Well, I will go down, if you will hold the rope.
Andrew Fuller, on describing William Carey’s charge to the elders of his sending church on the eve of his departure for India
Having a church behind us that had walked with us through the process (of preparation for cross-cultural missions), asked us the hard questions, prayed for us, and ultimately affirmed us was crucial. When we started the process, we didn’t have this. We were involved in a church plant with an old friend. We eventually left after realizing it was not a healthy situation and began our search for a solid, bible-preaching and obeying church. We eventually joined GCC and submitted our desire to the elders for consideration. Kimberly and I agreed that whatever the elders decided, we would submit to. We knew they would prayerfully and biblically consider our desire to serve and would guide us accordingly. If we were going to be cross-cultural missionaries, it would be a joint decision with the elders of GCC and with the backing of the entire GCC body. We would not be self-sent, no matter what kind of calling we sensed from God. The work of missions is the work of the local church, and it must be done under the accountability of the local church. When our elders asked us, twice, to push back our launch date for continued discussion and evaluation, we agreed. God blessed our submission and, in the end, spared us the difficulty of arriving in our new country of service just in time to be kicked out along with all the other Christian workers. We eventually were sent (to a different country) and have been supported wonderfully in every way. Now, when I am discouraged to the point of doubting my calling and thinking we’re crazy to have moved our family here, I am upheld by God’s grace in knowing that we were affirmed and sent by the leadership of our church and that the whole church is holding the rope for us as we descend into this darkness with the light of God’s Word.