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It's Not About You
by Luke Johnson, SIM USA
18 December 2009
Several months ago, SIM decided to partner with HCJB Global at the Urbana Missions Conference (organized by InterVarsity) that will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, from December 27-31. The fit is natural since SIM already works with HCJB in many places around the world, and many SIM staff members already have relatives and friends that serve with HCJB. The brainstorming sessions began and ideas were hashed out. At one such session at the SIM US office, we came to discussing slogans, themes, strategies, and someone piped up with "It’s not about you." We all laughed. Dan Linsz, Director of Recruiting for SIM at the US office, can frequently be heard saying, "It’s not about you." He never uses it by slinging it around at someone, but rather as a slogan, a way of reminding us collectively that—as he also says regularly—"God doesn’t need us," and then adding to balance the statement, "But he chooses to use us anyway." The more we discussed it, we realized we really liked the statement. It was more than just a punchline to a joke. We ran it by HCJB Global, and they liked it too. "It's not about you" is a bit cheeky, but we think it encapsulates something we want to express to students at Urbana: We are looking for missionaries interested in serving rather than being served; missionaries who have gifts and talents but aren't fixated on them; missionaries interested in God’s glory and not their own. Of course, the idea goes both ways. We really don’t want it to be about SIM or HCJB Global either. We may go to Urbana and not a soul joins either of our organizations afterward, and that needs to be okay. At Urbana, we hope to have Skype video calls with missionaries shown on a big screen at our booth. We hope to have slideshows of photography showing the stories unfolding all over Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. We are planning on using Twitter and Facebook too—starting a conversation with attendees through social media; however, if we build our importance by charting numbers of missionaries, how many good deeds we do around the world, or our technological and marketing savvy, ultimately we've failed in giving glory where glory is due. It’s not about us. Dan Linsz tells a great story from time to time about his youngest son Sam (that many times precedes him saying, “It’s not about you.”) One Saturday, Dan was outside sweating, doing yard work. Sam (around three at the time) wandered out and after watching for a bit asked if he could help. Dan glanced sidelong, smiled, and welcomed him. Dan handed him a watering can to water the roses. The proud father turned back to finish what he was working on. A minute or two later he turned to check on Sam. To his amusement, Sam had proceeded to water a line of weeds, leaving the roses completely thirsty. Being a loving father, Dan gently corrected Sam and let him have a second try. It should encourage us that it isn’t about us. Many times, in ministry, we can be found "watering the weeds." Our best efforts are marred by our sinful nature and our limited knowledge and skill. In spite of this, God has elected to use us to accomplish his plan. Already more than 16,000 people have signed up to attend the Urbana Conference according to current reports. HCJB Global and SIM will be sending about 10 to 15 of those people. We want to serve and encourage many who are interested in entering cross-cultural ministry. Literature will be exchanged; we'll jot down email addresses and telephone numbers; we'll follow up with those who want to know more about who we are as organizations, but I believe one of the most important things I can tell a student who wanders up to our booth is, "It’s not about you ... and, it's not about me either."Get InvolvedHere are a few ways that you can come alongside us during Urbana week (Dec. 27-31):
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