Davis Missionary Journey: Holistically Transformational (Team Strategy 7)

Holism and an holistic message lead us to the purpose of our team strategy… transformation. It's not enough to address certain poverty issues. It's not enough to do some good deeds. It's not even enough to just transmit Bible facts. Until man is seated in the heavenly realm, he is only a shadow of what he is created to be. Two Indian missiologists, Jayakumar Christian and Vinay Samuel suggest respectively that there are two major tenets to Christian transformation: (1.) the restoration of one's true identity as children of God, and (2.) the recovery of one's true vocation… what is my purpose and stewardship?

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus…

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Ephesians 2:6 & 10 NIV

The picture below shows a group of students with their teacher at a local primary school in the Mumena Chieftaincy. This school had 300 students and 2 teachers when we came. After volunteering to help the educational needs of the school, we noticed that our help was being "taken advantage of for personal gain". We promptly removed our help sending shock waves through the community, all the way to the Chief's palace. This led to many public and private meetings with both officials and villagers concerning why we - as Christians - would stop doing good within an environment of "normal" corruption. In other words, why we would attach our "holistic ministry" to "transformational standards".

The result has been slow but stunning! Over the course of 12 months, the community began clamoring for change; the headmen began meeting with their Chief; the Chief began meeting with government officials. One of the school faculty "found the kitchen too hot" and left. The other (pictured) found Christ! The government has sent new teachers to adequately staff the school. We are now in position to begin "helping" once again. We have begun with the new water well below. Transformation has begun!

Watching in awe,
Brian, Sondra, Noah, & Bryson

Pictured: Happy students with their "in Christ" teacher stewarding their resources.