Tuesday, June 28, 2016

A Pair of Ducks

Ned McGradyMember Health
April-June 2016

A Pair of DucksWebster’s dictionary defines paradox as “a statement or proposition seemingly self-contradictory or absurd, and yet expressing a truth.” Much of life is filled with paradox and this is certainly true in missionary life.

Member Health at World Gospel Mission assists missionaries in expressing the seemingly contradictory realities of what they have faced as missionaries serving in a foreign country. When they return to the United States for homeland ministry assignment, we offer a Renewal Retreat during which we encourage missionaries to speak to us “in paradox.” Transitioning to serve in their host country often comes with a reality that what they may have expected is different from the reality that they have actually experienced. 

Marlene and I went to Ecuador with the idea of serving as pastors to missionaries in that part of the world. First, we went to language school for eight months in Costa Rica prior to moving to Ecuador. As we wrestled with learning Spanish, I remember saying, “At least we are going as pastors to missionaries and not planting a church.”

God moved during our term in Ecuador and, yes, we did do pastoral ministry in 12 countries. But God also showed up in unexpected ways, and He planted a church in our own home. Preaching all those sermons in Spanish was one of the hardest challenges I’d ever faced. But we rejoice today, knowing that God had a plan for a church in the heart of the Andes Mountains. 

The reality of paradox is sometimes much greater and much more positive than what may be expected, and sometimes it is far different or much harder than what was expected. Renewal Retreat at WGM is an opportunity to allow our missionaries to explain their experience in a way that enables them to stay on both sides at the same time. We work with our missionaries to allow them to voice seemingly contradictory statements about their transition experiences without weakening one or the other. Our MKs receive this same opportunity as they use a “Yay Duck” and a “Yuck Duck” (Get it? A pair of ducks!) to tell what their experience was like as they transition back to their home country.  

You have probably experienced some transitions with paradox for sure. Share with a pastor, a friend, or a coworker your “Yay” experiences and your “Yuck” experiences. It will equip you to move forward in the work God has called you to do.

Meet up with a friend or mentor to talk about the "pair of ducks" in your life.It’s time to set up your “Yay Duck” and “Yuck Duck” meeting with a friend or spiritual mentor. Grab the phone and your calendar and set up a coffee date for this month.

Monday, June 27, 2016

Prayer Calendar June 26-30,2016

Coming tomorrow on The Call blog:

"Webster’s dictionary defines paradox as “a statement or proposition seemingly self-contradictory or absurd, and yet expressing a truth.” Much of life is filled with paradox and this is certainly true in missionary life..."

Pray for Member Health team members who help missionaries through times of transition and renewal. p. 9

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

From Teacher to Counselor and Missionary

Jodi Brumbaugh will be ministering to women and girls in Uganda. Jodi Brumbaugh, Volunteer, Uganda
April-June 2016


The 2012-2013 school year started out like any other. I was teaching middle school science in a local school in Fort Wayne, Indiana. After a month or two, I thought I could see myself staying there for many years.

A few months later, God began to place on my heart another call. He was calling me to get my master’s degree in mental health counseling. My heart was torn. I had wanted to be a teacher ever since I was in the fifth grade. I loved teaching and working with my students.

But God kept bringing this idea of being a counselor into my heart and mind. I asked God and myself, Why? Deep down, I knew. God had taken me on my own journey of healing my past, and now He was going to use me in others’ journeys. I realized then that God doesn’t waste pain. Finally, in the spring of 2013, I sent my application to Grace College. I was accepted and started on this new journey.

Throughout my time at Grace College, God confirmed that I was right where I was supposed to be. I did not have to give up working with teenagers. My internship was at a residential facility for teenagers, where I was able to work with this population in a different way. My years as a teacher have enhanced what I do as a counselor. But God had even bigger plans than taking me from a teacher to a counselor!

Two weeks before I started at Grace, God used missionaries to lead me to Uganda. For my advanced internship, I spent almost four months counseling in Uganda. Through my time there, God called me into missions. As a teacher, I saw the tip of the iceberg when it comes to heartbreak. As a counselor, I walk through the trenches with others. God is the One doing the redeeming as He did in my life. I’ve seen people go from hopeless to hopeful, their joy fully restored! 


Go to Uganda!
Serve God overseas and earn college credit through Volunteers In Action. Discover if serving as a VIA participant is for you

Monday, June 20, 2016

Prayer Calendar June 19-25,2016

Coming tomorrow on The Call blog:

"The 2012-2013 school year started out like any other. I was teaching middle school science in a local school in Fort Wayne, Indiana. After a month or two, I thought I could see myself staying there for many years.
 
A few months later, God began to place on my heart another call."

Prayer Calendar:

Pray for missionaries like Jodi Brumbaugh whom God has led to make career or ministry change. p. 5

Friday, June 17, 2016

Maytag Mania!

Maytag mania!Bonnie Gouge, Regional Director for South America and Iberia
April-June 2016


“May I help you with something?” the clerk at the store asked with a smile on his face. 
 
“I certainly hope so. I am looking for a washing machine. Do you have any models that are top loading and agitating?” was my quick, well-thought-out response. 
 
“No, I’m sorry, we don’t carry that style of machine. Most of our machines are European-style front-loading washers.”
 
I should have just hit the replay button instead of looking all over Córdoba, Argentina, for a top-loading agitating washing machine, because the reply was always the same. “No, we don’t carry that style of machine. But you should try one of our front-loading washers!”
 
I really did not want to try one of their nice front-loading European-style washing machines. I wanted my Maytag, or something similar—something that would wash clothes the right way! I was looking for something that was familiar, that would do the job right. 
 
After all, everyone knows that Maytag is the best! I would have even settled for a Brazilian model—at least it was top loading and would wash clothes the way they were meant to be washed. I was facing enough changes as I moved after 24 years in Bolivia to Argentina; surely I could at least stay within my comfort zone when I washed clothes! But, my sojourn through Córdoba soon revealed that top-loading washers, be they Maytag or Whirlpool or Brazilian, just were not to be found! Finally, after befriending all the appliance sales clerks around, I realized that I would just have to step out of my comfort zone and plunge right into a front-loading washing machine.
 
Finally, after days of searching and researching, my front-loading washer arrived! Hurray! Now, to put it to the test. 
 
Front-loading washers are not made to facilitate meddling. No adding clothes after the cycle has started. No pulling out those blue jeans to see if the grass stain is coming out or if it needs an extra scrub. Just set it up and let it go, trusting the machine to do the work. And…much to my surprise, it did the work without my meddling. And the clothes were actually cleaner—old stains my Maytag couldn’t touch seemed to disappear in the longer tumble wash cycle.  
 
Imagine that—I found that the new and different actually worked! My personal comfort zone and my way of doing things are not always the best. I learned that I can trust the new and the different and allow God to bring something better into my life.

Pray for missionaries in transition.
Washing machines, doctor visits, grocery shopping—change stretches your comfort zone. Pray for missionaries who are going through transition and making major life changes, whether new missionaries adjusting to the field, or missionaries returning to the USA. Ask God to bring them peace and blessings as they trust in Him.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Embrace His Next Adventure

Emily Barlow, Missionary, Bolivia
April-June 2016

Emily Barlow at SCCLCI like the familiar. Knowing what will happen next is comforting to me. So when God hinted that a change in ministry was coming, my first reaction was frustration, not excitement. I had been at Santa Cruz Christian Learning Center (SCCLC), teaching, mentoring, and loving high school students since 2005. I couldn't imagine doing anything else; I didn't want to imagine doing anything else. But in 2011, for the first time, I began to feel disconnected from my ministry, and it scared me. What followed was a three-year process of prayer, trust, discovery, and frustration as God revealed that while I was staying at SCCLC, my ministry was becoming more than I had ever imagined. As I sought God's purpose, He changed me in three major ways so I could embrace His next adventure.
  1. God deepened my heart. Being a teacher extended far beyond filling students with information. I mentored some of them on a weekly basis, went on retreats and camps with them as a counselor, hosted movie nights, and helped with fundraisers. I rejoiced in their victories, mourned with them in sorrow, listened, encouraged, and advised. That started to change in 2011. While I still had many students stopping by my room needing to talk, I also found that teachers, both new and experienced, came by to pray together, talk through ideas, or share frustrations. I discovered a new, growing love for the teachers. I rejoiced with them in victory, hurt with them over their pain and frustration, and counseled them to the best of my ability. I wanted them to experience victory, both in their professions and in their relationships.
  2. God widened my vision. God soon took the desire to see teachers succeed and created a vision of how I should help make it happen. He had blessed me in the classroom. Now He wanted to use me to help other teachers see Him do the same for them. I wrestled with the idea of being principal because of my own inadequacies and because of how daunting of a task it is. I wanted to help SCCLC be the very best school it could be, both academically and spiritually, but I was scared I wouldn't be up to the task.
  3. God strengthened my faith. So God reminded me once again that I'm a jar of clay filled up with a priceless treasure. He would do the work through me if I would only follow Him. As I took my perspective off my fears, the responsibilities, and the journey ahead and put my eyes back on my Creator, Sustainer, and Provider, I obeyed in faith. 
For the last 18 months I've been on homeland ministry assignment, planting seeds of missions and asking God to bring more teachers and partners in ministry. I completed my master’s degree in educational leadership to better prepare me for my new role as principal. As I write, I'm still uncertain what my next step will be, but I'm praying for God's perfect leading in His timing, just as He's led me from the beginning. I'm certain as my new ministry gets tough, I will have to revisit the lessons I've learned. But I'm also certain that with each relearning, my love will go deeper, my vision wider, and my faith stronger. When God is our true teacher and we are His true students, that's the inevitable, consistent result.

GIVE: Partner with Emily as she walks in obedience in this new adventure by supporting her with a monthly gift to her ministry

Monday, June 13, 2016

Prayer Calendar June 12-18,2016

Tomorrow on The Call blog:

"I like the familiar. Knowing what will happen next is comforting to me. So when God hinted that a change in ministry was coming, my first reaction was frustration, not excitement. I had been at Santa Cruz Christian Learning Center (SCCLC), teaching, mentoring, and loving high school students since 2005. I couldn't imagine doing anything else; I didn't want to imagine doing anything else. But in 2011, for the first time, I began to feel disconnected from my ministry, and it scared me. What followed was a three-year process of prayer, trust, discovery, and frustration as God revealed that while I was staying at SCCLC, my ministry was becoming more than I had ever imagined. As I sought God's purpose, He changed me in three major ways so I could embrace His next adventure."

Pray for Emily Barlow as she follows God's leading into a ministry of leadership. p. 21

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Change + an Unchanging God

Barbara Pinkley, Missionary, Kenya
April-June 2016


Tenwek School of NursingTransition: “The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another; move, passage, transformation, handover.” 

Since July 1987 when Tenwek School of Nursing opened at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet, Kenya, only two things have been constant: 1) Change and 2) an Unchanging God.

Transitions are rarely comfortable. They usually take a lot of work and sometimes seem impossible. But God has walked with us in our journey through transitions. Our program follows the Kenyan government curriculum, which trains nurses to be triple qualified as nurses, midwives, and community nurses, though our motto has an added focus to train them to “Care in Christ’s Name.” We have changed from a two-and-one-half–year enrolled level certificate program to a three-and-one-half–year registered level diploma program. Our location changed from a hospital ward basement to a beautiful setting next to Tenwek Hospital. At first, all of our teachers were missionaries, and now we are blessed to have Kenyan graduates of our school holding all the leadership roles.

Our yearly intake has changed from 16 per class to over 30 per class. Testing methods have varied but are still mainly short answer and essay plus practical and oral exams. Our library now has computers as well as books. Tenwek Hospital now has electronic charting. Our students have to be intentionally disciplined in their use of Facebook, the Internet, and mobile phones. We are now a testing center for twice-yearly national nursing board exams. Exam results are now released via the Internet to schools and via texting to students. Even our uniforms have changed. 

In the midst of transitions, God has been faithful: understanding our struggles, calming our hearts, directing, strengthening, and encouraging us. He has rejoiced with us and cheered us on. He has led many people like you to join us in prayer and support as together we join God in what He is doing. 

More students require more space to teach and accommodate students, more exams and assignments to mark, and more practical assessments. We need prayer for time management (for both students and teachers) in our busy schedules. We expect more future changes and know God will be there for us.

Pray for Tenwek School of Nursing. PRAY: Ask God to give the staff at Tenwek School of Nursing creative ideas and strength during transitions to effectively train even more nurses to “Care in Christ’s Name.” 

Partner with Tenwek School of Nursing.
GIVE: Your financial gift can assist in building and remodeling classrooms and accommodations for our larger student body at Tenwek School of Nursing.

Monday, June 6, 2016

Prayer Calendar June 5-11,2016

Tomorrow on The Call blog:

Transition: “The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another; move, passage, transformation, handover.” 

Since July 1987 when Tenwek School of Nursing opened at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet, Kenya, only two things have been constant: 1) Change and 2) an Unchanging God. 

Prayer Calendar:

Ask God to bless Tenwek School of Nursing as they train nurses to "Care in Christ's Name." p. 22