The problem is that there are too few missionary candidates.
Since there are too few candidates, we argue vociferously over where those candidates should go.
Whenever you start to talk about prioritization, the talk can get very heated very fast – because “prioritization” is code for “new candidates aren’t going to come to my field which desperately needs them.”
Maybe your field does, and maybe it doesn’t. Maybe the “workers are in the harvest.” But be that as it may everyone sees the many needs in their field, and maybe some of the other fields…
…and sees too few candidates.
We would have far less debates over where workers should go if we had enough workers to meet every need.
So this is an opportunity for us, in our conversations, to practice charity and self-control…
…and to argue not for more workers to come to our field, but for more workers, period.
…and to stop guilting missionary candidates about where they should go, but simply help them to ascertain where God is directing them.
(because the other side of the coin is that a missionary on the field doesn’t have to stay on the field. And if he doesn’t think God is directing him (or her) to a particular field, he won’t… not in the long-term.)
We must pray for and work on recruiting more workers. That is the only long-term workable achievable solution.
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Amen. I’ve been caught up in trying to recruit for just my area but honestly, I want people to be where they’re suppose to be (God ordained, not my decision). God’s got a better plan than I with those He is calling to be a missionary.