Ernest Shackleton’s advert for volunteers for his Antarctic expedition may be mythical.
Nevertheless, it truly reflects the brave spirit of the men who went. ‘Men wanted for a hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, constant danger, safe return doubtful…’ But such ‘foolhardy’ courage is desperately needed today by evangelicalism in the West. This relates to two particular areas.
Christian mission
I was in a strategic African country last November, ministering to around 50 missionaries operating in dangerous situations (you have to be trained in ‘defensive driving’ because of the danger of kidnap on the roads). What was striking was that while there were plenty of single women, young and old, there was not one unmarried man.
The re-emergence of heavy shepherds
What would you think if you received a letter from your church leaders that read like this? ‘Are church members …