The Difference Between a Missionary and a Mooch-in-ary
Introduction: I thank God for missionaries that are God sent. Many people however have the wrong idea concerning a missionary. There are some people that take advantage of the term “missionary” for their own profit. After spending 15 years in a foreign country, I am well acquainted with many missionaries and their works. Also after 16 years in evangelism, I have seen many, many, and may I say many missionaries and their ministry. If you will allow just a few minutes of your time, I would like to expose the Mooch-n-ary.
How Are Missionaries Sent?
Many look at a missionary and have considered a comfortable career. Yes, there are many that have made it a business without the call of God on their lives. A church sees the need for a particular place and sends a missionary. Many call themselves missionaries, when in reality they are only a glorified assistant pastor for the church where he is working. The first missionaries that went out, went because of the Lord calling them:
Acts 16:6-10
6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
Please note that in verse 10, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us. They knew exactly who it was that God wanted them to go to. They had something more than a burden. A burden will bring more missionaries back home as a failure. A burden is not the reason for a missionary. The call of God is the main reason.
If a missionary will not do the work at the home church, can we expect him to do it on the field? A “missionary to be” should be fully active with his church. He should be engaged in all parts that he is able. Will he door knock on the field when he does not door knock at home? Some missionaries that are staying at their home church supposingly doing the work, only go door knocking when the church does. What is the main mission of that missionary? Will he teach the principles of the Word of God on the field when he does not hold to them at the home church?
Acts 13:1-3
13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Please note that the ministry for Paul and Silas was not a ministry that kept them at that church. They were already doing the work. But the time for separation came for them to depart. What a shame that many so-called missionaries are staying at the local church, taking money from other churches, when they can get an honest living and do the same work at the local church. The supporting churches should know if you are going to be an assistant pastor. I have seen missionaries that are just lazy, expecting other to take care of them. We call these Mooch-in-aries.
If they will not tithe fully and give to missions through the church, do you think they will be faithful on the field? Many missionaries tithe just partly to their home church. Could I say this is a wicked thing. They are robbers, God said to bring ALL the tithes to the store house. For anyone to do it any other way has violated the principles of tithing. What the home church would do with the monies, it up to the members of that local assembly.
Reason for Support As a Missionary:
It is clear that many missionaries do not need support for the field that they are going to. Many want to be full time at the expense of missions’ monies. Is this right? Note the example of the missionary of missionaries (Paul).
Acts 18:1-3
18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
Notice that this missionary was in a stable place. He was able to get a job that was honest and make his living that he might not be burdensome on any. Many mooch-in-aries expect churches to pay their full support, pay for car, utilities, curtains, computers, . . . The list goes on. I watch how pastors started a church, sent from a church, go to the area, get a job and start a church. It is amazing that they were able to build something that is still going. WHY? They had a determination to do the will of God. Will a missionary continue if his support stops?
As I spend 15 years in Germany, it was illegal to work a normal type job due to the work permit and visa status. Many missionaries are in the same type of situation. They need the support. They cannot get a job on the foreign field. If there is no way for a missionary to get a job, then the support is needed.
Mooch-in-ary on Beg-a-ta-tion:
After preaching for 29 years, I have seen many Mooch-in-aries along the way. They come to a church looking like bums, haven’t had a meal since the last church and start to play on your sympathy. They mention how rough it has been on the road, how they are just making it by, the price of fuel making it impossible, . . . The Mooch-in-ary has never thought about the part where he is an ambassador of Christ. I’m glad to know that God is still on the throne.
Mooch-in-aries has told me the way to get support is to use children and play on the emotions of the people. Can I say that is not the reason to support that Mooch-in-ary. They show slides or videos that play on your sympathy. They dress in clothing that are old and tater. Can I say this is not the reason to support that Mooch-in-ary.
They get names of the people in the church and began to correspond without the knowledge of the preacher knowing. They play on these members’ emotions to send them a love offering once and a while for their ministry. They make known that they might have to come home without their help. Can I say, Let the Mooch-in-ary come home. They are money called and not God called.
After four to five years of traveling the roads, then comes a letter to churches for them to help with getting settled into their field. They write back and tell you the need of rent payments, deposits, vehicles needed, computers for the ministry, . . . My question for them is, what happened to the monies that already came in. If a missionary raises one thousand dollars a year, on the fourth year he is receiving about four thousand dollars plus love offerings. What has taken place with all that money? Have they ever heard of a budget? If they were to put up only one thousand dollars the last year of deputation, they would have twelve thousand dollars. I think that could go a long way to the needs. If they are poor stewards on the deputation trail, they will be poor stewards on the field. You will receive prayer letters constantly telling how they need more monies. Their problem is poor stewardship. It is also interesting that their Pastor will not say a word about it, more money coming into the home church. What ever happened to integrity?
After they get to the field, is integrity found. They get a church established. They began to pastor that church. They are not looking at church planting. They said they did while on deputation to get support. But when they come home on furlough, they go back to the same place on the mission field. Is that church planting? They receive salary as a pastor. I know they do not say this. But the church takes care of their rent, electric, gas, telephone,.. Is this mooch-in-ary in need of support? This is never told to the supporting churches. Some go so far to secure a job on the field. Yet with this the churches that support him do not know about it. I have seen many missionaries on the foreign field making more than $ 100,000.00 on the field. They live like rich people, wearing fine clothing, eating out constantly and driving vehicles that only rich people drive. The nationals do not consider these as missionaries but rich Americans. I am speaking from that which I have seen.
There are some churches that know exactly what a missionary is doing. Some are supporting some that are pastoring. If this is the decision of the church, I have no problem with it. But I do believe a missionary should be up front and honest about what they are doing. The church has the right to support who ever they feel is the Lord's will. A missionary should inform the churches that support him of the truth of his ministry.
MORE TO BE CONTINUED!
If you would like to give some more information in regards the this subject, please email me at dtaguiar@yahoo.com.
authored by Dr. Dale Aguiar
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