What Is A Furlough?
One dictionary defines furlough as: 1. Military. a vacation or leave of absence granted to an enlisted person.
2. a usually temporary layoff from work: Many plant workers have been forced to go on furlough.
This may be the reason why some see missionary furloughs as glorified vacations away from one's duties and responsibilities. I have, personally, heard someone express - "Well... I don't get to take a year at a time off of work." My response is a fitting quotation by Ulysses S. Grant... "The most confident critics are generally those who know the least about the matter being criticized". Torn between two continents, a missionary, whether on the field, or during a furlough, turns double duty on his (her) responsibilities. He (She) is called to live and minister within the context of two separate cultures, which presents paradoxes unknown to single-culture Christians. These days I am hearing missionaries and mission agencies dump the term furlough, choosing rather to call a missionary's time in his first culture "home assignment". Such a change in terminology may clear up some of the misconceptions which arise during a missionary's time away from his cross-cultural ministry.
During a furlough a missionary has three main objectives: reports, relationships, and revival. Following the pattern set by the first missionary journey, there is a Biblical precedent for furloughs: Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. 28 And there they abode long time with the disciples. Surrounded by a generous support group of churches, the missionary has responsibility to keep donors abreast of the progress of his ministry. While letters and e-mails provide thumbnails of information, few would argue that the personal contact a missionary has with supporting churches gives a broader perspective of who he is and what he is doing.
A "sent one" often struggles to maintain a proper balance of immediate and long distance relationships. Furlough provides a time for the one who has been called to forsake family and friends (Mark 10:29-30) to keep the embers of love glowing. Those who are nearest and dearest to his heart become a focal point of time spent in his home culture.
Furlough gives a missionary an opportunity to focus upon personal spiritual revival. The spiritual difficulties that arise in a cross-cultural context can wear on an individual. Often, because of so many needs surrounding the missionary he will begin to experience spiritual atrophy. Sometimes he notices this and can re-tool his concentration, other times he does not. However, during a home assignment one can sit under preaching, presented in his vernacular, which the Lord can use to pinpoint some bonafide spiritual needs. He can also be enriched by fellowship with those of his native ethnicity. I feel that such times of refreshing (Acts 3:19) are pertinent for one making a long term commitment to cross-cultural ministry.
If you know anyone who suggests that furlough is a glorified vacation for undeserving candidates, remind him that a furlough must be earned. And... if he would like to try one of these "glorified vacations" he must first punch the foreign field clock. I am quite confident that a full term of cross-cultural experience may change his outlook on a missionary's "home assignment"!