I despise politics. And yet, I’m beginning to find it completely fascinating.

These past few weeks, I’ve been following the Republican presidential debates and it’s been both frustrating and challenging. It’s been frustrating because they keep battling each other instead of focusing on working together to find the best person for the job. But it’s also challenged me to look into what I believe about our country’s foundational values. And to see how just where America is right now, with the type of “leaders” we have in government, is just a little depressing. Not to mention, I can’t believe how clueless some Americans are; but then again, I used to be in the same boat. But knowing what is going on has definitely motivated me to take action and get more involved in government affairs.

Anyway, I won’t get into all that. But as I’ve watched these candidates travel the country to debates, caucuses, etc., I’ve been thinking about how it sort of parallels a missionary’s journey on deputation. Okay, so maybe it sounds crazy, but just bear with me for a minute and look at it this way:

First, there’s a calling. Can you imagine what goes on in the mind of a presidential candidate? I wonder if he wakes up in the morning, thinking, “Hey, I want to be responsible for the fate of an entire nation and be the representative of that nation to the entire world.” Overwhelming, much? It’s gotta be a calling.

But that’s exactly how the journey to the mission field starts! If God calls you to be a missionary, you can’t get away from it. Yes, you can be out of His will and harden your heart to His calling, but if you are truly following Him and He wants you to do something, He will definitely let you know.

Second, there’s campaigning. This is sort of like deputation. I see a couple of similarities:

The one that stands out most, to me, is trying to connect with people and get them to support your cause—because, really, it’s their cause, too! People vote for their candidate because they believe he will accomplish, in his position, what they believe is best for the country. In the same way, churches that send out missionaries are doing what they are commanded to do, to go into all the world and preach, but cannot physically do themselves. It’s a team effort. So many times, missions is seen as a “job,” where the missionary is paid to go to a foreign country. But if the person supporting missionaries truly feels like he is the one being sent, it will make a world of difference. And once we start working as a team, oh, the places we could go!

Another similarity is fundraising. It takes money to campaign. And although I did not like the fact that I was “taking” money from churches and people (especially people who needed the money more than I did!) I had to learn how to be a “gracious receiver,” as my dear friend Hannah so aptly put it. Being a cheerful giver was easy for me. But receiving was harder. For me, the money I got was always a result of hard work or birthday/Christmas gifts. Money I felt entitled to. I did not feel entitled to missionary money at all.

God had to teach me that all money, whether I’d earned it or not, was ultimately His money. These people, these churches, were not giving me their money; they were giving their money to God. And God was going to bless them for their sacrifice. I was just responsible for using it as God wanted.

As I was talking with some wiser missionaries, they reminded me: It takes money to minister. The more you have, the more you can help people. It is not an end, but the means to an end. It is a tool. And I had to see it as such. It’s God’s money, after all, and He is to use it as He sees fit.

The third parallel between campaigning and deputation is that there has got to be commitment. Leading a country isn’t the type of thing that you go at half-heartedly. Neither is missions. You hear all these candidates making promise after promise, telling us that they’re going to change the direction of the country.

And that’s where the similarities end.

Here’s the thing. I’m not promising that people will be saved every week, every month, or even every year. Adoniram Judson labored in India for seven years before seeing a singe convert. But I will promise that the Great Comission will be carried out and God will give the increase when He sees fit.

I’m not promising that I won’t make stupid mistakes. I’m human. But I will promise that I’ll do my best to please Jesus and not people.

Because in all I do, I do it because of Him and for Him. Jesus Christ, and He alone, is my Savior and Lord.

I’m not promising that I will meet your expections or fit your “ideal missionary” mold. But I will promise to be as real and honest as possible so that you won’t see me as “more spiritual,” but as a sinner saved by grace and a fellow sister-in-Christ.

I know that not all politicians are corrupt, but they do have a reputation for saying one thing and doing another. I don’t want to be like that; I want to be consistent. I would rather people have a low opinion of me, at first, then come to have a better opinion later, than the other way around. Actually, I would rather people not see me at all, but see God, and desire to know Him more in their own lives.

But the point I’m trying to get at is this: Don’t let missions become politics. Don’t judge your missionaries on how they look, how well they present their ministry, or how much they “offer.” Instead, ask them the vital questions. Ask them how God called them to the field; ask them how God’s provided on the road; ask them what God is doing in them and through them.

Then, love them for who they are. Because that is the best support you can give. After all, isn’t that what you would want from people with whom you’re trying to share your heart?

I’ve been so blessed to know churches who are doing it right. But I’ve also heard sad stories of those who don’t understand missions at all. Churches who have “traded” their missionaries with other churches, with the missionary being dropped soon after. Churches who simply want a count of professions of faith and church attendance. Churches who don’t even take time to read their missionaries’ prayer letters.

It’s hard to talk about these things, but they need to be said because, otherwise, no one will know that there’s a problem. Missionary politics is a touchy subject, but most missionaries will be honest with you if you just ask. Why are we seeing so many missionaries leave the field, or not get past deputation?

Those are questions for a different post. I’ve left you with a lot of things to think about. But I’ll leave you with this:

When a missionary comes to a church with a genuine heart for missions, who takes the responsibility of “rope-holding” seriously, it makes everything worthwhile. And when she’s out on the road, knowing that there are churches that love her and pray for her, she feels like the most blessed person on the planet. And there is nothing in the world she’d rather be doing, than doing what she’s doing right now.

Your missionary to Thailand,

Atalie