The Backstory
(FYI: Some content has been modified for the Web.) For as long as I've been here, and for many years before that, our "group" here has taught a class on Sunday mornings. At times it has been very productive and beneficial. Other times, the amount of disconnect has been so poignant, it seemed almost as though a bad dream were playing in slow motion right before our eyes. Yet, we have continued to believe that this time has been fruitful. Why, just 2 weekends ago, we did a weekend-long fast. We did this to draw near to God and seek His wise counsel in many areas of our lives. That Sunday also seemed blessed by this time when we had what I think we agree to be the most meaningful lesson to date. In fact, that weekend was so meaningful in general that we are considering the idea of making a habit of doing a weekend fast every month - so long as the motivation and timing are right. Disciplines should be used by Disciples, but they are never God - just a means to draw near to Him.
The Problem
The very next weekend, we were met with one of the most disappointing Sunday classes ever. Could we have guessed this? No. We felt just as moved by the preparation for that class as we did for the class during the fast. Is there a direct correlation? Maybe a little, but we doubt that it is entirely direct. Well, tonight as we were planning, this problem seemed to weigh heavily on our minds. We took time to pray about it and ask for counsel again. We certainly received guidance, but we feel we need additional time and prayer to discern if it is Truth.
The "Proposed" Solution
We have known for a long time that we never wanted Western culture to mask Truth. We wanted Truth to overcome all earthly culture to reveal eternal culture. But we cannot fully shed our culture. Nor can we fully shed our biases. But we do have a desire to use our knowledge and experience for real growth and discipleship over here. So, what seemed very real to us as a solution tonight was for us to step down from the role of in-class leaders. Many of our Sunday morning students don't speak English well. We don't want class to be an English corner, either. We also don't want it to be two dancing foreigners on stage for their entertainment. We want real Truth to be put into context that makes sense for them. But there is a terrible lack of leadership here. So we are hoping that we can move into the role of out-of-class leaders.
The Details and Questions
In our minds (which we know is not the final word here), we are thinking that we want to ask this Organization if they could find a local teacher here who can speak both English and Chinese. We would then take the years of experience we have walking the Walk, and use our knowledge to teach the teacher. The teacher could then contextualize our ideas and biases and turn them into local, relevant language and lessons for the students. However, there are some unanswered questions. 1) Will the Organization agree to this? 2) Is there a suitable teacher to be found? 3) Is this really what we are being led to seek? 4) If this is a good move, what do we do in the interim? Fortunately, we don't have to have answers immediately, and God is largely in charge of answering these questions. But we do want to be careful with #4 in particular. So, we are trying to continue presenting Truth, while possibly steering our lessons towards a final lesson of stepping down from our roles to allow for new in-class leadership.
The Request
This will not be an easy process. Perhaps not a quick one either. It needs to be bathed in prayer and wise counsel. If you feel particularly moved by this story please 1) pray with us and/or 2) provide any counsel you feel is appropriate to offer (keeping in mind some discretion should be used in that note/email). The final request - rejoice with us! We really feel Goodness is at work in what is going on here. We want it to continue. And we long to connect in more and deeper ways with our Lord. We pray this same blessing for those of you we know are regular readers of this space. Thanks, greatly.
