Staying the course

1 minute 30 second read

As a mission agency we seek to care for all our mission workers. This care is aimed at enabling the individual to thrive and develop in their relationship with God, their own wellbeing, and maintain their effectiveness in ministry.

Global Connections – the network of 300 UK agencies, churches, colleges, and support services – defines member care as, ‘the ongoing preparation, equipping, and empowering of mission personnel for effective and sustainable life, ministry, and work’.

The need for ongoing support

When Pete* and Judy* joined North Africa Mission¹ in 1984, communication technology was very different. There was no internet, no email, and no mobile phones. At the time, the UK office of North Africa Mission only had three members of staff. So, support for members like Pete and Judy was primarily from those involved in a similar type of ministry and from the local church in-country.

Pete and Judy were called to serve in North Africa, and they remained in North Africa, apart from a two-year spell in Europe. They would be the first to admit that cross-cultural ministry wasn’t easy. Pete was working as an engineer; he was a mission worker in terms of his calling, commitment, motivation, and training, but he had to put a lot of energy into his day job. On top of that, Pete and Judy were juggling friendship evangelism with locals while raising their young family overseas.

Member care is growing in importance

Now back in the UK, Pete and Judy remain convinced of the value of a support system, and appreciate the increased emphasis on member care. They say that workers need to be convinced of their calling, as they were themselves, to work amongst Arab world peoples. If good relationships are to be built there needs to be a strong commitment to understanding and appreciating their language and culture.

In the last few decades, member care has been a growing area of emphasis for those involved in preparing, sending and serving cross-cultural workers. Workers are often what someone called ‘hardy personalities’ but at some time or another even they might need some member care, beyond their own resources.

*Names changed to protect identities.

1. The name of the mission before it became Arab World Ministries in 1987.