August 27, 2010
Home Office vs HQ
Confession time: my sons are fans of the Disney animated series Phineas and Ferb. More painful confession time: I have been known to sit and watch episodes with them.
One of my their favorite parts of each episode is when Perry the Platypus--ostensibly a household pet--goes through some amazingly intricate secret portal to HQ, where he assumes his true identity as Agent P.
Thus.
Agent P's handler (the guy who appears on the big screen in the above sequence) is a distracted, out-of-touch comic foil who sits in his remote office and gives orders. Meanwhile, the platypus has to continuously face the dangers of his chosen profession--which in his case comes in the form of the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz.
It would be easy to get the impression that this mirrors the relationship between a missionary and the mission board. The missionary--like the cartoon platypus--faces the rigors of his job, while getting orders from a detached and out-of-the-loop headquarters. I can even imagine how it would be easy for the relationship between missionary and mission board to degenerate to just such a level.
In the instance of our mission board, this is not the case.
I was reminded of this once again as I roamed the halls of the Baptist Mid-Missions home office in Cleveland, OH. There are many good mission boards out there, but BMM has a special, missionary-focused quality. Here is what I mean:
Baptist Mid Missions was founded by a missionary.
Mikey stands next to drawing of BMM founder William Haas
I think this is key to what makes BMM somewhat unique among mission boards. They don't exist to tell the missionary what to do. Rather, they work hard to enable the missionary in what he is doing. And I get the impression that this is something that William Haas, missionary to Africa, ingrained in the culture of the mission agency he started back in the '20s.
The Home Office staff always have time for the missionaries.
Smiling front-desk receptionist.
As I went from office to office, never once did I hear anything like "Could you come back later? I'm busy." In many cases the staff members stopped what they were doing in order to help me. In fact, word spread through the office complex that I was there, and people went out of their way to come and greet me. Even the president took time out to say hello.
Which brings me to the final point:
The BMM home office works along side the missionary, not over him.
Matt, the secretary for the Latin American office, and the guy who answers most of my e-mails.
One of my meetings was with the financial department, and the subject was our support level (There will be more about this later). As I sat and interacted with the director of that department, I was reminded once again how BMM puts the missionary first. There was no "you must do this or else" attitude. The major question was "what will work best for your ministry?"
In short, we do not have a mission headquarters. We have a home office. And I wouldn't trade that for any of Agent P's gadgets (although that flying car is sweet!)
Talk back to the missionary: Got any observations about this subject? If so, leave them in the comments section!
Related posts:
Train Up a Child
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August 25, 2010
Visit to Portsmouth, Ohio
As we drove down into the Ohio river valley and the spires of the town of Portsmouth came into view, I turned to my lovely wife (aka The Brazilian Bombshell) and exclaimed "I love places like this!"
This elicited a roll of her captivating brown eyes. She hears this every time we drive through some small village. She puts up with me "geeking out" over old pillared courthouses, rickety Victorian mansions and ornate-but-fading movie theaters. To be fair, I get excited over places like this in Brazil as well. They are just fewer and farther between.
On Monday morning--while the rest of my family still slept, I strolled around the town and took some pictures with my cell phone. Here they are, in no particular order of importance.
Not quite sure what goes on at this theater now. I can picture it, 60 years ago, being the busiest place in town on a Saturday evening.
Just across the road from the theater was this beautiful building which now houses a museum. I would love to know the history of this building.
What appears to be an ancient vault alarm on the side of this grand old bank. In my mind I can hear it ringing as desperate men in black fedoras make a break for it, followed closely by the "boys in blue".
Of course one of Portsmouth's claims to fame is that it is the home town of cowboy legend Roy Rogers.
If you are a long-time reader of this blog you will remember a post I did about the murals in this city. If not, check it out here.
Also I would be remiss if I did not mention the wonderful time we had re-connecting with our dear friends at Temple Baptist Church in Portsmouth. Pastor Gowdy and his congregation have been faithful and generous supporters of this ministry. We are grateful to God for them.
Talk back to the missionary: Few towns inspire my imagination like Portsmouth. Is there any place in particular that inspires your imagination? Tell us where it is and why in the comments section.
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August 20, 2010
Book Review: Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John C. Maxwell
Effective communication and "connecting" are subjects near and dear to a missionary's heart. Almost everything he does--from church-relations to on-field ministry--rises or falls on his ability to connect with others. Therefore, John C. Maxwell's latest offering, "Everyone Communicates, Few Connect", is timely and relevant for all involved in missions. Without a doubt it is valuable for just about any other line of work as well.
Maxwell is an acknowledged "leadership guru" and prolific author, whose flagship book "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" has become a classic in that field. With this latest volume he focuses on the subject of communication.
But this time there's a twist.
Before the book was published, Maxwell made the manuscript available online and invited readers to contribute. The result is a collaborative effort that brings the experiences of a host of "regular folks" to the table.
"Everyone Communicates, Few Connect" is divided into two sections of five chapters each. The first section deals with "connecting principles", and the second with "connecting practices". In reality, I found the entire book to be very practical. It has made a difference in how I approach our visits to supporting churches while home on furlough.
For example: common missionary wisdom dictates that one make a video presentation, or at least a quality Power Point presentation that is presented at all churches. However, based a principle Maxwell brings out in his book, I have made a special presentation for each church we have visited so far. The result? Our time has ceased to be a "report" and become a time of family sharing.
That is just one example of how I have benefited from this book. If you work with people in any way (and unless you are stationed at a one-man observation post in the arctic, chances are good you do) you will benefit from it too.
Talk back to the missionary: What principles do you follow to connect with those around you? Share them with us in the comments section.
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August 19, 2010
Bob Dylan, Brazilophile Painter
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August 17, 2010
Batavia Blessings
This weekend was a special blessing to us as we spent time with our dear friends at Grace Baptist Church in Batavia. They took us to a baseball game (go Muckdogs!) and fireworks, invited us to their church picnic, and demonstrated a real interest in what we are doing in Brazil.
Some of this special link is probably due to the fact that in 2008 they sent a group to Brazil to visit us.
Talk back to the missionary: How has a trip to visit a mission field affected your view of missions? Tell us your story in the comments section.
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Nada
Squat. Bupkiss. Goose Egg.
NOTHING!!!
That is what the appeasement of evil dictators gets you.
A while back I talked about Lula's overtures to the Iranian regime. Those in favor of Lula's stance have suggested that he will be able to have a greater influence and help Iran become a democratic nation.
Fat chance.
This just in from The Globe and Mail:
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said a woman condemned to be stoned to death would not be sent to Brazil, despite President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s offer to grant her asylum.
So, for all the hugs and concessions, Lula cannot rescue one woman about to be stoned. Not that he's been a relentless crusader to save her life. This from the New York Times:
Mr. da Silva had initially rejected requests from rights advocates to use his influence with Iran to dissuade the authorities from executing Ms. Ashtiani, but he evidently had a change of heart during the weekend while he was campaigning in Brazil with for his former chief of staff, Dilma Rousseff. He has chosen Ms. Rousseff as his successor in the next presidential elections.
If you happen to read Portuguese, here is a great article that shows how some Brazilians feel about this debacle.
Talk back to the missionary: Do you have an opinion on this subject? Share it with us in the comments section.
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August 16, 2010
Happy 50th!
Fifty years ago today God reached down and saved a little boy attending a camp in Upstate New York. That little boy went on to pastor four churches, raise four sons to walk with the Lord, and touched thousands of lives with the love of Christ through his ministries at church, camp, and his writing.
Happy birthday, Dad!
If you want to wish him a happy spiritual birthday you can do so at his Facebook page.
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August 13, 2010
Book Review: Patton, The Pursuit of Destiny by Agostino von Hassel and Ed Breslin
On a hilltop in France during World War One two men, possessors of gigantic egos, stood chatting casually as enemy shells burst around them. Neither one wanted to be the first to leave and be seen as the less courageous of the two. One of these men was Douglas MacArthur, who went on to distinguish himself as commander of the Pacific theater during the second world war.
The other was George S. Patton.
Perhaps no other military figure in American history is shrouded in as much legend as Patton. In their book Patton, The Pursuit of Destiny, authors Agostino von Hassell and Ed Breslin attempt to separate fact from fiction. The resultant biography is no where near as complete as, say, Manchester's tome on Macarthur. Still, it is helpful in sorting out the real Patton from the Hollywood version.
And according to the authors, the real Patton was a man of contrasts. He was a highly disciplined man whose mouth consistently got him in trouble. He demonstrated great personal courage and had an obsessive fear of death. He gave profanity laden speeches while at the same time writing tender missives to his wife back home. He went beyond the call of duty in his personal care of wounded soldiers, and yet almost lost his career because he slapped on one but two of them.
The authors do a skillful job of bringing out these complexities and analyzing their roots. The first chapters explore his family history (Confederate war heroes, Virginia aristocrats) and early influences. The rest of the biography deals with the major events of his life.
As a side-note, there is an aspect of authors' style that frustrated me. On not a few occasions the authors relate the result of a conflict, then go back and rehash the details, giving the result again at the end. Other than that annoying detail, the writing was crisp and well-paced.
I would recommend this book to all who are interested in the life of this American hero, as well as to any who study the principles of leadership. The best and the worst of said principles can be found in Patton.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Talk back to the missionary: Who is your favorite World War Two personality? Leave your choice in the comments section.
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August 12, 2010
Aventura Brazil Update
While here in the US I hope to be able to keep you informed about goings-on in Brazil via this blog. You may remember that some time ago we posted about the Aventura Brasil program initiated by a few of our missionary colleagues.
This year's adventure is over, and from all accounts it was a roaring success. The American young people that participated were able to experience missionary life, be a part of the ministry, and even lead some Brazilian kids to Christ!
A couple pictures:
Although I'm told the group put forth a great effort, it would appear they had some fun as well.
If you or someone you know is thinking about a missions-trip experience you can contact Jim Leonard or visit the site.
Talk back to the missonary: Ever been on a foreign missions trip? What was your most interesting experience? Tell the story in the comments section.
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August 9, 2010
Up, Up and Away, In My Beautiful...
...ladybug.
My brother and sister-in-law took us to the annual Spiedie Fest in Binghamton, NY last weekend. Besides the stunning balloon launch...
...there were also many other interesting things, like this vintage automobile.
Note: These pictures come to you courtesy of my sister-in-law Kalyn, who makes the best cakes and cupcakes this side of the Pecos. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you payed a visit to her blog, A Quiet Strength.
Talk back to the missionary: In the picture above, which is brighter: my shirt or the car? Leave your vote in the comments section.
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Vintage Sites
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August 8, 2010
It's a Lean, Green, Missonary Machine
Thanks to a family from one of our supporting churches, this Dodge Caravan becomes the new "missionarymobile" as we share the report of our first term up and down the eastern seaboard.
This is truly an Ephesians 3:20 time for us, as this vehicle is an amazingly comfortable ride, with amenities like we have never had in a vehicle. It became available at just the right time, at just the right price.
Lord willing, this "lean, green, missionary machine" will be pulling into a church near you soon!
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August 3, 2010
God's Sovereign Protection
God, in His mercy, chose to protect Itacyara and my sister-in-law Emily from the effects of a serious accident last night. Another driver ran a red-light and collided with their car.
As you can see from the picture below, God's sovereign protection did not extend to the Rav4 they were driving.
Nobody was seriously hurt in the accident, although Itacyara is still nursing a sore arm. She was sitting in the passenger seat, shown below.
In another act of God's graciousness, our three-year-old son Nathanael--who was supposed to be with them--ended up staying with me, and thus was not in the crash.
Talk back to the missionary: Have you ever experienced God's miraculous protection? Share your story with us in the comments section.
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