The "Jerry and Jon" parable explained

What spiritual lessons flow from the “Jerry and Jon on mission” parable? (See previous entry to refresh your mind.) Here are some missiological considerations :

Note from Dr. Klaw: In order to free up needed time to focus on some projects I am re-entering blogs that were stimulating and helpful to readers. Thanks for understanding both the reason for these "re-runs" and any lack of response on my part if you post a comment.
This blog was first posted on August 2005.

Pastor Hale’s church members decided to support Jonah; they had qualms about Jeremiah.


Jon is Jonah. He was God’s instrument to bring about a citywide movement among the Watubi. Jon wrote his book supposing that his method was the contextualized key to the Watubis’ response, when in fact, it was a sovereign work of the Spirit.

Jerry is Jeremiah who after decades of faithful ministry saw his “stiff necked people” judged and sent into exile. Their rejection of his message was not because he was poor at his craft (his book shows cultural sensitivity, missional creativity and spiritual boldness), but because the people hardened their hearts toward God. Their refusal contributed to the fulfillment of God’s sovereign plans for the nations.

Missionaries must be faithful, God gives the growth
Theologically we know that it is the evangelist/church planter’s responsibility to be faithful in sowing the gospel (1 Cor. 4:2) and equipping spiritual leaders (2 Ti. 2:2), yet God alone calls people to Himself and gives the growth (1 Cor. 3:7). In light of these truths, I, as regional director, track and stimulate the faithfulness of our church planters in everything from prayer for unbelievers to discipleship groups, from equipping spiritual leaders to catalyzing new church plants (Heb. 10:24).

Pastor Hale’s church decided to support Jon and his Watubi work. This was a good decision. Jon catalyzed a true movement of God! Thanks to the prayers and giving of Pastor Hale’s church he could continue to serve among those idol worshipping Watubi who so desperately needed the truth. The church council members, however, did not understand many of the spiritual-historical-cultural dynamics of the two ministries. How could they?

But might there not be other churches that would pray for and give toward Jerry’s ministry as well? The people of Metropolis, though they are cultured and their sin is sophisticated (so much like Europeans), are as ignorant about the true gospel as the Watubi and need to encounter Christ, even though the cost is high.


Why is the high cost of mission in Europe so high?
To sum it up, some people feel that mission in Europe costs too much and produces too little (see Evangelical Missions Quarterly, Jan. 2005 article, “Should We Send Missionaries to France?” Anonymous). Church planting in Western Europe is expensive.

But let me try to explain it this way. Could you imagine how you would feel if gas prices rose from their current $2.50/gallon to $5 in the next few years?! How would it affect you, your family vacation and your church’s ministries? That is what exactly happened to my family in Dijon, and to our team in Europe. In just 18 months’ time gas prices almost doubled; the price of one gallon of diesel went from $2.84 to $5.12, and unleaded is even more expensive! [Editor's note: little did I know that diesel — which is what I use — would go over $8.00 / gallon.]

The dollar has plummeted in value compared to the euro. In June 2003, the GBIM single-missionary salary of approximately $20,000 had the buying power of 23,200 euros. In July 2005, the value of that same salary dropped to 16,600 euros. [Editor's note: today the equivalent would be 14,700 euros.] Because your Europe missionaries are supported in dollars, all costs of mission in Europe have risen. Could you imagine the repercussions for your business, church or home if all costs rose by 28% in just two years? This is what has happened to your missionaries in Europe and is why our support levels have increased so dramatically.

But the cost does not change the fact that Europeans need Christ.

But Western European countries are Christian; shouldn’t we send missionaries to people who have never heard the good news of Christ?
Let me state it bluntly. Yes, we must send missionaries where the gospel has never been preached! Please support those going to Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam…. But no, the vast majority of Western Europeans have neither trusted Christ, nor even heard of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus.

I will use France as an extreme yet representative European example. One French sociologist summarized the dilemma saying, “France is a secular country with a Catholic culture.” Even the Vatican considers France a mission field!

In 1944, when American GIs entered what they supposed was the Christian country of France, they were shocked to see the great need for the gospel of grace. A wave of missionaries ensued in the 50s. By 1970 there were 769 evangelical churches in all of France (one evangelical church per 65,020 people). In 2004 the number of evangelical churches rose to 1852 (one evangelical church per 32,000 people). DAWN missiologists tell us that one church per 10,000 people is required to truly reach one’s own people.

To illustrate today’s pressing need for churches in Europe, could you imagine an American city like Fort Wayne, Indiana or St. Petersburg, Florida (about 250,000 inhabitants) with just 5 evangelical churches?! (Do a Google search for “Fort Wayne evangelical churches” or “St. Petersburg evangelical churches” for pages and pages of results.) But that is exactly the case of Dijon where I live—there is a charismatic Baptist, conservative Baptist, Assembly of God, Full Gospel and Grace Brethren church (about 850 believers total); one church for every 50,000 inhabitants.

Captain Joshua

The Joshua Project, a reference for reliable worldwide mission statistics (see www link at right), reports the following percentages of total evangelicals among the dominant people groups in the seven European countries in which GBIM missionaries currently minister (I have included the American people group in the United States as a benchmark):

• Irish = unknown (research currently being done)
• Czech = 0.25 %
• Spanish = 0.35 % [2010 +0.05% = 0.40%]
  
• French = 0.40 % [2010 +0.10% = 0.50%]
  
• German = 2.90 %
• Portuguese = 3.10 %
• English = 8.50 %
• American (USA) = 35.00 %

Lausanne missiologists claim that one needs an evangelical population of 5 - 10% in order to have broad impact in a country. England is the only European country in which GBIM is serving that enters this range, but the general population is moving in the wrong direction. About 1500 English people are leaving the institutional church every week! The deployment of our three GBIM couples is, therefore, strategic to Jesus' great mission in England at this critical juncture.

So in spite of the cost, God continues to call missionaries to Western Europe because of the dearth of evangelical churches and paucity of believers. And thanks to the work of our missionary God, much is happening in Europe through your missionaries (see preceding blogs). Tim, for example, shared this highlight from Porto:

“We held a special Celebration Service at the request of my motorcycle club. The officers organized the whole thing and invited everyone. The end result was a gathering of 26 club members for the service. (As this is a national club, some drove over 3 hours to be there.) I had 1 hour and 30 minutes to share. My theme was, ‘Why I exist.’ I was able to present the gospel message beginning with Genesis and connecting with the gospel of John. [People] were really connected. I offered each couple a Bible, which they received with great enthusiasm. In fact they wanted Julie and me to sign them as a special gift. Several said they had no Bible in their house.

“We joined together for a dinner afterward and had about 10 more join us after they finished work. I was still able to offer them Bibles and explain the purpose of the gathering. This represents about a third of our club. Pray for what God is going to do next.… This was probably one of the best weekends of my ministry in Portugal. God is doing great things. All the news is on the falling dollar (which is a big concern to all of us), but God is working in great ways.”

Thank you for your giving and prayers for both Jon and Jerry ;-) Thank you because your giving and prayers are sending the good news of Jesus around the world, that includes literally thousands of Europeans who have neither heard, nor understood the gospel of grace.

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…

A fruity New Year to you!

We wish you a 2010 rich in faith, hope and love!

Bonne année from Paul & Louise!

And to kick the year off on an aesthetic note, thought I would share some family fotos with you. Just before Christmas we went to fetch my son who is studying music (upright jazz bass & musicology) in Strasbourg.

Strasbourg is the "Christmas capital" of France
Walking toward the famous marché de Noël

Strasbourg's breathtaking cathedral

The family and a good friend

May your 2010 be extremely fruity !
i.e. rich in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control :-)

A Christmas conversation

“I celebrated my re-birth last night. Listen well, my re-birth! I invited a diverse group of people — simple, intellectual, neighbors,” shared "Josephine." (Among them was a couple from the Dijon church who invited her to the Noël worship/brunch.)

As people stood around munching and jawing after the Christmas celebration, I was introduced to "Josephine," “This is Paul the guitarist, our bluesman; he is a missionary.”
I really hate when people present me this way as it so often colors the conversation in somber hues (you will see why in a moment).


Josephine’s visage twisted from smile to grimace, “Ah, a missionary. Leave Africa to the Africans!” What I mistook for racism turned out to be anti-clericalism (a prevalent ideology in France).

“I knew missionaries when I lived in the Cameroon. They liked the young black girls. Those missionaries,” she spewed the word out of her mouth, “liked the pretty young girls a lot.” (A wry smile smoothed her facial contortions communicating the salacious and lascivious activity of these missionaries).

The Christmas conversation went on… “I agree with what the gentleman shared (an elder in the Dijon church had shared of man’s failings and need of a Savior as the significance of Noël), I just do not attend church.”
“Well, church attendance is not an obligation. I find it helpful to be part of a community where we encourage one another in the faith,” I commented. “Ah, but I am quite content living alone,” she clubbed.

“Where do I go from here?” I wondered.

“Do you ever read the Bible at home?” I thrust. “The Bible! It is open in my home all the time,” she parried. “That’s good. Do you ever read it?” I pursued. “No, why should I?” she countered. “It has quite a number of interesting things in it,” I advanced. “I help people, not too much you understand; one can be overbearing. I just do not need what is in there.”

I wanted to ask her how she knew that if she had never read it when she plowed on… “You never attended school with the sisters (Catholic nuns), did you?” as she tugged on her own ear miming winces. “No, I do not need that,” she asserted. (Note the assimilation of teaching and modeling with the content of Scripture.)

“So what do you as a missionary do?” Josephine queried. “I lead a pastoral team here in Europe. We…” She broke in, “What does that mean?” “We have people who…” I continued when she interrupted me forcefully, “Who sent you? Who is your boss?”

“Ultimately God and the Bible. The Protestant church* is not like the Roman Catholic church. We do not have a hierarchy,” I explained. “So you are set up like this, right?” she replied.

My explanation did not fit her plausibility structure; she processed none of what I had just said. Josephine began to lay out an organizational flow chart with folded napkins.

Hopefully, my voice did not betray my exasperation when I interrupted her artwork. “You do not understand. We Protestants are not like the Roman Church. Each church is autonomous. Yes, I went to seminary and teach as I go around, but I ultimately encourage people to read the Bible because each and every one of us has the responsibility and privilege of reading and interpreting it for her/himself.”

Touché ! The expression on her face showed that I had scored a point. She shifted by telling me of her past, death of her husband, her car accident, depression and how she was reborn through art. “I am now content in the morning, happy in the afternoon, satisfied in the evening. I have peace.”

“You said you believe what the gentleman shared this morning. Yes, peace is found in Jesus-Christ,” bringing things back to the essential.


“I have peace and am rich,” she plowed on, “not financially mind you. And I am glad you didn’t talk about money; no one passed the basket. Grrr, I detest when they do that… give, give, give. I am glad you didn’t ask for money.” Another point for our side.

“And my friends really enjoy coming here every week. They need the encouragement of your community. You are helping people in need. That is good.” A positive impression has been left. That too is good.

As I reflected on this talk with Josephine, had the actions and words of church people hardened, deafened and blinded her so that she could not read Scripture? Hmmm, a warning to Christians everywhere.

In any case, her comprehension of religion had led her to the decision to not read Scripture. Yet Jesus came so that the blind might see, that the deaf might hear, and to give hearts of flesh in place of hearts of stone.

This is the miracle of Christmas—religious and secular man twists; God straightens. Man hurts; God helps. Man is not only in darkness but creates it as well; God is light and Jesus is the light of the world. Joyeux Noël to one and all!


*When talking with people I often use the broadest possible categories to facilitate discussion rather than get side tracked by tangential questions of ecclesiology and convictions.