Guilt & Association

The biggest story in Peru these days is a huge corruption scandal involving various high-level government officials doing favors for a foreign oil company and, of course, getting their palms greased in return. The entire presidential cabinet recently had to resign because of the scandal, and one ex-minister is on the lam as we speak, supposedly hiding out in Mexico or Argentina. Both the Peruvian national police and air force have been accused of helping him flee the country to avoid arrest. The on-the-lam ex-minister's daughter is a well-known member of Congress, and the media is hounding her for information about the flight of her notorious father.

Several political careers have been ruined, while others are on the brink of ruin. A lot of top government officials are sweating it out big-time these days, wondering if the jig is about to be up for them, too. It's not a pretty sight, and it leads the local TV news every night.

I have met some of the allegedly-involved government officials at various functions in the Peru Congress, and it's sad to see them end up this way. It also makes me realize that we need to be careful with the associations that we make in international ministry.

As foreigners, a lot of people may be drawn to us out of interest or curiosity in our ministry. Many may want to practice their language skills with us. Most of the time, the associations will be innocent and worthwhile and beneficial, but you also need to know that there will be those out there who will try to take advantage of you or your ministry for bad purposes.

Frequently, there is a mindset that foreign ministries are loaded with cash, so there will be those that will look at you as a bank and nothing else. We always have people hitting us up for money, even if they've never attended a single church service at FRC-Lima and don't even know my name. Sometimes the need is legitimate, but we've also run into several cases where someone was simply out to rip off the church and separate us from what God has blessed us with as stewards.

The associations between greedy politicians and seedy businessmen has caused scandal and ruined lives here in Peru. You may not be facing the same Page-1-newspaper-headlines sort of controversy in your international ministry right now, but beware. The wolves are out there, licking their chops, waiting to pounce on you and devour you, and then leaving others to pick at your bones when they are gone.

Be careful with whom you associate. We know that Jesus hung out with all sorts of n'er-do-wells, including thieves, corrupt tax collectors, and prostitutes, but He never was stained by them. Do likewise. Be wise in your associations, befriend the friendless, and serve the least of the brethren, but be extremely careful that at the end of the day the reputation of you and your ministry remains spotless.