MinistrySample

Nimby?

Have you noticed that, in today’s fast-paced world, acronyms are an ever-increasing part of our modern language? If not, FYI (for your information), get onboard ASAP (as soon as possible) because IMO (in my opinion) you may experience FOMO (fear of missing out) BTW (by the way)… LOL (laugh out loud)!

NIMBY is another one you hear used often these days. If you’ve missed it, it stands for ‘not in my backyard’. It’s a term used to describe a situation where people support a particular idea or development in principle in their community but oppose it when it's located near their own homes or in their own neighbourhood. It’s occurred to me recently that we should be careful not to have a sense of NIMBYism when it comes to our attitude and actions about our day-to-day ministry and who we are called to reach for God.

So often we think of ‘the mission field’ being solely about believers passionately spreading the Gospel in our city, nation or in far-off places, but we must ask ourselves: why does that same zeal often not translate into taking action in our own backyards? Many of us can be quick to want to serve at, or give toward, projects and missions in distant lands, yet hesitate to step outside of our comfort zones and share our faith with those who live right next door: our neighbourhood our workplaces, our social circles, our families.

God instructs us to reach those in ‘Judea and Samaria’ – across our cities, and ‘across the earth’ – overseas. But He also makes it clear that it needs to start in our ‘Jerusalem’: our own backyard.

Written by ROBBIE PARKIN