Comments on: Davis Interview: Living intentionally

By: crazydavises

crazydavises — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:51:00 +0000

And another one for the record. The couch mentioned, that caused this whole hubub was made in Africa. They hired people that lived nearby to build it. It just happened to look just like the ones that were popular in the US at the time, and I (incorrectly) assumed that they had brought theirs from home.

By: crazydavises

crazydavises — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:14:10 +0000

Sandra:

I (Amy) think you are right. When I read the interview, I was mortified at the way I had said that blurb. It was honestly not my intent to speak negatively about he missionary in question — I admire them hugely. I was actually intending to affirm their choice — they made so many sacrifices, and to stay sane, then needed a comfy family room. They didn’t need to come back to the states and live a cushy life. They gave up that greator luxury for a small one that made life liveable. I admire that. I wish I was better at doing that.

What I said was wrong, and I wish I hadn’t said it — especially that way, and wish that the names hadn’t been associated with it.

I have sent the missionary in question an apology for the smear that I put on their name, and requested their forgiveness, (not because I deserve it, but for the sake of Christ and His body.) Please, I request, that you also forgive me. This isn’t the way the Body of Christ should be and I’m ashamed to have represented Christ and represented His messengers that way. Thank you for calling this to my attention.

By: propel

propel — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:41:40 +0000

I might add that the Davis’ emphasis on tentmaking as a model for living on support is, while Biblical, perhaps a bit strong in my opinion as conveyed in this interview. In missions strategy tentmaking is very important, esp. in this day and age of so many closed countries. However, it is, IIRC, only mentioned twice in the New Testament in the context of missions, and in both instances the reason for Paul doing this is very specific. The one I’m remembering off-hand is where the apostle works on the island of Crete in order to set an example to a lazy people.

By: propel

propel — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:34:23 +0000

Sandra:

Generally such names aren’t used in these interviews. That was simply an oversight on our part. Thank you for pointing it out. The personal reference has been removed.

However, I must admit that I don’t really see where you’re coming from. The Davis’ comments with respect to Propel’s question were not antagonizing or derogatory from my perspective; after rereading the edit three times, I still can’t really see what you consider to be such a “negative light.” The financial decision in question is not set up as flawed. In fact, the question Propel posed reminded the interviewee that they shared the opinion of the cited missionary. Amy Davis (who, last I knew, was also a good friend of the missionary in question) then goes on to AFFIRM this position by saying “I don’t think it’s a good idea to sacrifice everything.” Sure, she continues by suggesting different ways this can be done but she isn’t, in my opinion, saying anything to harm the name of the missionary in question.

Remember also the disclaimer in the interview’s introduction: “While not everyone will agree with all of their observations or exhortations, the sacrifices they’ve made along the way are something every aspiring missionary needs to seriously consider.”