CrossRoads Spring 2008 Lecture
Valley Brethren Mennonite Heritage Center
Given 6 April 2008 at
Harrisonburg Mennonite Church
Harrisonburg, Va. by
Joan L. Daggett

 

Seeking a New Perspective:
Brethren Missions at a Crossroad

            My earliest memory of the concept of missions in the Church of the Brethren is from when I was 5 or 6 years old.  I grew up in the Red Oak Grove congregation in Floyd County in the Virlina District.   In my formative years in the church, I only remember two things that connected our tiny congregation to the larger church:  Camp Bethel and visiting missionaries.  I do not remember attending district youth events or district conference.  I do remember a period of 3 or 4 years when missionaries on furlough would periodically visit our congregation and, a time or two, eat dinner at my grandparent’s home.  I do remember vividly one particular visit from a missionary couple working in Nigeria.  They brought slides showing the village in which they lived and the people with whom they worked as well as jewelry, drums, musical instruments, baskets and clothing.  I remember being mesmerized by the presentation and watching with awe as these people told how they had left their home and family to travel all the way to Nigeria.  My mother told me that these people were doing wonderful things to help the people of Nigeria—providing medical care, helping to find clean water and build wells, and constructing churches.  I also remember that we collected a lot of money to support these missionaries and would often get letters from them updating us on their work.  As a child, mission, for me, was something the church did “over there,” “far away.”  And as I think about it, I am not sure that my concept of mission changed until much later. 
            The Brethren understanding of mission is based on our biblical understanding of Christ’s call to make disciples found in Matthew 28:  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  
            A second scripture that informs our understanding of mission is Matthew 5:14-16:  “You are the light of the world.  A city built on a hill cannot be hid.  No one after lighting a lamp puts in under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”  We interpret this passage to mean that what we do and indeed our very character is a visible witness to God and an invitation to others to join our community in praising God. 
            An image vital to our mission understanding is found in John 13: “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have set you an example that you also should do as I have done to you.  Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, not are messengers greater than the one who sent them.  If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”  For Brethren, the image of the towel motivates us to act, for it is in serving others that we show our love for others and share the good news of Jesus Christ. 
            Brethren have lived out these scriptures in mission work in many countries:  China, Denmark, India, Ecquador, Nigeria, Sudan, Indonesia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Korea and Haiti; and, at home, through service ministries and church extension.  In the heyday of foreign missions, Brethren considered ourselves to be a global church.  As I prepared for this presentation I came across a drawing, a logo of sorts, from the early decades of the 1900’s picturing a lighthouse set in the middle of a choppy sea.  The light shining from the lighthouse illuminates both halves of the globe which are set on either side of the lighthouse.  Overarching the lighthouse and connecting the two halves of the globe is a banner with the words Church of the Brethren.  Clearly, those who used this logo wanted to communicate the message that the Brethren had something to say to the world.   
            The Church of the Brethren has a wonderful tradition of mission, both here at home and abroad.  Down through our 300 years, God has blessed us with leaders and willing volunteers who have sacrificed much to spread the gospel.  And still, as we celebrate 300 years of ministry and mission, we know that we face challenges. 
            Like many protestant denominations in the US, we are challenged by declining membership.  Tied to this is the trend, at least in this district, for congregations to move from full time to part time ministry due to rising insurance costs and a sagging economy.  These cutbacks in leadership result in loss of ministry in our communities. 
            A second challenge is our inability to call and equip leadership for mission. Despite the energy and enthusiasm around our current mission initiative in Sudan, we find it difficult to recruit and place persons in the mission field and we have lost valued personnel in the process. 
            Even though we face these daunting challenges, I am hopeful that we can regain the global perspective and confidence that was so prevalent in our past.  I am hopeful because of what I see happening in congregations across the Shenandoah District.  Let me share with you several stories of congregations who have become mission-oriented. 
            The North River Ministerial Association is an ecumenical association of churches in northwestern Augusta County and includes the Moscow and Sangerville Church of the Brethren congregations.  These churches have engaged in a community service workday for a couple of years.  This past summer, as preparations for the annual August workday began, the planning committee began soliciting ideas from the various churches for projects.  The committee became aware of a woman who needed a new roof on her mobile home.  She is a widow and the mother of two grown children one of which is severely disabled and requires around the clock care.  When representatives went to check out this request, it became apparent that more than a roof was needed to help this family.  To make a long story short, the North River Ministerial Association and its churches decided to build a house for this family (see photo at the end).  In the beginning, the planning committee and the churches were concerned that money and volunteers might be in short supply.  God does provide--money and materials were donated and ground broken for the house in mid August.  Volunteers from the various churches worked in the evenings and on weekends to construct a dwelling that would accommodate the unique needs of the family.  The family moved into the house on the weekend before Thanksgiving. 
            As a result of this building project, the community is more aware of the ministries of these churches.  People in the community perceive the churches not as buildings that folks just go to on Sunday morning, but rather as the hands and feet of God dwelling in the midst of them. 
           
            A second story I want to share with you is that of the Mt. Pleasant Church and their recent mission trip to Haiti.  In late February, a group of men and women from the church traveled to Haiti to assist in the operation of a clinic for mothers and children deep in the mountains of that impoverished country.  At a recent district, a church member told of her experiences on the trip—experiences that have changed her life and the lives of those who traveled with her.  Like many who travel on such trips, this woman reports that she received much more from the trip than she feels that she gave.  Over and over, she and others on the trip are telling their story—to the rest of the congregation, to their friends, to their relatives, to individuals and groups in the community.  They are salt and light, not just to the people they served in Haiti, but also to their own congregation and community.  I am confident that this trip will be the first of many such mission trips.
            Mt. Pleasant is not the only church in our district that seeks ways to connect its members with mission opportunities in other areas of the US and in other countries.  In fact, many of our young people are taking advantage of Brethren Volunteer Service, Church of the Brethren National Youth Work Camps and Faith Expeditions to engage in mission work in places like Guatemala, Ireland, St. Croix, Mexico and places closer to home.   Work campers and volunteers return to their churches with renewed energy, commitment and enthusiasm for living out and sharing their faith. 
            Another example of individuals and our congregations becoming mission oriented is the explosive growth of Brethren Disaster Ministries.  Since the disasters of the tsunami in Southeast Asia and Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, our district’s disaster response ministry has more than tripled.  Prior to 2005, the Shenandoah District usually sent volunteers on rebuilding projects 4 to 5 times per year.  Currently, volunteer groups from churches are being sent out one week per month and sometimes more frequently.  Whereas, we used to see many of the same persons, mostly retired, going on these trips, now we have younger folks taking their weeks of vacation to serve.  Churches who had been minimally involved in disaster response are now fielding entire volunteer groups.  Persons who return from these trips are excited about the blessings they have received and want to share that excitement with others. 
            Many of you may have seen the article in a couple of area newspaper about the refrigerated trailer that our district’s disaster ministries volunteers remodeled into a bunk trailer that will house 15 volunteers on disaster projects.  The trailer has been completed and is now in use in Chalmette, LA.   Volunteers from the Wakeman’s Grove Church in Edinburg did the majority of the remodeling work.  It just so happened that while working on the trailer, which was parked in the church parking lot, a county building inspector stopped by and informed the volunteers that they would need a building permit to finish the project.  Being the good Brethren that we are, we complied with his request and obtained the required permit and passed all inspections.  This gentleman was so impressed with the faith and commitment of the volunteers that he signed up to go on the next disaster response trip to Chalmette. 
            In each of these instances, the individuals and congregations I have mentioned have become salt and light for their communities.  Their mission and service experiences have not only connected them with folks in their communities, but also with their sister churches, the district and denomination.  In the truest sense of the word, these congregations and individuals consider themselves to be in mission, to be sent out into the world.
            I believe that the stories of the individuals and congregations that I have shared with you today can provide us with insight and wisdom to guide the church down a new pathway to greater mission and ministry.  First, in each of these instances, there was leadership—leadership with a vision for mission and the persistence to overcome resistance and obstacles.  In The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society, Lesslie Newbigin writes that the task of leadership in our pluralistic society is “to lead the congregation as a whole in mission to the community as a whole, to claim its public life, as well as the lives of its people, for God’s rule.” (p. 238)   Our congregations are sorely in need of such leadership.  Too many of our congregations are inwardly focused and isolated from their communities.  Through our seminary and district training programs, pastors are well trained in theology, pastoral care and biblical studies.  As such, it often seems that their focus is on caring for the needs of those inside the church.  We need pastors who are trained to lead individuals and congregations to look outside of themselves and engage in ministry in the community.  In his book, Missional Church, (pages 183-220) Darrell Guder challenges denominational judicatories and seminaries to rethink their educational and credentialing processes in order to attract and equip persons who are able to provide missional leadership to congregations. 
            Secondly, in each of these instances, though the mission project was short in duration, it only whetted the appetites of those involved.   We are building a generation of people through our work camps, faith expeditions and disaster ministries efforts who are eager and willing to be called into mission by the church.  Yes, we will still need to recruit and equip persons who can provide long term service for mission projects at home and abroad.  However, we also need to find ways to support these long term missionaries with short term volunteers who will provide the salt and light the church needs to energize itself for even greater mission in Christ’s name.  
            Yes, the Church of the Brethren has much to celebrate in this anniversary year including its tradition of mission and service work at home and abroad.   As we celebrate, I pray that the Church of the Brethren will also put its attention and best thinking into equipping missional leaders and challenging congregations to be about transforming individuals into disciples who can be salt and light to our world.  In doing so, may our beloved church be strengthened and renewed for a new century of mission and ministry.

Photo identification: During the summer of 2007 the North River Ministerial Association gave leadership to build this house in northwestern Augusta County for a widow and her two children, one of whom is severely handicapped.

Newbigin, Lesslie. The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society.  Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1989.
Guder, Darrell.  Missional Church.  Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1998.