This description, shared before, here, combines the sniper and coach in a different way. The goalie has special skills that the other players don’t. The missionary as goalie emphasizes that mission is done together as a body, as a team, not just as an advisor. They have an important role but they are generally not the ones kicking goals for the team. Their place is at the back, sort of behind the scenes in some sense. Yet being at the back they see things slightly differently from other players who are more in the midst. Good goalies will communicate what they see to the whole team. They provide helpful information, like a coach, yet as a player. Goalies have some special abilities that other players don’t. They can use their hands. However, their special abilities are limited to a small arena in comparison to the whole field. The goal square sets good limits on the goalie’s abilities to be contained and used for the right purposes.

When I think about theology in relation to mission the role of the goalie resonates in this regard. Missionaries can provide a wealth of information particularly in relation to theology that comes from the world-wide church. Like the goalie they provide a point of view that assists the other players as they create and apply theology. Yet they are not the ones who see theology develop (score goals). That is done by other players, by the teamwork of the whole team, goalie included but not goalie exclusively. In preventing goals, maybe this is a good metaphor for preventing heresies or problems from occurring. Yet in reality this is a normal part of missionary work. We help and yet even in our helping we create problems, hopefully unintentionally.

The goal square for me feels like Phnom Penh Bible School (PPBS). In that square I can jump around and use my hands. Outside PPBS, I’m not only limited to my feet, but the goal remains unguarded. Thus expeditions out of the square should be well calculated and brief as I focus on my main role.