The fast-pace of our productivity-focused culture can leak into church service. Bethanie Walker reflects on how lessons from the Argentinian church have been so valuable in her ministry.
Thirteen years after moving to Argentina, we keep being surprised by cultural differences. The most recent difference came to light when Andrew asked a church leader to give a newcomer a phone call during the week. ‘I couldn’t possibly do that!’, he responded, ‘I don’t even know the person.’
He wasn’t being difficult. It was just unthinkable for him to call someone before they’d had a face-to-face chat. In the end, the leader and his wife had dinner (until 2am!) with the new couple, giving him enough relational credit to phone another time.
When so much of life happens at top speed, with performance and productivity highly valued, it is easy for our churches to fall into this mindset. But relationships can’t grow roots if they’re rushed. In Mendoza, mealtimes and the hours spent chatting over a shared maté (like tea, drunk through a
metal straw) show you care for someone in a much more meaningful way than a WhatsApp message.
How does this play out in ministry? Well, for us it’s sometimes utterly frustrating. We like to tick things off a list and feel pleased at all we have achieved in a day. In Mendoza, if I tick one thing off my list, it’s a good day! When I served in ministry in Oxford, I was expected to meet up with six students back-to-back for 45-minute slots each. If I meet up for one-to-one discipleship here, I block out three hours!
But now that we are used to a slower pace, we see the blessing it is. We know each other more deeply. We feel more like family. And isn’t church just that?
The family of Christ, sharing the joys and hardships of life together. Encouraging each other when a job is lost. Weeping with the couple who are bereaved. Sorrowing when people you love move cities or countries. Rejoicing with new believers as they grasp an important gospel truth. Celebrating when an exam is passed or a milestone reached.
What can Argentinian Christians teach us? Among many things, they have taught us to value time with other people face to face. To not always rush to the next thing. To not let the aim of productivity kill gospel-hearted, interested, thoughtful relationships with
church family.
We’ve begun reading Philippians as a church over our summer. Looking at Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus, Euodia, Syntyche and the rest of the Philippian church, we see the need for deep gospel relationships. We’re so thankful that in Mendoza, we have time to do just that.