Lottie Moon's Grift in Israel (or, Using The Haredim for Baptist Village Funding...)

(I haven't touched this blog in over 11 years.  No one will probably see this but I'm a believer that, in spite of unfortunate things which have/continue to occur, good can come of it all ultimately.  At any rate, as embarrassing as these stories are, they deserve to be told.)

A TRIP DOWN [shudder] MEMORY LANE

Since we left the International Mission Board several years ago I had not been to the IMB website. The holiday season is traditionally the big fundraising time of the year for Southern Baptists missions, and sitting in quarantine recovering from Covid, I'm bored out of my mind.  I figured I'd take a looksie at what the big push is this year, usually pretty good for an eye-roll or two if my memory served me correct. (For the uninformed, the annual Lottie Moon Christmas offering in SBC churches determines everything regarding what can and can't be done in the years to come, so it is really the biggest deal within the IMB.)

While currently serving in Israel with another organization, I was interested what there is to say about what IMB folk are doing here.  Over the past 5 years I rarely, if EVER, see them or hear about what they are doing.  Or IF they are doing anything of real substance, for that matter (hey, I was one of them for years, so it's a legitimate question). I navigated to the "Give" area to find the ministry needs here in the Holy Land. Scrolling down, you come across an article with a large picture of an orthodox Jewish man titled "Jewish Evangelism and Discipleship".

Honestly, I was not expecting that. This gives the impression that maybe, just maybe, my former colleagues have finally gotten their act together and have decided to reach the lost with the gospel? (Well, they're all 'sent missionaries' after all.) That was the primary reason I first came to Israel as a Journeyman in 1995 with the IMB. It's also one of THE main reasons I left the IMB: to be a part of an organization which proactively and intentionally shares the gospel to the lost, Jews/Arabs/whoever, instead of just talking about it. 

So I eagerly clicked on the headline and the article begins by talking about ...

... Potter's Wheel Children and Youth camps.  Doh! - my naivety and optimism got the better of me (when will I learn?). 

So what are the Potter's Wheel Children and Youth camps you may ask?  These are the Christian camps held at the Baptist Village conference center located outside Tel Aviv for over 50 years.  And lo and behold it JUST SO HAPPENS that I have intimate experience and history with running those camps and have a deep history with that place (as well as all about those characters who are behind what goes on, strategy-wise, in Israel). Before reading further I can see exactly where this appeal is going. And, sadly, it reveals that in late 2020 it's still business as usual with the Baptists in Israel.

To be clear - what all the International Mission Board does in the rest of the world, I can only give benefit of doubt that it's not like what goes on here.  Maybe what I experienced is just the exception?  You and I should pray that it is.

BACKGROUND 

To back up a few years, my time in Israel began at the Baptist Village in the mid 90s when I was in my 20s. I was there for a total of 2.5 years and was heavily involved in all of the camps throughout that time (Passover camps, summer camps, Hanukkah camps) in 3 languages (Hebrew, Arabic, English). I even met the girl who is now my wife there at the BV, where she was a counselor for the Arabic speaking summer camps - I can show you the exact spot on the patio of the BV where I first saw her. In short, the BV and camps are dear to my heart and helped shape who I am and what I do today.

LET'S TRANSLATE THE APPEAL

(Sadly, one thing I have learned over the years is how to understand what a missionary is really saying when they speak. I have done my share of speaking as a missionary, and I have listened to countless other missionaries share about their work. You can see it a mile away if you pay attention to what they say, as well as what they don't say.)

You may want to hold on tight as we forge our way through this veritable word salad.

(click to enlarge)

After introducing camps, it reads: "A discipleship and activity center [which] will offer training in relational evangelism to adults and children. The center will also host leadership retreats to develop new evangelism initiatives and global networking with all field personnel and partners who work with the Jewish community worldwide.  Your partnership with this ministry opportunity will build a solid base for the Jewish Cluster's enhanced implementation of evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development among Jews globally. The Jewish Cluster is committed to see all Jewish peoples in a New Covenant relationship with the Messiah and begin serving as a light to the nations. Your gift will provide discipleship and evangelism training for Jewish youth and adults through training camps and retreats."  

Breaking it down to its basic elements, here is what your money is going to go for (picture in your mind what each of these items mean):

"training in relational evangelism"

"leadership retreats to develop new evangelism initiatives"

"global networking with all field personnel and partners"

"enhanced implementation of evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development"

"provide discipleship and evangelism training ... through training camps and retreats"

 

A BIT HARSH, EH?

To back up, it probably sounds a little harsh titling this post about "grift".  But I think it's pretty accurate.  For example, you know about the proverbial "snake oil" con men of the old days.  They show up in your place telling you that you have a 'problem' you didn't even know you had.  Then, magically, they try to get your money by selling you the solution they conveniently happen to have which will 'fix' your 'problem'.  That is what I mean by "grift".  Still sound harsh?  The do read on..

PLEASE REMAIN CALM - ALL IS WELL

First of all, in case anyone is not aware, this "discipleship and activity center", ie the Baptist Village, is currently up and running as it always has been.  There are activities, conferences, camps, meetings which go on all of the time.  What that means is that, contrary to the appeal, at any moment any and all of these plans they are "committed to see" could be done not only this year, but could have been done many times over the past 20+ years.  It's pretty disingenuous to make it sound like getting money now is prerequisite for these things to happen, when the truth is they could very well do it whenever they want with what they have.

METAMORPHOSIS

The image or impression presented is of Jewish evangelism among orthodox Jews.  But it subtly morphs into talking about children's camps, and finally reveals itself as 'funding for the facility'!

Go back and read - it never says anything about the Baptists themselves actually DOING evangelism, but instead there is talk that there will be training of all sorts, leadership, initiatives, etc. Who knew that to share the gospel you need all of that AND a facility in which to do it? Apparently you can't just go out and start telling people about Jesus. 

From all of the tortured lingo, it appears that these people want to be seen as the "experts".  They have the experience, knowledge, and insight - maybe we just need to trust them because they know more than typical church-going simpletons. That may sound cynical, but good luck finding any explanation why this facility and conferences are such an expensive prerequisite for them to do what they are supposedly sent to do. But don't take my opinion on it. 

 A VIEW FROM THE INSIDE - THE BAPTIST VILLAGE

The Baptist Village has a deep and rich history - Google it if you're interested. Over the years I have watched as it changed from the camp and conference center in the 90s to what it is now. It changed because the organizational strategy changed, as well as losing significant funding as an inevitable result. 

The BV was supposed to have been sold a long time ago because the IMB was getting out of the property business, yet it remains in their possession to this day. Since that time it has become a shriveled husk of what it used to be, which was a blessing for thousands of believers, Jewish and Arab.  There were retreats and conferences, as well as hundreds of kids at each camp every fed at the fully staffed cafeteria, office, maintenance, and housekeeping all year long. Now, in reality, it is a bunch of decrepit buildings in search for a new purpose.

SAVING THE BAPTIST VILLAGE

Because of the ever pending threat of IMB leadership in Virginia to sell the Baptist Village, it was up to the IMB missionaries in Israel to come up with a convincing purpose to justify keeping it in their possession. All sorts of wild ideas came in to find a new purpose for it. I remember how the leader of Jews for Jesus at the time suggested to IMB regional leadership to repurpose it as a center for evangelism where missionaries could use it as a base for reaching the country with the gospel (crazy idea, I know). Instead, in the end, it was made a sports center with baseball and softball fields, as you can see exists today. As with most things, the "vision cast" isn't always how it turns out (but that's another story).

Now mind you, ministry wise, the Baptist Village didn't serve much of a purpose to hardly any of the IMB personnel. Other than the place where we'd have the occasional team meeting and Thanksgiving meal together, it was a non factor to the average missionary, ministry-wise.

In the late 1990s and into the 2000s the main thrust of the IMB became church planting, specifically of the house church variety. It was always pretty humorous hearing leadership give contorted explanations how the sports ministry and children's camps actually fits in perfectly with the overall church planting strategy of Israel. In the IMB, you don't dare question leadership, even the most absurd directives. You merely learn to nod approvingly even though you know everyone's eyes are rolling inwardly.

FROM THE BEGINNING

For us, having arrived as career missionaries in 2006 with the job title "Church Planters", we were told early on that, as gentiles, everyone knows we simply can't plant congregations among Israelis here. Rather, our purpose is to just strengthen whatever congregation we are a part of. As new people on a team, you give those with experience the benefit of the doubt that they know better than you.

What really happened that day was that our eyes were being opened to the inner workings of missionary doublespeak, and we began to learn about the Orwellian IMB missionary practice of changing the English language to serve our purposes. For example, the term "church planting" (which we came to do) becomes whatever the heck it was we ended up doing, even if there is nothing resembling church planting occurring. We say "church planting" and you think it's planting churches, but WE know it means things you wouldn't understand. Think that's outrageous? You should see the mental gymnastics when it comes to what qualifies as "sharing the gospel". But that's an entire other story for another day.

I NEED TO MIND MY OWN BUSINESS?

I'm the kind of "live and let live" kind of guy when it comes to ministry, meaning that you do what's important to you because you have to answer to the Lord, donors, and home churches for it. So what do I care about raising funds for the conference center?

Well, back in those days when we had to do our annual ministry and strategy goals for the coming year, we were directed/ordered to squeeze in our plans the use of the Baptist Village in about every possible way we could. So we ended up shoehorning the BV into what we did, not matter how pointless and impractical it was. Why? For no other reason than to demonstrate to higher leadership how "necessary" the BV is to us and all we do here. And not just us, but every other IMB missionary in Israel. So it was not that the BV was there to help with ministry, but instead WE were there to ensure that this property stays in leadership's control. Talk about messed up priorities, but this was Directive Number One if there was such a thing for us.

Looking back, it is pretty clever because if the leadership outside the country sees that something is indispensable to strategy, the price is surely worth it. And it should be preserved, even at a high cost. 

These are the tough decisions for the missions experts - spend money here means not spending it over there. What are the costs vs benefits? Pump dollars into a crumbling building instead of sending a couple to share the gospel to an unreached tribe in central Asia? Tough calls but some decisions end up being judgement calls, based on the best info at hand.

BUT...

But what was happening was nothing more than authority being abused in order to give the appearance that something was meaningful to everyone which isn't (what's a good word for that?), and everyone knew it wasn't. But like all of our fine colleagues, we are team players and we trust that our godly leadership, placed over us for our good and the advancement of the gospel, knows what is best and has their eyes fixed firmly on the gospel going forth. So we naively thought.

THE BAPTIST VILLAGE CAMPS

We love BV camps, I love them. We sent our kids to them. We ourselves met each other at BV camps. And served in every capacity of camps there at the BV. In fact, during our years with the IMB, my wife was designated to be the future camp director while she served as assistant to the veteran director for several years. You could say that BV camps are part of our identity, so I don't say these things lightly.

THE SACRIFICE IS WORTH IT, BUT IS IT WORTH IT?

Anything worthwhile is hard, stressful and requires sacrifices. Baptist Village camps were no exception. They require a lot of personnel, volunteers, helpers, and finances for them to happen. But it is ALL worth it because of the kids who make professions of faith during camp. Of all of the reasons to keep the BV open, this was reason number one. And it is the best reason.

However, there are some fatal flaws with the camps which still need to be resolved, and I'll highlight a couple of those: 1) the logistics and expense at the BV was unsustainable, and 2) appearances were not descriptive of reality, ministry wise.

A MONEY PIT 

The first issue was because of the facility. It is old, run down, and unsafe. And it needs such a high number of workers and volunteers in that high stress environment, it's reputation for fraying many relationships beyond repair is well earned in IMB circles (I lived through 2.5 of some of the most difficult years on staff there). And for campers to attend, it required such high financial subsidies from the IMB and other donations, because to charge campers the actual price would mean no family could afford to send their kids there.

What was interesting is what happened when, on several occasions, camps could not be held at the BV for external factors (war, health department, etc). As a result, the camps went on as planned, but held at Israeli kibbutzes and moshavs with similar/better facilities up in the north of the country. Each time, as it turned out, every one of those camps was better, easier, cheaper, and actually enjoyable for those involved.

It was kind of amazing but not surprising since other believers hold children's camps in these places around the country, for obvious reasons. It was clear that this was the better option for Potter's Wheel camps on every count. In the end, this was immediately dismissed out of hand with zero discussion because the ultimate purpose of camps was to keep the BV alive, so every effort was made to ensure camps would stay there no matter what.

A LITTLE SECRET

The second and most important issue, which for us ultimately signaled the beginning of the end with the IMB, had to do with the ministry aspect of camps. My wife became more and more involved in the running of the camps, and naturally we were on board with the mission because her heart has always been for children to know the way of salvation through Jesus. We were satisfied because every camp is centered on the gospel, and at every camp quite a number kids get saved. And hey, at least now we can say we are finally involved with evangelism for a change. But then reality hit...

SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN

At the end of one camp, I'll never forget it, my wife was looking through the slips of paper turned in from the kids who made professions of faith. To her surprise, she noticed from the names that most were the same kids who got saved in previous camps? After a little more investigating it turned out that many of the same kids were getting saved over and over, camp after camp. Hello?

FINDING THE ADVANTAGE

Granted, Israeli messianic congregations are not know for their theological fortitude, so no real surprised. With her background, my wife knew what was obvious - these kids need decent discipling. So in addition to forwarding this info to their home congregational leaders she decided to translate and mail discipleship material for new believers to these kids. That way, the children will learn and understand what their decision is and means (you know, no need to keep getting saved every camp).

She informed both camp and team leadership what she discovered, and what she was doing to help solve this problem. This was met with concern, but not the concern you'd expect! Instead, this was seen as being a problem we thought it is. And if something is not a problem, you don't need to fix it. The explanation we got was that this is a matter for the individual congregations and they should take care of it (even though for years they clearly weren't). Anyway, we were told that it's not for is to judge and "God knows who gets saved and when".  Eventually we backed out of camps.  

Maybe it changed, I can only hope.  I know I told everyone I knew about what was happening because bringing things out in the broad light of day is the best form of accountability there is.  But in such a dysfunctional and controlling atmosphere, this is verboten.

How anyone could know this and report the raw numbers (which gives the appearance that these were all new salvation decisions each camp) I still don't understand on a personal level.  Even if there is another motive, that is unconscionable in my mind.

APPEARANCE IS EVERYTHING

To give a little more context, I remember in particular one large cluster meeting regarding team strategy, and a new-ish career team member, a bottom-line matter-of-fact kind of guy, was asking about ministry numbers for the entire cluster in Israel. He was asking directly what exactly is being reported because nobody was saying and he couldn't figure anything out. It was like pulling teeth but leadership admitted that the only salvations seen over the past several years came from children's camps. At this point I wasn't sure which was more scandalous: the inflated numbers coming from camps, or that dozens of career missionaries had nothing to show for their time there. But that also is another story for another time. 

(Another hilarious [and tragic] side story about this same team member was that something happened with him along the lines of him pushing back regarding the BS being force fed. My supervisor, quite possibly the worst missionary in the history of missions, told me that if this guy doesn't 'get with the program', he will be put in some sort of 'corrective action' and he will be made to do street evangelism for a few weeks "and maybe then he'll get the message". In other words, leadership was going to use sharing the gospel, the basic function of a missionary [duh], as a form of punishment!! That's YOUR Lottie Moon missions dollars at work.)

WHO DESERVES THE GOSPEL?

God calls and takes believers halfway around the world to accomplish his purpose. Those of us Southern Baptists, who came to Israel presumably to get the gospel to the lost, made it all the way here ... only to have our energy and time be spent building up the Body of Messiah, that is, ministering among believers.

I have long argued that the demographic here in Israel who has the most access to the gospel is children of believers. They too deserve to hear the gospel at camp (our kids did, too). But what about all of the masses here who have never heard the gospel even once? If we come all the way over here, shouldn't we put at least as much effort in to trying to share with as many as possible in the short time we have? Our actions show clearly if we believe this to be true or not.

NOBODY'S PERFECt

So maybe we can give benefit of the doubt that these are innocent mistakes, oversights, misunderstandings - nobody is perfect and nobody claims to be. I would argue that this is the pattern and is part of the problem. There is so much obfuscating, doublespeak, willful ignorance, cynicism, and embellishing going on among those who are expected to be above reproach, integrity wise. Whatever happened to being honest and let the chips fall where they may?

Putting it plainly, if the kids who make decisions get discipled properly, they will stop getting re-saved every camp. Meaning that the salvation numbers would drop, which is the main justification for keeping the BV open. While knowing this is going on and doing nothing may not amount to something that "causes these little ones who believe in Me to stumble", allowing it to continue so the numbers will be jacked up higher than normal is, by anyone's definition, inexcusable.

ORTHODOX JEWS ... CAMPS ... FACILITY

So circling back back to the International Mission Board website. It's a wild ride from a picture of an orthodox Jewish person and a headline about Jewish evangelism & discipleship, to raising money for a facility. The question still stands: Where is any explanation why a facility is necessary at all?

OR ...

What if the truth were stated plainly?

Obviously, the worry is: Would anyone give? Let's imagine the appeal were forthcoming and said, "Our facilities are in need of repair. We use them for children's camps and youth retreats for kids of believers. We do discipleship and fellowship events for believers. Israelis use our sports facilities but we have to be careful when we share our faith lest they all stop coming anymore. Our main priority is building up the body of Christ in Israel, and to make the good name of the Southern Baptists known in Israel." It doesn't exactly make you want to reach for your wallet, hence the slippery and carefully crafted wording and imagery.

WHY DO THIS?

Since leaving the IMB those years ago, we've moved on. It has been liberating to not have to pretend that what we're doing is "missions", and to turn a blind eye to what's not proper while parroting the dodgy company line. Ministry wise, Baptists in Israel are a non factor in our lives here, we never see them. Every now and then, I or my wife may come across one and its always good to see them - they are good people.

Sure, some may get this information and say, "So what? I want my money to go there anyway." I'm all for that, 100%. As long as you know what is going on, you do what you want to do.

It's just that I wasted too many years being told that we need to say what people expect us to say and tell them the things they want to hear. Missionaries can always count on the ultra generosity of the sweetest and best people in our churches, and it's tempting because we know you practically never doubt anything we tell you.

I hate to say that on our last stateside with the IMB I did zero speaking engagements because, in all honesty, I had nothing to say. I couldn't repeat the party line because I knew it was exaggerations. I couldn't tell the truth because it would contradict what everyone was saying. Besides, the truth was embarrassing and I simply could not say anything. 

But no more.

GOOD PEOPLE WITH GOOD MOTIVES

Again, these are good people. Yet somewhere along the line, corruption crept in (as the embarrassing appeal perfectly demonstrates). Give missionaries large amounts of money, property, and resources to administer ... suddenly the focus is the gospel AND the "stuff". And just like that, the gospel is no longer the single focus.

HOW DOES THAT SAYING ABOUT 'GOOD INTENTIONS' GO?

The intentions are the best: if you acquire/develop/expand properties for ministry and, naturally, increase the missionary team size, you will increase your standing as an organization. It follows that this expansion increases your team budgets (and permanent need for its annual funding), which invariably increases your influence in the believing community because you are now much more useful here. And with all of these resources, influence, and status, we invariably deceive ourselves into believing that we are doing it ULTIMATELY to advance the cause of Christ better and more broadly.

That was the mantra all those years ago when I was a part of the Baptist machine. But it turns out it's all talk because Baptist personnel are bogged down with involvement in the Baptist "stuff" and the believing community, leaving the organization relying on taking credit wherever they can for the work of others as their own. Where is the urgency for the rest of the country and all those who have never heard the gospel at all? That was our desire as a couple, and in order to realize that calling we had to find another organization as a result.

The IMB personnel weren't doing it (with one exception), discouraged us from doing it, you even heard criticism about those who put themselves on the front line there to share. If a missions organization is not singularly focused on getting the gospel to the lost, it no longer deserves to be classified as "missions".

PLAYING GAMES

Deep down they know that the only way they can keep the cash flowing is to promote the "missions" aspect as being what they are all about. People are willing to give to true, gospel proclaiming missions. The other "stuff" which actually consumes the vast resources is what the machine chugging along and is the real priority, won't bring in the cash.

No one decided or set out to be this way, it's just what happens when you mix money with missions - the devil knows this and it works like a charm EVERY time. And good people are not immune.

A TEMPTATION COMMON TO MAN

What we see is not the advancement of the Kingdom of God, but instead building a mini Baptist empire that benefits the SBC and believing community, but has almost no impact reaching the lost (other than a natural residual effect of being a believer in an unreached country). And you can see clearly with that cluster of an appeal above that what I'm saying and have experienced is true.  You got a better explanation for it?

In the end I voiced my concerns and raised my objections to leaders who didn't want to hear, and no one followed up or in any way appeared they cared.  I moved on and have been praying that they will change their ways, assuming that they will one day.  Buy sadly I see that they are doubling down on what they know best.  Fine.  They are rid of me but I still stand for what is right, which puts me against them.  Only now they can't shut me up.

IT'S A SHAME THAT IT'S A SHAM

Did higher leadership know?  You have to assume that they do.  If they didn't know, they are fools who choose not to know. If they knew and did nothing, they are corrupt and unfit for the job. Either way, if they knew or not, they deserve nothing but your contempt and not a cent more of your money.

This game of smoke and mirrors, dazzling you with all of the bells and whistles, using deceptive pretenses for their grift, you are free to submit yourself to. You are free to contribute to it and keep it going. You don't have to take my word for it - do what you want.

But you do deserve to know the truth.