It always happens.

You take a week off, spend it in the country, then next thing you know you are wondering what it would be like to move there – to live there permanently- to establish a new home and community.

And I guess the answer to that question probably depends largely on what you believe your
sense of calling is and how that may play out in a new environment. My calling is embedded in the title of this blog – to be a missionary in my own backyard – specifically Australia. When given that title it becomes specific but also broad – ” Australia” is a very big and diverse place.

How does that work?

A quick side track before I get to the point – my sense of “calling” first developed after a
basketball tour of the Philippines. I came home wanting to be a ‘sports missionary’. It was a
way I could serve God and use my athletic capacity. So I headed off to Bible College to
prepare for this adventure. However along the way, my focus on the Philippines got
railroaded. The person I was supposed to meet to arrange things didn’t show up – and as it
was the late 80’s we couldn’t just re-schedule a zoom call or Facetime. It was the era of
actual handwritten letters or occasionally phone calls.

In that same year my own church was looking for a youth pastor and a series of events led
me to put up my hand and get the role. For several years I was employed part time as a
youth pastor at Scarborough Baptist Church and part time as a phys ed teacher at
Scarborough High School. The same year 9 boys in my health ed class on Friday afternoon
were the ones who fronted up to youth group later that evening- and they continued calling
me ‘sir’.

I knew my heart and my focus was always on there who weren’t in church – who didn’t get it
and who had very little idea about faith . It took me a long time to work out how to be a
missionary in that space. I felt very constrained by the conventions of Baptist church life. I
remember being thoroughly rebuked by an older man because an article in our local
newspaper about our evening ‘ outreach’ service didn’t mention God or the Bible. I probably
gave back as good as I got in that exchange, as by that time I was thoroughly infuriated by
supposed ‘elders’ who lacked any kind of simple grace, let alone missionary acumen and
vision.

As my time in youth ministry progressed I became increasingly concerned for how we related
the gospel to post – moderns. (It was the 90’s) I read all the books and learned the missiology
that went with this. There was a point when it dawned on me that my identity was still that of
a missionary but of one to this great, deeply secular country.

I doubt I will ever venture overseas in mission, but I am constantly seeing opportunities and
‘people groups’ right here in our own backyard. The challenge I find is remembering that its
not “on me” to reach them all. The Spirit is already at work and inviting people into life. My
job is more that of the midwife – assisting with gestation and birth.

Old style Christendom mission work often involved big tent crusades or inviting people to
events where they would get ‘saved,’ (or they would at least have an experience that left
them feeling better than when they arrived.) That type of mission may still have a place
somewhere , but my current context isnt one where I could imagine it successful.

I sense most mission in our country today happens as ‘missionaries’ stay in a place long
enough for their lives to have credibility and for their message to have coherence with
everyday life. It takes a long time for people to assess your life and see if you are the ‘real
deal’, or just another rabid evangelist behaving like a multi-level marketer.

After 14 years in one community I feel like we can now say that people know who we are and
also accept us as those people. We are the local ‘God botherers’ but we have also been able
to communicate the message of Jesus in a way that makes sense to these people – and
some accept the message while others ponder it further, or simply reject it. Its much the same
scenario Paul worked with in Acts 17.

So back to my original musing. To pull stumps now and relocate to a new community, no
matter how enticing would be very difficult. I sense it would have to be a 20 year / forever
decision if we are going to remain true to our calling. I never put anything ‘off the table’ when
it comes to future adventures, but I do constantly find myself wondering if we undervalue the
power and impact of stability – being a permanent and solid presence in a specific place.

Yesterday while surfing I had the board hit me hard in the face – my teeth split my lip and
there was a fair bit of blood. On the beach, or in the water were 4 or 5 people I could have
asked for help because we have an existing relationship – but as it turned out 2 young girls
walked with me up the beach while another man drove me home,’ I didn’t know any of them –
but they were pretty keen to ensure I didn’t drive!

Stability means that over time you slowly get to know more people and they see you in good
times and bad. They see lives lived in surrender to Jesus (as best we are able) and they
have observed us in celebration, as well as in tragedy.

Sometimes words are needed to articulate why we live as we do – why our vision of an
alternate kingdom and our surrender to a good king is the basis for our life. Sometimes
actions and attitudes do the work themselves. But it happens slowly and often
‘unintentionally’, osmotically even. We just live our lives and hope that the allegiance to the
king causes enough curiosity and maybe even inspiration for others to want to know more.

But it takes time. Stability takes time and even then it is not enough to simply inhabit the
same home for 20 years, stability needs expression in presence and participation – being
visible in the community as well as involved in some way. This is not rocket science. It’s as
simple as walking the dog and being aware and engaged as you walk, It’s taking your kids to
swimming lessons the hanging around and engaging. It’s prioritising local work in your
business. It simply isn’t enough to exist, but neither is it a complicated process to be present
and participating in a community.

To step it up one more notch, I would say the next priority is availability. In a world where
people are often so busy , to have time for people is a gift. It’s in these spaces unfettered by
rigid time constraints that conversations can wind into topics that get bypassed in small talk.
Mission starts with stability , it gains traction with presence and participation, then it moves
further with a commitment to availability and to genuine, sometimes costly engagement.

If you get to here then chances are you are living with a missionary posture, practicing missionary habits and then praying and trusting that the Great Missionary will be doing his work in peoples’ hearts and minds. All’s left to do is assist in the birth process and welcome new life.

Oh – and if you just moved house , or you’re about to do so, consider the next place you go
as a potential 10-20 year commitment, then begin engaging in your community and see what
develops.

But be patient…