Deep Thoughts by Mr. G

Wanted:(Name of Church, person, email, phone number) "minister with an evangelist’s heart, a shepherd’s walk, and a physician’s care who accepts mature responsibilities and possesses youthful vision; dedication to the cause of Christ’s Kingdom should be equally or more important than Canadian or American citizenship;should be ready to accept challenge of living on an island and a bit of culture shock; less than one hour from major shopping centers" Here's the translation: "You do all the work, you help the elderly, you are to blame if anything goes wrong, want you to be young to hire you cheap, work you to death for the cause of Christ (No life but Church work), we're patriotic much like the next guy, challenge of living on an island, beware of the sharks, and well there isn't a Super Walmart nearby and good luck"

There are so many things that I should be fired for (Thank goodness for the graceful, forgiving, understanding, great ministry and church I serve now) But here are a few examples of some that have happened at this church: 1. Wrecking the Van. Yup. Damage to the van - even by accident can get you fired ... 2. Van trouble - remembering to follow the speed limit (No cruising as one parent told me) and getting the van stuck -not once but 2x times in a ditch. 3. Destroying a projector your first week. (My students still remind me of this) 4. Four laptops in less than 5yrs (Sure the first one was from the ole youthguy and from the 90s - then one stolen) and then you replaced that only after 3yrs to have dropped it and destroyed it and had to have it replaced. (One of the leaders after hearing me in my office showing my new laptop to my friends (One who works for IBM, the other on staff) said" You drop it; I'll drop you" (You had to be there ...he is also the treasurer). 5. Not

I think there is a vast methological differences between that of what is termed "Missionary Support" in our churches nowadays. So often churches send money to the missionary or to the missionary's parachurch organization and thus the missionary has to depend on the parachurch or different churches for financial support. These churches think that just sending a cheque in the mail - they have done their job and "supported" the Great Commission. The problem is this tends to have a disconnection of the church to the ministry and even though a partnership with the Mission Agency - there still tends to be holes. The Mission Agency maybe good at the training and even some of the Spiritual battles but where is the REAL support? By real support - I mean where are the Missionary's friends, loved ones, home church(es) in this process? Where is the encouragement? Where is the Church being the Church? Where is the Sending happening? Seems to me the Mission Organization i