Neither Hot Nor Cold |
Oct 29, 2009 |
I just got back from Seoul, Korea where I went to volunteer my time at the International Christian Association (ICA) annual conference. The ICA is a Voice of the Martyrs organization made up of ministries committed to serving the persecuted church. In their annual meeting they share updates on what is happening in the persecuted church around the world, as well as to plan projects for the following year.
This year the ICA conference was hosted by Seoul USA (SUSA), who primarily does work with the persecuted church in North Korea (NK).
It was an eye opening experience in many ways, including some that tie into Transformational Giving (TG). It's those insights I'll share over the next several posts, and not just from the perspective of someone who teaches TG, but also from the perspective of a champion.
You see, I have been a champion of SUSA for about 2 1/2 years. It was a result of my husband having taken a job there and me consequently learning about the persecuted church specifically in NK. We also agreed to regularly give a portion of our income to SUSA to support the work in NK for the persecuted church. It's from that regular giving that you might think I was an owner of the cause, but sadly I can't say that I am, at least not yet. As TG principle 10 says, "Champions connect with each other and with organizations not according to the amount of their giving but by the degree of comprehensive personal ownership they are exhibiting in the cause."
Early on in my connection with SUSA I started learning about the persecuted church in NK by reading some books (such as I'll Cross the River and Tortured for Christ), and I went to their first banquet to hear a Christian NK defector tell his story of persecution and imprisonment. I continue to read news about things happening to reach North Koreans with the Gospel and news about Christians who defect or who are imprisoned, and know this is a cause I need to be connected to.
But, during my recent trip, God opened my eyes to see that after that initial growth, I really went into status quo mode. I had a growth spurt early on in the cause but then settled in seeming satisfied with the level of involvement I had. My actions (or lack thereof) revealed an attitude that could be interpreted as "I'm doing enough" (which equated to simply reading and giving). It took being invited to volunteer at this conference (and swayed to leave my 4-year old daughter with my parents!) to kickstart my growth again.
During the conference I listened to testimony after testimony of Christians who were imprisoned and tortured simply for their faith. Their courage and pereverence challenged me personally and caused me to ask, "Would I be able to withstand what they did? Would I waver in my faith?" And, it gave me hope as I witnessed firsthand how the power of God works under the most oppressive governments and in the most brutal of situations.
I see now how I needed this challenge to remind me why God has called me to be concerned about the persecuted church. I needed this challenge to remind me of my family in Christ around the world that is hurting and broken and continuously needing our prayers and encouragement. I needed this challenge to snap me out of my lukewarm attitude toward the persecuted church.
I think it's true that we all need this snapping out of at times. Human nature is to settle in and get comfortable, yet that's not what God has planned for us. Instead we're invited to actively work out our faith, which is strengthened through active participation in the body of believers. And, in turn our faith can be used to encourage and strengthen others.
My counsel to you is to recognize that it's easy to get started in a cause and see growth in your champions initially. It's easy to think that just because someone is giving regularly that they are engaged or even owners in the cause. But, making it through a checklist of items does not equal engagement nor ownership. Reading and giving is great, but it's not sufficient to help anyone become fully mature in a cause. There will come a time when that champion needs to be challenged to go deeper - to get more directly involved - to experience the cause in such a way that tests and strengthens their faith. Staying involved and growing in a cause takes effort - by both you and your champion.
