the focus and what priority
is put on each of the three main focus areas (sending organization, worker
concerns, and the needs of the community)?
[1] Ripken,
N. (2014). The insanity of obedience: Walking with Jesus in tough places. Nashville,
TN: B&H Publishing Group, 258.
[2] Ripken,
N., 258
[3] Ripken,
N., 259
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