Part 3 Providing and Developing Member Care

162 Pages·2011·3.93 MB·English

Part 3
Providing and
Developing Member Care
NETWORK CARE
SPECIALIST CARE
SENDER CARE
SELF/MUTUAL CARE
MASTER CARE

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NSESPETESCWNEIDLOAEFLRRICSKTACRCAECARAERREE
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MUTUCAALRECARE
Jesus Christ:
The Heart
David Huggett
Of Member Care
Joyce Huggett
W
“
hat are you two intending to do with the rest of While here on earth,
your lives?” That’s the question a retired missionary put to
Jesus’ effectiveness in
us when we stood at one of life’s crossroads in the early
1990s. For 19 years we had pastored a thriving church in ministry stemmed from the
England. Sensing that God was calling us out of that minis-
loving support given Him
try, we handed over the leadership to others, then took
sabbatical leave on the island of Cyprus—to rest, reflect, by God the Father and
and contemplate the question, “What next?” The mission-
God the Holy Spirit.
ary’s question, therefore, was timely.
We had been looking after a study center for missionar- In turn, Jesus gave
ies for six weeks when this question was put to us. Set in a
equally effective support
beautiful village on the island, this center provided mis-
sion partners with a place where they could come to study to His disciples.
a variety of subjects. There was a well-stocked library with
He forged deep and
shelves packed with Bible commentaries, books on mis-
sion-related topics, books on relationships, and so on. loving relationships with
There were teaching tapes, too, which mission partners
each of them, modeled
could listen to and learn from. The missionary who was
asking us about our future was aware of the work we had an alternative lifestyle
been doing at the center. “I feel that God might be calling
to them, and showed
you to work overseas long-term,” she said. “Would you mind
if I wrote to the International Director of my mission and them how life on earth
told him about you?”
can and must revolve
Responding to this question changed the course of our
lives. A year later, we returned to Cyprus to begin an en- around His Father.
tirely new ministry. Aware that most mission partners are
Jesus, the Master Carer,
too tired to take time out to study, for six years we pro-
vided a place where, instead of working for examinations, has much to teach
they could respond to Jesus’ invitation to “come with Me
member care workers
by yourselves to a quiet place and take some rest” (Mark
6:31). Although we have now returned to England, we con- and mission partners.
tinue this member care ministry in our home. “The Hiding
209
210 doing member care well
Place,” as it is called, is a place to which Passover Lamb.’ The two disciples heard
mission partners delight to come: to re- him and went after Jesus. Jesus looked
flect on the months or years they have over his shoulder and said to them, ‘What
been working overseas, to prepare prayer- are you after?’ They said, ‘Rabbi, (which
fully to go overseas for the first time, or means “Teacher”), where are you staying?’
simply to enjoy the quietness and the He replied, ‘Come along and see for your-
beauty of a place where they can meet with self.’ They came, saw where he was living,
God without being disturbed. and ended up staying with him for the
Over the years, as we have been listen- day” (John 1:37-38, The Message).
ing to such people, we have attempted to Notice that, instead of simply describ-
understand and apply Jesus’ approach to ing the place where He stayed, Jesus in-
ministry. The subject of Master care is, vited them to “come and see.” The result
then, one in which we are intensely inter- of their day together was that Jesus and
ested. By Master care, we mean the way Andrew became firm friends. This new
God, having created us, puts the ongoing relationship had such power that Andrew
finishing touches to us: growing us up immediately led his brother, Simon, to the
spiritually and emotionally, loving us, giv- Master.
ing us the grace to love Him in return, and The emphasis on relationships does
giving us the grace, too, to love His people not end there, however. After much prayer,
and His ministry. In particular, we place and from the large number of disciples
the spotlight in this paper on the way Jesus who were already attracted to Him, Jesus
trained, mentored, equipped, supported, chose just 12 men. He carefully and lov-
and loved the Twelve, and we seek to re- ingly formed community with them before
late this ministry to the ministry of mis- He sent them out on any mission. A study
sion partners and member care workers. of the Gospels shows how deeply He loved
them (John 15:9), how He called them
Rooted in Relationships friends (John 15:15), and how they be-
came as family to Him. They ate together,
As we have studied Jesus’ ministry over
traveled together, and in all probability
the years, the conviction has deepened
bathed in the Sea of Galilee together. The
that Master care is rooted in establishing,
Twelve watched Jesus turn water into
developing, and maintaining relation-
wine, heal the sick, and cast out demons.
ships—first the relationship between God
They heard Him teach, pray, admonish,
and the caregiver and then between the
and encourage. They walked together,
caregiver and the partner being cared for.
talked together, and went fishing together.
We say this because, before Jesus began
They became one with Him in the bonds
His public ministry, He enjoyed a deep
of friendship. They were open with one
relationship with His Father and with the
another. This closeness grew before they
Holy Spirit. He also formed close relation-
started to work with Jesus.
ships with a dozen key people, the Twelve.
Indeed, one of the moving things about
Rooted in Rhythm and Rest
the method of earthly ministry Jesus mod-
els is that He called His disciples to be with Soon after Jesus involved them in His
Him before He asked them to do anything mission, however, Mark paints a picture
for Him (Mark 3:14). of the group being pressured by people—
We have a beautiful example of Jesus’ so much so that “because so many people
relationships in the first chapter of John’s were coming and going … they did not
Gospel: “The next day John was back at even have a chance to eat” (Mark 6:31).
his post with two disciples, who were Seeing and sensing what was happen-
watching. He looked up, saw Jesus walk- ing, Jesus acted: “Come with Me by your-
ing nearby, and said, ‘Here he is, God’s selves to a quiet place and get some rest”
jesus christ: the heart of member care 211
(Mark 6:31), He insisted. He did not say Rooted in a
go and take some rest. No. The invitation Realistic Lifestyle
is to come: “Come with Me. Let’s do it to-
gether.” On another occasion, He gives The Master provided care for His dis-
them a similar invitation: “Are you tired? ciples in three main ways: by example,
Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come through teaching, and through mentoring.
to me. Get away with me and you’ll re- In this section, we examine each of these
cover your life. I’ll show you how to take types of care in turn.
a real rest. Walk with me and work with
Jesus’ Example
me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced
rhythms of grace” (Matt. 11:28-30, The He refuses the
Message). “tyranny of the urgent”
Again, notice the language: “Come. Get The example Jesus sets presents a chal-
away with me. Watch how I do it. Learn lenge to those of us who find ourselves
the unforced rhythms of grace.” This is the overwhelmed by work, overstimulated by
language of Jesus’ heart. It is the language people and ideas, living cross-culturally,
of Master care par excellence. and traveling often and far. Mark sums up
In her book Jesus Man of Prayer, Sis- the situation well when he recalls how,
ter Margaret Magdalene (1987, p. 41) re- very early one morning, Jesus escaped to
minds us, “Jesus was rarely without a the hills to pray. The previous day had
crowd around Him. His own personal been hectic. Jesus had preached in the
space was constantly invaded—not just in synagogue in Capernaum, healed Peter’s
terms of time but in actual physical con- mother-in-law, and then ministered to
tact. Jostled and pushed by the throng countless other needy people who begged
(Mark 5:31), forced to preach from a bor- for His help. Although He had gone away
rowed boat in order to distance Himself a to meet His Father in prayer, the disciples
little from the growing crowd on the shore searched Him out. “Everyone is searching
(Matt. 13:2), the picture builds up of some- for you,” they said (Mark 1:37). If they
one under incessant pressure. His com- were imagining that Jesus would stop His
passion for the crowds meant that mothers prayer time because of the needs of the
came crashing in with their children.” crowd, they were mistaken. Jesus says,
Jesus’ need for space, then, was urgent, quietly but firmly, “Let’s go somewhere
and He did not hesitate to make sure He else.” They went to another part of Gali-
had such space, even though at times this lee to continue the work of evangelism,
caused Him to close His ears to cries for but between Capernaum where the con-
help and to turn away from people (Matt. versation took place and the other villages
5:1; Mark 1:37). lay miles of open countryside. The walk
Life offers us many similar choices. In not only gave them time and space to re-
saying no to being driven and becoming flect, rest, have their energy restored, and
too busy, Jesus was saying yes to relation- renew their relationship with God, but
ships—first to His relationship with the also gave them some much-needed time
Father and the Spirit and secondly to His together.
relationship with His disciples. His life was Commenting on Jesus’ attitude, Sister
rather like the ebb and flow of the sea or Margaret Magdalene (1987, pp. 41-42)
the rising and setting of the sun. For Him, writes: “He refused to submit to the tyr-
there was a season for everything: anny of the urgent. He would not let the
aloneness and togetherness, busyness and crowds or even human need dictate the
rest, fruitfulness and fallowness, quality priorities. He had an inner freedom to say
time with His Father and quality time with ‘No.’ He could say ‘No’ with integrity be-
the disciples, with whom Jesus forged cause in His times with His Father, He
warm, loving, lasting relationships.
212 doing member care well
clearly discerned and adopted the Father’s He models a ministry
priorities and perspectives. Not in bond- saturated in prayer
age to the need to achieve, nor neurotic
Jesus sets us the example, not only of
about the success of His mission, nor
a balanced life, but also of a prayerful life.
puffed up by popularity, He is free.”
He was praying at His baptism when the
heavens opened, the Spirit descended on
He ensures that output
Him, and He received the Father’s affir-
is matched by input
mation (Luke 3:21-22). He was praying on
Jesus modeled the need to live a bal-
that morning we mentioned earlier when,
anced life for the sake of our soul and our
after a hectic Sabbath, long before dawn,
relationships. Someone has summed up
while it was still night, His disciples found
this need with this piece of advice:
Him in a secluded spot (Mark 1:35). He
input=output=input=output
was praying right through the night after
In other words, if we are to give out to
He had fed the 5,000 and insisted that His
others effectively, we must make sure that
disciples get into the boat and go on ahead
we take in as much as we give out. Out-
(Mark 6:45-46).
put for member care workers might mean
Jesus’ disciples would have been men
traveling to visit mission partners, relat-
of prayer long before their Master came
ing to them, loving them, listening to their
on the scene. They had a prayer place—
worries or pain or struggles, feeling inad-
the synagogue. They had a hymnbook—
equate for the task of being involved in
the Psalms. They listened to the Old
member care, and not knowing where to
Testament being read and learned pas-
turn for help. Output for mission partners
sages of it by heart. They also said prayers
might include stressful activities such as
each morning on waking and each evening
language study; adapting to a new climate,
before sleeping. Certain “blessings” were
diet, and culture; coping with transition;
also part of their vocabulary—like this
and facing the challenge of using profes-
early morning wake-up call: “This is the
sional skills in an unfamiliar environment
day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and
and without the tools and finances that
be glad in it.” They kept the Sabbath too.
were available in the home country.
The God to whom they prayed, though,
Input for both member care workers
was distant, demanding, and too holy for
and mission partners might include rest
them to come near. In fact, the name of
days and holidays, letters or emails from
God was considered too holy to pass a
home, and well-planned conferences. By
person’s lips.
well-planned conferences, we mean con-
When Jesus came into their lives, by
ferences where there are spaces between
His own example, He taught them a new
sessions, with time to make and deepen
way of praying. Here was a man who ob-
relationships, time to relax, and time to
viously felt secure in the Father’s love. This
enjoy periods of personal prayer, as well
influenced the way He prayed. Intimacy,
as informative teaching and discussions
warmth, delight, and spontaneity are
and the opportunity to talk in depth with
words that best describe His own conver-
someone qualified to listen. Input might
sations with the Father. Perhaps it is not
also come in the form of a retreat where
surprising, then, that those who lived
the emphasis is on one’s relationship with
alongside Him begged Him, “Lord, teach
God and/or on personal growth, rather
us to pray” (Luke 11:1).
than on listening to talks. Above all, input
Did His very first suggestion surprise
comes in the still, hushed place where
them? “When you pray,” He suggested,
God’s voice is most clearly heard and His
“say Abba—daddy” (Luke 11:2). Since the
love most keenly felt.
Old Testament speaks often of God as Fa-
ther, the Twelve would have been familiar
jesus christ: the heart of member care 213
with the picture of God as Father (see by allowing them to see how these truths
Ps. 103:13; Isa. 63:16; 64:8; Hos. 11:1-4). gave Him the power to fulfill His God-
It would never have occurred to Jesus’ dis- given calling, even when the way was hard.
ciples to call God “Father,” however. As To explain what we mean, we use an ad-
Professor Joachim Jeremias (1967) re- aptation of a tool the British psychiatrist
minds us, there is not a single example of Frank Lake (1966, p. 205) developed, The
the use of “Abba” as an address to God in Dynamic Cycle of Being and Well-Being:
the whole of Jewish literature.
We are not told whether or not the dis- sustenance
ciples acted on Jesus’ advice in the early
days of their School of Prayer. What we
acceptance status
are told is that Jesus tried to make sure
that the disciples’ image of God was accu-
rate. His main method, in true Middle xxx achievement
Eastern style, was to speak to their hearts
by telling them stories. Take the three The Dynamic Cycle of Being and Well-Being
unforgettable stories in Luke 15, for ex-
ample. Here Jesus shows that God is like Lake used this diagram to illustrate two
a Middle Eastern shepherd who discovers truths: first, to demonstrate the sense of
that one of his sheep is lost. He searches well-being that is given to a child who ex-
everywhere until the sheep is safely in his periences its mother’s love and, second,
arms and on its way back to the fold. When to show how Jesus’ sense of well-being
it has arrived home, the shepherd throws found its roots in His Father’s felt love.
a party to celebrate. Regarding the first truth, Lake reminds
God is not only like a man. Jesus also us how a good mother gives her child ac-
compares Him to a Middle Eastern house- ceptance. Then, as she feeds the child, not
wife who sweeps and sweeps the floor of only with milk but also with warmth and
her home and refuses to rest until her love, the child’s sense of belonging in this
precious coin has been found. Most mov- world expands. Acceptance, welcome, and
ing of all, Jesus likens God to a Middle sustenance provide the child with a sense
Eastern father whose two sons both wish of belonging and status—so much so that
he would drop dead. Even though they it is ready to learn the achievement of re-
treat their father cruelly, the father offers lating to and giving love to others.
them nothing but love. Jesus’ relationship with His Father was
Love is what God is. Goodness is what not unlike the relationship a child enjoys
God is. Compassion is what God is. This with a good mother. While He was here
is the message that Jesus wanted His dis- on earth, He frequently retreated into His
ciples to believe. He wanted them to know Father’s presence—particularly when He
that each of them was personally loved by was in any kind of pain, such as the be-
His Father. Little by little, His friends ac- reavement He must have felt so keenly
cepted the good news. Brennan Manning after the murder of his cousin, John the
(1994, p. 16), in Abba’s Child, reminds us Baptist. In the silence, He poured His pain
what a huge step forward this was: “It takes into the lap of His Father. The Father, in
a profound conversion to accept that God turn, gave Him acceptance—not in spite
is relentlessly tender and compassionate of the pain but with the grief. Jesus found
toward us just as we are—not in spite of Himself not only accepted, but also sup-
our sins and faults—but with them.” ported and sustained. The intimacy that
Jesus not only assured His disciples bound Him to His Father reassured Him
that they were loved by a compassionate, of His status. His Father had spelled this
tender God, He also taught them the trans- out at His baptism: “You are My Son, whom
forming power of God’s love. He did this I love; with You I am well pleased”(Mark
214 doing member care well
1:11). From the fullness of acceptance, One of the saddest things that we have
sustenance, and the status of being a be- felt since we have been attempting to pro-
loved child, Jesus was able to return to vide member care for mission partners is
continue the work the Father had sent the reaction we frequently receive when
Him to do: to continue to pour out re- teaching the ideas we have outlined above:
deeming love and compassion to others. “I couldn’t possibly pray like this,” some
In contrast, we are reminded of an oc- object. “Just look at the length of my
casion when we traveled overseas to lead prayer list. Life is just too busy for this kind
a prayer retreat for a group of mission of commitment.” On the other hand, one
partners. After the retreat, one of the part- of the greatest joys and privileges that
ners admitted, “I love God and really want comes our way is when someone comes
to serve Him, but I’ve never quite grasped to The Hiding Place and says, “I’ve heard
that God loves me.” Many other mission about intimacy with Jesus. I’ve read about
partners would echo this admission. The it. Now show me how I can experience
problem with this lack of assurance that it!”
we are loved is that we are tempted to Jesus assures us that we can experi-
move around the dynamic cycle in the ence such closeness anywhere and every-
opposite direction from Jesus: where. One of the things that is so
refreshing about His own relationship
sustenance with the Father and the Spirit is that it
grew, not only in solitude and silence, but
also in the busyness of life. When Jesus
acceptance status
was about to feed the 5,000 with five small
fish and two little loaves, it was natural
xxx achievement for Him to ask His Father to bless the meal.
When He was in the Garden of Geth-
Round the Cycle semane, it was natural for Him to cry out
In the Opposite Direction From Jesus to the Father. When He was walking in the
countryside, it was natural for Him to in-
Some of us who want to achieve great vite His disciples to “look at the birds …
things for God seem to believe that our they do not sow or reap or store away in
achievement brings us status. We believe barns, and yet your Father feeds them.…
that we are accepted because of what we See how the lilies of the field grow”(Matt.
do. We are sustained by these false ideas. 6:26, 28).
We therefore try to achieve more and more The 17th century French monk, Brother
to earn more and more favor with God— Lawrence, called this kind of prayer “prac-
only to collapse from exhaustion or to ticing the presence of God.” When asked
suffer from burnout. “No,” whispers Jesus. how we pray in this way, he said, among
“The secret of fruitfulness is not work, other things, that we should “settle our-
work, work. The secret of fruitfulness is selves firmly in God’s presence by con-
intimacy with me.” “Live in me. Make your stantly talking to Him” and that we should
home in me, just as I do in you. In the ask for God’s grace to sense His presence
same way that a branch can’t bear grapes at odd moments of the day, reminding
by itself but only by being joined to the ourselves frequently that God loves us
vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are (Blaiklock, 1981, pp. 11-12).
joined with me. I am the Vine, you are the Not long ago, a mission partner came
branches. When you’re joined with me to The Hiding Place for a prayer retreat.
and I with you, the relation intimate and She shared many joys and sorrows. Among
organic, the harvest is sure to be abun- the sorrows was the cry that “our mission
dant. Separated, you can’t produce a prayer meetings are so boring!” We under-
thing” (John 15:4-5, The Message). stood. We have been to too many mission
jesus christ: the heart of member care 215
prayer meetings that are boring, because and, where necessary, to exercise the min-
they start in the wrong place—with the istry of shaking the dust from their feet in
task and not with the Master. Prayer meet- places where they were not welcome.
ings that begin with Jesus, meet with Jesus, Mark sums up the mission in this way:
listen to Jesus, and from that starting line “They preached with joyful urgency that
focus on needy, hurting, helpless people life can be radically different; right and left
can surely never be boring. They may be they sent demons packing; they brought
painful, because often the only prayer we wellness to the sick, anointing their bod-
can pray is one of silent grief. For those ies and healing their spirits” (Mark 6:12-
who learn to pray in the way Jesus taught, 13, The Message).
prayer meetings may be painful, even pow- They then return to Jesus. He had ob-
erful, but never boring! viously been praying for them while
they were away. As soon as they return,
Jesus’ Teaching
we see them gathering around Him, tell-
He taught the disciples ing Him story after story. We also see Him
before and after ministry trips listening to them and responding with
affirmation and rejoicing. He is intimately
Having carefully laid the spiritual foun-
involved in all that they have been experi-
dations and having allowed His disciples
encing, enjoying, and achieving. Equally,
to watch Him at work and at prayer, then
He is concerned for their welfare, so He
and only then Jesus sends His team out
does not just listen to them, then imme-
on a mission. He sends them out, not one
diately send them out on another mission.
by one, but in pairs. He sends them out
Instead, as He hears them, He senses their
with careful instructions about what to do
need and insists that they take a break. In
and what not to do; what to take and what
other words, Master care provides com-
not to take; and, as far as is possible be-
passion, opportunities for ministry, pas-
fore a mission venture of this kind, He
sionate prayer support, vision, listening,
prepares them for difficulties that they
empowering, care, and rest.
might encounter. Luke paints the picture
of this proactive preparation beautifully
He underlined their need
(Luke 9:1-6).
for mutual support
Imagine the scene. For months, these
Notice that Jesus did not send His dis-
men have listened to Jesus teach and
ciples out alone. He sent them out in pairs.
preach. They have watched Him perform
Was this because the Old Testament
miracles. Now they listen to His instruc-
stresses that “it is not good for man[kind]
tions as He prepares to send them into
to be alone” (Gen. 2:18) and that the alien,
the villages to prepare people for the day
the stranger, the widow, and the orphan
when He Himself will come.
should be protected, cared for, and placed
They were to preach, to heal, to
in families? Or was it because He Himself
cleanse, to exorcise, to trust, to bless, and
suffered from loneliness, even though He
to be aware of their vulnerability. They
had done everything possible to make sure
were to exercise caution and wisdom, to
that He was surrounded by those who
listen, to be prepared for difficulties, and
loved Him? We are not told. What we now
to be like their teacher. Jesus empowered
understand, though, is the effect that lone-
them for the task, gave them authority, and
liness can have on people and their rela-
personally commissioned them. He also
tionships. Ronald Rolheiser (1979), in his
gave them careful instructions concerning
book The Restless Heart, puts it power-
their luggage and accommodation. They
fully when he explains that loneliness, if
were to travel light, live simply, and be
not understood, can be destructive of
content with what they were offered. On
human intimacy, can result in being over-
the other hand, they were to be shrewd
possessive in relationships, and can pre-
216 doing member care well
vent us from entering into any kind of cre- He showed them
ative solitude. If not faced and grappled His glory
with, loneliness can lead us to become
One way was to give the disciples the
hardened and desensitized persons. Jesus
privilege of seeing His glory. So far as we
seems here to be attempting to safeguard
are aware, the first time He revealed His
His disciples from such subtle pressures.
glory to them was early in His earthly min-
istry, when He and His disciples attended
He gave them
the wedding at Cana. John remembers
a sense of vision
how Jesus turned gallons of water into
Jesus not only safeguarded His dis-
wine and how this revelation of His glory
ciples from the scourge of loneliness by
persuaded the disciples to “put their faith
providing them with companionship and
in Him” (John 2:11).
support, but also gave them a sense of vi-
sion and privilege. As He prepares to send He assisted them
them out, Jesus sounds like someone full in their ministry
of passion and vision who is inspiring His
Another way in which Jesus discipled
companions to share His passion and en-
those whom He had called was to stay
sure that His vision is realized. He is like a
alongside them and support them while
teacher sending fully equipped students
they helped Him with His ministry. Think,
out into the world—or a king sending
for example, of the occasion we referred
carefully schooled and inspired ambassa-
to earlier, when 5,000 men plus women
dors to carry out His orders and to speak
and children were sitting on the grassy
for Him. This way of preparing His team
banks that slope down to the Sea of Gali-
must surely have given them a sense of
lee: “‘We’re out in the country and it’s
privilege and worth, of value and honor.
getting late,’ the disciples warned Jesus.
They were, indeed, ambassadors for
‘Dismiss the people so they can go to the
Christ, and they were understanding this
villages and get some supper.’ But Jesus
more and more. Jesus not only commis-
said, ‘There is no need to dismiss them.
sioned and inspired them, but also em-
You give them supper.’ ‘All we have are
powered them. Did He breathe on them
five loaves of bread and two fish,’ they
in the way He did in the Upper Room on
protested. Jesus said, ‘Bring them here.’…
the first Easter Sunday? We are not told.
He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted
What we are told is that He did not give
His face to heaven in prayer, blessed,
them a list of instructions and expect them
broke, and gave the bread to the disciples.
to follow them in their own strength. He
The disciples then gave the food to the
knew all too well that, if they were to
congregation” (Matt. 14:13-19, The Mes-
achieve anything for Him, it would be by
sage; emphasis added).
grace. The necessary grace was His free
It is almost certain that the bread and
gift to them—grace for them as individu-
the fish were multiplied as the disciples
als and grace for them as a group.
gave them to the crowd. If this is indeed
what happened, imagine the impact that
Jesus’ Mentoring
the nature and size of this miracle must
Jesus didn’t just teach those who lived
have had on Jesus’ friends. Jesus could
in community with Him. He discipled
have chosen to meet the needs of the
them as well. By discipling, we mean
crowd in a variety of ways. He chose to
teaching through personal encounter and
disciple His team by giving them the privi-
close relationship. Jesus did this in a vari-
lege of helping Him.
ety of ways.