Jessica Boy

I appreciate this conversation and the care indicated in not wanting to overburden the missionary.  Reading your response is evidence again of the care for missionaries in this denomination.  This ongoing conversation is a good one to ensure that we are doing the right thing.  It is a fairly standard practice among mission agencies for missionaries to have to fund-raise their wages, which I believe should be looked at critically. What other employment exists that has to justify their work and pay with such scrutiny? However, this is the way it has always been done to some degree, so I invite you to dream with me of other ways to keep our missionaries sufficiently supported.

What I allude to in my story is the heavier burden of going on the mission field without sufficient support.  Having to approach churches and maintain relationships ensures a level of engagement and investment in the people doing the mission work that can easily get forgotten or dismissed when it is not present in need and/or urgency… “out of sight, out of mind”.  Churches want to invest in people and get to know them – to have this support come from personal conviction and connection is what keeps it alive and real.

In some ways, the real issue here is the perception of what the fundraising represents.  I think it does not represent the deficiency of the missionary, but rather the opportunity for church involvement.  Churches and individuals have the opportunity to invest at least 90% (but hopefully 100%) in the work being done around the globe of furthering the hope we find in Jesus!  

Hi John - 

Indeed I do have some thoughts on how to go about this --

1. I suggest connecting with Shannon Perez ([email protected]). She heads up the CRC's Canadian Aboriginal Ministries Committee.  She has some wonderful news on what we have done and are continuing to do as a denomination towards Indigineous reconciliation here in Canada.  Knowing the work that has been done can open up conversations within the broader community.  She also has some great suggestions and tips on how to make church more invitational to members from the neighbouring tribes and communities.  

2. I suggest coming alongside the ministries to Indigenous peoples that are already happening within your community and learning from them.  I know for sure that North American Indigenous Ministries (NAIM) has been working on Penelekut Island for quite some time in your area.  If you haven't already, I'd perhaps begin with inviting them to come and present something at your church and hearing how you might join in with their efforts.  Tal James, who is one of the local missionaries with NAIM also attends Christ Community Church, the CRC in Nanaimo.

3. My final suggestion is to be a good neighbour and simply become friends with individuals in your area.  Do you know anyone in your neighbourhood who is Indigenous/First Nations? Can you invite them over for a coffee and boterkoek?  Speak with one another about commonalities.  Many conversations with my FN friends began by talking about big families, how many cousins I had, mutual love of children/babies and eating each others cultural foods.  Avoid dividing conversation and instead build off of loving connections.  

4. Before any of this, pray pray pray that our good Lord would show you open doors to walk this path.  Jeremiah 6:16a was a guiding verse for me when I launched into ministry -- 

16 This is what the Lord says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look;
    ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
    and you will find rest for your souls.

Blessings to you and your church.  This is good work that needs addressing!