It takes longer to train than to do
God calls missionaries to be leader trainers. Your job it is to help them do the work. You are to build men and women for the service of Jesus Christ.
II Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Some of the most common complaints when challenging missionaries to train leaders are:
“It takes longer to train someone else to do it than it does to just do it yourself!
They can never do it as well as I can!
If you want it done right, you must do it yourself!
What happens if I invest all that time, effort, and money in training someone and then lose them? I will have wasted my time or lost all my effort.”
Thank God that most parents do not take this attitude with their children. If they had taken this attitude, there would be no trained adults! Our children could not lead their families, our churches, and the ministries God gives them.
There is indeed a risk of losing all of our investment, but our goal is not to conserve our work and energy but to extend His work and kingdom. It is also true that the investment to train someone is more complex than just doing the work oneself, but the Scriptures give us specific instructions in Ephesians 4:11 and following to perfect the saints for the work of the ministry.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Ephesians 4:11–13.
Therefore, it is not the missionaries’ job to do the work; it is their job to prepare others to do the work. They may never do the work as well as the missionary, but if they can get to even 60% of the trainer’s ability, it only takes 2 to produce 20% more than the trainer.
It has to be a fair statement that Jesus could have easily used any of the common missionary complaints, but He didn’t. He, God in human flesh, had to deal with the apostles. Jesus took 3.5 years to train them.
He had to have gotten frustrated with their inconsistency, lack of desire, faith, understanding, etc. Still, He persisted until they were so well-trained that they could affect the entire world forever. It took Him longer to train the apostles than it would have taken Him to do it!
No one could certainly do anything as well as He could! I am sure He could have thought that to have it done right, He would have to do it Himself, but He trained them! He also knew what it was like to invest so much time and love in His treasurer and have him turn out bad and betray Him. But He trained men.
He left us an example to follow! Train men and women to do the gospel work!
My friend, Randy Stirewalt, used to say that called us to “be king makers not kings!”
World Evangelism Podcast Special Edition with Bridgette Young
When the world seems to stand still in the face of grief, Bridgette's voice offers a tender melody of resilience and hope. In an episode that promises to touch the deepest corners of your heart, we journey with Bridgette, a missionary with a soul-stirring story of loss and steadfast faith. Her candid conversation with me, Austin Gardner, weaves through the pain of infant loss and the silent struggle with infertility. Bridgette's poignant narrative, chronicled in her book "Lost in the Gray," shines a light on these often-whispered topics, offering solace to those walking a similar mournful path.
The heartache of losing a child leaves a lasting imprint, and Bridgette bravely bares her own scars to guide others through the labyrinth of sorrow. Our discussion ventures into the dark valleys of depression, the strain on marriages, and the crucial embrace of professional help. Yet, amidst the shadows, we find the luminescence of community and faith—a beacon for healing. With compassion that transcends words, Bridget's experiences underscore the importance of creating spaces where all forms of motherhood are honored and supported.
In an act of service beyond mere conversation, the episode extends practical advice for those seeking to comfort the grieving. From the simple acts of providing meals to the profound gesture of remembering lost children, we explore tangible ways to walk alongside bereaved parents with tenderness and understanding. As the episode culminates, Bridgette and I join hearts with our listeners in prayer, fostering a collective journey toward healing and hope. This is not just a story of grief—it's a testament to the unwavering human spirit and the power of shared stories to uplift and inspire.
Lost in the Gray
My Grief Journal Real Feelings and Deep Truths
Book Recommendation
I strongly recommend that everyone in ministry read the following book. It will radically change your ministry. The Master Plan of Evangelism will you help you with the idea of training leaders.
Instead of drawing on the latest popular fad or the newest selling technique, Robert E. Coleman looks to the Bible to find the answer to the question, What was Christ's strategy for evangelism? Through a thorough examination of the gospel accounts, Coleman points out unchanging, simple, yet profound biblical principles of how to emulate Christ to others.
Indeed Christ the master planner, perfect method, to pursue