Jerry and Jon on mission (a parable)

Jerry and Jon both had hearts for mission and wanted as many people as possible to know God. So they decided to divide and conquer. Jerry stayed in his home country to preach the Word of God to a people who had once professed faith in Him, but were now lamentably lapsed. Jon, the more flamboyant of the two, chose to go to the dreaded Watubi. “They need to turn from their idols!” he proclaimed.

From the Superman TV episode "Divide and Conquer"

Did you watch re-runs as a kid? Ah, Superman, Gilligan's Island, Star Trek… Well, I've got a sabbatical / writing project that I'm working on. To free up some time I will be sharing some "Dr. Klaw and ET" select re-runs based upon feedback from readers. Thanks for understanding and I trust you will enjoy these reflections from the not too distant past. Dr. Klaw

Of course, both Jerry and Jon needed to raise support. Pastor Hale and his church committed to praying for both, but had only enough resources to contribute financially to one. Which should it be?

The church council decided to invite both Jerry and Jon to present their prospective ministries. In that way, the church members could pray more knowledgeably and decide to which one’s ministry they would contribute.

Jerry moved people’s hearts. They could relate to his in-country ministry because the people he wanted to reach seemed so-o-o much like their neighbors! Well, urban versions of their neighbors anyway, caught up in a whirlwind of expensive, superficial activity. The believing assemblies had almost all moved out of the city of Metropolis where Jerry was going; eastern beliefs were multiplying like a computer virus. “Those Metropolites obviously need you, God. Please draw them to Yourself,” prayed a church member.

Jon wowed people with quips and video clips about the Watubi and their need for the Word of God where it had never before been preached. And, two years of his support totaled to only one year of Jerry’s in-country Metropolis ministry cost. A tough choice for the church remained. It was obvious that both ministries were valid and needed.

What was the church’s decision? They would indeed pray for both, but would wait five years before committing themselves financially. In that way, they could see which was the better investment, Jerry or Jon, based upon their results.

But after only one year Pastor Hale’s church decided to contribute to Jon’s Watubi ministry. Here’s what happened…

Just a few months after the ministry presentations, it no longer made sense to people why Jerry’s Metropolis ministry should cost so much and why he stayed in-country in the first place. After all, “This is a Christian country!” After five years Jerry had succulent, but not abundant fruit to show for his faithful travail: two people reading the gospel with him, a discipleship group of three brand new believers and a home group of eleven—the new believers, Jerry, his unbelieving friends, a few others who gravitated around the group, and Jerry’s wife, Betty. (Now Betty was growing weary from worry about their finances and urban stress, wondering how her kids would turn out from not having Christian friends like she did when she was their age).

Back at Pastor Hale’s church, the council was meeting. One of the agenda items was Jerry and Jon’s progress. One councilman queried, “What in the world is Jerry doing? Is he doing anything?”

An elder replied, “Leave him alone. He’s well intentioned.” Then after a moment he added, “Maybe he’s just not gifted for church planting!”

Another member of the council, the owner of a local business stated, “Instead of supporting Jerry, we should send him the evangelism training materials we use in our adult Sunday School class. But this Watubi Jon, on the other hand… well, these are impressive results!”

Jon had gone to the largest city Watubi-land and, with his customary gusto, just went to work. He wrote out a simple “repent or burn” message and had it translated into Watubi and recorded. He had a portable, battery operated sound system (there was an excellent sale at Wal-Mart just before he left home), and hired a boy to haul him around the city on a cart as he blared the message: “Repent or burn! Repent or burn!” (which came out something like “Ingjeey nai fusrot! Ingjeey nai fusrot!”). Within a year Jon organized seven believing assemblies, wrote a book on his method for reaching the Watubi, and had moved to the next city.

To be continued…