In today’s world of instant access to news, mission agencies may feel compelled to “do something” when danger arises. Although the Bible gives examples of varying responses to danger, the mission agencies’ “something,” more often than not, may be to encourage or order an evacuation. What might have been a God-appointed time to embrace suffering and those who suffer may be prematurely aborted.
According to a United Nations study, “The World at War,” increasing areas of the world are involved in “intrastate wars” where 75 percent of the victims are noncombatants. That figure represents a staggering story of human suffering and enormous needs.
I can remember two occasions when we and others stayed “in the same boat,” as it were, with people caught in conflict and suffering. On one occasion we had to stay; it soon became too late to leave. On the other occasion we had a choice, and we chose to stay.
Thanks for posting this Kendall.
As one who has chosen to stay in a difficult place even though many other teams have left as the risks of kidnappings and terrorist attacks have increased in the past year, I found Libby Little’s article deeply moving, and of course incredibly poignant, as it was written just a month or two prior to her husband Tom’s murder.
I hope and pray that one day I too will be able to look back and also see some of the ways God was acting out His “Grand Narrative” here in West Africa in these days, revealing Himself as Immanuel, and drawing hurting people to Himself in the midst of suffering. [Actually I can ALREADY testify that the Lord is working in this way, but only have small glimpses – I long to see the bigger picture more clearly!]
I urge many to not only read and share this article, but the longer article by Ajith Fernando, to which Libby Little is responding:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/globalconversation/august2010/index.html
Kendall, this kind of article is a necessary corrective to us your readers. We get so worked up about things. But compare and contrast those places where our brothers and sisters witness to Christ at great personal cost. In poor, inner city areas. In countries torn by civil war. In Muslim communities, under great suspicion. In these and other situations there is a personal renunciation made through which people follow him who said, ‘Take up your cross, and follow me.’ I am humbled – and it gives a certain perspective to the issues which so often get us steamed up. I am not saying that the issues do not matter – Karen B for one would remind us that they do matter – but rather, that these issues only matter within the context of a greater faithfulness. There are those, like Libby and her late husband, who live that faithfulness at the very foot of the cross. And BTW thank you too Karen for your faithfulness, and ongoing witness.