I appreciate your honesty, but if you stopped reading at the beginning, it makes sense that you would have some questions. You ask what I’m doing. I am working on a church planting team that actively seeks to culturally translate the gospel and share life with the people of this city… wait, you weren’t looking for a “mission statement,” were you?

I have no problem telling people “what I do.” I engage the people of my city through real relationships in an effort to share not just the Gospel massage, but Life with the people God brings to me. The reason I say in my post “Whatever it is I do” is that I don’t want to go into a(nother) long rant about how my identity is not wrapped up in my job title. I have written many posts about how “Church Planter” is a misnomer because planting churches is something only God can do. On the other hand, “hanging out with people that I have a lot in common with and living out the good news in a way that makes sense in their context” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, does it?

Lots of my colleagues and coworkers don’t mind being called missionary. That’s great. Me, I don’t care for the term (for reasons I’ve detailed in many previous posts). My frustration comes from the fact that while my calling is clear (and biblical) my vocation is not. So I ask a lot of questions and think through all the implications on my blog.

While I admire your willingness to raise your own support, I’m convinced that the fund-raising methods employed by your organization are no better than the IMB’s system. Both, unfortunately, rely on appeals that center on the wrong things. (i.e.:”You should give to our ministry because a.) we’re working in a really unreached place, or b.) We’re “reaching” seven hundred bazillion people every afternoon.”) Unfortunatly, things are done this way because the people who support us don’t actually know us, and because we’re competing with many other “noble causes” that people might want to give to. “Please support me as I obediently do what God has called me to do” just doesn’t work anymore.

For the record, though I’m sure of my calling, I am considering something different. I always have. You should, too. That’s the only way I can be a good steward of the money that is sacrificially given to support me, and for me to be totally honest when I say, “Yes, I am still called to this.”

Thank you for the advice. I invite you to read more on my blog, if you’re still interested.

I’ve just finished reading all your posts. I’ve also read all the comments. Until this morning I’d not connected the dots [blogs] of Mr.T, Guy Muse, David Rogers, and now you. I have now.

I have arranged a place on my desktop for all of your blogs. You will be read regularly and prayed for in the same fashion.

I heard a long time ago a statement made, by who can remember, that said…”God grows His best fruit in the shade”. You have reminded me anew of the truthfulness of that statement.
Bless you.

Paul Burleson