"Short-Term or Power-Assist Ministries?"

By Dr. Michael G. Loftis, President of ABWE

The weightlifter lies on the bench, drenched in perspiration, absolutely exhausted. Just one more set to finish the day. Veins stand out on his muscles as he lifts the heavy weights up and down. Then, on the last lift, his muscles involuntarily begin to tremble, unable to move another inch. He looks to his partner and says, "A little help, please." His partner, the spotter, reaches out with one hand and gently pushes upward on the bar, relieving the load. The bar slowly begins to rise until it rests safely on the brackets. "Thanks," the weightlifter says to his partner, "great workout!"

Short-term missionaries can provide this kind of relief to a career missionary, who must repeat over and over the same strenuous tasks of ministry: preparing the soil, sowing the seed, watering the ground, and clearing the weeds. Often, trembling with exhaustion, the career missionary calls out, "A little help, please." At this point, a fresh pair of hands reaching out to offer a power assist makes all the difference in the world.

As a career missionary, I've seen God supply relief just when it was needed most. Many times such help comes as a missionary is at the point of giving up from sheer exhaustion. Not only does God accomplish His work through such teamwork, but He also accomplishes His purpose in the lives of His workers. The career missionary is encouraged and strengthened; the short-term worker is able to see what such teamwork has accomplished and quite often hears the voice of God calling him to pursue career ministry.

Recently, Jo Beth and I listened as one of our young missionary mothers in the Asia Pacific region described the exhaustion of caring for her family and home-schooling her three young girls, while simultaneously assisting her husband in tribal church planting in a remote region. Then, as she expressed having reached her breaking point, she grinned and said, "This last quarter of ministry has been the happiest and most fulfilling of my missionary career!" She reached out to touch the single short-termer sitting next to her and proclaimed, "And here is the reason why I can say that. This young woman has helped me to teach my children and handle several tasks so that for the very first time, I have been able to use my language skills with the tribal women. We are seeing our work literally take off."

As you read this issue of the Message magazine, pay close attention to the many ways that God uses people in short-term ministry roles. Could you see yourself in such a role? Might God use you to lighten the load of a missionary?