The Gospel According to Dr. Who, Part 1

The holidays and BBC/America have allowed Teri and me to catch up on five seasons of Dr. Who. Christmas Day was a marathon of Christmas themed episodes leading up to this year's retelling of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol. What draws Dr. Who to Christmas each year? Is it purely marketing, or is there a theological reason?

For those unfamiliar with this long running British scifi serial, the Doctor is a traveler in space and time accompanied by a human companion. The Doctor is over 900 years old with the ability to regenerate. We are now on the 11th Doctor.

Mostly Dr. Who is a smart distraction, but it does contain distinctive theological themes. I could probably understand them better if I knew more Church of England history, for the series is as much history fiction as it is science fiction. Here is my first run at the Gospel According to Dr. Who:

1. The Universe is always in peril. Move toward the sound of trouble. Even though the odds are 10,000 to 3, trust your own wits. Beyond courage, enjoy the struggle. BTW Because you are always around when trouble shows up, you will be blamed for being the cause of all trouble.
   
2. The Doctor refuses to use weapons, but will often place the future of the Universe in the hands of common humans, trusting in their ability to do the right thing at the right moment.
3. When given the choice between saving a friend (or stranger, or even an enemy) and saving the whole universe, save the friend (stranger, enemy).
   
4. Everyone has a name. Learn it.
   
5. Most of the frightening species who threaten us are simply working their own survival plan. Respect others and their right to exist. Work toward a mutually beneficial solution. Be fascinated, not fearful.
   
6. On the other hand, there are real enemies, those who play the long game for domination and destruction. Know your enemies well and don't let them make you hate them.
   
7. Fixes you put in place will show up 100 years later as the source of a new bigger problem. Your good intentions will invariably back fire.
8. You can't rationalize slavery or unethical treatment of so-called lesser species.
9. London is the center of the Universe. The Battle of Britain is the turning point of all history. New York will always be a great city.
10. The enemy who knows you best is you. Know this enemy well and recognize him/her early.
11. Get a sound track for your life. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales with Katherine Jenkins will do nicely.
    
12. Never ignore coincidences, unless you are in a hurry.
13. Run!
    
14. It feels good to declare, "Everyone lives today, everyone lives!"
    
15. Time can be rewritten.

What does all this have to do with our missiology? In short, to paraphrase Churchill, "There is nothing more exhilarating than to walk along side pastors who put it all on the line to save their villages." and thereby save a Universe.

Bob

News from Mulongo

The foundation is laid. Bricks are fired. Sand, stones, and bricks have been carried by villagers to the construction site. Cement and roofing have been purchased. We hope and expect that Phase One of the Nursing School in Mulongo will completed within a few months, depending upon the rainfall.

The Nursing School is the dream of Dr. Ivan Mulongo and District Superintendent Joseph Mulongo. (no relation to one another or to the village name, that we know of) Major funding has been provided by Denver and Robin Thornton of El Dorado, Arkansas, and Faith United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. Through sweat equity, brick making, and locally available materials, the community will provide about 80% of the total cost of construction. Cash donations from America provide the cement and roofing.

Now in its fourth year, the school has been meeting in a temporary, borrowed, and inadequate classroom. Their three year curriculum prepares nurses for hospital work as well as village nursing.


Dr. Ivan's dream is to build a network of village clinics supported by the hospital in Mulongo and the Nursing School. District Superintendent Joseph Mulongo's dream is to train more women nurses. Roughly a third of the student body is now female. This high number is the result of Joseph's community leadership and scholarships provided by the Thorntons.

This is how Friendly Planet Missiology works. We go where community leadership is struggling to emerge. We learn their passions and issues. We provide a bit of coaching in how to leverage local assets and connect their projects with donors who share their passion and concern.

As the project moves toward completion, the aim is that the leadership of the community has been strengthened by strategic assistance, not destroyed by well meaning charity.

Bob

Merry Christmas

Teri, Robbie, and I are celebrating Christmas in the snow in Indiana before I return to Africa for the 2011 Congo Leadership Development Tour. Taylor and Stuart are celebrating Christmas in warmer weather in Zambia. Taylor will be traveling back to Indiana in January while I am headed for the Congo. (We will have a short meeting together in Lusaka.)

Upcoming: Jan - Mar 2011

Mulongo will once again lead our expedition into the remote districts of North Katanga. We will be going deeper into the war zone to assess community needs and give support to pastors and other community leaders. We will also be doing a series of leadership training workshops as we go from district to district. On this trip we will have a boat for navigating the Congo River, as well as our bicycles and expect to cover over 2,000 kilometers.

We need your help. This project is funded entirely by the generosity of our friends.

Please go to the website, www.friendlyplanetmissiology.org, and donate. Or mail your gift to 402 E. Main St., Plainfield, IN 46168. Or if you are a United Methodist in Indiana, give through your local congregation, designated for Friendly Planet Missiology.

Friendly Planet Missiology is a 501c3 charitable organization. Gifts are tax deductible. This is a good time of the year to help your tax return as well as helping develop leaders in Africa.

Thank you for all your support in 2010.
Merry Christmas to all.

Bob