What is the most important part of the bike? Is it the seat, so we can sit comfortably while we ride? Is it the tires, where the “rubber meets the road”? Maybe it’s the brakes, so that we can stop to look both ways before crossing the road. Quite honestly, none of those are the most necessary part of a bike.
The most important thing is that the bike works together as a whole unit. No one part of the bike is more important when it comes to how the bike will operate. Without the brakes, we would drive straight into danger; and without the spokes that hold the tires together, the tire would never ride on the road. Every part of the bike is an important part, equal in value and equal in necessity. Without any of these parts, the bike would not go (or at least, not safely).
This thought makes me think of the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 reminds us that as believers, we need the whole body of Christ to function. Paul explains this perfectly by saying in verse 21, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!'” He continue on in verses 25b-26 to say, “…it’s parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
Much like Paul’s thoughts here, missions follows suit. Without all of the workers, without all of the roles filled and working together as one unit, we will never get to see people reached. The body must work together to reach the unreached, whether that means going to an unreached community, or it that means training those to go, or it is simply being an advocate for those who have gone and for whom they are going to reach. All these roles (and many more) are just as important as one another, and all are just as needed.
Shane Whatley, one of our trainers at Ethnos Canada campus who is training future missionaries for cross-cultural church planting, grew up overseas and served with his wife, Karen, in Asia Pacific. They had to return to North America due to health concerns, but the burden on their hearts for reaching the unreached remained. Shane and Karen joined the team in Durham to train up the next generation of missionaries.
The two of them have served in various roles on the campus. Collectively, some roles that they have had are discipling students and meeting regularly with them; coordinating the logistics and scheduling on the Academic Coordinating Team; and playing a huge role in the Jungle Camp summer practicum. Shane also teaches various classes to the students and is directly involved in skills related to the third-semester Culture/Language Acquisition Practicum. Shane is also on the training leadership team. Karen has worked with the communications between the training and incoming students; she also maintains the campus’ certification, allowing the training to receive international students.
In many ways, they have helped many fields around the world by training families before they head to the field. It is an encouragement to our students to learn from others who grew up among the unreached and spent years serving overseas. Much of that time serving was spent orienting new missionaries and overseeing their first years on the field, so they have had the privilege of equipping workers before and after heading overseas.
Shane and Karen are truly a blessing and an asset to have on the training team! They bring a joy to the training and work hard to see the students thrive; they are a huge support and great encouragement! Their lives have been a testimony of great faith that the Lord is holding them in the palm of His hands. Their willingness to follow God through every mountain and valley has been incredible to watch first-hand. We are so thankful for people like these two who have dedicated their lives proclaiming God’s message to all nations.
It takes many people filling many roles in order for just one person or family to go overseas. Not everyone can go, but many are needed for even just one to be sent. We need all members of the body to work together!
Praise the Lord for those who sacrifice all that they have to further God’s kingdom!
