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Nik Ripken spent seven years in Somalia, a country ravaged by war and famine. In this podcast episode, he shares his experiences of bringing teams of volunteers into the country and the impact they had as Christian missionaries in Somalia.

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Ripken’s Impact in War-Torn Somalia

Ripken explains that Somalia was a challenging place to work. The country was torn apart by conflict, with different factions vying for control. The people were suffering from famine, and there was a severe lack of resources. Despite these difficulties, Ripken felt called to help the Somali people.

There’s really good news and there’s really bad news. Because the need was so great, we couldn’t live there as a family. It would have been impossible. There’s 93% malnutrition. We would have been raided just because of what they would’ve thought we brought in to feed our children and to feed Ruth. We were in there for about a year before the military came in.

To bring volunteers into the country, Ripken had to navigate a complex web of relationships with local leaders and negotiate with armed groups for safe passage. He also had to find ways to provide food, water, and shelter for the teams.

Despite the challenges, Ripken and his teams were able to make a significant impact. They provided medical care, food, and water to those in need. They also started schools and provided training for teachers. Through their efforts, they were able to bring hope to a people who had experienced so much suffering.

It Takes Ability and Courage to Work in Conflict Zones

Nik Ripken faced enormous challenges in providing aid to the suffering people. He emphasizes the need for volunteers with both ability and courage to work in such difficult circumstances.

Ripken’s team operated five centers, each feeding 10,000 people per day. However, even the food distribution sites were not immune to danger, as they had to be surrounded by razor wire for protection. People would line up before dawn, and if the food did not arrive in time or the military was not present to provide security, the volunteers would have to quickly flee.

Ripken found that some of the nurses from the United States struggled with the harsh living conditions and the challenging environment, and he realized that this approach was not sustainable. He asked his leadership to lend him career workers from Southern Africa for one-month periods instead.

They had some toughness. They had developed some callouses on their hands, feet, and heart. Their adjustment, while it was difficult… it wasn’t like they were going to fall apart on us or anything. […] They hadn’t practiced that much medicine, but I could do it.

These career workers had already learned the local language and developed resilience, making them better able to handle the challenges of working in Somalia. As a result, they were more likely to be successful and less likely to fall apart on the job.

Ripken’s experience in Somalia highlights the need for volunteers with both ability and courage to serve in difficult conditions, and the importance of learning from experience to develop sustainable solutions.

Christian Missionaries in Somalia Provide Medical Aid

Nik Ripken’s experience at a village clinic in Somalia highlights the harsh reality of the healthcare situation in many developing countries. According to Nik, everyone he saw in the clinic had multiple health issues, including eye infections, ear infections, skin infections, malaria, and parasites. He observed that everyone needed antibiotics, as someone was going to have diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid.

The people of Somalia face tremendous health challenges due to the lack of access to basic healthcare services. The lack of resources, infrastructure, and trained healthcare professionals make it difficult for people to receive even the most basic medical care, leading to high rates of illness and death.

In the clinic, Nik noticed that there was a long line in front of every nurse, and the line in front of him was even longer because the people believed he was a doctor. However, Nik was not a medical doctor; he held a doctorate in ministry. Despite this, he listened to the nurses and followed their directions on how to treat each patient.

Nik’s experience highlights the significance of empathy, compassion, and collaboration when providing aid to those in need. By listening to and following the guidance of trained professionals, Christian missionaries in Somalia addressed a multitude of healthcare challenges.

Nik Ripken’s experience in Somalia underscores the importance of providing basic healthcare services to people in developing countries. It also emphasizes the value of empathy, compassion, and collaboration in providing aid to those in need. By working together and leveraging our resources, Christian missionaries improve the lives of those who are facing significant health challenges.

Still, Nik says we’re “2000 years too late” in bringing Christ to Somalia.

Nik tells us that out of every 10 persecuted believers brought to America, only one in 10 are still practicing their faith after 10 years. Ruth and Nik Ripken have observed this phenomenon while offering freedom from persecution to Christians around the world.

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Are Our Missionaries Safe?

For years, missionary safety has been of paramount importance for the sending church, sending boards, and churches that love to pray for missionaries. However, if missionary safety is the number one issue for families, churches, and agencies that send workers to the field, then there is only one logical conclusion. “We should stop sending them and bring them all home,” Nik remarks.

This may seem like an extreme statement, but if we truly value the safety of our missionaries above all else, then we must recognize the risks involved in sending them to unfamiliar and potentially dangerous places. We cannot guarantee their safety, no matter how much we pray for them or provide them with training and resources.

Nik’s Note on Western Christian Culture

According to Nik, Western Christian culture has attempted to sanitize faith and missions of their rough edges. We want to carry our cross, but we want it to be sanded clean, lightweight, and equipped with training wheels. We do not want it to be something that breaks us down and makes us fall under its weight, as it did for Christ.

But can we truly call ourselves followers of Christ if we are not willing to suffer and face persecution for our faith? Jesus promised that if we follow Him, the world will do to us what it did to Him. “Persecution will be our lot,” Nik explains.

By attempting to remove suffering and persecution from the heart of our faith, Western Christianity has neutered it, rendering it shallow and incomplete. As a result, Nik suggests that we have lost sight of the true cost of discipleship and the radical obedience that Jesus calls us to.

This doesn’t mean that we should deliberately put our missionaries in harm’s way or neglect their safety. We must do all that we can to minimize the risks they face and provide them with the support they need. However, missions can still be dangerous. Nik recognizes that our ultimate goal is not to keep our missionaries safe but to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth, even if it costs us everything.

In conclusion, if missionary safety is our top priority, then we must seriously consider whether we should continue sending missionaries to the field. We must also be willing to embrace the rough edges of our faith and recognize that suffering and persecution are an inevitable part of following Christ. Only then can we fully live out our calling as disciples and fulfill the Great Commission.

A Western Perspective on Persecution and Faith

When these persecuted Christians arrive in a country of religious freedom, they often find that few people are willing to suffer or die for their faith. They wonder why they were willing to sacrifice everything for Christ in their own countries, while believers in the West seem to take their faith for granted.

The willingness to suffer and die for one’s faith is a central theme in the Bible. Jesus suffered and died on the cross, and He calls followers to take up their own crosses and follow Him. However, in the West, we have become so averse to suffering that we have removed the rough edges of our faith. We want to follow Jesus, but only if it is easy and comfortable.

This is a stark contrast to the experience of persecuted Christians, who have often lost everything for their faith. They have been beaten, imprisoned, and even killed for their belief in Jesus. Yet, in the face of such extreme persecution, they have clung to their faith and refused to renounce Christ.

Immigrant Christians Struggle with Disillusionment

When these persecuted Christians come to the West and see how little people are willing to suffer for their faith, it can be a shocking and disillusioning experience. They may wonder if this new country truly values faith, or if it is just a cultural accessory. They may also feel a sense of betrayal. Workers from these Western countries brought them to Christ, but the concern for the cross seems to be lacking.

As a result, many persecuted Christians who relocate to the West may continue to believe in Christ, but they may no longer practice their faith. They may feel that if they can have resurrection without crucifixion, then what is the point of the cross?

Nik calls Western Christians to take our faith seriously and to be willing to suffer or die for our beliefs. He reminds us that martyrs gave their lives to strengthen our faith. The willingness to suffer for Christ is a hallmark of true discipleship. This involves supporting our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world, even if it means putting ourselves at risk.

Persecuted Christians are losing their faith after relocating to the West. This reminds us how much we take our religious freedom for granted. We must be willing to embrace the rough edges of our faith and to remember the cost of discipleship.

According to Nik Ripken, some Christians mistakenly believe that short term mission trips can replace being involved in the local church and evangelizing in their own communities. He argues that this approach is misguided. It does not address the ongoing need for evangelism and discipleship in one’s local context.

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When Helping Hurts in Short Term Missions

Short term missions can have a negative impact on vulnerable communities, such as orphans. When volunteers come into a community for a short period, they may offer love and support. However, they often do not have a long-term commitment to building relationships and supporting the community over time. This can lead to a sense of abandonment and mistrust when the volunteers leave:

We have modeled and taught orphans that you cannot trust love for more than two weeks at a time. They’re now 18 or 20 years of age. Some of the most hardened, street-wise, hard-hearted adults were children that church people loved with all our hearts. We sacrificed to get there. We told them we love them, that we will never forget them, and we will be back. And we don’t ever come back. We don’t contact them, and we don’t send letters back. After they experience that and age out of the orphanage, they’re some of the hardest kids on earth.

Furthermore, these volunteers may unintentionally model behavior that is not sustainable or appropriate for the community. They may provide temporary solutions instead of long-term solutions. This can create dependency and perpetuate the cycle of poverty or other issues that the community is facing.

It is important for volunteers and mission organizations to consider the long-term impact of their actions. Missionaries must work alongside the community to provide sustainable solutions. This may involve building long-term relationships, partnering with local organizations, and empowering the community to take ownership of their own development.

Witness in Your Own Jerusalem

Nik Ripken shares his experience of calling churches to thank them for sending volunteers who served him and his wife for over two years. He often discovered that these volunteers were not regular attendees or contributors in their own churches. He highlights the need for Christians to serve and be a witness in their own “Jerusalem,” and not just in foreign mission fields or short-term mission trips:

When someone comes to us and serves us for over two years… I’ll just call the church and thank the pastor for sending us the nurse, relief worker, or food distributor. Oftentimes that pastor will say to us, “Nik, I am so thankful that they served you so well. I don’t know if I would recognize them if they walked in the church door. I know who you’re talking about, but I know they don’t attend regularly, and I know that they are not a regular contributor to the life of the church financially. As far as I can tell, being a witness across the street in their own Jerusalem is something they have yet to work up to.”

Through Ripken’s example, we see the importance of being actively involved in our own churches, families, and communities. Serving in our local contexts allows us to build lasting relationships, share the gospel with those around us, and make a meaningful impact.

Ripken emphasizes the importance of being involved in the local church and building relationships with people in one’s own community. He believes that evangelism should be a lifestyle and not just a one-time event or a short term mission trip. While short term mission trips can be valuable experiences, they should be seen as a supplement to local evangelism efforts, not a replacement for them.

Avoid Being a “Missionary Tourist”

A common issue with short term mission trips is the influx of volunteers that can overwhelm and inundate communities. This happens particularly in urban areas. While volunteers may have good intentions, their presence can sometimes create more harm than good. Missionaries must align their work with long-term strategies and community needs:

From youth and high school all the way to retirees, these people are doing great jobs. But major cities are inundated with volunteers. Many make every effort to fit in with long-term strategies, while some unfortunately present that stereotype of the missionary tourist.

The “missionary tourist” stereotype can be damaging and perpetuate negative stereotypes about missionaries and their intentions. This can further hinder effective evangelism and community development efforts by creating a sense of mistrust and suspicion among local residents.

While short term mission trips can be valuable experiences, it is important to approach them with a mindset of humility and a willingness to learn from local communities. Volunteers should seek to build relationships with local leaders and work together to identify community needs and develop long-term solutions that empower local residents to take ownership of their own development.

Ultimately, short term mission trips should be viewed as a supplement to long-term, sustainable efforts to build relationships and support communities in their growth and development. By working together with local leaders and residents, volunteers can have a meaningful impact that goes beyond just a few weeks or months of service.

It can be a difficult and emotional process to send a loved one to the mission field. It may require open and honest communication, prayer, and guidance from mentors or advisors. With faith, trust, and obedience to God, we can navigate these challenges as family members and parents of missionaries.

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The Eldest Son in a Missionary Family

When Nik Ripken’s son asked to participate in missionary work, Nik felt both proud and protective of his son in this situation. On one hand, he admired his son’s passion for missionary work and desire to make a positive impact in Somalia. On the other hand, he worried about the dangers and challenges that come with working in a volatile and unpredictable environment:

I asked him, “You’re about to graduate in a couple months. You’ve got to let me know what you want for graduation.” And he looked at me, and said, “Dad, what I want for graduation is I want you to change your mind. I want to start going into Somalia and start doing projects with you in Somalia.”

My wife began to sob. There were tears in my eyes.

Half of me was so proud that my son wanted to do this. The other half was saying, “God, I’ve done this for our family for seven years. Now keep your hands off my son.”

For a brief moment, Nik Ripken experienced empathy for the parents of missionaries who worry about the safety and well-being of their children while they are working in challenging environments.

Parents of Successful Missionaries Bless Their Children

Fear is a common feeling among parents of missionaries based on the risks and challenges that come with missionary work in certain parts of the world. It is important for parents and their children to have open and honest communication about the risks and challenges involved in the work and to have a plan in place for staying safe and healthy while in the field.

Family members must respect the autonomy and passion of the missionaries themselves, who have a desire to teach others who Christ is. Empathy, communication, and mutual respect are key in navigating the complex emotions and decisions involved in missionary work and the impact it can have on families.

Obedience to God vs. Obedience to Parents

Nik discusses the tension that can arise between obedience to God and to parents when serving as a missionary:

Within a week or two, Ruth and I can tell whether new people who come to the mission field have been blessed by their family to come or whether they have not been blessed by their family to come.

One of the horrible truths that our listeners are going to struggle with is that non-believers bless their children to work overseas for the Kingdom of God a lot easier and quicker than Christian people do.

You’ve got moms and dads that are trying to bring people off the mission field.

Missionaries may feel obligated to honor and respect their parents. However, our ultimate allegiance should be to God and His calling on our lives. This can create a difficult situation when parents may not understand or support their child’s decision to become a missionary. They may even actively oppose it.

Nik remarks that non-believers are often supportive of their child’s decision to serve as a missionary. Non-believing parents may not have the same religious convictions or concerns about safety and well-being on the mission field. On the other hand, Christian parents may struggle with the idea of their child going into a potentially dangerous or challenging environment. Often they worry about the impact on their family relationships.

It is harder to send than to go, Nik concludes.

Are you feeling called to missions? Is the Great Commission for everyone? In this episode, Nik Ripken asserts that it doesn’t matter whether you feel called to missions or not. He explains that we are all commanded by Jesus to share the gospel throughout all the nations.

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What Does God Call Us To Do in Matthew 28:18-20?

Matthew 28:18-20 is a well-known passage that outlines the mission that God has called us to do. In this passage, Jesus gives us a clear command:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Making disciples involves sharing the Good News with others and teaching them about Jesus Christ. We are called to be witnesses for Him so that others will know about His crucifixion and resurrection. Additionally, we need to offer spiritual guidance by helping people develop their relationship with God through prayer and study of scripture. Ultimately, our goal should be helping individuals grow closer to Christ so they can experience His transformative power in their lives.

Debunking a Call to Missions

Nik firmly believes that Christ has commanded everyone to share the gospel in all nations, and a call to missions is just to help us decide which country we should go to. He claims the act of evangelizing is not only a mission for full-time missionaries: it’s a duty for every believer.

However, Nik also tells us about his first experience with a mission board that felt differently:

For the next 30 minutes, they gave me a four-point sermon. They took turns with it. With this mission board, for you to be a missionary in an overseas setting, you had to have a four-fold call. You had to have a call to salvation, a call to ministry, a call to missions, and a call to a particular country.

The panel asked a young Nik Ripken what he thought about their call. Then, Nik’s response stunned the mission board:

I said, “It sounds like to me that you Baptists have created a four-fold call that gets you to missions. It allows you to be disobedient to what Jesus has commanded you to do.”

I got a one-way ticket to Africa.

After serving for 35 years, Nik Ripken still believes that the Great Commission is for everyone.

Why is Christianity Declining in the West?

Although it can be tempting to live in comfort, Ripken explains that we must be willing to spread the gospel beyond our own churches or communities. Otherwise, our faith will suffer drastically:

In the Western world, Christianity is declining because we’ve turned the command of Jesus into something else: some miraculous, secondary call that we are to hear. What are we supposed to do? Hear the voice of God again, saying, “I’m calling you; get up and go to the mission field?”

If we do not engage in cross-cultural work, Nik believes, our churches become inward-looking rather than outwardly-focused on teaching others about Christ’s path to salvation.