Description:

WMS is a syndrome that sometimes attacks missionaries, primarily those from Western culture, specifically those of American or United Kingdom decent. If left untreated, WMS could result in burn-out, severe discouragement, or spiritual death.

Symptoms:

Discouragement
Hopelessness
Depression
Extreme fatigue
Sickness
Excessive fleshing out
Feeling that things are moving too slow
Nostalgia
Lack of vision
A desire to get the time in the field over with

Causes:

False sense of responsibility for the city in which one lives
Driven to complete tasks, instead of knowing people and the Lord
Comparison with other individuals
Recognizing others according to the flesh
Lack of understanding that one is loved
Fear of failure, fear of lack, fear of man, fear of death
Self- idolatry or any other idolatry
Unprotection/Lack of protection of an individual’s authority
Selfish ambition
Lack of vision

In summary, any loss of focus of the largeness of the Lord, or any special focus on the strength of a man could cause WMS.

Treatment:

If an individual  experiences any of the symptoms listed above, immediate action must be taken.
- Stop the action that caused Western Missionary Syndrome
- Ask forgiveness for the action that caused WMS
- Walk in the spirit.
- Renew the mind to the truth.

This disease is still being researched. There may be many other symptoms and causes of WMS that are not listed here. If anyone has observed more about Western Missionary Syndrome, feel free to comment below.

A Note From the Author

Over the holidays I was sitting at a friend’s house in Macedonia thinking to myself, “Why do I feel so bad?” I was feeling a little hopeless, a little depressed, a little physically sick, even. Why?

The Holy Spirit then preceded to take me by the hand and guide me through my own recent thoughts and emotions. He showed me that I had seen much; I had seen pain, wickedness, injustice, and, in general, a gap between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of men.

This could have been profitable if I had just stopped right there, and prayed into this burden. However, I did not. The Holy Spirit then showed me how I had taken on, not just the burden to pray, but the entire responsibility. I had decided that the fate of Greece, Macedonia, and Serbia was now on my shoulders.

Yes, it seems ridiculous when said like this. In fact, when the Holy Spirit revealed this to me, I laughed at myself. But that is what I had done. I repented for taking on the weight of responsibility and prayed into the burden of what I had seen.

I realized that this is a common issue with missionaries and those in ministry. And that this line of thinking is incredibly deadly! It’s foreign-disease deadly!
I decided to compile a list of pitfalls, both from my own experience, and from some of my friends experiences as if I were describing a foreign, tropical disease. I wanted to remind myself that this line of thinking is just as much to be avoided as malaria!

When this was revealed, I asked the Holy Spirit, “What do I do about this?” He said, “Stop!”  Of course. Stop thinking that I could carry the weight of the fate of entire cities. Ask forgiveness, walk in the spirit, renew my mind. Simple enough. And now I knew the trap.

“That no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes” (2 Cor. 2:11).

Don’t go into the African wet season without deet. Don’t go into the Balkan mission field to take on the wrong weights.

There are some good weights, however, out here in the wilds of the Kingdom of God. The weight of conviction is edifying to my soul. The weight of prayer is powerful and effective, changing the atmospheres. The weight of revelation shakes me from slumber. The weight of the glory of God is my bread and life!!

And now for the unveiling! Western Missionary Syndrome, by most authorities, has actually revealed itself to be. . . RELIGION!!!

Danielle Vitelli is from Brevard, NC and a former DPI Ministries Intern who says, “My hobbies include doing Jesus stuff, getting one hundred thousand million people saved, doing more Jesus stuff, and crocheting.”  She is currently living and serving in Belgrade, Serbia.  You can catch up with all things Danielle on her blog at www.kingdomcome1.webs.com.