Blessed are the Flexible

Anonymous Missionary • Apr 04, 2023

In this series of TEAM Ministry Updates, we’re sharing stories that highlight each of TEAM’s defining values . The following narrative is shared by “Samantha” (name changed), a TEAM Ukraine global worker, as an example of the value of “Creative Vision.”

A common saying among overseas workers is the adage, “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be easily broken.” Although not technically numbered among The Beatitudes, this truth is one that all who minister cross-culturally should keep in the back of their minds. Maybe we should even cross-stitch it on a pillow and place it somewhere we have to look at it daily!

When global workers get together, even if we come from diverse places, we can all laugh at the moments when we learned this “cross-stitchable” truth the hard way. Most of the first term overseas is made up of thousands of moments where flexibility keeps you from breaking under the pressures and stressors, and everything that’s so new about your host country.

I like to think I’m a fairly flexible person. After serving in Ukraine for seven years, I had not “seen it all,” but I had seen enough to know that how you imagine something to turn out is often categorically opposite of what happens. So many factors of daily life as a cross-cultural worker are beyond our control. Buses are late or never arrive. The store is out of chicken. The officials at the migration office inexplicably go on a two-hour smoke break and never return. The power turns off in the middle of baking a cake or during the spin cycle of the washing machine.

In fact, sometimes it’s even more jarring when what I plan for the week is accomplished; I truly don’t know what to do with myself!

Flexibility May Mean Sacrificing Our “Agenda”

Over the years in Ukraine, I certainly grew more flexible as a person. What was less welcome for me was when my ministry “agenda” needed to become flexible. Oof. Pride and flexibility aren’t things that go well together.

What about when the ministry I came to support shifts, or even dissolves? What if the “needs on the ground” I’ve spouted to supporters and churches end up being radically different, and instead there’s an entirely different set of needs (and resources to meet these needs)?

How will I choose to respond when local friends shoot down my grand ideas for what youth group should look like? What if no one comes to my carefully planned women’s Bible study but instead an acquaintance in crisis is regularly free to meet and talk for hours?

What will my attitude be when discipleship meetings don’t happen, but the Lord instead opens doors to serve as a support-raising coach and cross-cultural mentor for Ukrainians being sent as global workers? What if I’m not the one up front doing the ministry as I thought, but rather encouraging and equipping local friends to thrive in their ministries? What if none of my life looks like I thought it would?

 

A spirit of flexibility, creativity, and humility leads to the understanding that at its core, missions service means joining in the work God is already doing in the places we go.

Becoming a Partner and Cheerleader

It can be painful to see the differences between the ministry expectations I lugged to the field with me in three 50 pound checked bags seven years ago and the reality of what has actually been achieved in these short years.

And yet, I am in awe of so many things God has done that I could never have orchestrated. Those most hungry for Jesus and willing to follow Him no matter what weren’t the people I had expected. Some church members I thought were ready to help lead the ministry never did, and others I never expected were the first to sign up. When I thought I’d moved across the world to teach or lead, I instead found the vital importance of learning, listening, and coaching from the side. What was needed among the body of believers in our town in Ukraine was not my voice as an instructor but instead as a partner and cheerleader for local leaders.

Adapting to a Time of War

And perhaps the greatest test of flexibility yet came in February 2022 when the Russian invasion began. The onset of war meant that I had to leave Ukraine and find new locations and ways of serving. For my Ukrainian brothers and sisters, their lives were turned upside down as husbands, fathers, and sons became soldiers and families faced heartbreaking decisions of whether to stay or flee.

Yet even in unimaginable pain and heartbreak, I see our creative God at work in Ukrainians both at home in their country and abroad. So many Ukrainians have stepped up to serve their neighbors despite incredible hardship and risk, and God is using them to draw many people to Himself. As felt needs are met – like a safe place to spend the night or a hot cup of tea and groceries – thousands of Ukrainians hear the Good News of Jesus’ love for them and respond to His call. And instead of ministries dependent on foreigners or “ministry experts” to function, Ukrainian Christians start and lead ministries in their own exceedingly flexible, God-dependent, and extremely winsome way.

A Front-Row Seat

Now I write this as I’m about to head back to Europe. I begin a new chapter in cross-cultural life and ministry serving Ukrainians, only this time they’re foreigners doing life in a new country and language, living in the limbo of war. Talk about flexibility!

Life and ministry today look nothing like I expected before the start of the full-scale invasion. Yet the Lord in His creativity is doing things in me and around me I never could have imagined, and I’m excited to see what He will do in the months and years ahead. May I have the faith and flexibility to walk in step with the Lord into wherever He’s leading. Even if it’s in not a place or way I expected, I get a front-row seat to see His glory spread throughout the world.

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Loving Like Jesus Cross-Culturally (Part 1)

By Megan Lunsford • 23 Apr, 2024
When seeking to serve cross-culturally with an authentic love for others, there’s no better example for us than Jesus. If we sat around a table and threw out the question, “How do we love like Jesus?” I think we would have several commonalities as we respond. For example, Jesus loved all people right where they were. He loved those who were deemed the least, those hardest to love, or those who were His enemies. These are all beautiful realities of the heart of Jesus. When we step into relationships, it can be easier to take on the warmer, more gracious gestures of Jesus’ love, especially in cross-cultural relationships. Think about it––when doing life with those who look and act differently than us, we are already out of our comfort zones and would rather keep things as simple and familiar as possible. But there are other facets of Jesus’ heart we often overlook that can transform us and others even more into His likeness. Jesus is love because God is love. Everything Jesus did was out of love; it’s the mere definition of who He is. As followers of Jesus, He calls us to the same: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John:7-12) Every display of love we offer to others is an opportunity for them to encounter the ultimate love of the Father. That’s a pretty big deal! In this article, we’ll look at three expressions of Jesus’ love that we tend to overlook when engaging others cross-culturally. (Next month, we’ll look at three more.) 1. Jesus loved sacrificially. Everywhere Jesus went, crowds followed Him. We even see times in Scripture where Jesus had plans to step away for time alone but those who were hurting found Him and He had compassion on them and stayed with them. Can you imagine rarely having any time to yourself but, instead, constantly being surrounded by crowds of people wanting help from you? Jesus loved sacrificially. He welcomed all who came to Him with love and compassion, never turning anyone away. “When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36) In the same way, we can make room in our lives for Jesus to bring sacrificial interruptions which, in His eyes, are orchestrated encounters to transfer His love to others. It can be tempting to be so “on mission” that we are full steam ahead and find ourselves frustrated when the Holy Spirit sends an interruption into our path that we feel we don’t have time for. Or, perhaps, we have scheduled a meet-up but it’s the norm in another culture to be 30 minutes or an hour late. We anxiously think through how it will affect whatever we have planned next. While it’s normal to feel a little stressed, what if the very "interruption” standing in front of you was really a divine appointment sent by God? Or what if that person running late experiences how peaceful and gracious you are in adapting to their culture and therefore, they can encounter a beautiful display of Jesus’ love? To truly represent Christ, we should remain ready and willing for each assignment the Lord sends into our path, no matter the cost or how much we will have to re-route our day. He is always a hundred steps ahead and will work all things for His glory and our good. 2. Jesus loved by discerning each situation well. Think about how many situations Jesus had to respond to on a daily basis. We read in Scripture that there were lines of people waiting to be healed by Him, talk to Him, hear His teachings, or simply touch the hem of His robe. Jesus was fully dependent on His Father to discern each situation before addressing it. “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19) Another temptation we can have when in a relationship with those God has sent us to is to think we already know the solution or what God wants to do before we’ve even asked Him. We believe we are full of knowledge, so we just pull from the bank we have stored within and go with it. However, when we access what is familiar to us as our default, we risk missing out on a God-given solution that might truly be the key to unlocking whatever challenge is in front of us. What does this look like when interacting with others? We can simply ask, “God, what is on Your heart for the person standing in front of me?” Then we listen and respond as He speaks. When we make it a daily habit to pause and hear God’s heart for each situation before responding, we are guaranteed to be effective in loving those around us. He knows the heart of every person that will cross our paths. Imagine how impactful we can be if we first lean on His wisdom and discernment before moving forward. 3. Jesus loved by speaking truth. Most of us are familiar with the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. If we are honest, this conversation makes us a bit nervous as none of us would be comfortable with Jesus calling out intimate details of our lives that we would prefer to hide. But Jesus went further than just airing her dirty laundry. He offered her the hope of the Gospel and a relationship with Him - a divine fulfillment that could never be found in an earthly relationship. Jesus modeled a powerful example of loving others well cross-culturally. He took the low place and spoke truth, truly out of love––speaking to her heart from His. Like Jesus, our goal in sharing the truths about Him and His Word is to bring hope and satisfaction through Him alone. When we speak truth from Scripture, we are calling others higher into all God has for them. The tricky part here is we should avoid speaking truth if it isn’t first fueled by compassion. If it merely comes from a place of judgment, condemnation, or self-righteousness, it will fall flat 100% of the time. But if it truly comes from love, you are likely to not only win a heart back to the Father but, like the story of the Samaritan woman, even an entire village! If you see someone living outside of God’s best for their lives, ask God to show you your heart before engaging theirs. Once your heart is properly postured, you can speak truth out of an overflow of God’s love and trust Him for a transformation in their lives.

Hospitality, Help, and the Hope of the Gospel

By Suzanne Pearson • 16 Apr, 2024
TEAM Canada provides warm welcome and trusted friendships for diaspora populations living far from their native countries. As TEAM Canada workers Peter and Ruth (names changed) drive from their home to a nearby community center, they pass numerous apartment buildings and townhouses. Most of the families who live there are immigrants. They’ve left their countries of origin due to political unrest, trauma, and other difficulties. They’ve left family, friends, homes, jobs, and personal wealth behind. They search for peace, justice for the oppressed, and rest from fear and weariness. And as they adjust to a new country and a new language, they are often very isolated from others around them. “The sad reality is most immigrants are never even invited inside a Canadian home,” says Ruth. Peter and Ruth and their team try to change that reality. For the last nine years, the team, which includes workers from partner organizations as well as volunteers, has held English classes at the community center. Three days a week, over 60 students from more than 20 countries come together to learn English as well as to fellowship together and receive practical help in assimilating to a new normal. Meeting Needs and Building Trust That practical help may come in the form of procuring furniture, clothes, or dishes for newcomers, assistance with creating a resume and finding a job, or teaching people how to navigate Canadian laws and the medical system. As these tangible needs are met, relationships are built. “We invite them into our homes for meals and games,” Ruth shares. “We take them on hiking trips, picnics, outings, and out for coffee.” This is particularly important in this type of ministry because most immigrants come to Canada from cultures that value hospitality. Conversely, Canadians do not typically prioritize hospitality and consequently many newcomers feel lonely and isolated. Inviting folks to various gatherings and outings allows the team to spend extended time hearing people’s stories, struggles, hopes, and dreams. When she speaks about building friendships, Ruth’s heart for the people she serves is evident. “Hearing their stories, it’s easy to love them, and many have become close friends,” Ruth says. “We recognize the value of steady one-on-one relationships.”
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