10-Fold and the Missionary

Today is the last day for 10-Fold.org, a project of the Board of Global Ministries (UMC), and the day's feature is sustainable agriculture.  It's been a good educational project, channeling money from a special grant into specific projects, based on the number of web hits.

As I watched today, it felt so very good to be connected to that project, teaching sustainable agriculture in Africa, South America, and the Caribbean islands.  For several years, we've contributed to Heifer Project (my birthday presents usually connect with that - this year a small farmyard and some bees went on their way).

And it reminded me of U. S. and Vivien Gray, missionaries from East Texas who went to Liberia decades ago.  They taught agriculture.  They served their community.  And they served as foster parents.  Everyone knew:  Vivien welcomed kids who had nowhere to go.

One morning, a boy who called himself Bennie, eight years old, stood on the porch.  He had walked a very long way to get to Mrs. Gray's house.  She invited Bennie in.  Into the family, into the faith, into service.  Bennie became a minister, then a Bishop of Liberia.  As an honored leader, he served in government, becoming vice-president of the country.

In 1977, Bennie Dee Warner took a trip to a conference in America.  He brought along his wife and children, which turned out to be a blessing.  During that trip, a coup overthrew the government and Bennie couldn't return.  (Liberia is finally coming out of that long period of chaos.)   Settled in Oklahoma,  he is still a powerful influence in the church, and his life's work is a tribute to one woman's servant-hood.

One missionary, one eight year old boy on the porch, and a turning point.  God inspired Vivien to say "Come in."  And just look what He made of it.

Just a Bronze Baby, or Not

It was a hot day, and the shade looked very welcoming as I walked out the door at Lowe's. The shade was provided by one of those yard loungers, for sale, but occupied at the moment by a grandfatherly type holding a sort-of bronze colored infant.

At least I thought it was an infant. Tucked into his arm, maybe two feet total height, as he leaned down to kiss its little head. Sweet, I thought. Then, as I got exactly even with him, it was apparent that there was no baby at all.
A miniature Buddha. Nothing wrong with that. Object of devotion for millions. But the kiss on the very top of a bronze head in the summer heat outside Lowe's was just unique. It wasn't clear whether he had just bought the little fellow or brought him along on the shopping trip.

We live in a multilayer religious world. Many recognitions all around us. Lots to see. From the Sikh, to the Hindu, to the converts moving from one to another, to the claims of various Protestant groups and Mormons, to the YMCA camp at Estes Park, with a large group of Buddhist monks playing tennis for the first time.

From discovering the zest for life among Buddhists, the powerful commitments of the Sikhs, to the sheer numbers of other groups, we need an openness to discover how God is at work in other cultures and other religions.

Ask the question: could it be possible for 1 billion Chinese to be on their journey through life without God deeply wanting to be in touch? And already there? And wondering when we'll discover that and find our way in behind Him?