26 Reasons Why Workers Leave the Field

26

Reasons Why Workers Leave the Field

1. The most important is that God has led them to go for mission work. God often changes our direction and incorporates all of our humanness in it. I urge you to read Viv Thomas’ book, Second Choice. Even if someone returns because of sin, failure or some other negative factor, God can still overrule especially if there is reality, brokenness and repentance.

2. Poor leadership on the field is another reason why people “don’t make it.” One of our main ministries must be training and formation of godly, gifted leadership which must be combined with helping new believers understand the biblical basis of leadership. There is much abuse and confusion on this subject and so many believers are confused.

3. Equally important is unrealistic expectations. As a book publisher I must confess that often it is books that create this unrealistic expectation. We have too many books with nice formulae and not connected with some of the things we hear or read about. Godly, gifted leaders are still sinners, saved by grace and will continue to sin and fail. We must be ready to forgive and grow together in repentance and brokenness. Leaders have to make hard decisions and with the range of people in most teams, there is always someone who is not happy. This sometimes leads to gossip and soon you will have a mess. If I did not believe that God could work even in the midst of our people-made messes, I think I would become permanently discouraged (I would love to send you my message on discouragement).

4. Failure in the sexual area is another reason why people return from the field. I could tell some “horror” stories. Pornography, especially on the Worldwide Web, is causing major damage in frontline mission work. Not many are willing to openly talk about it, much less really do something about it. People sometimes face loneliness on the field and this can set them up for a quick romance (not from God) that ends in disaster. I urge people to read books on this subject like The Snare by Lois Mowday and When Good Men Are Tempted by Bill Perkins. Unfortunately, leaders are often the enemy’s targets in this aspect of spiritual warfare. That is why marital problems often cause people to return home.

5. Personality, strategy and doctrinal conflicts are also near the top of the list that send people running home for cover. On the practical level, there never seems to be enough time to sort everything out and often leaders are on overload and on the way to “burnout.” How did so many “grace killers” get on the mission field? Everyone should read Charles Swindoll’s, The Grace Awakening.

6. Failure in the areas of language and cultural learning and adaptation are part of important factors. Again, I want to affirm that for 46 years I have seen all kinds of people used on the mission field; so let us be slow to judge, especially in regard to what God is doing or not doing. If people are learners and are willing to receive correction and keep growing, then there is always hope. Humility and true servanthood can often make up for shortfall in language and other areas. The abuse of grace can also come in and I think we all know that “grace without discipline can lead to disgrace” and that in turn can hamper the work in very real ways.

7. The lack of teamwork and pastoral care are major factors. Many agencies have improved in this in the past years, but my conviction is that without 1 Corinthians 13 reality, nothing will really work. We need people who have proved the reality of God’s grace in their lives especially before they get into long-term missions. Short- term missions done in the right way can often be a great step in that direction. Some short-term work just helps people put their sins and difficult ways in cement. That is why it is so good if the discipleship process begins at a very young age. I believe that Teen Street camps are helping with this as well as other similar events (www.teenstreet.org).

8. Problems and complexities at home. In the days of email, etc. people on the field are still involved in matters at home. Splits and other problems in their home churches affect them and often leads to drop in their support or they are asked to return.

9. Shortage of support or difficult financial pressure. Many never go in the first place, because they hate raising support or are unable to raise it. This is a major factor that again we don’t like to honestly talk about. The problems and complexities are endless and it’s where I need a fresh baptism of godly optimism. Please listen to my message, “Does the Lack of Funds Hinder God’s Work?”

10. Satan and his forces are another reason. We don’t want to over- emphasize the devil, but there are many strong verses about him and we know he militantly opposes world evangelization. He loves to sow legalistic and wrong views of God himself. We are told that he sometimes comes as an “angel of light” and sometimes as a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour. This is why a basic Spirit-filled walk with God, or whatever term you want to call it, is the most important way to stay in the center of God’s will.