Athletes know that single-minded focus often spells the difference between victory and defeat.
The intensity of their focus shines through when we watch international gymnastics and ice skating competitions, for example. When the interviews are over, we wonder if the high price they paid for such concentration was worth it. Missionaries, agencies, and churches have discovered the values of focus as well, for recruiting, fund raising, and field strategies. For example, a missionary with an outstanding record of 12 years as a church planter in Europe was dropped by his sending church. This raises the issue of strategic focus at the expense of biblical balance.