MISSIONARY CARE TEAM. Diego, CA: Emmaus HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR MISSIONARIES. Lptist Church. "Barnabus Support Teams,"

Transcription

1

2

3 sources: Diego, CA: Emmaus Lptist Church. "Barnabus Support Teams," MISSIONARY CARE TEAM HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR MISSIONARIES _refield published by the Division of Missionary Care. Department. The purpose of the Missionary Care Division of ABWE is to facilitate member care for the entire ABWE mission family through participation with caregtvers including sending churches and pastors, member care specialists, adminiseffective caring communities of developed by Brad Winkler, Prefield Ministry, as a result of working with many r families in twenty-eight years of pastoral

4 21. Arab World Ministries (AWM), Offers articles on Islam, country profiles, educational media products, training seminars, opportunities for involvement, and extensive website links on Islam. 22. Muhammadanism, "Provides online books, commentary, news, resources, and information that critique islam, Muhammad, and the Hadith from a Christian perspective." 23. The Muslim-Christian Debate Website, Provides the local church a vast array of articles that will enhance the understanding and knowledge needed to reach the Istamic world. Articles and discussion cover historical, theological, apologetical, and political areas. 24. Answering islam, uk A Christian-Muslim dialog that offers informative and educational articles to arm the church for a globa! ministry to the Islamic world. 25. Mission ONE, Mobilizes the church for partnership with national missionaries, focusing on unreached people groups and serving the poor and oppressed. Their services are designed to mobilize churches for strategic and personalized involvement in wedd evangelization. 26. World Christian Database, Provides comprehensive statistical information on world religions, Christian denominations, and people groups. 27. People Groups, A service providing a global listing and the status of each people group from every continent and nation. 28. New Tribes Mission (NTM), A mission organization. Through evangelism, Bible translation, and discipleship, missionaries serving with NTM are planting tribal churches among unreached people groups. 29. Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc., An interdenominational mission organization dedicated to seeing God's Word become accessible to all people in their heart language.

5 i http!/lwww.fiopeingod.orgi howa local operatesa globalmissionsoutreachprogram.clickonthe Outreachbuttontodownloadtheirpolicies, procedures, and activity events. 15.World Relief, An organization that enlists missionaries and the local church to help the poor and suffering with their spiritual, social, and physical needs. The emphasis is not on offering relief (free handouts), but on training the poor to support themselves, all in the name of Jesus Christ. 16. Operation Mobilization, An international mission agency with a charismatic theological perspective dedicated to reaching the un-reached in Asia. Middle East. and Europe. They minister by providing relief work and development. literature distribution, church planting and evangelism/discipleship. 17. Operation World, OW's primary focus is to educate and reeducate the Church of Jesus Christ and prompt them to pray for the unreached peoples of the world. They offer many excellent resources to mobilize the church to be involved on their knees in global ministry. 18. Mission Network News, A news service that educates the church in whats going on in missions around the world and motivates the church to get more involved. 19 international Christian Library (ICLnet), net.org/pub/resourceslchristian-missions.html An internet guide providing a directory of resources, including missi0ns-re ated interests, an exhaustive list of organizations, and periodicals to encourage and enhance the ministry of any local church and/or missi0nary/pastor. 20, Assoc ation of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE), A cutting-edge mission agency that exists to partner with local churches n sending missionaries to share the gospel around the world. Ais0 a good resource for global ministry.

6 ;: William Carey Library; A great missions resource (books and media) for churches and those interested in global ministry. _ issionary life is demanding and although missionaries mv lare well-prepared people of high dedication and spiritual maturity, they need friendship, encouragement, and sometimes spec a zed care throughout the rent re career. What is a Care Team? It is a vital link between the missionary and the sending church community. A care team is a small group (six to twelve) of committed people who come together to care for a specific missionary in a variety of ways, meeting personal, emotional, and spiritual needs. It is a group of people with whom the missionary can be open and honest, allowing them to see his/her needs and share in his/her successes and defeats. Why Have a Care Team? Care teams help to make missionaries feel understood and provide them with a committed group of people who show them practical love. keep them visible before the church community, and strengthen them on the mission field. What Does a Care Team Do? tn a nutshell, a care team works together to provide care for the missionary, striving to meet his/her spiritual, physical. and emotional needs. To a large extent, this will happen only to the degree that the missionary is willing and able to make his/her needs known to the team. Global Prayer Digest, An educational tool designed as a daily devotional book filled with missionary stories, reports, devotionals, and facts regarding the unreached peoples. It provides fuel for prayer for the unreached global community.. E}rigada Today, An journal for Great Commission Christians, promoting resources and current trends in global missions, and motivating evangelical Christians for greater involvement in global evangelism., Serving in Mission (SIM), An interdenominational mission agency that focuses on evangelizing unreached people groups by ministering to human need, discipling believers into churches, and equipping churches to fujfill Christ's Commission. 10. Global Opportunities. Offers tentmakers seminars/courses, resources, and service placement for the purpose of mobilizing and equipping for cross-cultural lay witness. tl. Finishers Project, An organization directed to the boomer generation in challenging healthy, skilled, talented, empty-nesters to give their lives in missions and ministry. 12. The Voice of The Martyrs, An interdenominational organization dedicated to assisting Christians around the world who are suffering for their faith and to instructing the church in these ongoing persecutions. Also, VOM enlists the church to pray and provide material needs of the persecuted. 13. Joshua Project, An excellent resource for information on the unreached peoples of the world. The people groups have been identified to encourage church-planting movements among them.

7 The specific ways in which a care team goes about meeting its missionary's needs will vary depending on the specific personality and needs of the missionary, as well as the personality (creativity) of the care team. The missionary should be asked how the team can best assist him/her, The care team takes personal responsibility to serve as the missionary's advocate before the sending church community. In the event the church is unable to have a care team. it would be hoped the pastor would assume the care responsibilities for the missionary. establishing churches among unreached peoples. 2, MisLinks, A web-based missions directory of resources for missionaries, pastors. and teachers with linksto research missions topics, missions/ ministry in general, agencies, periodicals, and other information. 3. David Mays, An excellent site providing assistance to leaders in fulfilling their great commission roles in our contemporary culture. David Mays resources and training seminars are some of the best available for the church in global ministry commitment and effectiveness. 4. Evangelical Missions Information Service (EMIS), A publication that presents a spectrum of contemporary evangelical missionary thinking. A missions and evangelism resource for ministry. 5. Mission Frontiers "Most widely circulated publication of its kind. focused on helping Bible-believing followers of Christ worldwide to bring the Gospel of Christ to every people and nation. Dedicated to fostering a global

8 / _4> _ e fellowships, various mininvolvements, etc., to come together to form their care team. The key for missionaries is to choose people with whom they have already established a level of trust and with whom they can be "real." The leadeddirectors on the care team are members of the sending church. Why Require Care Teams? Missionaries don't go out for adventure, they don't go out for prestige, nor do they go out merely for humanitarian purposes: they go out for the sake of the name and in obedience to the great commission. Churches should want the missionaries they send to deeply feel they are genuinely cared for and are more than just names on the missionary list or line items in the budget. Above all. this is a way for the church to fulfill its call of mobilizing the congregation in global ministry and to give missionaries a support base assuring greater success on the field. The church wants to "send" missionaries m a manner worthy of the name. What is the Makeup of a Care Team? Se M_ Se When they return... Pray earnestly for them. Be at the airport to welcome them back home. Host an open house so they can see many of their friends and update them. Help them to organize a time when they can show their media and update the body of Christ. Praise the Lord with them for how God used them overseas. Have housing ready for them when they arrive home. Have a few groceries in their refrigerator and cupboards so they don't have to go shopping right away. Help them find a car to borrow during their fudough time. Give them a special night out or some other special treat. Help them catch up with what is current, what's in, and what's not. Bring dinner to their house the first few days. Each team consists of five leadership positions: team leader, prayer director, hospitality director, communication director. and logistics director. These positions may be fulfilled by an individual or couple. The Missionary Care Team Ministry is the direct responsibility of the church missions committee. The missions committee will recruit a care team coordinator to provide administrative oversight of the care team ministry.

9 Take them to the airport as a team there. and have a send-off Have an open house before they leave so they can say goodbye to their friends. Host a reception for them at the church after their commissioning. The following are job descriptions and responsibilities for each of the positions mentioned above. Some of these positions could be combined for a team of three leaders, instead of five. and other special Job Description and Responsibilities: 1. Liaison between the missions committee leadership and the care team leaders. 2. Serve as contact person for the congregation and those outside the church seeking information regarding the missionaries. staff 3. Make sure care team leaders are meeting regularly with their teams and that they are fuffilling their team responsibilities. some of their needs. sermon the church plete worship favorite and Job Description: 1. Lead the team in the care of the missionary, making sure the church's support for the missionary is effective. 2. Reports to the care team coordinator. Specific Responsibilities: 1. To be well-informed about the missionary, his/her family, ministry, and field.

10 havethe team meet regularlyto rayfor its mssionariesand discuss formationand needs regardingits mlsslonanes. and coordinate the :tirectors of prayer, hospitality, communication, and logistics. 4. To make prayer meetings available to the congregation. 5. To encourage spiritual growth: a. Before the missionaries go b. While the missionaries are on the field c. When the m_ssionaries return home Job Description: To communicate regularly and effectively the missionary's aests and praises to the care team and to the the care team informed of the missionary's prayer requests and praises via the team's prayer chain. 2. To communicate any specific or urgent prayer requests to the following: a. Pastor(s) b. Office staff c. Congregation (prayer ministry, etc.) d. Other supporting churches, if needed 3. To communicate any prayer requests of the care team members to the missionary. Before they go... Pray earnestly for them. Help them to find information about the country they are going to and the people they will be working among by going to the library, reading missions periodicals, keeping an eye out for articles on the internet, etc. Be available for them. Encourage them as their emotions vary just before they go. Help them find information on needed equipment by reading Report articles, discussing with others, etc. Ask them about what they are learning down the path that wiii lead them to a foreigr Help them get all their supplies that 1 them overseas. You can hel or offering to take care of their children so they can r easily run errands. Mail out their prayer letters. Drop dinner off at their house the last few nights s can concentrate on accomplishing t Offer to have them stay with you if they need a before they leave. Help them pack the items they'll store here in the US. well as the items they'll take with them or ship. Treat them to something special just before they go.

11 4. To encourage spiritual growth: a. Before the missionaries go b. While the missionaries are on the field c. When the missionanes return home Job Description: To oversee the hospitality needs of the care team's missionary. Care Team Coordinator Specific Responsibilities: 1. To he p the m ssionary arrange adequate housing, lodging, meals, and iransportation for his/her stay n the area. Th s is done first f_issionapj C Team Leader i Hospita}ity Director Communicatio_ Director 3. To aid the missionary in their reentry, if needed, and to escort/guide them around the church, acquainting them with the church staff, the church facilities, the church activities, as well as reacquainting them with the area 4. To encourage spiritual growth: a. Before the missionaries go b. While the missionaries are on the field c When the missionaries return home

12 ob Description: 0 communicate regularly and effectively with the missionary d relay information to the care team and the congregation. ',pecific Responsibilities: To keep the care team informed and send cards for the missionary s birthday, anniversary, and other special occasions. 2. To make sure letters ana cards of encouragement are going out to the missionary. 3. To handle the sending of care packages when desired. However. no one on the team should feel under obligation to finance the care package (there are no fees or dues to be associated with being on a care team). 4. To work with the prayer director in communicating with the missionary for updated prayer requests and praises. 5. To encourage spiritual growth: a. Before the missionaries go b. While the missionaries are on the field c. When the missionaries return home Job Description. To handle the "nuts and bolts" of the missionary's ongoing home responsibilities and needs wh Liethe missionary is away on the field. Specific Responsibilities: 1. This could include, but not be limited, tom a. Managing business affairs Money Taxes Health Death b. Attending to personal details Material Family Ministry goods matters needs 2. To encourage spiritual growth a. Before the missionaries go b. While the missionaries are on the field c. When the missionaries return home