Untitled - St.Francis Magazine

St Francis Magazine Vol 8, No 2 | April 2012 GOING LONG IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGE AND CRISIS By Mark Smith 2 I remember when Val and I first arrived in the Philippines. We were wet-­‐behind-­‐the-­‐ears, new recruits being introduced to the local expat community, many of whom had spent decades serving in that land. I recall thinking to myself that if I lasted the first term -­‐ 3 years in our case -­‐ then that would be a notable achievement. But 30, 20, even 10 years in-­‐country seemed totally unrealistic and therefore unachievable for me. Why did I think that way? Well, I had assumed that longevity in ministry was only for those that we consider to be the spiritually elite. In other words, you had to be a special caliber of person to go well for a long time in a foreign context. Certainly, longevity was not for vulnerable, weak, ill-­‐disciplined, self-­centered individuals like me. However, the longer I have journeyed with the Good Shepherd, serving overseas for 12 years and more recently back home in NZ, the more I have come to realize that the secret to longevity in Christian service is found not in our character traits and our resourcefulness but in His! This should not surprise us; it has been God’s way down through the millennia. He chooses to qualify those the world disqualifies. He does that to prove that He is reputable 3 and to ensure that the spotlight remains firmly fixed on the Creator rather than the created. 4 Ultimately it all comes back to God, the Good Shepherd, who delights to guide and nourish and cleanse and heal and protect and provide for us all, for His name’s sake. Even in a lonely place 2 Mark Smith is the Personnel Director of Interserve New Zealand. 3 2 Corinthians 4:74 Isaiah 42:8124