LONG-TERM WORKERS

N&C Southeast Asia

I work at a seminary here in our target city. Sitting outside the seminary chapel last week, professor R**** looked over and asked, “are you a m********? What evangelism method do you use?” Naturally, I skipped over the former question to answer the latter, saying, “I don’t use a particular method, sir.” I then explained how I believe that if a church loves Jesus and the church is healthy, then its witness will be healthy too. “Yeah, yeah, but m*******ies always have methods for us,” he said.

So finally, I gave an answer: “Preach the Word, sir. That’s my method.”

Our new home in Asia is quickly becoming a global city. Vast diversity and vast lostness coexist. Pragmatism rules the day in just about all matters of life, including the church. What works is more important than what’s biblical. As a result, churches are eager for the latest methods on this or that. After all, the newest method must be the most relevant and effective way to grow, right? Sadly, this impulse is a byproduct of both cultural background and foreign-mis****ry influence.

But there’s hope.

Two days later, I was sitting next to a local pastor in my living room. To my surprise, he affirmed our approach to the work of strengthening churches. “[the last m******ry] just cared about evangelism, evangelism, EVANGELISM! What we need is doctrine if our churches are going to be healthy.” I interrupted him, “Of course, we do need to be doing lots of evangelism!” But deep down, I was delighted by his commendation. We continued our conversation for a few hours—Bibles open, in our laps— before we finally stopped to eat some barbeque chicken and rice together.

We’ve been sent by our local church and many sacrificial supporters to love, serve, and build up local churches here. Not just to mobilize and multiply. Part of our task is to distinguish biblical ministry from the newest method. Our task is to stay the course whether or not it “works” immediately. Our goal is not just evangelism and multiplication. Our goal is to see everyone and every church built up into health and maturity (Col 1:28). We want the churches here to fulfill the words of Paul in Ephesians 3:10: “that *through the church* the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known.” Our churches here need help. They’re deeply confused with how doctrine flows from Scripture and interacts with their culture.

The ministry opportunities are endless in this country. While I train in a seminary, my wife cares for and homeschools our girls. While I meet with publishers, she plans a weekly multi-language story-time for our neighborhood. Our work is complex because the mission is complex. Our mission is complex because the church, even with its single focus on glorifying God, is complex. To respect the church is to respect what it is by God’s design: a diverse group of believers who are indwelled and empowered by the Spirit. These believers have covenanted together by mutual agreement through the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper to glorify God through faithfilled obedience to Christ, so that His glory and wisdom might be on display to all creation. That’s a lot! No manmade method can produce that. But through the consistent ministry of the Word and prayer, we press on in hope that the Lord will build his church here at the ends of the earth.

RATTINS Uganda

Josh and Abby Rattin have served in Uganda since 2011. Their convictions about missions and the local church led them to RTIM in 2021. Josh is particularly passionate about equipping the local church through training pastors.

The Rattins have 6 children—ages 4 to 19. They homeschool them all except the oldest son, who attends boarding school in the USA. Where they live, disabilities are considered a shame and curse. So you can imagine the effect as neighbors spend time in the Rattins’ home and get to know their spunky oldest daughter who has significant disabilities and requires full-time care.

Josh and his Ugandan partner, Paul, keep busy. One week each month is fully devoted to gathering local men together for teaching and equipping. The rest of the month is spent preparing, following up with the men, and engaging in direct church ministry.

Faith Baptist Church in Hollis, New Hampshire first commissioned them for cross-cultural ministry in 2009. More than 20 other churches in the USA support them through financial assistance or prayer. These connections anchor them to the body of Christ at home even as they serve a young church abroad.

Abby is a Family Medicine physician licensed in the USA and Uganda. She’s narrowed her focus to areas of need: equipping local healthcare providers, providing second opinions when asked, consulting for the ex-pats who live in remote locations, and caring for children with disabilities and/or epilepsy. Many of her contacts come through local churches seeking help for members of their community.

The Rattins have seen God work in surprising ways during the last year.

It’s been a year of challenges: learning a new city, adjusting to urban culture, shifting from house to house while they’re learning the language, wading through bureaucracy for visas and other documentation, hearing about transitions in the sending church. And yet, God has faithfully provided a city church to join for worship and community. This has opened so many doors of opportunity: hosting a cell group and the young adults group, leading church members through Simeon Trust First Principles, preaching and teaching opportunities, and modeling for others what it looks like for a family to be involved in a young church. Their language helpers have become sweet friends. One young lady in particular has become a “bonus daughter” after the Rattins walked her through a few difficult situations.

Pray for a deepening doctrinal understanding and commitment in the Ugandan church. Pray that Ugandan Christians will learn how to consistently apply biblical principles into everyday life. Pray that they will all find great joy and delight in the faithfulness and goodness of our Savior and Sustainer God.