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printTo Serve Is to Suffer
If the apostle Paul knew fatigue, anger, and anxiety in his ministry, what makes us think we can avoid them in ours?
North American Christians have paid special attention to the suffering of Christians in the Global South ever since 1996, when a coalition of Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish activists began raising awareness about the persecution of Christians outside the West. When Christians, especially in the West, have shown concern for the persecution of majority-world believers, they have often approached it through the lens of human rights. In this installment of the Global Conversation, Sri Lankan pastor and evangelist Ajith Fernando helps us focus on suffering as an essential part of Christian discipleship, but especially for those called to be church leaders.
I write this shortly after returning from a week of teaching pastors in the deep south of Sri Lanka. These pastors' experience shows that when people pioneer in unreached areas, they usually wait 10 to 15 years before seeing significant fruit and reduced hostility. In the early years, they are assaulted and accused falsely; stones are thrown onto their roofs; their children are given a hard time in school; and they see few genuine conversions. Many pioneers give up after a few years. But those who persevere bear much eternal fruit. I am humbled and ashamed of the way I complain about problems that are minute compared to theirs.
When I return from ministry in the West, my feelings are very different. I have been able to "use my gifts" and spend most of my time doing things I like. But when I resume being a leader in Sri Lanka's less-efficient culture, frustration hits me. The transition from being a speaker in the West to being a leader in Sri Lanka is difficult. As a leader, I am the bond-servant (doulos) of the people I lead (2 Cor. 4:5). This means that my schedule is shaped more by their needs than by mine.
Vocational fulfillment in the kingdom of God has a distinct character, different from vocational fulfillment in society. Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work" (John 4:34, ESV, used throughout). If we are doing God's will, we are happy and fulfilled. But for Jesus, and for us, doing God's will includes the Cross. The Cross must be an essential element in our definition of vocational fulfillment.
Young Christian workers who come back to Sri Lanka after studying in the West struggle with this. They are highly qualified, but our poor nation cannot afford to give them the recognition they think their qualifications deserve. They cannot use their gifts to the fullest because we cannot afford pure specialists. They struggle with frustration. Some end up leaving the country after a few years. Some start their own organizations so as to fulfill their "vision." Others become consultants, giving expert training and advice in their specialized field. Others pay the price of identifying with our people and ultimately have a deep impact on the nation.
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Daniels Lama
Pentecostals arenot christians.There is no where in the scripture where believers are asked to be called Pentecostal;Pentecost was a Jewish feast,not christain and that day ,pentecostals were feasting while christains where in the upper room,afraid of persucution fron the Jews.So ,there is no relationship between pentecostals and christainity(Acts 2:1)These guys simply create events of confusions which simply fall on them-low participation.We should all repent and give our lifes to Christ and stop divide what Christ prayed for from the Father-God=unity of christains.
archae ologist
God said, 'if my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray...' this is a constant theme throughout the Bible all of God's people need to pray putting aside their own will and desires and let God show them what to do if they want to make a real impact for Him. Christians are the servants not the masters of God, look to the Holy Spirit to guide you not the whims of man nor the strategies of men.
Johann Conrad
Pentecostalism is a road to nowhere. The answer these people are searching for is all around them in Brazil: the Catholic Church, the church Jesus founded.
Basil W
I remember when March for Jesus came to our city in Michigan. I too was disappointed as well with the 'power' theology advocated by the leaders of the march who prayed afterward. (If you want to discover ones theology just listen to the way they pray) I also thought that it was too Charismatic and only appealed to that audience. I found this odd since the advertisements stated that it was ecumenical.
Emily Bair
As someone who is currently living in Brazil as well, I have seen everything in churches here in Brazil. My fiance has been heavily involved in various ministries and churches, and had ended up jaded with them all. The gospel of "power" and "health and wealth" is nearly everywhere in the Brazilian church. While a parade is fun, it is not enough to bring revival or salvation to a city. When the church in Brazil starts caring about the people trapped in poverty, drugs, and prostitution in the lot next door to the church, that is when God is going to start to move here. Churches uniting for a parade is nothing if those same churches don't promote unity between them and other churches the other 364 days of the year. There is so much division between churches, even between churches of the same denomination here. Brazil needs prayer for God to unite His church under His leadership to bring healing to a broken nation.
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