Training

Here come the candidates

Right after the National Missionary Convention we had a couple and two singles come for an abbreviated Candidate Lab.  We offer these labs five times a year for all the new recruits. During the lab they develop ministry plans and time lines, budgets,insurances, support raising packets and strategies, prayer cards, security protocols and are given any other information/training  opportunites they may need. The intent is that after the lab they will have a plan of action to guide them between then and when they leave for the mission field. Three of these four candidates are going to be ministering in closed countries (countries which restrict access for foriegn Christian workers). Wendy was discouraged during this week because she was sick and did not get to know the candidates as well as she would have liked to.

Team leaders get edified at Summit

During the month of November Team Expansion had 33 team leaders travel from their ministries around the world to Louisville for the bi-annual Team Leaders Summit.  They come for fellowship, mutual edification and professional growth. Glen led two of the sessions: Home Churches and Contextualizing the Gospel. Some other topics discussed were: missionary retention, teaching churches to be more involved with mission and more careful with posting the names of those serving in closed countries, using business as a platform to get into closed countries, interships for new recruits, and spiritual formation. A great time was had by all.  For security reasons I am not posting any pictures of the summit.

National Missionary Convention

  The National Missionary Convention (NMC) took place in Atlanta, Georgia  from Nov. 16-20,2005. It was a terrific success and the workshops were excellent. Team Expansion always tries to be a significant presence at this convention because we gain so many contacts.  Many of these contacts eventually lead to them joining our team as missionaries. This year more than 48 people interested in being a fulltime missionary contacted us and 57 people interested in  short term opportunities talked to us as well. We are in the process of following up on those people now.

Glen was able to lead a workshop on how to start the whole process of being interested in becoming a missionary to actually getting to the mission field. It was one of the most well attend workshops of the convention with over 300 in attendance.

We also went to many workshops ourselves. One workshop that really got Wendy's attention was one on caring for the extended missionary's family left back in the home countries. So many godly parents/children still struggle with letting their children/parents leave them and go to the utmost parts of the world. Yet one of the missionaries strongest need is for their families to truely be behind them and supportive. These unresolved emotions and issues can lead to big problems down the road.  At the workshop put on by National Network of Parents of Missionaries (POM) they suggest that each party make sure they allow the other party to share their feelings - have a big talk - even if in the end you may not agree. At least keep the communication lines open as each side begins to deal with the grief so, eventually, the issues can be resolved. It is a process with the goal to be emotionally connected still. POM is headed up by Cheryl Savageau, EdD, professional clinical counselor and Diane Stortz, a POM. To get on their newletter list and to see if there is a local POM group for you to join go to their website www.POMnet.org .

Wendy off to the Philippines

Wendy was able to travel to Manila and Baguio for most of Nov. 2005. Her main purpose in going over there was to be present at the dedication of the new campus of Philippine College of MInistry (PCM). Funds from the memorial fund of Dennis McKinney (her father) were a significant part in building this campus. The pictures here depict an aspect of the College as well as Wendy with Bella Tenorio and Gina Passion, the College presidents' wife and a college professors' wife respectively.  When Wendy was growing up in Aparri, Philippines she used to tag along with Bella in whatever errands or work she did even when Bella was on a date with Rogelio (now PCM president). It was nice to renew the relationship, now as coworkers for Christ. Gina was a friend and coworker of ours for the two years we ministered in Baguio, Philippines. Her husband continues to teach at PCM and helps with the youth and Church Planting projects. Also pictured is Lorrita Mckinney (Wendy's mother) as she spoke to the crowd of 200+.  The dedication took place on the just poured cement basketball court named in honor of Dennis Mckinney who loved to play sports.

 

Other highlights of the trip was that Wendy was able to spend a significant amount of time with her Mom, Lorrita McKinney, and her brother, Chris McKinney and his family. She was also able to visit many other dear Filipino friends, coworkers, and places (ie Christ's Church to Makati folk, the Hongs, other PCM missionaries and the Manila malls). While up in Baguio she visited and spoke at the chapel for Christian Academy of Baguio where the girls went to school and Wendy taught. In Manila she particularly enjoyed seeing Faith Academy and all of her former students there as well as the girls friends. All in all the trip was a blessing and Wendy loved reconnecting with friends, family and the country. You can see more pictures of this trip in the Gibson's blog.

Hurricane Katrina

I just posted some information on The Gibson web blog about Melissa and my trip down to Mississippi to help with the relief effort of Hurricane Katrina. Check it out.

15 more Missionaries leaving this year

We have just finished another Pre-Field Orientation (PFO), which 15, about ready to leave, missionaries attended.  You will notice 4 faces of these missionaires are blurred out as they will be ministering to non-secure nations. The PFO is a week long training event where we work through issues such  as language learning skills, evangelism techniques, Team management, personality types, establishing Church planting movements and security procedures. Glen has the priviledge to running/organizing this week and of teaching many of the workshops. Wendy  helped with the facilities, food, and co-teaching on spiritual warfare. Please pray for these long term missionaries as they head out to serve the Lord.

Debriefing summer interns

The 60 or so interns are back and they have reported an awesome summer. The commom thread that seems to be coming up is the personal growth each one experienced. They went over to minister and had preconceived ideas of how God would lead them. But to their surprise God taught them different lessons. I have heard many say they felt the summer confirmed their desire to become full time missionaries while others left knowing they will be involved with missions but most likely back here in the USA. Continue to pray for them as they transition back home and make wise decisions for the future. Pray specifically for 2 individuals that may go and teach in Afghanistan fulltime in a new religious studies program at the University.

Best world view definition

Part of the missionaries life is to figure out how best to teach the Gospel in a way the people group they minister to will understand. To do this they must figure out the worldview of that particular people group. Recently, Glen came upon the following passage that we feel is the best definition we have heard to describe this concept.

“A worldview is a perspective on reality shared by the members of a society or a specific group within a society.  It is made up of assumptions that are taught to children before they have the ability to compare these assumptions with other possible assumptions to find out whether they are the most accurate possible assumptions.  Worldview assumptions cover the whole of life.  Probably millions of them are buried inside each of us and vitally affect every aspect of our lives. 

Learning our worldview as infants is similar to the formatting necessary for computer disks to work properly.  We can record information on these disks only if they are formatted.  Children, as they experience various events, develop mental compartments in which to store information and feelings accrued in subsequent experiences.  These compartments and the assumptions from which they are constructed form the structuring of worldview.”  (Charles Kraft, Confronting Powerless Christianity, Grand Rapids: Chosen Books, 2002, p.28)

Examples:

1.                  “We dress because we assume it is improper to go naked.”

2.                  “We schedule our activities according to the numbers on our clocks because we assume it is the proper thing to do.”

Actually each time you talk with another person to really communicate well you would need to first figure out their world view. Then you would understand where they are coming from and hopefully can place your ideas in a way that they would understand them.  See the Gibson weblog for Wendy's comments.

Wendy taking over

Now that I am in the office on a regular basis I will be updating our blog weekly. Glad to see that you are checking up on us. The schedule is set, the trainers working on their topics, and we are finishing the last minute items for the August PFO. Glen will teach on transitions, Evangelism & Discipleship and the Closing thoughts. Together, Glen and I will lead the discussions on the Spirit World. Pray for Satan's arrows to miss their mark and for a great PFO.

Coming Soon: August PFO

The next Pre-Field Orientation for full-time workers and Quest apprentices is quickly approaching. It will be held from August 14th to 19th.  This year we have a new site and a new approach for PFO.  We will be following a retreat type format with housing and meals being provided at the Fox Hollow Retreat Center near Louisville, KY.  The event will start at 3pm Sunday and continue until lunch on Friday.  Sessions at the PFO will focus on adapting to living and ministering in a cross-cultural situation, church planting, understanding culture and worldview, and working with teams.  If you plan to move to your field of service with Team Expansion prior to the next PFO in January 2006, you need to attend this PFO session.  For more information and to register please contact Glen Gibson.