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In Step with Bishop Jones

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Transforming the world

Published: 2/19/2010

The mission of the United Methodist Church is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

I am excited to participate in God’s mission that includes evangelism, worship, discipleship and Christian action. I know from the Bible that God is in the business of saving the world, and God has given me the privilege of participating in that process as part of his church.

The transformation of the world has been on my mind in the last several weeks. The news reports out of Haiti after the earthquake have been quite disturbing. Two friends of mine, Revs. Sam Dixon and Clint Rabb, died when the Hotel Montana collapsed.

But my sense of loss is miniscule compared to the tens of thousands of Haitians who mourn their dead and worry about having enough to eat. I have visited with Joe and Shirley Edgerton, who were in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake struck, and heard some of their story. I asked their advice about the future.

I am asking, “What are Christians to do?”

A team of people from the Kansas West Conference has just returned from a visit to Zimbabwe. As guests of Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa and the Zimbabwe East Conference, they were exploring a possible covenant relationship between our two conferences. Zimbabwe has suffered from corruption and political oppression for decades. There is hunger there. Although no natural disaster, a cultural disaster is tearing the country apart. I am asking, “What are Christians to do?”

A full discussion about transforming the world would go far beyond the limits of this short article. But there are several traits of United Methodist social action that help us know how we are participating in God’s transforming work:

Responding to human need. My daily Bible study this year has focused on Matthew 25 where Jesus is clear—those who make it to heaven are the ones who feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give water to the thirsty and care for those who are sick and in prison. The power of television and Internet focuses our attention on the latest disaster, and I am proud that United Methodists are involved. However, Haiti is not the only place where people are hungry, homeless and in great need. I believe Christians should be involved in social action in their home communities, in their state and internationally.

Addressing deep issues. We have learned a lot about the causes of poverty, and we should be giving attention to the steps that will make the greatest difference in people’s lives 20 to 30 years from now. Offering personal salvation through Jesus Christ makes a difference. Education makes a difference. Teaching people economic skills and agricultural skills makes a difference. When I was in Mozambique, Gracie Michel, the first minister of education in independent Mozambique and the wife of Nelson Mandela, thanked the United Methodist Church for teaching that education is important, that women are equal to men and that healthy practices can cure disease. Our missionary work for more than 150 years has made a difference.

Focusing on fruitfulness and effectiveness. Sometimes well-meaning people want to make a contribution that feels good to them. Christians should be asking how to maximize our fruitfulness. We have a powerful network through our connectional system. United Methodist missionaries have been in Haiti and Zimbabwe for decades. Our General Board of Global Ministries and its United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) have effective ways of delivering the help that is most needed. Sending money is more effective than sending bottles of water. Sending health kits is a tangible way of contributing. Eventually, there will be a need for Volunteers In Mission teams to go, but we know from past disasters that such involvement must wait until the time is ripe.

Staying for the long term. The attention of the media will leave Haiti soon. The need for response will still be around for years to come. People are still dealing with the effects of Hurricane Katrina four years later. The devastation in Haiti was even greater, and we need to be prepared for the long-term help that should be offered. The problems being generated in Zimbabwe are not going to be fixed quickly even when genuine democracy returns. At our best, we United Methodists stay longer than others. After the Greensburg tornado when many other relief groups left, we continued to help.

Demanding accountability. Often people are uncritical about where they give their money. United Methodists are committed to accountability, transparency and faithfulness in handling our money. Our connectional way of doing church means we know where the money is going and we have ways of making sure that it is used well. Unfortunately, there are many people who give money that ends up being wasted, embezzled or misused. Our United Methodist connection minimizes those problems.

Respecting the local Christians. A group of Baptists has been in the news and currently is in jail on charges related to an attempt to take children out of the country without proper permissions. One of the hallmarks of United Methodist mission work is our respect for and cooperation with local Christian leaders. Many times, well-meaning Americans don’t take the time to understand the local situation and the local perspective on important issues. We do not always have the right answers, and we need to work in partnership with our Christian sisters and brothers who are on the ground. Our mission philosophy emphasizes partnership. If the Kansas West Conference continues its work in Zimbabwe, it will be a covenant where both conferences have something to offer and something to receive.

God is a missionary God who is in the business of saving the world. At our best, the United Methodist Church is a missionary church making us available for God to use for God’s purposes. Over the years, we have built up good procedures and structures for effective mission. At times like this, we need to remember what we know.