JEMA Member Care Communiqué:
Ideas and opportunities for strengthening your missionary resilience
December 2018
Collaborating for Great Effectiveness
One of the blessings of coming to Japan on a regular basis is the opportunity of getting to know those who are involved with member care in a variety of mission organizations. Recently my wife, Judy, and I had the privilege to coordinate the Member Care Summit with a group of 16 others, representing 9 different mission agencies working in Japan. We even had a Christian businessman from Singapore attend because of his interest in ministry in Japan.
Not only was this a fantastic time of learning and growth around topics of member care, but it also provided an opportunity for people from different missions to rub shoulders with one another for the purpose of potential collaboration. Sitting down over a meal or being in a discussion group together gave participants the chance to hear what others are doing to help their missionaries stay resilient.
While some mission organizations in Japan have assigned specific people to member care roles, many have not. What might it look like if agencies with better-developed member care could make it available in some way to the greater mission community? What might be the benefits of linking arms to support and encourage each other with the resources we have been entrusted with by God? How can we think creatively to make this a reality?
As staff members with Barnabas International, Judy and I are committed to coming to Japan for as long as the Lord gives us the strength and ability to do so. Our prayer is for an organic movement of support and encouragement among the missionary community so that more and more missionaries remain spiritually, relationally, and emotionally resilient and healthy. Let’s reach across organizational lines in member care so that the gospel can go forth and the kingdom advance for God’s glory.
Collaboratively yours,
Alan Steier, Barnabas International
JEMA Member Care Committee
Upcoming Opportunities:
Footstool Mission Center 3rd Annual Member Care Retreat
(www.footstool.org)
When: January 30 - February 2, 2019 (Wed.-Sat.)
Where: Gyeonggido, South Korea
Speaker: Dave Gibbons, Founder of Xealots
Theme: "Discerning God's Will"
This annual retreat offers a time of rest, refreshment, and rejuvenation for missionaries serving in Asia. The retreat includes general sessions, children's ministry (2yr-5th grade), youth ministry (6th-12th grade), as well as optional specialist services: hospital visit (medical costs reimbursed up to 180,00 KRW), counseling, massage therapy, haircuts, family & individual portraits, etc. Thanks to generous donors, Footstool provides all attendees with meals, accommodations, and transportation to/from the retreat center at no cost. Attendees are responsible for their own airfare to/from Seoul.
Retreat spots are limited, so please apply to attend by December 15th! Applications will be reviewed and confirmed via email by December 30th.
2019 RETREAT APPLICATION HERE.
Child Safety Protection Network (CSPN ) Training – A Response Team Training (RTT) session is scheduled for February 25-28, 2019 at Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ). While we pray that a child harm incident never happens, it’s good to have a well-thought-through response in place beforehand. Please view the organization’s website for further information – https://www.childsafetyprotectionnetwork.org/japan-rtt
Asia Member Care Conference
April 29 – May 3, 2019 (Tue.-Fri.)
Rainbow Paradise Hotel, Penang, Malaysia
Theme: “Member Care in an Age of Accelerated Changes”
This conference includes plenary and breakout sessions covering a variety of member care topics relevant for today’s mission world. The cost for the conference is $305/twin sharing or $410/single, before January 30, 2019. After January 30 it increases to $330 & $450 respectively. You may register at https://barnabasinternational.regfox.com/amcn-2019. For more information please contact asiamembercarenetwork@gmail.com.
Recommended Resource:
Dr. Laura Mae Gardner has been at the forefront of member care since the early 1980’s when she and her husband Richard were asked to begin the member care program within Wycliffe/SIL. Her insights into the needs of member care for missionaries are perceptive and wide-ranging. Her book, Healthy, Resilient, & Effective in Cross-Cultural Ministry: A Comprehensive Member Care Plan, should be on the shelves of everyone involved in member care. Anyone tasked with member care in their mission will find a wealth of information within the pages of this book. You can purchase a Kindle version of the book from Amazon, or a paperback copy from www.condeopress.com.
Contact Information:
We welcome your input and suggestions for ideas, topics and resources. You may contact the Committee at asteier@barnabas.org. And don’t forget to check out the Member Care Resources available on the JEMA website, www.jema.org.
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