Jul 08, 2011
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:
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 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.
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