If you were to ask me why I chose to do SOSM, I would probably reply with something like, “to gain knowledge about cross-cultural ministry through contextualization” or “to become a better and more effective missionary on the field” or something of the like. But I wouldn’t have replied, “to learn how to work together in a team.” However, God’s idea for what this school was meant to be for me was so much deeper and encompassing than my limited ideas. From day one, His intent was for me to internalize the beauty of team and to make it a part of how I live my day to day life, how I do ministry, and how I go to the nations.
We have lost the meaning of “team” in our Western worldview. We see team as a bunch of individuals working together for a common purpose. But even in that, the emphasis is still on the individual. Other non-Western societies are far more community- oriented in their perception. South Africans have this beautiful idea of “ubuntu,” which essentially means “my wellbeing is extremely connected to your wellbeing.” They believe that we become more fully who we are through other people. We do not have language to express this because interdependence is not a high value in our Western, highly individualistic societies.
However, in the kingdom of God, interdependence is of great worth. 1 Corinthians 12:26 says, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” Our wellbeing is supposed to be intimately connected to the wellbeing of others. Romans 12:13 says “Share with God’s people who are in need.” This can be translated “to come into communion or fellowship with, to be made a partner in.” We are to enter into others’ needs, to become a partner with them in their need. What would it look like if we lived as if our wellbeing was this connected to the wellbeing of others?
Paul says in Philippians 2:2-4, “make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” We will look to others’ interests and needs when we understand others’ need in deep connection to our own need. When others’ needs are met, my own need is met through that. This concept is so antagonistic to the mentality of the world, but it is at the very core of the kingdom of God.
This is such a deep principle that I believe is so central to the heart of God. It is something that I am continuing to journey with God in seeking to apply. Where does it start? It starts with the team God has chosen for me and purposefully put me in for this season. It means placing myself in service to my team at a cost to myself, believing that God will meet my needs as I seek to serve the needs of others. It starts with the choice every day to believe that others’ wellbeing is linked to my own and to consider their interests above my own. It is a continual journey, but it is one that I am blessed to be on. I am thankful for this season of learning, learning that reaches far beyond my head and into my heart.
So why am I doing this SOSM? To learn how to take the gospel to the nations effectively in a cross cultural context and to do it in a team, learning that so much more can be accomplished for God’s kingdom through interdependence than independence. I am learning how to see others’ needs as being connected to my own needs and that I will enter more fully into what God has intended for me through my team.
