The Whartons

“Before you can be a teacher, you must first be a humble learner.”

This lesson from the book Cross-Cultural Servanthood, was on the Wharton family’s mind as they returned to Jordan after a brief trip to the USA to attend a conference at their sending church.

While this lesson may seem obvious, say the Whartons, it goes completely against human pride. In terms of the work they are attempting—to share the good news of eternal life with unreached people—there is much they have to learn from the unreached before they can share the gospel. “Yes, we have much to give,” write the Whartons, “but first we must humble ourselves and sit at their feet as learners, like children in a classroom, so we can then learn how to speak the eternal truths that we long to communicate.” 

This has been the Wharton family’s main priority for more than two years: learning daily what it means to communicate like an Arab. They are learning the language, and adapting to the Arab way of life as much as possible, and asking as many questions as they can about what their neighbors believe. This learning posture not only allows the Whartons to acquire the language, but it gives value to the people they learn from, because they’ve listened before sharing anything. 

Nevertheless, the urgency of the need for the gospel is pressing.

Recently Ron Wharton had an opportunity to lean into a language teacher’s difficult situation. This teacher was clearly struggling with something. “While it was a little awkward talking with a female teacher about personal matters (since culturally that is weird),” Ron writes, “there was an opportunity to listen, ask questions, and truly care for someone who is in a hard spot. It was at the end of that time where she turned to ask me, ‘Well... What do you think you would do in my situation?’” 

At last, here was an opportunity! Ron was able to explain that his teacher’s deepest issues were not with relationships or life circumstances, but in her need for salvation from her sins. “By God’s grace,” Ron writes, “I feel like I was able to clearly share the gospel with her that day. She was able to hear and understand. But, in typical fashion, she shied away from responding to what I shared and tried to generalize the need for faith in our lives—please pray for her that God would open her eyes to the truth!” 

This principle, of humbly learning, can apply to all of us. Rely on those around you and give them value in helping to serve you. Whether in learning a new language and culture, or reaching lost neighbors who ask for help with a work problem (or just a broken lawnmower!). When we live with the humility of Christ, then, at the right moment, we may be able to “teach them to observe all that I (Christ) have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19)

‍