The Life of a Regional Missionary | Part 1
Why would somebody leave home and move across the country just to do ministry?
Why would someone leave loved ones behind in order to adopt a new group of friends and family? Why would people change their lifestyle - the food they eat, the sports they watch, the activities they enjoy, even the language they speak - all to be more like those around them?
If you know Jimmy and I at all, you know we’re from Texas and Oklahoma…mostly! We don’t talk about it much, but we miss it quite often.
Some of the things we miss about our “home” culture are…
The food! Have you ever tasted a yellow meat watermelon? Or a fresh Praline from a roadside farm stand? Or taken a big bite of a warm Texas Sheet Cake? Or a chicken fried steak the size of a dinner plate?
The culture! Have you ever been to a rodeo? Or had friends who were descended from full blood Cherokee royalty?
The nature! Have you ever seen a tornado IRL? Or watched the sunrise and the sunset from the exact same location? (cause it's so flat!)
And most of all, we miss our people! Our family is spread all around the country. Here are the faces we miss the most…
Why did we leave it all behind? Because we are “Regional Missionaries.” God called us and gave us a love for His people in New England!
When I think of a missionary, my mind stirs up a certain picture or profile something like this: Africa (of course), poor people, low education, simple, humble, needing more resources and slide shows at church. Even I, as a missionary myself, am susceptible to the power of stereotypes and generalizations!
In truth, missionaries are simply people who feel a call from the Lord to leave their own culture, family, community, and comfort for other people, another land, in order to bring God’s love and truth to those people.
In a sense, we are all called to be “missionaries”: to be ready to share God’s love with others we encounter outside our own culture. Some do that in their workplaces, others in their neighborhoods, some travel to far-off corners of the world, and then still others are “regional missionaries,” called to a specific location or culture within their own country, like Jimmy and I.
What is a Regional Missionary
A word God gave us to help us understand our own calling as regional missionaries is “deployment.” When I looked up the definition, I found it derived from a French word with the same definition (below) and its first known use was in 1781:
de·ployment
/dəˈploim(ə)nt/
A placement or arrangement in position for a particular use or purpose.
An instance of such placement (as in a battle zone) for a period of time.
An instance of use that involves opening and spreading out.
A quick history check reveals that 1781 is the year French forces came to aid our country’s independence from Britain. We know what that meant for our freedom in the United States:an outside force came at a certain time and place to bring strength and power to those who needed help.
Similarly, Regional Missionaries are specifically anointed and sent by God at a specific time to a specific people, place and culture.
What do Regional Missionaries do?
Regional Missionaries:
Are called to carry the heart of God to those who He loves to a specific geographical or cultural people group.
Leave their own region or culture to serve those to whom they are called, like the first apostles.
Follow God as He directs them to lead people to transformation in Christ.
Focus on relational, not transactional, kingdom building.
Translate! Even though we may speak the same language, our communication, semantics, cultural cues, etc, can differ significantly. Translation is necessary to increase trust and build relationships that open the way for transformation.
Introduce a culture of redeemed, kingdom-living, into the community to which they’re called.
Work WITH everyone but FOR no one but God; this means being kingdom-minded - working with, and helping to build a network of, different churches and organizations.
Aren’t always in the employ of one organization. Like Jimmy and I, they are sustained through the generous donations of individuals and churches..
Possess a wide range of gifts and skills, necessary to sustain the ministry.
Live a lifestyle of active, everyday faith.
Come back next month for more about what it's like to be a Regional Missionary in New England!
Are you ready for cake now? Below is one of our favorite recipes, just like mom makes back home…ENJOY!
What are some of your favorite recipes from "home"?
Share them in the comments below!
Hi Renee and Jimmy, what a beautiful description of the people in New England! I also found the same struggles moving here 38 years ago. As a Midwesterner, I too found challenges fitting into the New England world. But the Lord put a strong passion to see these hardworking persevering people saved. A strong love for these people grew in my heart. But after all these years I find myself taking on some of their attributes, not all good. I value your friendship greatly, so glad we connected!