Sometimes you have to be very careful how you answer.
The Gaviao believers in Brazil had been studying their Bibles, and noticed that in Acts, the missionaries had appointed elders for the churches. So they came to the missionaries and asked them to appoint elders.
If you’re like me, your first thought was, “Wow! Great!” (If you’re not like me, that’s OK. Just one more thing to thank God for.)
Then I thought, “Wait a minute. Why hadn’t they already appointed elders?”
Now we’re getting to the core of the matter.
Missionaries have to be very careful of “paternalism.” That’s basically what it sounds like: the missionaries are “daddy” and the people they’re ministering to are “children.” That’s very damaging to the church that is being planted, and to the growth of the individual believers.
Missionaries have to show respect and deference to tribal people from the very start of ministry. They have to treat the new believers as co-workers. They have to work hard at developing healthy relationships with the people, so the Holy Spirit is free to work among them and create a healthy church.
So the missionaries approached the request carefully. They submitted their recommendation, and the Gaviao Christians accepted the choices unanimously.
Hmmmm. Not out of the woods yet. Did they really agree, or did they feel compelled to agree because the missionaries recommended these people?
The Gaviaos’ next step provided the answer. “In Acts,” they said, “the apostles gave the responsibility of choosing deacons to the church.”
Their elders chose men to be deacons, so the elders could concentrate on spiritual leadership and the deacons could take care of the believers’ physical needs. Again the church accepted the choices unanimously. But no one asked the missionaries.
Far from feeling slighted, the missionaries were elated!
And the Gaviaos’ new leaders church are making decisions, giving direction, teaching, baptizing and leading the church in new outreach efforts to other villages.
Praising the Lord with us is a good start.
Please also understand that planting a church among a people group that has no concept of the God of the Bible, usually in a very remote place, is a complex task that takes a dedicated team. Thank you for choosing to be part of that team by being involved in our ministry.
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