Weir in PNG

(Repost from 4/27/09 with edits)



I am going to do a series on the tension between Faith and Reason as seen from the perspective of a Missions Security Director. I hope to explore the basic conflict of those two ideas, and then show how it creates a dilemma for the security director, the missionary, the head of household, the church missions director, and any person concerned with their own safety.

This conversation will most certainly include discussions of faith and trust, stewardship of resources, accountability, wisdom and common sense, roles of leadership and management, and some other themes. Though I will attempt to keep the focus of the discussion on international missions, I have a feeling that this conversation will take me many other places!

This discussion was born out of a seminar I attended this past weekend. Crisis Consulting International (http://www.cricon.org/) put on the 3-day education series for international missions organizations. The effort was designed to help managers avoid, plan for, and handle security crises within their organization. This seems to be a reasonable and responsible topic for managers to consider. Yet a tension exists for the Christian missionary that I had never considered: By taking responsibility for my own safety, do I lack the faith in God to trust that he will care for me?

To me, even the premise of this question is foolishness, but it is applicable. Part of my new job description will be holding basic security seminars for all incoming missionaries to The Organization in PNG, and this topic is sure to come up! This question is an important theological one for people who leave all that is familiar to them, and step out in faith in answer to a call. It is important to the manager of ANY Christian group, from the local church, to the international organization, to me as head of household.

I hope to show that using the brain God gave you does not, by definition, indicate a lack of faith.


Caleb