Reading these comments on inner-city ministry from Hugh Balfour on Neil Robbie’s blog, I was reminded of a discussion we had in a women’s book group a few years ago concerning the sacrifices one might need to make in overseas mission work. Unsurprisingly, for parents, health and education provision for their children was very high on the list of concerns. And, of course those things are right and proper issues for parents to consider as they want the best for their children.
But here’s my question: what do children need most?
The best education the world has to offer?
Or parents who model godly, faithful and sacrificial obedience to the Lord?
Stumble It!
3 Comments
Hi Ros
It’s the latter, and, with respect to eduction I believe living in the inner city gives children the best education…”Kids, see what unchecked sin does to your life? Now go and love the people in this city by living for Jesus.”
Both of my older sisters were missionaries when their kids were small, and I would say that their kids have phenomenal character. Some of them have suffered from jumping from school to school, however, and those who did want to go on to university were slow to start it. It also did leave their kids with a lot of more complex things to struggle through on their own spiritual journeys (things like, “why didn’t God give my parents enough support to stay on the mission field”), but that too is good for spiritual development. My one sister has said that she wishes her younger kids had been able to have the cross-cultural experiences her older kids had.
I think it depends on what is most important for our kids — to be successful by modern consumerist standards or to be spiritually wise and committed to their faith. It we care about the former, then it would be a huge sacrifice to leave behind a “good”education or health care. If we care about the latter, then the mission field will open kids up in ways that our culture and upper class educational institutions never could.
Thanks for that perspective, Jill. It’s good to know that the theory works in practice, too.