IF THE SHOE DOESN'T FIT
It had been 10 years since I had climbed the Mt Mulanje massif in Eastern Malawi and with the company of another missionary family, I dug out my old hiking shoes and backpack for the ascent. All was good until about 2hrs up when the soles on both shoes detached themselves! With no mountain rescue in Malawi and unable to walk, I was stranded. The rest of the group continued slowly and the guide and me sat on a rock. He then said he could get another pair sent up the mountain! He climbed to find a phone signal and called his buddy who then contacted another friend with a motorbike. They rode up as far as they could and then hiked to our position. Unfortunately, he arrived with a lady’s size 7, and I wear a men’s 9.5. He even had to find another friend to borrow some laces. It was a case of, wear these or get carried down… amazed by the collaboration and squeezing my feet in, I then uncomfortably headed on up the mountain.
We are in a period of missional change and several buzzwords are in the conversation. Networking, collaboration, and partnership. They are familiar words and used in many contexts from business modelling through to modern approaches that will win the lost for Jesus. During the recent Africa Leaders’ Summit, we were asked, “practically, what does this collaboration mean?” A great question that needs ongoing significant thought!
We can have vision and desire to make progress, but we might just need some help to move on from a stranded location. Climbing our missional mountain may even include connecting and reaching out to the most unexpected people and places. Without them we may well stay just where we are.
It is certainly a Biblical idea and the applications for koinōnia/collaborating are to be found in the context of God’s mission. “…I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel...” Phil. 1:4 Emphasising close association, what is common and by extension participation and sharing. Working together, being in relationship, comes from God and it is His way for us to trust and work with others. There are many Biblical examples, on occasions only two or three people and other times thousands.
Our Apostolic roots highlight this coming together that something greater would be experienced than perhaps would have been known by remaining separate.
Social commentators describe Western Society as having become individualistic which has probably been an influence on church life too.
Talking about mission shift, partnership, and our vision to reach the lost is in some way a journey back to joined-up participation as we share the joy that Paul expressed from experiencing partnership in the gospel. The shift may well mean it’s also something new or different, bringing new and exciting potential and scope for the journey ahead. Prayer and the leading/empowering of the Holy Spirit are the vitals as we reach for clarity in shared vision and then be in the place for missional activity.
With my vision to summit Mulanje, the lessons learned on that mountainside: I wouldn’t make it on my own - I needed someone who could communicate - he needed someone with a resource (shoes) and yet someone else with laces - they needed someone to move the things to where they were needed. Even then with all this collaboration, I still resisted. “What, size 7!” This was a roadblock moment but soon realised the need to work with these guys or drop out. It was uncomfortable but mission possible.
Like me, you may have many questions of what it will take to put vision into action. However, there is encouragement and expectation in exploring what can be accomplished by the help of the Holy Spirit, and in linking with others. Let’s ask and listen to Jesus because, “He is the vision” and anything we do must be guided by Him.
Alan Skene