Integral Missionary Development

Last May our mission leaders met in the UK for what they call International Council meetings. During that time Jeff turned over his position of Associate International Director to another man named Daren Beck. Jeff took on Daren’s role of Asia Regional Coordinator. We will be writing more about this new role in our upcoming newsletter. I was appointed as the International Integral Missionary Training Coordinator. It is in regards to this role that I am writing. Jeff on my task force since we will be developing a training program in the Philippines—primarily for ACTION missionaries but it can be expanded to others as we are able. It will include both classroom (with ourselves and other leaders) and on the street aspects to the training.

We are concerned about unnecessary missionary attrition that happens during the first term of service. It is our desire as a task force to investigate ways of better preparing missionaries to avoid pre-mature departure from field service. We will be investigating how we can do a better job of selecting potential missionaries and then guiding them to the point where they are ready to serve and be effective in their first term of service. Missionary preparation encompasses four aspects (at least) which our task force will be working on. Although I list them in a linear sequence, each aspect overlaps. 

1. The individual or couple, their calling into foreign missionary service and their own preparation, schooling and personal development

2. The churches' guidance, mentoring and ministry training opportunities

3. The application process and orientation with their mission agency

4. The training provided by their mission agency which is specialized to that organization

Jeff and I will be primarily focused on the 4th aspect for missionaries who are joining our organization but we want to investigate the first two aspects. When someone is called of the Lord to become a missionary, what steps can they take to begin preparing themselves for foreign service? What disciplines, training or character qualities need to be developed? Then, what role does the church have in helping that individual or family to be prepared for missionary service? How can they provide a venue for ministry within the church prior to being deployed to the field? 

Where is home?

Someone asked me a few months ago if it is good to be "home." Then she said probably by now the Philippines is my "home." I told her I have no sense of home. No matter where I am, I am away from someone I miss. I feel things very deeply in my life. I'm not able to turn off the pain of always having to say goodbye to someone I love. I have somewhat learned to say goodbye, but it is not easy. We spent two weeks with Amos and Micah and their families. I usually can leave without crying, but not this time. I wept when I said goodbye and I wept on the airplane. This article ministered to me today. I accept the paradox because I know that when I am in Heaven, I will be home and there will be no more "goodbye" for those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ.

Blind woman celebrates Christmas with lots of lights

Yesterday I was at my parents' apartment having lunch with my mom and sister Janna. Janna cleans their place for them so she was doing that after lunch. My mom wanted to take us up stairs to visit another resident who has quite a light display in her apartment. Every room is filled with something that lights up. It was beautiful but the amazing thing is that she is blind. She cannot see her own lights but she does an amazing job of setting it all up. The blind woman is incredibly joyful. She knows who you are once she hears your voice. I have never seen her down or discouraged but she is always cheerfully greeting everyone. She told us that she had just been to Feed My Starving Children helping with packing food. She said her task that day was to put the labels on the bags. They were packing for a shipment that was headed to Cambodia. On our way to her unit, we passed someone's door who was playing beautiful hymns and Christmas music on the piano. As we passed by, my mom pointed out that the woman playing the piano is deaf. Amazing. I don't have talents like these women and I wonder what's my excuse for that? I was blessed.