Misssionaries With God Complexes

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by DAII

Ask Coadie.

Go to the Office.

[Sherri]

Boy, I'm glad I didn't see this thread until just now. I would have been seething all day! I spent all day making a video collage for a missions Sunday service, and getting ready to do Christmas shoeboxes for a missions work in Belize, and researching how to ship a container of supplies/textbooks to Africa. When you start insulting missionaries, you really get under my skin!!!

Until you've lived in a third world country for years, you have no right to criticize anything a missionary does or says, as long as it's ethical and moral. If (from what I understand without reading the entire thread) you are referring to Sis. Alvear, then I will come out fighting. These are precious people who have done without things that we would consider necessities, to bring the gospel to a place you wouldn't want to live.

I stayed in their home in Brazil and I will tell you that they live what they talk. They are totally sold out to their country of calling, and they love God with all their hearts. They live in constant danger, but with joy in their hearts. I don't care if she gets on here or FB or wherever and talks about their needs in Brazil - it's legitimate and I will send them whatever I can to help. And I would make the same statements about America that you mentioned......we are spoiled beyond measure and most Americans have no idea what goes on in other countries.

I just stood in Kenya this June and watched high school seniors whoop and holler and cheer because we were giving each of them a brand new pencil with an eraser. I cried as I thought about our kids here who get upset if they don't have the newest Ipod or phone.

I honor all missionaries who serve unselfishly. I wish God had called me to be one; nothing would have excited me more. But I guess He called me to be a supply, and I will do that to the best of my ability.

There, I'm done ranting for now.........

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by ILG

Oh, I'm not saying it's the fault of the missionaries.....just that it's easier to help those who are afar off easier than it is to help those in your own backyard. I'm confident it's still a problem.

I know you weren't (casting blame). I agree that for some reason we tend to miss needs right under our noses.

I can honestly say, we never asked people for money so the lights would not go out. We would just make more ourselves and make things happen.

My parents paid the church bills out of their personal bank account quite often, too. I remember the first time I ever did their books for them; I was shocked at the tiny income from tithes and offerings. Whenever there was a deficit, there would be a check from my parents to take up the slack. However, in our church, I would be VERY annoyed with my pastor if there was a need that he couldn't personally meet and he didn't give the congregation a chance to pitch in. We're supposed to be team players. A congregation is supposed to share and bear one another's burdens, and that includes any expenses involved in assembling together. I don't think it's in the job description of a pastor to take on more of the financial burden than anyone else in the church.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I know you weren't (casting blame). I agree that for some reason we tend to miss needs right under our noses.



My parents paid the church bills out of their personal bank account quite often, too. I remember the first time I ever did their books for them; I was shocked at the tiny income from tithes and offerings. Whenever there was a deficit, there would be a check from my parents to take up the slack. However, in our church, I would be VERY annoyed with my pastor if there was a need that he couldn't personally meet and he didn't give the congregation a chance to pitch in. We're supposed to be team players. A congregation is supposed to share and bear one another's burdens, and that includes any expenses involved in assembling together. I don't think it's in the job description of a pastor to take on more of the financial burden than anyone else in the church.

Very often, it's simply a reality.

[Sister Alvear]

I personally stand with my family and honor all the home and foreign missionaries. I will never forget one night in the jungle at a little Roman Catholic mission the priest and mother superior gave me a bed to sleep in...I do not agree with their doctrine but kindness and love is never forgotton...I honor their sacrifice and cringe to think I will stand in judgment with those that did not have what I consider truth yet sacrificed far more than I have in the name of Christ.

Dear ones...I was not even talking about a person I was talking about a state that should I say most americans live in and do not even realize it for they have no knowledge of grave dangers. Sherri has been here, where we live in Brazil our life is in 24/7 danger. Yet God has blessed me with such a nice home and a beautiful headquarters church in the mist of deep poverty.

Sherri visited one of the works at the cane fields where people are killed every week. I just was asked to take over that work.

NO one that I have ever visited is as poor as some of those people back in those areas...Sherri went halfway back for a service the other night we went on back further...

How could pen and paper describe some places? However I do not count it a sacrifice...I LOVE being a missionary....love it enough to die for the cause...and believe me we face death often...

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Very sad.

To many of these countries, just living in the US seems to them we are rich. Is there needs in the US, of course, but as a whole, Americans are blessed.

A friend I work with just returned from Peru - a very poor nation. It was a vacation not a missions trip. They visited a school while they were there and gave $7 US to provide the children a "treat" that day. Each child was giving a small piece of cheese and crackers and he said they were so excited.

He stood and just cried to witness that.

Are there needs in the US - - yes, of course and we do need to take care of our own too. But, I wasn't offended at all by what was said - - these countries live in huts with dirt floors - they don't have government programs helping them provide school lunches, provide groceries, etc.

I think some were a little hyper sensitive to the heart of what was being spoken.

You can say that again, Sista. Oh. You just did.

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Boy, I'm glad I didn't see this thread until just now. I would have been seething all day! I spent all day making a video collage for a missions Sunday service, and getting ready to do Christmas shoeboxes for a missions work in Belize, and researching how to ship a container of supplies/textbooks to Africa. When you start insulting missionaries, you really get under my skin!!!

Until you've lived in a third world country for years, you have no right to criticize anything a missionary does or says, as long as it's ethical and moral. If (from what I understand without reading the entire thread) you are referring to Sis. Alvear, then I will come out fighting. These are precious people who have done without things that we would consider necessities, to bring the gospel to a place you wouldn't want to live.

I stayed in their home in Brazil and I will tell you that they live what they talk. They are totally sold out to their country of calling, and they love God with all their hearts. They live in constant danger, but with joy in their hearts. I don't care if she gets on here or FB or wherever and talks about their needs in Brazil - it's legitimate and I will send them whatever I can to help. And I would make the same statements about America that you mentioned......we are spoiled beyond measure and most Americans have no idea what goes on in other countries.

I just stood in Kenya this June and watched high school seniors whoop and holler and cheer because we were giving each of them a brand new pencil with an eraser. I cried as I thought about our kids here who get upset if they don't have the newest Ipod or phone.

I honor all missionaries who serve unselfishly. I wish God had called me to be one; nothing would have excited me more. But I guess He called me to be a supply, and I will do that to the best of my ability.

There, I'm done ranting for now.........

No, no, rant on, Sherri.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Owl

Can you imagine how blessed a Home Missionary would feel if he received life time funding like Foreign Missionaries do?

I see a huge difference. In America you build a church and the people aren't living on a cup of rice a day and if they were that poor they can get free food in most cities.

Most people in churches I am familiar with in America, have cars and can get to church. The Pastor is being paid nicely and there are funds coming in for other things too.

In other places like Brazil when you are a missionary to several peoples including tribes, you not only don't just have a thriving church that has tons of money, but you have to drive and even hike to people living out in the boonies.

Someone that can be a missionary to a place like Germany can probably get a decent paying job too

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Owl

Maybe the local church struggles to stay afloat? Maybe they view their own community as a mission field? Maybe they don't trust overseas charities?

Then local churches in that situation don't have the money to give. She wasn't saying they did

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Owl

That's not very nice. Good thing I don't give a hoot.

Really? Because you sound like someone that gives a hoot.