What is a Missionary? An Article by Jonah Bailey

Published: July 11th, 2007

"I'm a missionary."  These are three words you probably won't find yourself uttering very often.  In our post-christian culture, "missionary" has become a type of "four-letter-word" that will quiet a room or cut short a conversation quicker than some other choice pieces of vocabulary we avoid saying in mixed company.

What if, in our hip post-modern culture, we've got it wrong?  What if this word that we've associated with Bible-bashing proselytism, cultural imperialism and the decimation of native civilizations got hijacked somewhere along the way?  As followers of Jesus in the 21st century, are we letting other peoples' stories and meanings attached to the word "missionary" hold our heritage hostage?  I'd like to introduce you to three people in two situations connected with 24-7 Prayer that are living out wonderful stories that are re-defining what it means to say the words, "I'm a missionary".  I think you'll find that our distaste at using the word "missionary" seems unreasonable in the light of the true-life stories of beautiful individuals in difficult places living out the way of Jesus.

Ibiza: The White Island

Becky and Ben Edmonds moved to Ibiza in January 2007 after spending a year as part of the Transit training community in the US.  They now form part of the 24-7 Ibiza community who are currently in the midst of the high clubbing season on the white island.  Sharing the love of Jesus in Ibiza while people are using drugs, having sex, in the process of getting intoxicated or puking because they're already there is a bit strange, sometimes fun and always tiring.  After a night out in San Antonio's "The West End" a few weeks ago, Becky found herself meditating on the parable of the sheep and the goats and wrote the following:

"'...Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me— you did it to me.' (Matt 25, The Message)

I read this the other night in the prayer room after a night out on the streets of the West End. I was feeling a bit frustrated that I hadn't been specifically "telling people about Jesus", and wondering if what we are doing here is enough.  When I read it I was totally moved and overwhelmed at Jesus saying that all these things we do and don't think count for much, he takes those things as though we have done them for Him. I was so overcome with how "worth it" all this had suddenly become.

And then I started to take stock, and although I haven't led anyone into a new relationship with Jesus in the last six weeks, what I have done is sit with the lonely, listen to the broken-hearted, pray with the sick, talk with the curious, show kindness to people in different ways, feed the hungry, and offer safety to people in danger. I can put names and faces to each of these instances, but what Jesus has said is that I've done it for Him!

The rest of the team here in Ibiza and a whole bunch of people who have been out to visit each have their own stories of who they've met or talked to and things that have happened out in the West End, and I'm sure you can think of instances wherever you are where you've listened to someone or shown kindness in some way but not really thought anything of it, but Jesus has said that those things are done to Him. "

Becky has a relationship with this Jesus.  He means a lot to her.  The idea that he could be on the receiving end of these acts of kindness she practices gives them signficance, no matter how small they are.  She doesn't spend time in the West End trying to enlist new members in her club or looking for "converts".  Becky isn't a missionary to the drunk and the drugged because she's passionate about a cause.  She's there because she's in love with a person.  And that person is in love with all those people.  He is at the very centre of her missional life.

Brian Heasley has a hand in leading the 24-7 community in Ibiza.  Among other things, Brian has spent time in prison and been the pastor of a family church in England (although not at the same time).  One thing that you have to know about Brian: He doesn't believe in being less than honest so that you can feel more comfortable about him, his friends or the work he does in Ibiza.  To put it simply, Brian is real.  What you see is what you get.  The description line on his blog reads: "Some things are better out than in".

Recently, the 24-7 Ibiza community opened up their office to the public as a free internet "drop in".  They are also giving out welcome packs to club workers and regulars as a way of making friends in the hopes of re-defining the negative view of "Christians" that is held by most people visiting Ibiza.  As Becky already mentioned, they also go to the West End regularly, looking for intoxicated people whom they can help get back to their hotels.

The van (which was recently bought in the UK from a special fund raised entirely from donations especially denoted for the purpose) was used for the first time last night!  We stood in the middle of a crowd and prayed that God would lead us.  After we finished praying, a woman appeared who had fallen and cut her head. It wasn't a bad cut and she wasn't drunk but she needed to go and get it looked at. So we took her and friend to the medical centre.  Dawn, one of our team, sat in the back with them and had a lovely chat.  It felt good.

Earlier, Dawn and I had witnessed a drugs deal taking place.  We just sat and looked at these 6 "dealers" who work as a little crew and prayed that God would put a stop to this kind of thing. Half an hour later, 2 other members of our team saw them all getting arrested!

Later, we talked with a few people and walked around. We then witnessed a couple having sex on a public beach. It was disturbing, but also a reminder of why the condoms we give out in the welcome packs are important... The images we see are quite graphic, I am thinking about how we debrief from our nights out, we've got to put some systems in place that help us cope with all that we see. 

Ben and Tim took prayer request from about 8 people on the street and had some great chats. They then invited a load of workers to a remote beach they wouldn't usually be able to get to.  Something we can now do in our van! It's already proving to be a great help.

For Brian, helping people and making friends is what being a missionary means.  It is matter-of-fact daily life.  If he weren't doing this in Ibiza, he'd be doing it somewhere else.  It is a lifestyle, it is the way things should be.  He has no secret agenda, no strings attached to the kindness that he seeks to show to complete strangers.  He simply wants to love them and be their friend.

These are beautiful people in a beautiful place doing a beautiful thing... and they are missionaries.

Next Page: A Cheerleader and Prostitutes Bring the Kingdom of God to a Mexican Border Town

Jonah Bailey is the Managing Editor of the 24-7 International Website. He also leads a 24-7 community called TribUrbana (urban tribe) in Seville, Spain where prayer, justice, mission and creativity are central. He is married to Heather and is the proud father of Sophia and Robert. He loves European history, baseball and good design. You can follow Jonah and contact him on twitter.com.

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