MAGAZINE ISSUE 2, Serving in the. Middle East. Includes: Serving despite what others think. Finishing well - a late life venture

Transcription

1 MAGAZINE ISSUE 2, 2012 Serving in the Middle East Includes: Serving despite what others think Finishing well - a late life venture

2 Contents Editorial Keeping you up-to-date and affirming the importance of your role in the ministry of MECO. 03 Sardis: in the can Read a challenge against complacency with the urgency of mission 04 Serving despite what others think A new MECO worker explains why she feels called to serve in the Middle East 07 Finishing well - a late life venture Read about one of MECO s latest Finishers 08 Growing up away from home What s it like growing up in the Middle East? 10 The cost of going - raising support Read about some of the financial issues of moving and working in the Middle East Comments or questions? info@aboutmeco.org MECO International is an interdenominational fellowship of evangelical Christians from many countries with shared goals for the Middle East. During 150 years of service in the region, MECO has played an important part in the growth of the church, and now serves in many Middle Eastern countries. Get in touch! A PO Box 136, Kerrimuir, Victoria 3129 T (03) E australia@aboutmeco.org A PO Box 610, Burlington, Ontario L7R 3Y5 T (905) E canada@aboutmeco.org A PO Box 76656, Manukau, Auckland 2241 T (09) E info@meco.org.nz A PostNet Suite 414, Private Bag X37, Lynnwood Ridge 0040 T (084) E sa@aboutmeco.org A 22 Culverden Park Road Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9RA T (01892) E uk@aboutmeco.org Registered Charity A Ireland Representative: Don Howe T E donhowe@aboutmeco.org A PO Box 14896, Bradenton FL T (800) 747 MECO E usa@aboutmeco.org Sardis: in the can I m sure glad I wasn t on the mission committee at the Church of Sardis, that I wasn t the pastor and that I ve never been in any way connected with them. Chris Grantham, MECO s New Zealand Director, challenges us against complacency with the urgency of mission. Why? Because when Jesus deals with the seven churches in Revelation, He probably saves His best tirade for Sardis. You have a reputation for vigour and zest, but you re dead, stone dead. (The Message). Ouch. So I breathe a sigh of self-sanctified relief, I m not a Sardisian. I m actually part of a church that has a good reputation. Other churches would not see ours as dead; we are probably considered live, thriving and even successful. We send people in mission, we pay for mission, sometimes we even pray for mission (a bit, anyway). I reckon those Sardines (if I may) probably thought they were all right too. Some of them came out okay in the biblical assessment and hadn t, as The Message vividly puts it, ruined themselves wallowing in the muck of the world s ways. They ll walk with me on parade! They ve proved their worth! But they are the few. The rest of them get a deserved right rev-up, a stirring challenge to their comfortable, secure complacency - much like that of the city they inhabited. One commentator notes that their approach was convenience and circumspection - a total zeal-free zone. This brings me back to my missions committee and my church, and your missions committee and your church. God s call to mission is as urgent as ever. You and I as readers of this magazine are likely to be fairly wised up on the harvest, and the instruction to pray for the workers. But that s not all, there s more. As a local church we ve got the job of producing the labourers. Saul and Barnabas didn t do mission because they thought it was quite a good idea. Their church tapped them on the shoulder and sent them out, at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I think I d like to be in a church like those guys in Antioch; a congregation where the worshipping and fasting led to actually listening and then sending. Hey Sardis, take a look at Antioch. Then get back to who you should be, and what you should be doing - sending. Same goes for your church, and mine. m 02 meco 03

3 Serving despite what others think A formidable, elderly woman recently approached a MECO representative at a prayer meeting for missions and demanded to know why anyone would want to go to the Middle East. Esther, a new MECO worker, explains why she feels called to serve in the Middle East. Esther, one of MECO s newest recruits has the answer - Romans 10: 14-15: How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Although she grew up in a multicultural community in England and recognizes that she could serve the Lord at home, Esther has no doubt about her calling. There are many wonderful opportunities, particularly in larger cities in England, to befriend and speak about Christ to many people from the Middle East. However, there are many more people who will never leave their country of birth and who have never met a true follower of Jesus. There is still a need for Christians to go to the Arab world to share Christ and to also be involved in the process of encouraging believers in the Middle East, she explains. Esther adds that her decision to serve overseas wasn t made overnight. Nor did God write: Go to the Middle East in the sky for her but as she knocked on a series of doors, praying over everything and seeking the wisdom of godly friends who know her well, the Lord opened each door. Esther, who is a primary school teacher, admits that non-christian friends probably think she is a little crazy. Perhaps secretly they don t actually expect me to be there long term. Sadly, some of her extended family members have been offended by the idea of her sharing her faith with others. It flies in the face of their liberal assumptions about truth - that we can each have our own truth but it is arrogant to claim to know the truth, she says. As for her parents, she has their support. I am blessed with Christian parents who have always said that the best place for me is wherever God wants me to be. My sister is also a Christian and has a heart for mission. Now that she has raised her financial support Esther will spend the next two years studying Arabic. After that, she will teach in a Christian school where many of the children will be Muslim. In that setting she will be able to share the love of Christ with the children and their parents. In the meantime she is finding language school a humbling experience. The past few weeks have shown me just how far I have to go with the language and it is a very long way! But a friend gently reminded me recently that my identity does not depend on what I can do but solely on Him (the Lord). I have to keep reminding myself of this. m Esther s prayer requests: For patience as she learns Arabic For special wisdom as she cares for the family s children For opportunity to make friends with local women 04 meco 05

4 Finishing well - a late life venture At a stage in life when most people begin looking forward to retirement, Vaughan Vernon * has opted to become one of MECO s latest Finishers - people who choose to join the mission later in life. His initial introduction to the Middle East came during a visit with friends who are serving in Lebanon. During that visit he says he came to love the country and wondered if an opportunity to serve might be open to him. Ordained in the Church of England in 1989, he had served in several pastoral posts. His last posting involved training small group leaders, apprentices and staff members; teaching them to prepare and lead Bible studies and give Bible talks and sermons. He then took a break of 18 months to care for his elderly father. When his father died in 2010, Vaughan Vernon says he began to think and pray, What next? As he visited his friends in the Middle East, Vaughan Vernon says he saw firsthand the need for gospel work in the Middle East, as well as the struggles that missionaries have there. But more importantly I gained the impression that the progress of the gospel in the Middle East is actually very strategic and likely to become much more so. I think I would say I developed a burden for the gospel there, which I trust has been implanted by God s Spirit as I have grown to love the area and the people. As he has talked with Middle Eastern Christians, Vaughan Vernon says he has noticed that they are much less prone to read the Bible from the perspective of western philosophical assumptions, and much more from a people-oriented perspective, treating the person as a whole person, not just as a mind. He predicts that if future world evangelism can come from the Middle East the gospel will be on a roll! A door to ministry did open up for Vaughan Vernon and he is now serving with the Program for Theological Education by Extension (PTEE) and is involved in helping to develop a new Master s Degree program. In order to do that he spent last year studying for a post-graduate research degree in theology. At the same time he had to empty his deceased parents home, which will be rented out while he serves overseas, and raise his financial support so that he could serve in the Middle East. At the beginning of February, Vaughan Vernon landed in the Middle East. I arrived in torrential rain, which was followed by snow and blizzard conditions, he said, adding that the weather took him by surprise. m Since then, I ve hired a car, bought a mobile phone that works locally, been shopping and done a hundred and one other things by way of familiarization. I ve occupied my desk in the office and have started work. Everything is tremendous and I m supremely happy to be here thus far. m *Name changed for security Please pray for MECO s Finishers: That they will be loyal servants of Jesus Christ and godly representatives of His people and the gospel That the challenge of learning Arabic late in life won t be too difficult For their adjustment to the culture of the Middle East For their personal needs to be met For their relationships with the people they work with and that they will be able to make a positive contribution to the work being carried out For ongoing good health 06 meco 07

5 Growing up away from m home When my family moved overseas, everything was a big game to me. I had no idea what I was leaving behind. I was too young to realise that I would lose the close ties I had to extended family. I was too naïve to understand that my life would be entirely different to that of a normal kid. Luke lived in the Middle East for 10 years. He is now 20 years old and is studying to be a writer. He has published two books in electronic format and has a blog. When my family moved overseas, everything was a big game to me. I had no idea what I was leaving behind. I was too young to realise that I would lose the close ties I had to extended family. I was too naïve to understand that my life would be entirely different to that of a normal kid. When I was first asked what life was like for me, I had no idea how to respond. As far as I knew, I was a normal kid. Sure, I lived in a different country but does that make such a big difference? Being a Third Culture Kid (TCK) is so much more than living in another country. As a TCK you change home. And more likely than not, you do so again. You lose contact with family pretty quickly - not because you don t care, but because it s really hard not to. You make friends as you go, but each time you move it becomes a little harder to keep in touch. You stay in touch for a while, but before long you find yourself resorting to newsletters rather than personal messages. Communication turns bland. Reuniting with friends and family can be amazing, astonishing, or even awkward. Often it is a blend of all three. On the other hand, life as a TCK is something a normal kid never gets the chance to experience. Normal kids can only dream of the places TCKs get to visit; the things they get to see, foods they taste and become accustomed to eating, the people they meet. TCKs get a round-the-world experience for free, and become cross-culturally adept before leaving school. No matter how awesome TCKs lives may seem to others, they are still just kids. At first it was pretty cool for me: flying overseas, visiting outlandish places and learning a new language. However, there came a time when didn t want to be different. I wanted to have friends who never moved further than the next town. I wanted to have a job in the neighbourhood I d grown up in. And most of all, I wanted everything in my birth country to be exactly the same as when I had left - not a single stone turned over. But of course, favourite cousins graduated and left home. Relatives pets I loved died and were replaced without me knowing. Old friends moved house. Grandparents aged. And now I m reaching a really crazy stage - my friends are gradually getting married. It is said that home is where the heart is. When I was first asked what country I considered to be home, I immediately answered the country most of my friends were in. My heart was with my friends. Now that home is gone because all my friends have moved to different countries. As I think about my life as a TCK, I believe I am stronger than normal kids in at least one respect: I am not attached to a country, a home, a neighbourhood. I have come to realise that heaven is the only true home I will ever know. God is constant and His promises are guarantees. He has always walked beside me, and in the hard times He has carried me. I have experienced His love and generosity. Ever since I was very little I have drawn comfort from the poem Footprints. In fact, I think it still decorates my aunt s bathroom. At least I hope it does. m 08 meco 09

6 The cost to go - raising s What costs are involved in sending a missionary to the Middle East? Neil, MECO s Finance Manager, explains what it means financially for a MECO worker to move to the Middle East. The costs really fall into three categories: The costs of preparation are incurred before a new member even leaves their home country. Because the Middle East is such a relational-based culture, we place high value on face-to-face meetings within our candidature process. A candidate would normally meet with the National director of their home country, then with the full board of trustees. The National director would then meet with the candidate s home church. In addition there are costs associated with raising a firm base of prayer and financial support. This may involve much travel to churches and prayer groups. Finally, there are the costs of medical checks and any necessary visas. Once a new member arrives in the region, there are the costs of setting up home. Rent, furniture, utilities, utensils, transport, (the list goes on and on). These costs can vary hugely depending on location and life stage. For a young single person moving into a furnished flat or on the job accommodation, cost for set-up can be small, but for a family establishing home anew, the cost will be considerably higher. Then there are the ongoing costs, which are incurred both in the Middle East - rent, travel etc. -and back at home to ensure that pension, medical and superannuation payments are kept up to date. It is important that our workers return to their home countries periodically on home assignment to reconnect with their supporters, friends and family. Travel, accommodation and living costs for these trips also need to be accounted for. It is important to also remember that many of the countries where we serve are first world with prices as high (or higher) than back home. Are minimum targets set for missionary support? Are maximum targets set for missionary support? Yes they are - but as with all aspects of our finance, we try to combine stretching faith with sound financial management. Once we know where a worker is headed, we work with our folk on the ground to estimate monthly living costs. We also work with the member s National Office to calculate their costs at home and their contribution to central overhead costs. These are then aggregated and form the basis of the support target. Once the member is in the region, this target is reviewed annually against actual costs and adjusted accordingly. We then monitor income and expenditure against the target each month and make any necessary adjustments or take action where there is a variance. Do costs very from country to country? Is it more expensive to live in one country in the Middle East than others? Oh yes. The influence of oil in the region means that there are significant variations in standard (and cost) of living between countries. But there are also variances within country. It is far more costly to live in Cairo than Upper Egypt, or Beirut than 10 meco g support the Chouf mountains. To reflect this, we set budgets per family - not per country. What other expenses do families have? Schooling is the most visible cost, as most children attend private schools so they can maintain the level of education required in their home countries. Although fees are generally lower than in the West, they can still be significant. But there are also many hidden costs. Much of what our children take for granted in the West is unavailable - or much more costly in the Middle East. These include toys, books, clothes... all these have either to be carried in by visitors, or purchased while families are back home on furlough. I well remember our first Christmas in the region and the desperate search for a toy shop. Fortunately a friend decided to visit and arrived laden down with Lego What happens if a missionary s support drops? First and foremost we pray. We communicate with their supporting church and other networks and ask for prayer. Often this prayer leads to an increase in their financial support. If not, then we start to dialogue with the member, their National Office, their Supporting Church and those with whom they serve. If a solution really cannot be found, then we will ask the member to return to their home country to raise additional support. This is extremely rare. Although this is the process we always try to put the people before the finance. How can MECO readers, who aren t supporting a missionary, be involved in helping missionaries who are under-supported? Is there a fund they can contribute to? We have found that support works best when people support people (rather than funds). MECO is all about relationships, and we try to reflect that in our members support. So if anyone wants to get more involved in MECO I d recommend getting to know one / some / all of our workers. Our National Offices can provide people with details of workers who are at a similar age / life stage or who are involved in specific areas of ministry (development / education etc). Get to know them means people can pray for them with understanding and perhaps get in touch. My family is back in our home country now - but when we were in the region, we valued the contacts from supporters so much. When people pray, God will guide them as to whether to give and how much they should give. Because we encourage relational support building, we do not maintain a central support fund. How do you respond to someone who wonders why we wouldn t support local missionaries in the Middle East, rather than sending from the West? We are asked this far less often that you would think. Our work in the Middle East is all about partnership. Because we have good relationships with key church and ministry leaders, we are able to send skilled and qualified workers to meet specific needs. We do help local churches in sending local missionaries, and we gladly share our skills, experience and insight with them. This has proved to be far more valuable that just sending money. m 11

7 Could God use you to serve in the Middle East? MECO International Director 150 years experience of service in the Middle East and numbers 50 members. The appointee will have previous senior leadership experience and will be willing to raise his/her own financial support. Location: Negotiable. For further information please contact Chris Grantham, Search Committee chair: Theological Trainer - Jordan Length: 3+ years Language: English. Arabic required if involved in tutoring. Qualifications: MA or PhD in theology. Teacher - Amman, Jordan Length: 2+ years (short term workers accepted depending on qualifications). Language: English. Qualifications: Teachers certificate and experience. Teachers of English to Adults - Egypt Length: 1+ years. Language: English. TOEFL or CELTA qualification and willingness to learn Arabic an advantage. Teachers of French, Korean, Spanish - Jordan Length: 2+ years. Language: English. Teaching qualification for junior and secondary aged children. Workers with visually impaired - Lebanon Length: 1+ years. Language: English. Experience of teaching blind people an advantage- braille, computer, music, Bible. Physiotherapists, Speech, Language and Occupational Therapist - Various Countries Length: 1+ years. Experience preferred Orphanage workers - Lebanon Length: 2+ years. Helping with homework, sports, Bible. Language: English, with willingness to learn Arabic. Writing and Reporting - Egypt Length: 2+ years Language: English. Admin for a local organisation and help with conferences etc. Qualifications: Experience in administration, letter writing and reporting. Optician - Arabian Peninsula Description: Work in a clinic attached to a local church. Length: 1+ month. Language: Arabic an advantage but not essential. Qualifications: Medical qualification with 2+ experience. Rehabilitation Worker - Iraqi Kurdistan Length: 1 month - 2+ years Language: Willing to learn Sorani Kurdish. Qualifications: Hold appropriate qualifications from their home countries. Nurse - Beirut, Lebanon Description: Serving in a large Christian school. Length: 2+ years. Language: English. Willingness to learn Arabic would be useful. Qualifications: Internationally recognised qualifications. For more exciting opportunities and information, visit