I want to talk about a big word in our missionary vocabulary: “results!” Very recently, one of our colleagues said in genuine anguish: “We aren’t seeing much happen here! Nothing like we had hoped. I’m not sure it’s worth all the effort to stay!” Been there? Done that? Surely! We’ve all asked, “Does what we are doing really make a difference in Africa?”

Sadly, our American “bottom-line-culture” doesn’t help us much. To the contrary! Our relentless American pursuit of tangible, visible accomplishments creates undue pressure to produce! Even supporting churches and donors - creatures of the same culture - who want results! NOW! Some give saying, “We want the biggest bang for our buck!” And voilà, the culprits behind much undue frustration and discouragement, the pressure of donors and time to “get something done quickly (if nothing else, at least to build a building), show we’re productive, and “giving them the ‘bang’ for their support they hoped for!” Sad, but true, isn’t it!

I sense an obligation to remind us that “Spiritual Harvest” does not follow the usual rules of our American commercial exchange model. The laws of this harvest are not made at the Harvard Business School. Rather, the Lord of the Harvest Himself eternally establishes them! He causes the seed of the gospel to produce, in His time! He is clear about our roles! We are the sowers and waterers in His field. And He promises to “...give the increase!” But He will do it in His way and in His timing. Not ours! We have come too far and the harvest opportunities before us are too great in Africa to succumb to these skewed cultural pressures. We are not in Africa for ourselves, our careers, our gain or glory. We are there for Him! It is His harvest! We are co-laborers with Him!