Paracletos Blog

We send because he first sent us

2011-09-19T19:51:06+00:00

Anyone who’s been involved in the realm of missions is aware of the concept that God is a missionary God. That reality, evidenced ultimately in God the Father sending God the Son to be our sin bearer, is the primary rationale for the church to send workers into the harvest. We send because it is in our blood, so to speak. It is part of our new DNA as reborn children of God. We send because he first sent us.

The Father sent the Son, the Son sent the church, and the church sends missionaries. We seem to understand the sending part. But do we ponder the implications?

How does a sent one think of him/herself in terms of the sender?
How did Jesus think of himself in relation to his Father?
What obligation do sent ones have toward the sender?
Is there, or should there be, something more than simple obedience that motivates sent ones? What ultimately motivated Jesus?
How do sent ones reflect upon their senders?
What obligation do senders have?
Do or should senders provide anything for sent ones other than marching orders?
How did the Father provide for the Son?

I’m sure you could think of more questions of a similar nature. I’d love to hear them if you wouldn’t mind sending them my way. My point is this: I believe that the relationship between churches as senders and missionaries as sent ones can be enhanced by a more thorough understanding of the relationship between our missionary God and his ultimate sent one--Jesus Christ. I would like to launch from there into a discussion about the role of a sending church in missionary care. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

11 Core values for missionary care (Part VII)

2011-08-12T07:55:00+00:00

The Global Connections folk, who have compiled a list of best practices related to missionary care (available at http://www.globalconnections.co.uk/resources/codesandstandards/membercareguidelines), insist that “support is offered to enable each person to function well in the ministry and develop their potential in all areas of life.”

We would naturally expect the provision of good missionary care to include training in such things as cross-cultural communication skills, practical living in primitive situations, appropriate health maintenance and educational opportunities for children. Most churches and sending agencies would require at least a nominal degree of preparation in areas directly related to the work they are expected to perform. We would also expect that a certain level of spiritual maturity had been attained. But traditionally those provisions are “front-loaded,” that is, we take pains to put as much in place as possible before the missionary is ever sent to the field.

Going prepared is certainly to be desired. Scripture encourages us to avoid laying hands on anyone too quickly. But missionaries should not quit growing once they arrive on the field. They will hopefully make good use of their up-front training, but in the course of their service they will encounter people and situations that exceed their competency. God has a way of constantly moving us beyond our comfort zones - growth by stretching, if you will. And no matter how spiritually mature they may be when beginning their ministry, more growth will be required if they are to continue effectively.

Whether it is a linguistic challenge that is over their head, a relationship problem that taxes their character, or a personal struggle to maintain balance between work and rest - missionaries need to do more than tread water. They may be able to survive with just the level of competency they took with them to the field, but they will certainly not thrive. God the Father’s ultimate plan for every believer is to conform them to the image of God the Son. He desires a vibrant and dynamic relationship with his children that deepens over time. Good missionary care will see to it that they have access to on-going professional development. It will put missionaries in touch with new resources, new concepts, new techniques as they become available. And it will listen carefully to solicited feedback on matters of spiritual health. It will ask the kind of questions and offer the kind of encouragement that will stimulate them to love and good deeds.

In short, good missionary care is about thriving, not surviving.

Missionaries: We want to hear from you

2011-07-27T07:36:46+00:00

Recently we printed a little booklet entitled What Pastor’s Need to Know About Caring for Missionaries. We distributed over 80 copies to interested pastors at the IFCA convention earlier this month. Others have downloaded a PDF version from this web site. The enthusiastic response we’ve received has sparked an idea that we’d like to pursue, and it involves you.

We wrote the booklet based on personal experience as missionaries and on information we’ve gathered from dozens of missionaries over the years. Now we believe we can improve our product by soliciting your direct input. We’d like to hear from you missionaries in particular, but also from anyone who has a story or an insight gleaned from working with missionaries.

We’ll start with two simple questions:

What do you wish your supporters knew about your needs as a missionary?
How do you think they could help meet those needs?

The needs can be physical, emotional, social, medical, spiritual, or financial. Many people have some idea about some of those needs, but few people know enough about the full spectrum. It is our desire to help move beyond traditional care packages to complete packages of care.

Our plan is to publish the results in a new booklet What Missionaries Wish Their Supporters Knew About Caring for Them. So join the conversation. Everyone’s input is valuable. No one else can say what you have to say, regardless how long you’ve been a missionary. Forward this to your missionary friends and let them add to the mix. Together we will create a resource that will benefit all of us.

11 Core values for missionary care (Part VI)

2011-07-18T14:26:41+00:00

Before new missionaries ever leave for the field, “it is good practice to ensure that [they] are aware of all matters relating to their relocation.” So say the Global Connections folk who have compiled a list of best practices related to missionary care. (The complete list is available at http://www.globalconnections.co.uk/resources/codesandstandards/membercareguidelines.)

The sending church and the mission agency need to work together with the missionary to learn what will be necessary in such areas as

travel documents
work permits
housing arrangements on the field
necessary and recommended equipment
provision for children’s education

When at all possible support should be given in researching these topics, crafting a working plan and procuring what is required. This is no time for one part of the team to assume that some other part is doing the work. There must be clear communication between all parties so that everyone knows what everyone else is responsible to accomplish and to ensure that no area is left undone.

A commissioning service is more than a nice touch or a formality of tradition. It is an important opportunity for the expression of commitment expected from each part of the missionary team. When possible it is good to have a representative from the mission agency present when the sending church holds their commissioning service.

The final transition between life in the sending country and life on the field takes place when the new missionary arrives at their intended place of service. This is where the baton is passed from the sending church to the mission agency in terms of on-the-ground oversight and care. It is good for everyone to know who will be meeting the missionary upon arrival, who will be responsible for further transport if necessary, who will provide immediate accommodations, and what the schedule is for moving forward. There will automatically be some degree of fuzziness, confusion, jet lag, etc. for the newcomers. It is best to have these things spelled out ahead of time so that the missionaries do not have the added stress of making such decisions while still in adjustment.

Tender Care: The Heart and Soul of Caring for God’s Scattered Servants

2011-07-15T14:20:33+00:00

Tender Care: The Heart and Soul of Caring for God’s Scattered Servants
The Seabrook Seven
Barnabas Books 2010

There are various aspects of missionary care, and they are all vital. There is coaching, mentoring, self-care, clinical care, and agency care. But the one area that has suffered from a relative lack of literature is pastoral care. That name is not to imply the sole source of such care, rather to describe the type of care that missionaries need. Now there is this ground-breaking volume on “the heart and soul of caring for God’s scattered servants.”

Using the analogy of a deep-sea diver’s tender (the partner on the surface who literally holds the diver’s life in his hands), the authors provide an excellent overview of pastoral care for cross-cultural workers. They know whereof they speak; all seven of the collaborating writers are practitioners with decades of experience between them. Not only is their expertise obvious in what they share, but their hearts clearly communicate what they pray would be the heart of everyone who endeavors to function as a caregiver for missionaries.

This book defines pastoral care, its scope, and its duration. It is full of practical applications as well as challenging insights. It is a call to the body of Christ to rise up and practice “one-another” principles with those of its members who are serving in the global harvest fields.

This is a book I wish I had written. But since I did not (and could not have), I wish everyone interested in caring for missionaries would read it, study it, employ it. Read our full review at http://paracletos.org/resources/reviews/books/ and see if you’re not motivated to buy your own copy as soon as possible.

11 Core values for missionary care (Part V)

2011-07-08T07:31:19+00:00

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When it comes to the realm of caring for the harvest force, that old maxim is more true than ever. The fifth core value identified by Global Connections identifies five areas in which communication is essential and for which training should be provided. (See the complete list of core values at http://www.globalconnections.co.uk/resources/codesandstandards/membercareguidelines.)

Those five areas are:

The sending organization
The nature of the work
The environment in which the work will take place
Safety and security while on the field
Health and wellness issues

From the time a missionary candidate begins considering which sending agency to join, throughout the ensuing training process, and on into the course of the missionary’s career, the potential for avoiding attrition is greatly enhanced by good communication. All parties concerned--the sending church, the mission agency, and the missionary family--need to know and understand such things as:

The goals and values of the sending organization
The leadership structure of the sending organization
A clear job description for the missionary
Strategies for maintaining a good balance between work and rest
Language and cultural barriers of particular concern
Contingency plans in case of emergency
Lines of authority and accountability
And a host of others

The Global Connections site offers many more suggestions along these lines.

The best time to know who is responsible for what is before the missionary leaves the sending church. Church leaders should know who to contact within the mission organization regarding their missionary. There may be different people assigned to various aspects. One person may be responsible for matters related to finances, while another may oversee issues regarding safety. Develop a rapport with these people early on. Mission personnel should know exactly who to contact within the sending church. Is it the senior pastor, the missions pastor, the mission committee chairperson? Finally, the missionaries themselves should know what is expected of them in terms of reports, updates, urgent prayer requests, etc. Who would they contact if they were having health issues? spiritual problems? trouble with their children? And certainly, if and when any of those individuals is replaced by a new person, make sure the missionary knows immediately.

Good missionary care demands open, honest and timely communication on everyone’s part.

Report on the IFCA Annual Convention just concluded

2011-07-06T07:28:59+00:00

What do these numbers have in common:
500 - 270 - 85 - 60 - 34 - 32 - 9 - 3 ?

Before you get too excited, I have to tell you it has nothing to do with our bank account or the combination to our safety deposit box! But they do all represent something valuable in our opinion. They are all related to the recent IFCA convention that we attended from Monday noon until Friday noon of last week. Here’s what they mean...

There were approximately 500 delegates present at the convention, most of whom were pastors of IFCA churches (Independent Fundamental Churches of America). Previous to the conference we knew only one IFCA pastor, David Broersma. David shepherds Faith Bible Church (FBC) in Albuquerque, NM. FBC supported us on the mission field and is where we attended while on furlough in Albuquerque.

During the course of the week we commuted 270 miles to the convention site in Northern Kentucky. That translates into 9 hours on the road last week.

We prepared a special booklet to give away during the conference: What Pastors Need to Know About Caring for Missionaries. (You can download a free copy from our home page http://paracletos.org/.) Of the 100 booklets we printed, 85 were taken. Those plus countless brochures, free pens, and business cards found their way into dozens of hands.

We were one of 60 exhibitors, and we all had a steady stream of traffic. We enjoyed meeting and chatting with more than a hundred visitors at our table during the 34 hours of our presence.

We held drawings for a free 3-day/2-night personal retreat at Baan Sabai. We were encouraged that 32 people entered, even from such far away places as California and Colorado. There were 3 lucky winners.

Many pastors instantly realized the nature of our ministry and were appreciative. Others were more aloof. One key contact was with the Director of Church Relations for NTM (someone w knew but didn’t realize was functioning in that capacity). Overall we were encouraged by the response and are strongly considering exhibiting at the 2012 Convention in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

11 Core values for missionary care (Part IV)

2011-06-29T08:12:53+00:00

Accountability. It’s been a buzzword for a long time, but it needs to be much more than that when it comes to caring for your missionaries. The fourth core value identified by Global Connections relates to ways in which missionaries can be empowered for fruitful ministry (see the complete list of core values at http://www.globalconnections.co.uk/resources/codesandstandards/membercareguidelines).

Often accountability is used more as a means of sin management rather than health maintenance. Though both aspects are important, the latter could use more emphasis. As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Mission agency personnel, particularly field leadership, will likely enquire about the progress of the ministry. Others may keep an eye on the physical health of the missionary, especially if there have been chronic problems or persistent threats. Some may even ask how they’re doing in terms of this or that temptation. But who do you know that is responsible for keeping his or her finger on the “spiritual pulse” of your missionary friend? Who would the missionary expect to ask questions like, “What have you been hearing from the Lord these days?” and “How has God refreshed your soul lately?” Maybe you, as a close friend or the pastor of their sending church, are in the best position to be involved at that level.

Obviously you must have permission to interact with anyone on such a personal level. Seek to develop the kind of relationship with your missionary friend that will invite close and transparent communication. Accountability only works when the accountable party is being honest! Be willing to reciprocate by sharing your own ups and downs and the things God is sharing with you.

Good practice in missionary care requires planning for crisis situations, debriefing opportunities, and regular evaluations. Above all it requires the preventive care that seeks to help missionaries stay spiritually and emotionally healthy and resilient. That is something you are probably more equipped to do than to try and restore health once it is lost.

11 Core values for missionary care (Part III)

2011-06-22T08:08:34+00:00

The third core value identified by Global Connections relates to support structures (see the complete list of core values at http://www.globalconnections.co.uk/resources/codesandstandards/membercareguidelines). The responsibility for missionary care should be shared by the sending agency, the supporting church, personal friends (including advocate teams), and member care specialists.

Good practice, say the folks at Global Connections, includes:

practical and financial support
personal and prayer support
provision for appropriate times of rest
concern for the extended family

To be effective, details should be spelled out in writing to answer such questions as:

Who is responsible for which aspect of the missionary’s care?
What are the preferred methods of communicating between the various parties?
How will regular contact be maintained?

Notice particularly the topic of rest. This would refer not simply to a cessation of work but to an opportunity to be spiritually and emotionally revitalized as well. (We’ll talk more about this later.) With the never-ending demands of ministry, and the shortage of laborers, missionaries will often not give themselves permission to take a break. Good missionary care will insist that they do and will provide in practical ways to make it possible.

You may want to consider drafting a memorandum of understanding that specifies the goals, the areas of responsibility each party seeks to cover, and particular means to be employed in meeting the goals. This is especially important if the parties do not all reside in the same area. (We are seeing more and more “virtual teams” developed that harness the capabilities of electronic means of communicating between people in diverse locations.)

Each group - the sending church, the mission agency, the advocate team, and the missionaries themselves - should receive a copy. The document should be reviewed periodically to determine if all the bases are being covered and if any changes are in order to ensure more effective or more efficient provision of care.

Good missionary care requires the involvement of a wide spectrum of people. You can be one of them.

11 Core values for missionary care (Part II)

2011-06-13T08:16:34+00:00

The second core value identified by Global Connections relates to the recruitment, selection and appointment of missionaries (see the complete list of core values at http://www.globalconnections.co.uk/resources/codesandstandards/membercareguidelines). While many of these topics will relate specifically to mission agencies, the local church should be involved in several areas. “Good practice,” they say, “should ensure that throughout the recruitment process, the needs and views of the whole family are considered.” Some of their suggestions that pertain to churches include:

maintaining contact between the mission agency, the local church, and the missionary candidate from the beginning of the application process
encouraging and assisting the candidate to ask appropriate questions regarding the best fit for potential ministry
offering to provide a representative from the church during the agency’s interview process
ensuring the needs and opinions of the whole family are considered (particularly important with older children)
identifying areas requiring further training or maturation
development of memorandums of understanding between the church and the sending agency, specifying who is responsible for what, and to what extent
identifying areas of preparation for the whole family (again, especially important with children)

The Global Connections web site has a link to detailed guidelines for families which is worth reviewing. In adhering to this core value, pastors may play a crucial role, as might other church leaders or individuals with a personal knowledge of the candidate’s character and background. Other church members may be able to plug into communications or research. Other missionaries in your church, or ex-missionaries, could be particularly useful in assisting candidates in knowing the right questions to ask.

If the local church accepts the responsibility discussed in our previous post (June 6, 2011) then this is a logical follow-up. A candidate may be able to navigate this phase of the missionary experience on his own, or with just the help of his prospective sending agency, but the experience will be greatly enhanced by the participation of his sending church as well.