Religion & Life
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 10: Hearing the Call
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 10: Hearing the Call
by Larry Stout
If there is one question that we have heard more than any other in our fifteen plus years of ministry in Latvia, it is something like this, “So how did you get to the mission field?” Implied in the question is, “Why you and why here?” No question is more important to a missionary. When the going gets tough (and it gets tough very often), we all reflect back and ask the fundamental question – how did I get here in the first place? Do I really belong here?
by Larry Stout
If there is one question that we have heard more than any other in our fifteen plus years of ministry in Latvia, it is something like this, “So how did you get to the mission field?” Implied in the question is, “Why you and why here?” No question is more important to a missionary. When the going gets tough (and it gets tough very often), we all reflect back and ask the fundamental question – how did I get here in the first place? Do I really belong here?
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 9: Short-Term Troubles
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 9: Short-Term Troubles
by Larry Stout
At the turn of the new millenium, a Christianity Today article noted that because of the availability and affordability of travel throughout the world, the work of missions could be better served by short-term mission groups rather than those serving in a long-term capacity. I had to smile when I read it. It sounded so American – the quicker the better.
The first few years we were in Latvia, we had an endless stream of short-term visitors. In fact, during one seven-month stretch, we had at least one visitor staying in our home every single day. God had to give us the special gift of hospitality to endure so many guests! Though all of these visitors brought encouragement and blessing in some way, it was also true that the sheer volume took a great deal of our time and energy. I even wondered at times if our own ministry was not suffering because we were spending so many resources on helping others.
by Larry Stout
At the turn of the new millenium, a Christianity Today article noted that because of the availability and affordability of travel throughout the world, the work of missions could be better served by short-term mission groups rather than those serving in a long-term capacity. I had to smile when I read it. It sounded so American – the quicker the better.
The first few years we were in Latvia, we had an endless stream of short-term visitors. In fact, during one seven-month stretch, we had at least one visitor staying in our home every single day. God had to give us the special gift of hospitality to endure so many guests! Though all of these visitors brought encouragement and blessing in some way, it was also true that the sheer volume took a great deal of our time and energy. I even wondered at times if our own ministry was not suffering because we were spending so many resources on helping others.
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 8: Far Away Fruit by Larry Stout
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 8: Far Away Fruit
by Larry Stout
Some years ago I remember reading a satirical article in an Estonian journal that declared that all the Christian missionaries could now leave Estonia since their work was done. The journal had added up the numbers from the various Christian organizations reporting their evangelism success, and noted that every man, woman and child in Estonia must now be saved!
It is certainly true that missionaries are pressured to keep up a good report to the supporters back home. It starts with spiritualizing even the most mundane of activities. A group of three men visited Riga for the first time and my family assisted them with finding churches where they could visit, translators to assist them, and our own children to serve as guides. Yet later when we read their mission report, which they gave to their church, they claimed how God ‘miraculously’ opened doors for them to minister, even though they came to the country as complete strangers. There was no mention of the Stout family assistance at all!
by Larry Stout
Some years ago I remember reading a satirical article in an Estonian journal that declared that all the Christian missionaries could now leave Estonia since their work was done. The journal had added up the numbers from the various Christian organizations reporting their evangelism success, and noted that every man, woman and child in Estonia must now be saved!
It is certainly true that missionaries are pressured to keep up a good report to the supporters back home. It starts with spiritualizing even the most mundane of activities. A group of three men visited Riga for the first time and my family assisted them with finding churches where they could visit, translators to assist them, and our own children to serve as guides. Yet later when we read their mission report, which they gave to their church, they claimed how God ‘miraculously’ opened doors for them to minister, even though they came to the country as complete strangers. There was no mention of the Stout family assistance at all!
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 7: Complete Christianity by Larry Stout
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 7: Complete Christianity
by Larry Stout
Exactly eighteen years ago, I arrived in Riga for the very first time. I was on a short-term mission trip to the Soviet Union, and I found myself falling in love with this incredible city. Like many Americans, I was fascinated with how the Communist Party controlled the population. Over the years, as I got to know people and felt they could trust me enough to talk to me, I asked questions about communist ideology. I came to realize that, also like many Americans, I failed to understand the full significance of this false philosophy.
by Larry Stout
Exactly eighteen years ago, I arrived in Riga for the very first time. I was on a short-term mission trip to the Soviet Union, and I found myself falling in love with this incredible city. Like many Americans, I was fascinated with how the Communist Party controlled the population. Over the years, as I got to know people and felt they could trust me enough to talk to me, I asked questions about communist ideology. I came to realize that, also like many Americans, I failed to understand the full significance of this false philosophy.
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 6: Sharpening the Saw (continued)
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 6: Sharpening the Saw (continued)
by Larry Stout
Two weeks ago I mentioned that through God’s providence, family and fun, and continual self-renewal, Debbie and I have been able to keep our saw sharp on the mission field. This illustration was the last of Stephen Covey’s seven laws of highly effective people. Covey told the story of a lumberjack who asked for a job and proved to be the hardest worker on his team, but each day fell further and further on his quotas. When the boss confronted him about laziness, the lumberjack protested that he came in early, stayed late, and took shorter breaks. He never stopped working. The boss asked him, “When do you take time to sharpen your saw?”
by Larry Stout
Two weeks ago I mentioned that through God’s providence, family and fun, and continual self-renewal, Debbie and I have been able to keep our saw sharp on the mission field. This illustration was the last of Stephen Covey’s seven laws of highly effective people. Covey told the story of a lumberjack who asked for a job and proved to be the hardest worker on his team, but each day fell further and further on his quotas. When the boss confronted him about laziness, the lumberjack protested that he came in early, stayed late, and took shorter breaks. He never stopped working. The boss asked him, “When do you take time to sharpen your saw?”
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 6: Sharpening the Saw by Larry Stout
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 6: Sharpening the Saw by Larry Stout
I have served over fifteen consecutive years on the mission field. Debbie returned to the States twice, once for four months in 1992 to sell our home and again for eleven months in 2004-05 for Olya’s education. Many people have questioned over the years how we have been able to keep ‘on point’ for such an extented period of time without burning out. As I have been reflecting back over our work in this series, I find myself wondering the same thing! I think there have been several reasons for our survival:
I have served over fifteen consecutive years on the mission field. Debbie returned to the States twice, once for four months in 1992 to sell our home and again for eleven months in 2004-05 for Olya’s education. Many people have questioned over the years how we have been able to keep ‘on point’ for such an extented period of time without burning out. As I have been reflecting back over our work in this series, I find myself wondering the same thing! I think there have been several reasons for our survival:
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 5: Love Child by Larry Stout
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 5: Love Child by Larry Stout
I had a conversation with an American recently that was contemplating moving to Latvia to enter the mission field. As I was answering his questions, I found myself counseling him that the one absolute certainty I have discovered on the mission field is that things do not go according to plan. The Lord has had many wonderful surprises for us along the road – and the biggest was adding to our family a little Russian orphan girl named Olya.
When Debbie first started befriending this eight-year-old ‘street urchin’ in 1996, I had my reservations. Almost every weekend and other school breaks, she was bringing Olya home from the orphanage. She seemed terrified of me, spoke no English, and mostly played computer games with Aaron or listened to music with headphones on by herself. I failed to see the point of all this, and quite frankly, I felt that the energy Debbie was expending on this one child would be better served in a broader context for more needy children in Latvia.
I had a conversation with an American recently that was contemplating moving to Latvia to enter the mission field. As I was answering his questions, I found myself counseling him that the one absolute certainty I have discovered on the mission field is that things do not go according to plan. The Lord has had many wonderful surprises for us along the road – and the biggest was adding to our family a little Russian orphan girl named Olya.
When Debbie first started befriending this eight-year-old ‘street urchin’ in 1996, I had my reservations. Almost every weekend and other school breaks, she was bringing Olya home from the orphanage. She seemed terrified of me, spoke no English, and mostly played computer games with Aaron or listened to music with headphones on by herself. I failed to see the point of all this, and quite frankly, I felt that the energy Debbie was expending on this one child would be better served in a broader context for more needy children in Latvia.
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 4: Freedom Sings by Larry Stout
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 4: Freedom Sings by Larry Stout
When we arrived in Latvia in early 1991, it was still part of the Soviet Union. The Baltic countries had been flexing their diplomatic muscles since Gorbychev had introduced his concept of perestroka, but it still seemed many years away before they would become independent nations again as they had been prior to World War II. We found ourselves celebrities since we were the first family from the United States to live in Riga and came at such a tumultuous time. For several months after our arrival we were often interviewed on the radio and press. The question we were always asked was about our opinion on Latvian independence. Fortunately, we had a ‘safe’ answer to the question. We noted that the United States had never officially recognized the Soviet annexation of the Baltic countries, and we as American citizens did not dispute our country’s official position. We treaded lightly on this issue, as our visas came from the Soviet Union, and we certainly did not want to jeopardize our status.
When we arrived in Latvia in early 1991, it was still part of the Soviet Union. The Baltic countries had been flexing their diplomatic muscles since Gorbychev had introduced his concept of perestroka, but it still seemed many years away before they would become independent nations again as they had been prior to World War II. We found ourselves celebrities since we were the first family from the United States to live in Riga and came at such a tumultuous time. For several months after our arrival we were often interviewed on the radio and press. The question we were always asked was about our opinion on Latvian independence. Fortunately, we had a ‘safe’ answer to the question. We noted that the United States had never officially recognized the Soviet annexation of the Baltic countries, and we as American citizens did not dispute our country’s official position. We treaded lightly on this issue, as our visas came from the Soviet Union, and we certainly did not want to jeopardize our status.
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 3: Language and Culture by Larry Stout
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 3: Language and Culture by Larry Stout
I have greatly respected my son-in-law, Robert Mattox, as he has prepared himself for the mission field. He has spent years studying Spanish, and gaining as much knowledge about Central and South America as possible. Some years ago, he wrote me and asked if he could come to Latvia for a couple of months to mentor under me. He had the desire to enter the mission field, and since he so admired the work we had done, he felt it would be natural to sit at my feet, so to speak, and learn the ropes. As much as I wanted Rob’s company, I felt unworthy of providing him with his fundamentals about missions. Indeed, even now, we are just barely sorting out how the Lord has used us in His work.
I have greatly respected my son-in-law, Robert Mattox, as he has prepared himself for the mission field. He has spent years studying Spanish, and gaining as much knowledge about Central and South America as possible. Some years ago, he wrote me and asked if he could come to Latvia for a couple of months to mentor under me. He had the desire to enter the mission field, and since he so admired the work we had done, he felt it would be natural to sit at my feet, so to speak, and learn the ropes. As much as I wanted Rob’s company, I felt unworthy of providing him with his fundamentals about missions. Indeed, even now, we are just barely sorting out how the Lord has used us in His work.
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 2: Tough Questions - Hard Answers, by Larry Stout
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE MISSION FIELD – PART 2: Tough Questions – Hard Answers by Larry Stout
Question from a restaurant owner, “Larry, even at full capacity, I will go out of business if I pay all the taxes the government requires me to pay. When I complain to the tax officials, they claim that they know everyone cheats, which is why the rates are so high. How can I be a honest Christian and follow the law and still stay in business?”
Question from a lawyer, “Larry, I am responsible for legal claims on reclamation of property, but there are so many claims, the cases could take two years to get heard. It is accepted practice to pay bribes to judges to get cases heard sooner. As a Christian, I do not want to do that, but my caseload is now backlogged and my clients and my boss are angry at me. How can I be an honest lawyer and still practice law?”
Question from a restaurant owner, “Larry, even at full capacity, I will go out of business if I pay all the taxes the government requires me to pay. When I complain to the tax officials, they claim that they know everyone cheats, which is why the rates are so high. How can I be a honest Christian and follow the law and still stay in business?”
Question from a lawyer, “Larry, I am responsible for legal claims on reclamation of property, but there are so many claims, the cases could take two years to get heard. It is accepted practice to pay bribes to judges to get cases heard sooner. As a Christian, I do not want to do that, but my caseload is now backlogged and my clients and my boss are angry at me. How can I be an honest lawyer and still practice law?”
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