Missionaries have taught, mentored and coached me, so what I say is not meant to be critical. But though they invested time, energy and resources into the region, I have never yet seen a church planting in the South Pacific that has reached its potential or lived up to the missionary's dream. It seems we are good at starting churches, but not good at building healthy, sustainable congregations that go on to plant other churches. That is my perspective from the South Pacific.

The immaturity of churches in the region is perhaps indicated by the number of our church leaders. There are about 3,000 members of Churches of Christ in Australia and New Zealand, spread across 100 congregations. The number of elders, not elderships, is five. Somehow, something has not worked. That's why I am excited to partner with Missions Resource Network, because a major part of this ministry is to help plant healthy, sustainable, long-term churches with effective leaders.

My perspective is limited, but in my part of the world the church-planting strategy seems to be: Whoever shows up with a salary gets to do whatever he likes. That can be really good when you have the right people. It can be a nightmare when you have the wrong people. Whoever has financial backing can do whatever he wants. Where will his church planting be? Wherever he thinks it should be. How long will he stay? As long as he likes. When will he leave? When he feels like it.

I don't mean to be facetious, but can you see how this looks to us on our side of the world? I am not blaming anyone. This is not about blame. This is about learning. This is about accountability.

I must be accountable because missions is not about me. Missions is about the people that I am sent to serve. The mission is more important than I am. If the mission is more important than me, then what I want takes second or third or fourth place to the great cause that Christ has put before us. When we believe the mission that God gives us is more important than we are, then we can open ourselves up to critical analysis.

In 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul says Christians have been entrusted with the gospel. We are stewards of something precious. In 2 Corinthians, Paul writes that God "reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us this ministry of reconciliation." The job of bringing folks back to God is something God has handed to his people. We, therefore, are Christ's ambassadors, as though he were making his appeal through us.

I love the word "ambassador." Missionaries need to be ambassadors. Ambassadors are there to do a job. Ambassadors are there to represent someone greater than themselves. Their personal preferences are not really what it is all about. On the other hand, tourists are there to represent their own interests. Tourists are there to do what they want, when they want, when they feel like it. God has not called us to be tourists. He has called us to be ambassadors. We must put God's mission above our own interests.

Church leaders in the South Pacific are getting excited about what Missions Resource Network is doing. We can see a regional strategy for church growth. Linking with Missions Resource Network, church leaders now have a voice in what kind of mission works we need in our part of the world. We are not asking to have control or have a say in everything, but in our part of the world we need works that are effective and sustainable. Otherwise, we end up picking up the pieces.

For me, partnering with a ministry like Missions Resource Network is a good idea. As we start to share and learn and develop a collaborative network, all of a sudden our resources are better managed and we are learning things. Maybe, then, we can do a better job of missions.

(From a speech delivered at the 2nd Annual Dallas/Fort Worth Benefit Dinner.)