"What are the qualifications for working in Latin America? There’s really only one. . . . Same qualification you would need to go any place else in the world to serve: that is a broken heart. . . . 'While you’re waiting for God to open the door, praise him in the hallway.' And when we learn to do that. . .when nothing can upset us; when we can accept any kind of thing that happens and be at peace about it. . . . Until that happens, I would suggest we stay on our knees until we get there."
—Dale Heisey
A broken heart. Incarnational ministry. Spiritual warfare. Submission. Autochthonous missions. . . .The official theme of All Nations Camp Week 2022 was on what God is doing in the world, but the topics that surfaced in the formal sessions, campfire stories, and private conversations carried a fringe theme of humility that strikes me as significant.
Have I learned to praise God in the hallway? Am I chafing against life’s trials, or allowing God to mold me into Christ’s image through affliction? How resilient am I in the face of difficulty?
Roland Muller spoke to us about "incarnational ministry." That is, making the lifestyle changes necessary to effectively engage with the people we’re ministering to. What sacrifices are too great when compared to Jesus' ministry on earth?
How do we recognize and engage in spiritual warfare? This was a topic that came up in several conversations as well as one that Ethan W. briefly touched on. Ultimately, the battle is God’s, and so we trust in His stratagem and might.
In Earl Peachey’s talk, he challenged us to incorporate submission on our teams. Is being "clothed with humility" a mark of our team relationships?
"Autochthonous missions"—that is, missions that sprout churches native to their own soil—was emphasized by Dale Heisey in one of the final sessions of Camp Week. Are we imposing our own culture and resources on the people we are serving, or are we allowing them to flourish within their own culture and context?
As expected, it was rewarding to attend Camp Week again this year. It’s always uplifting to be around people with enthusiasm for God’s mission, while in the phase of waiting and preparing, ourselves. And while we’re waiting, may we allow God to break our hearts.
—TM