Missions Wasn't Quite What I Thought...

PastorMark
Jun 18, 2023
6 min read

Updated: Jul 21

Remember when that retired couple would cross the Atlantic to go “save” the poor people in that far-off place? Don’t get me wrong—there’s something admirable about their willingness to go. But inevitably, they’d have to come back home to raise money just to keep going. And while they were away… what happened to the work they started? Did it continue? Who carried it on?

There’s a different model of missions out there. It’s not new—but most people don’t really understand how powerful it is, or why it matters. But before I get there, let me give you a little background. Because for me to go to Kenya isn’t just about a trip—it’s about a shift in how I understand missions entirely.

Where My Skepticism Started

Several years ago, Kristin and I took a trip to the Dominican Republic. It was a purposeful visit, we were there to meet our sponsored child, Vielka, through a large well-know international child sponsorship organization. The way they explained it, Vielka was receiving Christian education, a school uniform, and regular care. It sounded like exactly the kind of thing we wanted to support.

But when we arrived, something felt off.

We were met by professionals from the organization, but thankfully, we had our own interpreter, a woman from our church who was also a Spanish teacher. As we sat with Vielka and her family, our interpreter quietly uncovered a different story. Vielka wasn’t in a Christian school. She didn’t have the uniform. The support she was getting was limited to a few weekly visits to an after-school tutoring program. No ongoing discipleship and the things that we were told from a stage at an event were NOT happening like they said.

It didn’t sit well with me.

Then we visited the local headquarters. A massive 2-story building. Professional staff. Ice-cold air conditioning in the middle of a very poor community. All I could think was: how much of our money is going to keep this building running while kids like Vielka go without?

Something felt wrong. There was so much money in the structure, the staff, the operation, but how much was actually reaching the kids?

I’ll be the first to admit, this is just my perception. But the evidence felt pretty clear. And it wasn’t just that visit. Over the years, we had sent extra money, Christmas gifts, birthday money, even a extra for a goat or school supplies. Not once was any of it acknowledged. No thank you, no mention in the letters. In fact, the letters never referenced anything we had written. We’d mention our dog being sick or say something about the snow in Ohio, and the replies were always generic. No questions. No connection. That’s been true for all three of the children we’ve sponsored over time. I am not saying this is true of everyone who sponsors a child, but this had been my experience in the 20 years that we had sponsored a child.

Still, the trip left me feeling duped.

The time we spent doing ministry with local pastors was meaningful. Our host was fantastic, and we shared the Gospel in parks and neighborhoods. But again, I couldn’t help wondering: who’s following up? Who’s discipling the kids who respond? Who’s helping them get baptized or plugged into a local church?

And if we don’t return… who will remind them that they are seen, known, and loved by a Savior who gave His life for them?

Too much of it felt dependent on Americans showing up. Without us, the work stalled. That didn’t feel sustainable or Biblical.

Why Things Are Now Different

When I began ministry at SHBC back in 2010, I met Pastor Gary. He’s not your typical pastor. His background is in wildlife management. He’s a 4-H guy, a former addict, a guy who has been radically changed by Jesus and has the scars to prove it. He’s humble, gritty, and one of the few people I know who would literally give you the shirt off his back.

That kind of heart, that posture of servanthood, it matters. Deeply matters. Because missions isn’t supposed to be about one person coming in with a cape. It’s about Jesus being lifted up. That is exactly what happens when we equip others, not when we make ourselves the center of the story. Missions isn’t about us having an experience. (Reread that last line, please.)

That’s how Pastor Gary leads. And that’s why my desire for missions has been different in the past few years. It HAS to be about Jesus. ALL OF IT! And the money, time and resources we invest will ONLY make a difference if it’s being USED for Jesus, not administrative bloat and costs.

Throughout the year, Gary stays in contact with the leaders we partner with around the world. Not just when a trip is coming up. Not just when it’s convenient. He meets with them over FaceTime. He prays with them. He trains them. He encourages them. And the best part? The work continues whether or not an American team shows up.

Because it’s not about us. It’s about equipping them.

How it’s Different

In Kenya CBEM (Committed Believers Evangelical Ministry) is led by Frederick Masha and his family in Kenya. We support pastors through seminars and workshops, training them to lead new churches in their own communities.

Here’s how it works (as best as I understand it):

Local missionaries—some Kenyan, some American—go into rural villages, often one, two, or more hours into the bush. These aren’t movie scenes or missions trip highlight reels. These are real places, sometimes mud huts, thatch roofs, simple crude block walls, ten people sharing a home. No electricity. No running water except for a bore hole that the community shares.

And yet, these are the places where the Gospel is taking root.

Thanks to Living Water of Ohio, more than 200,000 people have access to clean water in these areas. And in many villages, the well is located near a church, giving the local pastor a chance to minister in both Word and deed.

What We’ve Done in the past

While in Kenya, our team traveled into the bush to invite people to a gathering—a kind of village outreach. Together with local pastors and SHBC missionaries, we hosted a free medical clinic and invited anyone who’s interested to hear the Gospel.

But let me be clear: medical care is not tied to listening to a sermon or praying a prayer. No one is coerced. No one is pressured. That kind of tactic might produce numbers, but it doesn’t produce disciples or true followers of Jesus.

Those who accept Christ are baptized and connected to a local church. A pastor is usually from that very village. They are assigned, trained, and supported by CBEM. And just like that, a church is born where there was none. Literally, NEW CHURCHES with brand new converts being led by a man from that village who has attended the CBEM pastors school/seminary.

While in Kenya, we also served children with physical and mental disabilities, as well as orphans who attend Glory Academy a school that is funded by donors. Through generous gifts from churches in Licking County, these kids receive two meals a day, school uniforms, and a Christ-centered education.

We played games. We sang songs. We taught Bible lessons. Every person on our team had a role from adults to students. You do not just show up, you show the love of Jesus in word and action.

Let’s Wrap This Up

Gone are the days of flying in and hoping someone else finishes what we started. There’s too much at stake for that.

This trip to Kenya is part of something bigger, something sustainable, something local, something led by people who are there long after we fly home. That’s what convinced me to say yes. That’s why I believe in this work. And that’s why ministries like CBEM and Living Water of Ohio deserve our support.

Because in Kenya or Ohio or West Virginia, this much is true: