The glass half full

There has been a lot of talk recently surrounding the right skills and personality for church planting. In one sense I want to rally against there being a special "type". And yet in the next breath I can see this as a clear example of godly wisdom (though it's a bit of a Catch 22 in that they don't want you to be crazy, and yet you need to be just a little crazy to do it!)


The idea is nothing new as most cross-cultural mission organisations insist on just this practice of 'type' recognition. The realisation that some 'types' are more able to handle the drain of intense ministries such as cross-cultural ministry and church planting appears exceedingly wise.


Now as for these types, I wonder how much our preference for optimism or pessimism comes into these considerations. The optimist may not dwell on their negative experience, but one often questions their grasp of reality. The pessimist while perhaps being realistic, will ultimately be brought down by their ability to see the shadow of even the most beautiful rainbow.


One of the guest missionaries at the National Training Event is leading a team doing university evangelism in a challenging part of the world. The optimism of the team leader must certainly be a benefit in an oftentimes difficult ministry. When asked if they ever had problems working in this country;

80% of our team have never been to prison.

Now that's an optimist.