The Life of a Regional Missionary | Part 2
As regional missionaries with Anchor and Key Ministries, we are specifically called during this season to the people and churches of New England. Like any cultural group, New Englanders have unique cultural attributes, some of which inhibit them from experiencing the fullness of walking with Jesus.
Some hindrances to faith and freedom that we encounter specifically in New England are:
reluctance to trust
intellectual skepticism
self-sufficiency
disconnectedness
isolation
But there are also some really positive characteristics of New England culture!
New Englanders value, and live out:
being educated and informed
hard work
perseverance
pragmatism
loyalty
This sort of two-sided coin is true for any culture: Texas culture is known both for its genuine, warm hospitality and for its disingenuous, saccharine kindness (“Oh bless your heart!”). Hawaiian culture offers relaxing, laid back vibes but also struggles with laziness and a lack of motivation. This doesn’t make any one culture better than another. But being aware of cultural norms, as well as a culture’s strengths and weaknesses is all part of grace for discipleship and being a missionary.
Perhaps the most significant New England cultural distinction for our ministry has been realizing that while building trust and relationships takes A LOT of time, once those relationships are formed, they are real, deep and lasting. We’ve found that many New Englanders are actually hungry for connection and relationships but because of their cultural tendency to “put their nose to the grindstone” and just keep persevering through hardship and lack, they are often unaware of that hunger. It’s not until they see relational living modeled for them, that they begin to recognize their need. They begin to see that a part of their being has been denied for so long and it has to be nurtured back to life.
We also have constant opportunities to coach and teach biblical principles that sometimes are skimmed over in New England churches. Areas like relational discipleship, emotional healing, intimate worship, and spiritual warfare are easily overlooked in a culture that values intellectualism, self-sufficiency, and pragmatism. Breaking through those barriers can be challenging. But having a different cultural background, a different demeanor (and even an accent like Jimmy!) actually helps.
Because people recognize us as “outsiders”, they give us a little extra grace to be different. This “outsider” status has allowed us the freedom to introduce not only our own culture, but God’s Kingdom culture, into the community without being written off as too different or weird or socially out-of-step.
At the same time, we have to be careful to remember and respect the culture in which we live. When we first arrived in the affluent and somewhat refined Farmington Valley of Connecticut, we quickly realized that if we acted too “southern,” some people might easily dismiss us based on their perceived stereotypes. One of our favorite stories happened in the summer of 2017: Jimmy needed to go to Walmart on a Saturday morning. Normally we’d just throw something on and run out the door…it’s just Walmart after all. But Walmart in Avon, Connecticut is not the same as Walmart elsewhere! When I saw Jimmy about to walk out the door in a sleeveless t-shirt, camo shorts and a Dallas Cowboys cap, I instantly thought, “There are too many things wrong with this picture!” We talked and agreed that because we wanted to remove as many cultural barriers as possible in order to get to know our neighbors, Jimmy should change into something that would allow him to blend in a little better. Crisis averted! It’s not that we have had to change who we are, just that we make a conscious effort to know and understand the culture in which we live and serve. And wearing a different shirt or hat to the store is a small sacrifice to make for the gospel of Jesus!
Also, over the years, we’ve made lots of friends here who are Cowboys fans (Yes, they do exist here in New England!) and many others who have come to love and appreciate our “southern ways”.
In fact, God uses those southern ways in everyday situations to advance His Kingdom here in New England. For example, being open and friendly when meeting strangers is so rare it can be disarming, which allows God’s kingdom to break through in small ways, like bringing a simple smile to waiter or cashiers; and larger ways, like the day I met a waitress who had escaped from the Ukraine war with her children or when Jimmy led young people to Christ while school bus training at work. Sometimes all people here need for a little breakthrough of the Kingdom is for a believer to really see them, love them and remind them to breathe in the fast pace of life.
But we also want you to know that our life and ministry in New England is not a one-way transaction. Yes, we make an effort to actively love the people here, but they have loved us as well. And through our time here God has changed us and taught us so much.
We see how valuable staying in the area is to our mission and we pray
that we can continue to walk beside as many as the Lord gives us to
build a healthier, more free body of Christ into true disciples of His.
In addition to expanding the freedom of God’s Kingdom through intentional relationship building and regular gatherings in our home, we also offer prayer ministry for deep inner healing, lead corporate worship services, and more. And through it all we are witnessing God transform the lives of believers, both new and not-so-new. Watching Him move people from isolation, bondage, and hopelessness, to freedom, joy, and renewed purpose, never gets old.
And we are not done yet!
Before we finish, we want to thank you for walking with us through this season and praying for God’s perfect will to be done here in the lives of the people we are working with and the connections we are making. Your donations and prayers make a huge difference in our life and many more. Next month we will be sharing more about the unique needs of regional missionaries. Until next month, check out some of our previous blogs that share more vision about the work we are doing. Click here.
Comments