IN THIS ISSUE: My Internship in Madrid, Spain p. 3 Dominican Republic Update p. 11 Introducing The Dashboard p. 14

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1 IN THIS ISSUE: My Internship in Madrid, Spain p. 3 Dominican Republic Update p. 11 Introducing The Dashboard p. 14

Stewarding Emotions Ben Tobias, CCM Director I f you re like me, you get tired of hearing one financial request after another, even if the requests come from trusted sources like godly charities,

If left unchecked, compassion fatigue can lead to a calloused heart and a suspicious mind.

2 Stewarding Emotions Ben Tobias, CCM Director I f you re like me, you get tired of hearing one financial request after another, even if the requests come from trusted sources like godly charities, church leaders, or missionaries. At some point in the recent past, someone came up with the term compassion fatigue to describe the feeling of being asked for financial support too often. If left unchecked, compassion fatigue can lead to a calloused heart and a suspicious mind. The calloused heart has been broken too many times and no longer cares, and the suspicious mind has learned to automatically reject appeals for help for any number of reasons (e.g. How can I trust this person? ). In the June 2015 issue of Church Finance Today, Ruth Moon quotes a missions pastor who said: As a church we try to limit what we ask people for to steward their emotions but make it very clear (italics added). That phrase struck me as the best way to avoid compassion fatigue. When a church and/or pastor takes this kind of stewardship seriously, church members will have opportunities to give as the Lord directs, without guilt or pressure being used. It also means that we won t over-commit by feeling duty-bound to invest in every need that crosses our path. We all need to remember Paul s teaching in 2 Corinthians 8-9 regarding giving and responding to needs. Notice how often he uses words like generosity, giving, sharing, cheerful, and eagerness in this text. Nearly every verse in these two chapters reflects a heartfelt desire to participate in God s blessing in the lives of others. Paul s solitary warning is that we must not give grudgingly, reluctantly, or under compulsion (9:5,7). Brothers and Sisters, we have so many opportunities to bless others through our financial support, so many opportunities to express God s love in tangible ways. Let it never be merely signing a check or putting money in the plate. Make sure to give your heart first: Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (9:7). ))) Front cover: : Mothers and children of the Toluca Mission near Mexico City. The Missionary Signal (ISSN ) Rachel Foreman, Editor Published bimonthly by the Commission on Cross-Cultural Ministries, 700 E. Melrose Ave., P.O. Box 926, Findlay, OH Send all subscription requests to: THE MISSIONARY SIGNAL, 700 E. Melrose Ave., P.O. Box 926, Findlay, OH Second Class Postage Paid at Findlay, Ohio and Additional Entry Offices, POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Missionary Signal, P.O. Box 926, Findlay, OH 45839

I might not have seen it much back then, but as I m looking back on it now, I ve realized it was filled with challenge, mistakes and learning.

3 My Internship in Madrid, Spain Sarah Molgaard Last year I took a step of faith. I moved to Madrid, Spain for 10 months to do an internship at Mountainview International Church and I was also an au pair for a Spanish family. I grew a lot during those ten months. I might not have seen it much back then, but as I m looking back on it now, I ve realized it was filled with challenge, mistakes and learning. As an intern at Mountainview International Church I did various jobs. The church meets at a School on Sundays. One of my tasks was volunteering as an English assistant at the school on Mondays and Tuesdays. I helped in classes from kindergarten to sixth grade tutoring English. Some lessons I would sit one-on-one with a student, but most of the time those students just needed extra help with their English. This was a great experience for me because I m thinking of becoming a teacher in the future. It was also great to feel that I was helping the school and students. On Thursdays I ran Café Fuente at the school. The café was open every Thursday morning for the teachers and parents at the school. We served hot drinks, croissants and pan con tomate (toasted bread with tomato). This was a way to serve and connect with the community. Most of the parents came to the café to practice their English as it also was a bilingual café. There was no requirement to pay for the coffee but you could choose to donate money. On Sundays I helped prepare the café space and worship hall. I also helped with counting the offering, unlocking doors, etc. Some Sundays I 3

ran the PowerPoint during worship service while other Sundays I would take care of the children at Sunday school. In the beginning of June I had the privilege to visit Tangier, Morocco.

4 ran the PowerPoint during worship service while other Sundays I would take care of the children at Sunday school. In the beginning of June I had the privilege to visit Tangier, Morocco. On this trip we gave money that we raised at our garage sale and some children s clothes to Clyde and Naomi (an old missionary couple) and to Joy, a Christian Moroccan woman. They have been partnering for years, ministering together in Tangier working with Creche, which is the local home for abandoned children. They also have had a ministry for unwed/unwanted mothers as well as been involved with the underground church. One of the days I was able to spend time with the children at the Creche and we got to experience how they worked there and how the children lived. One of the challenges I faced as an intern was when I was asked by Richard, the pastor at the church, to speak one Sunday. During the summer the congregation studied the 10 Commandments. I had the privilege to start this series with the first commandment. The topic was Live by Priorities. It was a family service so the children were a part of the service as well. So I also had to come up with a way to make it fun for them. Public speaking is not really my cup of tea, but I wanted to do it anyway. I m happy I did because it really helped me to think about what I prioritize in my life, and how important it is to put God first. It is also important to trust God, but I ve always found it difficult to do so fully. However, through this year I was able to experience how providing God is. How everything worked out, especially how fast I was able to get Spain, I know God was behind it all. I bought a one-way ticket only one week before moving to Madrid. September 15, 2014 was the day my 19-year-old self moved to Spain. In the beginning of the summer I thought I wouldn t be able to move to Madrid until October of that year, or perhaps not even until January, because I didn t think I would have the support needed to get there when I had hoped to. But God had other plans! His plan was far greater! It s kind of funny because I think another reason I knew that God was behind it all was because I remember writing down in a journal when I was younger things I wanted to do in my life. One of those things (and this was when I started learning Spanish in 6th grade) was actually living in Spain and the other thing was working in missions or working with a church. 4

I ve met so many different people from all over the world through the church, my Spanish class and at the school. I love when different cultures come together!

5 Today I m back home in Sweden and I m studying a bible course at a community college close to my hometown. I m still not sure what my future holds but after my year in Spain I ve realized I really love the international community. That s where I feel at home, I think partly because I grew up in it. I ve met so many different people from all over the world through the church, my Spanish class and at the school. I love when different cultures come together! I also love meeting new people and hearing their stories. I would like to work internationally, and missions is something I would love to keep on doing even if it is close to home or abroad. I also love children! Visiting the Creche and working with the children at the school have inspired me and made me realize how much I really want to work with children. My plan, as I mentioned earlier, is to eventually study to become a teacher in earlier childhood education. I would love to work with children in the future. If it s at a school or through missions I m not sure yet. Whatever my future holds, I know I can trust that God will be there every step of the way. Looking back, I ve learned that God s plans and timing are perfect. We just need to give Him our trust and time, even if it s not always easy. He knows what s good for us! ))) 2015 Prayer Focus PRAY FOR MEXICO Pray for Pastors Emilio and Ana Sanchez, leaders of the newest CCM Field, as they work with training church planters and strengthening the CGGC work in and around Mexico City. Pray for Pastor Francisco Linares from San Diego, who is developing a new outreach in Tijuana, Mexico. Pray for peace! The battles between the drug cartels and the government have claimed many lives and destabilized several areas. KENYA Pray for Pastor Joseph Mwaura, Director of Voice of the Gospel Ministries, as he oversees the ministry of the VOGM and the training of church planters. Pray for the development of the Aquaponics project, so that locals will have job opportunities and the community will be blessed. Pray for the much-needed peace with Somali insurgents. ))) 5

Physical Therapy Training Being Added in Haiti by Dr. Jean Weaver A physical therapy school is being added to the Lois Habecker Technical School in Frecyneau, Haiti.

6 Physical Therapy Training Being Added in Haiti by Dr. Jean Weaver A physical therapy school is being added to the Lois Habecker Technical School in Frecyneau, Haiti. Haiti is a country with a population in excess of 10 million people with only a handful of educated physical therapists who primarily live and work in Port-au-Prince. As medical teams from the United States travel to the Victor Binkley Hospital in Pierre Payen (1.5 hours from Portau-Prince) to perform various surgeries and procedures, it is apparent the skills and services provided by a physical therapist are required to return patients to being functional members of society. For example, a patient fell and broke his leg and did not have a physical therapist to teach him how to walk again or bend his knee when he walked. Thus, his leg became stiff making climbing steps and hillsides extremely difficult. Another patient suffered a stroke and was unable to use the right side of her body and there was no physical therapist to teach her how to stand and walk again on her own and therefore, she laid in her bed every day until she passed away. The Haitian physicians overseeing the Victor Binkley Hospital talked with a physical therapy professor and requested she help bring a physical therapy school to Haiti. This will be the first physical therapy school in the country and will be located in the Artibonite region. The school has received full approval from the Ministry of Health in the Artibonite region. Please pray for the future students of the school who will begin classes this fall, the visiting professors from three universities in the United States, the administrators of the school, and for funds necessary to operate the school successfully. Recently, grant funds from The Foundation of the Great Lakes Conference, through the Executive Board of the Great Lakes Conference, have been used to construct additional classrooms at the Lois Habecker Technical School and have been and will be used to purchase supplies and equipment to help get the physical therapy school started. If you wish to become a financial partner with this endeavor, contributions may be made to fund CC2812 designating Physical Therapy School and directed to Churches of God, General Conference; PO Box 926; Findlay, Ohio, Current needs include student scholarships, support for a Haitian program coordinator, translator, and miscellaneous expenses. ))) 6

Dominican Republic Ministry Update by Travis Helm In July, CCM Director Ben Tobias and I traveled to the Dominican Republic to meet our ministry leaders there.

While there we helped with some of the construction work on the internet café and painted a lot of metal beams for the infrastructure of the new church building in Mango Limpio.

7 Dominican Republic Ministry Update by Travis Helm In July, CCM Director Ben Tobias and I traveled to the Dominican Republic to meet our ministry leaders there. We were accompanied by CGGC Latino Directors Caleb & Christina Acosta and Venezuelan pastoral leaders Liarxi & Mara Alcala. While there we helped with some of the construction work on the internet café and painted a lot of metal beams for the infrastructure of the new church building in Mango Limpio. The internet café will provide resources for church planting endeavors as well as new opportunities for ministry within the surrounding communities. Pictured left is a church member working hard on the new church building. Pastors Fremio and Evelin Jimenez and their young daughters, Scarlett and Iliana (pictured right) lead and oversee the ministry in the DR. They left a successful clothing business in the city to follow God s call to minister and plant churches in the mountain villages of the DR. Pastors Fremio and Evelin have a large vision for ministry in this area that includes not only the internet café and new church, but a school, basketball court and water well. 11

We met a little girl named Jasmin (pictured left) who was struggling with a skin condition due to contaminated water throughout the surrounding area.

Please join with them in praying for God s provision for a well.

They asked us to pray that the Lord would encourage and strengthen them physically, emotionally and spiritually.

8 We met a little girl named Jasmin (pictured left) who was struggling with a skin condition due to contaminated water throughout the surrounding area. Pastor Fremio believes a well could be installed for about $1500 and it would be a real benefit for the church as well as the community. Please join with them in praying for God s provision for a well. As we talked with Fremio and Evelin it was obvious that their heart s desire is to see the people of these mountain villages come to know the Lord. They asked us to pray that the Lord would encourage and strengthen them physically, emotionally and spiritually. We were also able to visit Pastors Victor and Beatriz Carela in the Vicentillo community. In just nine months, the congregation has greatly outgrown the make-shift tin structure they meet and worship in (pictured right). There are 19 adults and 14 youth meeting each Sunday. Pastors Victor and Beatriz, like the Jiménez s, also have a great desire to see many areas of ministry grow in the mountain villages where they minister. A lot of the communities in these mountain areas exhibit high illiteracy and many engage in witchcraft. Education is not a high priority among the young people. The pastors are praying and searching for a small plot of land that could be purchased so a new church building can be constructed. There are a couple possible areas that have good exposure and may meet the need. Please be in prayer for wisdom and financial provision from the Lord as they move forward with their land search and ministry. If you would like to help by providing much needed resources, contributions to CC2835 Dominican Republic Church Planting & Outreach are greatly appreciated. If you feel the Lord would have you give to the specific need of a water well or church building lot, then please earmark your gift to reflect that. Pastor Fremio and the Acostas are also very open to having a work team from the states visit the ministries of DR and help with some of the construction projects. January through February is a good time for teams to visit. Please contact Ben (ccm@cggc.org) or Travis (travis@cggc.org) if you are interested in taking a short-term mission trip team to the DR. ))) 12

In the Fullness of Time... We all know the importance of the right gift given at the right time.

Thus, once again CGGC Cross-Cultural Ministries invites you to share in the blessing of giving with the annual Share the Blessing gift booklet, arriving soon at every CGGC church.

($3584). We encourage you to discuss these opportunities with your family, your Sunday school class, and with your small group.

Bangladesh Medical Ministries (CC 2710) $ 96 1 day of funding to support Brazilian church planting (CC 2804) $ 110 1 day of funding the Partnering Fund of Project Help-Haiti, used to pay staff and

9 In the Fullness of Time... We all know the importance of the right gift given at the right time. Paul reminds us of the ultimate gift: Jesus Christ, Whom God sent to save us in the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4, KJV). What a joy to bless others with timely gifts! Thus, once again CGGC Cross-Cultural Ministries invites you to share in the blessing of giving with the annual Share the Blessing gift booklet, arriving soon at every CGGC church. In the booklet there will be a wide variety of financial giving opportunities, ranging in cost from a gallon of fuel in Haiti ($4) to funding 4 weeks of pre-field missionary candidate training ($3584). We encourage you to discuss these opportunities with your family, your Sunday school class, and with your small group. Here is a sampling of the giving options that will be in the booklet: $ share of missionary support for the Acostas in Latino Ministries (CC 2764) $ 69 1 day of funds necessary to support Bangladesh Medical Ministries (CC 2710) $ 96 1 day of funding to support Brazilian church planting (CC 2804) $ day of funding the Partnering Fund of Project Help-Haiti, used to pay staff and campus upkeep in Haiti (CC 2718) $1,106 1 year of support for a field evangelist in India (CC 2720) $ scholarship for a student in Kenya (CC 2837) $ share of missionary support for the Molgaards in Sweden (CC 2756) You will find detailed giving instructions in each booklet, along with a return envelope you can use. Alternatively you can give online at Please contact the CCM office at or at ccm@cggcorg. Thank you for your gift in the fullness of time! Share the Blessing 13

10 Introducing... The Dashboard Drivers have an instinctual appreciation for the instant feedback the dashboard provides: speed, fuel gauge, odometer, engine temperature, and so on. Organizations can provide a similar type of feedback, and the CCM Department would like to begin doing that with two gauges : the year-to-date giving percentages for field ministries and for missionary couples. As of Aug. 31, these are the percentages of year-to-date giving. (It s important to remember these numbers are NOT year-end.) Also, several field ministries include support for national directors (i.e. Bangladesh, India, and Kenya). As you see the ministries that are in the red, prayerfully consider how you might be able to respond. Go to to contribute on-line, or to get more information about any field or missionary. Are there other areas in CCM you d like to see on the Dashboard? Please let us know! Contact Ben Tobias at ccm@cggc.org if you have suggestions. THANK YOU for your commitment and generous support! Current field ministries levels of support: 14

Chad & Dawn Agler begin their 6-week internship in Haiti as Pierre Payen Managers. Their support account is CC 2732.

11 Here is how our missionaries are doing: ¾ Mid-October Deployments! Stephen & Amy Hosler and their children Charity, Daniel and Joseph, begin their 2-month internship in Haiti, where Stephen will serve as CFO. Their support account is CC Chad & Dawn Agler begin their 6-week internship in Haiti as Pierre Payen Managers. Their support account is CC Rikkz & Andrea Premnath begin their 5-month internship in Uluberia, India, where they will assist Director Samir Singha. Their support account is CC ¾ The 2015 Share the Blessing Booklets will be mailed out to churches. Please keep an eye out for how you can give an extra blessing to support God s Mission around the world this Christmas. ))) 15 M i s s i o n s M i n u t e s

COMMISSION ON CROSS-CULTURAL MINISTRIES Churches of God, General Conference 700 E. Melrose Ave., P.O. Box 926 Findlay, OH 45839 Phone (419) 424-1961 Fax (419) 424-3433 www.

353660 Global Tools for missions education In 1997, missions specialist and author Paul Borthwick spoke at our CGGC IMPACT

There are now more Christians living south of the equator than north of it.

In light of these changes, what s the role of the North American church?

12 COMMISSION ON CROSS-CULTURAL MINISTRIES Churches of God, General Conference 700 E. Melrose Ave., P.O. Box 926 Findlay, OH Phone (419) Fax (419) Periodical Rate Postage Paid at Findlay, OH Permit No Global Tools for missions education In 1997, missions specialist and author Paul Borthwick spoke at our CGGC IMPACT convention in Findlay. The world of missions has changed dramatically since then! There are now more Christians living south of the equator than north of it. More nations than ever are sending out missionaries and can teach us a thing or two about how to have a global impact. In light of these changes, what s the role of the North American church? With discussion questions at the end of each chapter, Western Christians in Global Mission is a valuable study resource for pastors and missions leadership teams. Order your copy from CGGC Publications for only $13.00 plus shipping. publications@cggc.org or call )))

IN THIS ISSUE: Brazil Conference Leaders Meet p. 3 An Update from the Dillingers p. 5 God at Work in India p. 6

IN THIS ISSUE: Brazil Conference Leaders Meet p. 3 An Update from the Dillingers p. 5 God at Work in India p. 6 It s About Family Ben Tobias, CCM Director Feet-washing is one of those beautiful practices