Three Years of War

Have you ever struggled with impostor syndrome?

The topic came to mind for me recently because of a Forbes article on the difference between impostor syndrome and what they call “impostorization.” The former is characterized by self-doubt; the latter is more external and has to do with one’s environment and relationships.

Impostor syndrome is a psychological phenomenon characterized by feelings of inadequacy and the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of achievement. That’s the internet definition. A more accessible description is feeling like you’re not really up to the task even though other people believe you are. It’s not just leaders who can suffer from impostor syndrome; anyone, regardless of their role or level of authority, can find themselves feeling that whatever success they have is due to luck or other external factors and that they don’t deserve to be recognized for their achievements.

There’s a fine line between impostor syndrome and appropriate humility. For example, red flags go up for me whenever someone self-identifies as a global leader. Is that really a designation you should give yourself? On the other hand, I talk with global leaders all the time who downplay their accomplishments and influence, not out of false modesty but out of a biblical understanding that their ministry success is the result not of their own brilliance but of God working through them to accomplish his purposes.

There are plenty of examples in the Bible of people feeling like impostors while carrying out leadership responsibilities. Moses, Gideon, Elijah, and Jeremiah all expressed their self-doubt directly to God after being specifically called to ministry. In the New Testament, Peter and Paul both wrestled with feelings of inadequacy. In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul went so far as to call himself the worst of the world’s sinners. This wasn’t mere hyperbole; Paul was a notorious and ruthless enemy of the early church before his encounter with the risen Christ.

But the Bible is also clear that as believers, we should have confidence in the callings we have received. In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul writes, “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline.” Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Isaiah 41:10 provides God’s promise for his people who were struggling with their identity amidst the storms of global conflict: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

One of the best examples in Scripture of someone who faced a unique calling with confidence instead of what would have been very understandable doubt is Mary, the mother of Jesus. When it was announced to her that she was going to be the mother of the Son of God, she didn’t waste time claiming that she was unworthy of the honor or unqualified for the role. After clearing up some logistical details, she simply said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said come true.”

What are you wrestling with today? Are you facing self-doubt and impostor syndrome (or impostorization, for that matter)? Or are you confident that the Lord who called you to do what you are doing will provide for your every need in accomplishing the task he has given you?

Here’s what’s happening.

Three Years of War
Today is the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Three years ago today, Tyndale employees gathered in the chapel to pray for the Ukrainian people and for peace. You know the headlines and the news stories, so I won’t focus on informational content today. Instead, I’ll share what Oleksandr Geychenko, president of Odesa Theological Seminary and a THF partner, wrote this morning: Three years ago, on the 24th of February 2022, Russia started its unprovoked and aggressive full-scale war against Ukraine. All Ukrainans joined efforts in fighting for our right to exist. The fact that we still do is the grace and mercy of God. Every day the people of Ukraine confront deaths and pain. Every night we hear air-raid alerts. Everywhere across Ukraine someone is weeping over their losses, some have already no more tears, some are learning to live with the loss, some are even learning to be happy. The most popular Scripture texts among Christians these three years are lament psalms which also contain glimpses of hope and expressions of trust in the Lord. Taking into account the voice of different religious communities, the Ukrainian Parliament declared the 24th of February as the Day of National Prayer for Ukraine. Indeed, in God we trust. We are praying for the just and secure peace in our country. Please join us in our prayer for Ukraine.

---

Awakening Africa Report Released
Last week, Mergon Foundation in South Africa, released its Awakening Africa Report, the result of a multiyear collaborative research and writing project combining the efforts of leaders, theologians, researchers, and resource partners across Africa. The report contains insiders’ insights and perspectives on the various challenges and opportunities facing Africa. Several of the contributors are THF partners. Mergon itself is a collaborative partner for THF, contributing to many of the same organizations in Africa that we do. Neil Hart, the executive director, is a Tyndale author. If you’re at all interested in ministry and mission in Africa, I encourage you to read this report. It’s not short, so it’s a bit of a time commitment, but it’s well worth an hour or so to learn more about what’s going on in the world’s youngest, most economically disparate, and most Christian continent. Specifically, the report contains information on Africa’s people, cities, faith landscape (including traditional religions), 972 unreached or least-reached people groups, values, perspectives on money and generosity, and much more. And it’s not all dense text; there are infographics, charts, and other visual presentations of data. This report, and the research behind it, is a potential game changer for ministry in Africa over the next couple of decades.

---

Partner Spotlight: Lausanne Movement
Tyndale House Foundation has been giving grants to support the Lausanne Movement since before the organization existed. Our first grant was in 1973 to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, helping to provide scholarship funds for participants to come to the Lausanne Congress for World Evangelization, hosted by Billy Graham and John Stott, which took place the following year. Since then, the Lausanne Movement has grown into probably the most influential evangelical organization in the world, and THF has been partnering with them each step of the way. I have written previously about the history of Lausanne and THF participation in all four major Lausanne events. Today I want to point out some of the resources the organization makes available, some of them with THF funding. The Lausanne Global Analysis is a quarterly journal that gives a broad evangelical perspective on a variety of issues facing the Global Church. The Lausanne Global Classroom is a video library for leaders who care about global issues. The Lausanne Occasional Papers are theological resources coming out of the Lausanne Issue Networks. One recent paper about polycentric Christianity was written by THF partner Dr. Tite Tiénou. Another recent paper about ministry to at-risk children was edited by THF partner Lucy Kajidori. All of these are great ways to keep informed about major issues facing global evangelicalism today.

---

Report on Refugee Ministry
Two weeks ago, Tyndale employees had an opportunity to hear directly from leaders at World Relief Chicagoland about what’s happening in regard to refugees, asylum seekers, and non-refugee immigrants in our area and what World Relief is doing to meet needs during a somewhat chaotic and highly charged political environment. This week you have a chance to hear from another THF partner on the same topic but from a more theological perspective. Tom Albinson is the president of the International Association for Refugees (IAFR), a THF partner since 2015. We have given funds to help IAFR with multiple projects, including relief work in refugee camps in Kenya and the DRC, a refugee welcome center in Minnesota, and more. In 2023, to mark the Foundation’s 60th anniversary, we gave a special grant of $60,000 to IAFR as a strategic partner in our Compassion category. Tom has been a good thought partner for me over the years about healthy and responsible ways to provide care for refugees here and around the world. He will be speaking at Wheaton College on Thursday, February 27, at 7:30 p.m. in Room 145 of the Meyer Science Center. The event is part of Wheaton’s Biblical and Theological Studies program and is sponsored by the Wheaton Center for Early Christian Studies. If you’re interested in learning more about how a significant THF partner is responding to current needs in the area of refugee care, you will benefit from this presentation, which is titled “Cutting through Confusion and Misinformation on Asylum Seekers and Refugees.”

---

That’s it for this week’s briefing. Please send any questions, comments, and antidotes for impostor syndrome to [email protected]. I send out this email resource most weeks primarily for a Tyndale audience, but you should feel free to share it with others who may be interested, inside or outside of Tyndale. Thanks for continuing to pray for and support our partners around the world.

Jeremy Taylor
President | Tyndale House Foundation

The THF Weekly Briefing provides information about significant events happening in the wide universe of Tyndale House Foundation partner organizations as well as an occasional peek behind the scenes of THF’s operations. It is available to anyone at Tyndale who’s interested in learning more about the Foundation side of the organization. Was this email forwarded to you? Contact [email protected] to be added to (or removed from) the distribution list.