4 Questions Every Missionary Should Ask to Stay Safe- Part 2
The Times reported that in 2019 alone, 69 people were killed in mass shootings. (And the year’s not over yet! Yikes!). Even in countries that used to be considered safe, churches are taking precautions to protect those who attend. On the mission field, safety is of great concern as well. How do we stay safe, and keep our children safe, in view of the threats we face?
In the last few weeks I’ve been sharing insights gained from conversations with my friend Joe Malhoit, a former investigator with the FBI. Last week I shared the first two questions every missionary should ask to stay safe on the field. Today, we will look at the other two.
It’s a Spiritual Matter
Safety matters to God. While missionaries often risk their lives and must be willing to go to dangerous places, we also need to use wisdom. Being well prepared to respond to threats can save precious lives.
It’s not spiritual to be unprepared or ignorant. It is foolish.
Sometimes as Spirit-filled believers, we can be a bit lazy. We say things like, “God will protect me.” This is true. So is this. God gave us a good mind and expects us to use it. Don’t ignore safety issues, then blame God when things spiral into a crisis.
Soldiers at Our Gate
When I was a teenager, a coup d’etat took place in Liberia. In the midst of that crisis, a group of soldiers came to our gate. They were going door to door, looting homes and raping women.
I will never forget that day. I hid behind curtains, staring out as they approached…wondering what would happen. It was tense. It was threatening. I was a vulnerable child.
I’ve never asked my parents how prepared they were that day. I am not sure what they would have done if the soldiers had entered our home. I’m confident God would have helped us. As a child though, I had no idea what to do.
Thankfully, our neighbors spoke up for us and the soldiers moved on. They didn’t enter our home. God did protect us. The emotion-charged men could have come in. Another time they might have.
Let’s return to those key questions. I’m sure these questions would have helped my missionary parents prepare for that scenario better.
We talked last week about the first two questions we must ask to stay safe. Let’s add a few more as we consider these kinds of scenarios.
Questions to Ask Ahead of Time
3. Are you willing to fight? If so, what will you fight with?
My friend Joe says, “This is a very important and personal question. It needs to be answered before a violent confrontation. Not everyone is willing to do violence to stop violence.
Ask yourself what you are willing to do.
“If you decide you’re willing to do violence to stop violence, making that decision is an important step. You are willing to protect yourself and those around you. Next, you need to know what you can use to fight back with. In most environments, there are many things that can be used.“
“Fire extinguishers can be sprayed at an attacker. A flag pole makes a good spear. An ink pen can be jabbed into someone’s leg who has grabbed you.“
“You are constantly surrounded by useful improvised weapons. Get into the habit of identifying them before a crisis.”
Look around the room right now. What do you see that could be turned into a weapon? Got some ideas? Okay. Next question.
4. How will you reach out for help?
“Before violence starts identify safe places. Know beforehand which local authorities, if any, are trustworthy. Is there another missionary or aid group operating in the area? Could they help or give refuge in a crisis?“
“Does your home country have official offices nearby? Do you know the phone number of your consulate? Have it on speed dial on your phone? You need a plan of 1) how to contact people and 2) how to reach safe locations. This must be in place before a crisis.“
“When the coup d’etat, earthquake, riot, or tsunami hits, you won’t have time to search the internet. Be prepared. It could save your life and others too.”
The Safety Briefing
“Think about when you get on an airplane. The staff runs through a safety briefing. They show you where the exits are. They point to the location of flotation devices.”
“The airline staff are locking what to do in a crisis into your motor memory. If something happens, this will help you avoid freezing or panicking.”
“An airline disaster is fast and devastating. It is similar to a violent encounter or attack. These can also be fast and devastating. On the mission field, you have a much greater chance of being in a violent encounter than an airline crash.“
“Shouldn’t you prepare for it at least as well?”
Time Spent Now Will Affect Safety Later
Take time in your team, or with your spouse this week, to discuss the above questions. I so appreciate my friend and his expertise. After talking with Joe, my husband and I spoke at length about these safety matters. They seem far off and are definitely not critical today. Urgent ministry preparation feels more important. It’s really not.
Not if you want to be sustained on the mission field. Not if you want to be healthy and prepared so you stay safe and help others too.
Why not make a plan this week? Think through possible safety scenarios that are relevant for your context. Feel free to share those with me by email, in the comments below or on the Missionary Life Facebook group.
In the meantime, stay safe!