Bonanza or Black Market? Paul G. Hiebert 101 The Price of Ordination Anonymous 103 Part 6: Conversion and Theology 109 Lily Liu’s Baptism James Chuang 112 A Word for God Paul G. Hiebert 113 A Group Conversion Paul G. Hiebert 116 Conversion or Social Convention? Paul G. Hiebert 118 When Baptism Means Breaking the Law S. J. Dhanabalan 120 Part 7: Walls That Divide People 122 Peacemaker or Patsy? Ron Priest 124 Unity and Diversity in the Church Paul G. Hiebert 126 Conflict During the Lord’s Supper Christopher John Singh 129 Caste Violence Among Christians A. Raveentharan 131 Part 8: Church-Mission Relationships 134 What Price the Gospel? Carl K. Kinoshita 137 The Reverend Chu’s Decision James Chuang 139 Partnership or Separation? Richard C. Pease 141 Between a Rock and a Hard Place Jerry C. Wilson 144 The Authority Dilemma Mark Danielson 147 West African Church Dean S. Gilliland 149 When a Woman Should Be a Man Frances F. Hiebert 151 Part 9: Loyalty to Church and State 154 Christian Witness in Vietnam Paul H. Hiebert 156 Protest or Inaction? Stuart Willcuts and Helena Eversole 158 The Buddha Pedestals Lee-Lim Guek Eng 161 Summons by the Police A. A. S. 163 Goodwill Guerrillas? C. A. Guang 165 Kidnapped! Paul H. Hiebert 168 Part 10: Everyday Problems of Missionary Life 170 Cross-Cultural Marriage Wen-An Andrew Su 173 Trouble with Servants Matt Howell 176 Pastor Gopalan and His Hindu Parents Vihari Hivale 178 Where Should Kathy Go to School? Frances F Hiebert 180 Sex and the Missionary Kid Dexter Teruya 184 Costly Compassion Gary A. Glassco 188 Appendces 190 A. Teaching Case Studies 190 B. Writing Case Studies 193
“Don, it’s time for the radio call,” his wife, June, called out from the kitchen, and he went to the shortwave radio with which he kept in contact with the other mission stations. Perhaps another station would have spare fuel he could use. But all the other stations were facing the same problem, since they all depended on the quota in the city for fuel. Don decided to see if he could find fuel in other places. He drove to mining headquarters twenty-five miles away. When Don explained the situation to the manager, he said, “I am sorry, but our mine quota for fuel is only enough for our operations. We can’t help you.” Don then tried the construction company that had built the buildings at the station, but to no avail. He went to the merchants, but found that they were operating on stolen fuel. Don drove back to the station pondering the decision. He would either have to close the station down, keep it open and risk the health of the people as they went to the river for water, or buy diesel fuel he knew had been stolen. As he drove up to the house, Ngoy was waiting. “Bwana, did you find any diesel fuel?” “No, Ngoy, I haven’t,” he answered. “Bwana, do you want me to get some fuel from the young men in the village?” Ngoy asked. Don thought a moment and said ....
The time came, however, when Rukhmini decided that she could no longer hide her Christian faith. That was when she came to Pastor Prabhudas and asked for baptism. He had not tried to hide the consequences from her, and it became clear as they talked that she knew them only too well. Her parents would object strongly, and her disobedience to them would itself become a reason for criticism of Christianity. This would be seized upon by the local organization of the Hindu Samaj, who were fanatical in their opposition to Christians and used any breach of cultural norms to condemn them. And, of course, if it could be proven that the Christians had converted Rukhmini, the Samaj would bring a legal case against them. It was not unlikely that baptism of a high-caste woman would become an opportunity for persecution of the entire poor and largely powerless Christian community in that town. Pastor Prabhudas had promised Rukhmini that she could put her request for baptism before the church’s council of elders. Now they had spent almost two hours discussing the issues and seemed to be no closer to a decision. Some of them thought the whole church should be involved; others thought the decision should be made here and now by the council. The pastor finally let his eyes meet those of the young woman who sat patiently waiting for them to arrive at some conclusion. He knew it was time for him to enter the discussion. Choosing his words carefully, he began to speak ....