40 Years behind the Lens: Bob’s Favorite Shots

Bob Bushong, Support Staff, 

with Rachel Elwood, Support Staff 

January-March 2016

I’ve been with WGM since 1975 in a number of roles, but one of my favorites has been field photographer. I’ve gotten to see and record some amazing things: history in the making, faces that will never leave me, and testimonies of God’s great love. It’s been great to see how God can use my camera as His tool to tell His story.

Meredythe Scheflen took us to this overgrown sugar cane field near Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and insisted that one day it would be a university. She served tirelessly as a missionary in Bolivia for decades, and today, Bolivian Evangelical University is the largest private university in Bolivia with over 2,000 students enrolled.

MORE: Go to www.ueb.edu.bo to learn more about the ministries at BEU.

I felt like a real daredevil, practically hanging out of this Cessna to take photos of our Wings of Peace aircraft. This photo is especially meaningful because a few years later, WGM went through one of the most difficult chapters when a plane was lost in flight, along with its seven passengers.

GO: 

Through compassionate, education, family, and 

youth ministries, WGM Bolivia is reaching out to those aged 29 years and younger with the love of Christ. Discover how you can help share Christ’s love in Bolivia at www.wgm.org/bolivia.

It was a privilege to watch Dr. Ernie Steury work with patients at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya. He was the first missionary physician at Tenwek and truly laid the groundwork for it to become one of the leading missions hospitals in East Africa.

GIVE: While Tenwek’s medical services are patient-fee funded and usually affordable, these services are also made possible through donations from ministry partners like you. Donate at www.wgm.org/tenwek.

One of the best things about having taken photos on our fields for so long is that I’ve seen nationals develop into strong leaders. Reuben Lang’at (right) was doing his student missions internship to the Maasai people when I took this photo in the 1980s. He is now a WGM board member.

PRAY: Pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of qualified personnel to partner with WGM’s vital educational ministries around the globe. Training pastors, church leaders, and missionaries for Africa is a wonderful privilege.

I will never forget this little girl. She and her sister were

about the same ages of my own two daughters at the time, 

and I remember thinking how easily their lives could have been flipped, and it would have been my own kids who were struggling to draw water from a well.

GIVE: Poverty affects both the people of Bolivia and the church’s ability to serve. World Gospel Church of Bolivia needs funds to support pastors, improve church buildings, and fund missions. Partner with World Gospel Church of Bolivia through giving at www.wgm.org/wgc-bolivia.

Had I Failed My Purpose?

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God’s Ministry Plan May Look Different
Meg Rambo, Missionary, Uganda and Congo
October-December 2015

Before my feet ever hit Ugandan soil, I would have told you that my ministry was to train pastors’ wives. I had a burden to see these women get the tools to minister to the women in their churches in a powerful way. These women have a lot of potential to have great
influence, but they have had no training.

Once life in Uganda began, my ministry looked different from what I thought it would. Scott was busy with trainings and curriculum. I was busy cleaning up toys and cooking. Scott was traveling. I was grocery shopping. Scott was working on a new oral approach to Bible study called Bible Storying. I was reading lots of stories to my boys.

Not bad—just not what I thought it would be. I looked for opportunities for ministry. I had become good friends with a woman named Regina. I asked her if we could do a weekly Bible study. She agreed and I gave her some scripture to read. The first time we got together, I asked her what she had learned from her reading. She said, “I read it.” I quickly realized that although she could read, she was not “getting it.”

I asked Scott about it and he suggested I try Bible Storying with her, which is basically telling Bible stories in a compelling way and asking questions that help unpack the text. We began with the story of Mary and Martha, and then continued doing other stories regularly. Regina grew in amazing ways. I loved seeing this woman, who could read but not understand the Bible, blossom into a woman who could really dig into the truth of God’s Word.

After about a year, I started to feel frustrated that I never got to work with pastors’ wives. I felt as if I had failed at my purpose. But God quickly spoke into my heart. He reminded me that Regina was married to a pastor. Her husband, Stephen, was not one of the pastors Scott worked with, but she was still a pastor’s wife! Isn’t God good?

I asked Regina about her ministry and how I could help. She told me that each story we did together she shared with the ladies in her church. She was taking the Word of God and using it. My ministry was not to a group of wives, but to one. My ministry was not in structured seminars and trainings, but over a cup of tea. I was thrilled to see that God was faithful to the calling He had put in my heart, even though it looked different from how I had planned it.

GIVE: Help the Rambos continue the ministry of Bible Storying in East Africa by partnering with them financially through a monthly gift. Give online at www.wgm.org/rambo.

MORE: Visit www.simplythestory.org to learn more about Bible Storytelling.

To France, Russia, Australia, and Beyond

An excerpt from...

To France, Russia, Australia, and Beyond

By Paul Shingledecker, Retiree, Haiti
July-September 2014


If you had asked me 15 years ago what audience Radio Lumière was trying to reach, I would have told you, “The Radio Lumière Network covers 90 percent of the island of Haiti with Christian broadcasting.”

That was before we got on the Internet. For years it was just a dream to “stream” our network signal so Haitians in the U.S. could hear it too. It was a dream because we didn’t have either the equipment or an adequate Internet connection to make it happen. Still the dream was there—a creative dream to reach more people for Christ.

One day the chief engineer, a Haitian, decided it was time to try it with what we had. Sure enough, it didn’t sound too bad. We had lots of drop outs and buffering, but we put it on our website and people started listening. From those humble beginnings, we now have a much more robust signal and listeners all over the world. At any moment, 500 to 2,000 people are listening 24/7. We’ve logged listeners from as far away as Australia, Africa, and even Russia. Here’s a note from director Varnel Jeune’s recent newsletter:

“I received an email this week from a small group of brothers and sisters, Haitians, living in Moscow, Russia. They spoke of the fact that religious liberty is very limited there. They say they meet every Sunday semi-secretly in a basement. There they listen by way of the Internet to the worship services broadcast by Radio Lumière and this becomes their church! 

“One day the staff came to me and said they wanted to stream our signal over the telephone. I thought, ‘Who would want to listen to radio on the telephone, what with the poor audio quality and all?’ But a little company, Audio Now, in Washington, D.C., streams stations like ours to anyone who wants to call in. To my surprise, it caught on. Recent statistics show 1,541 calls in the U.S., 71 in France, and two in the Dominican Republic! The average listening time is over 30 minutes per call. Another 1,600 people around the world heard the gospel in Haitian Creole!”

ACT: Go to www.radiolumiere.org and click on Listen or call 712.432.6363.

MORE: Radio Lumière has an Android app. Look for it in Play Store under Radio Lumière.

Checklists are Vital

An excerpt from...

Checklists are Vital

By Barbara Pinkley, Kenya
October-December 2013

Nurses are busy! When we don’t want to forget important points in assessment or safety issues, checklists are vital. Checklists are used extensively by nursing instructors and students at Tenwek School of Nursing in Kenya.

Checklists are used to standardize what is done and evaluated during the following: student interviews, admissions procedures, patients’ clinical procedures and surgery preparation, surgery and post-surgery procedures, practical exams and assessments, community diagnoses, research, health teaching to clients and patients, post-birth procedures, home visits, well baby clinics, student and teacher evaluations, student progress reports, weekly clinical evaluations, and discipleship group accountability. Lots of lists!

Checklists are good, but they don’t replace common sense and critical thinking and following God’s promptings to reach out and touch a life. A nurse must be prepared to function without checklists. They must be able to see something and realize that it isn’t what it should be and be able to take action in order to save a life.

PRAY: Discover your part in missions at Tenwek School of Nursing by using the following prayer checklist:

Sunday: Pray for the nursing school staff, students, and graduates—for daily spiritual growth preparing them to be ready to “Care in Christ’s Name.”

Monday: Pray for God’s guidance for our principal and assistant principal as they direct the day-by-day running of the school as well as plan for the future.

Tuesday: Pray for teachers as they teach and interact with students in the classroom and clinical areas—to maintain high standards of excellence in their professional and spiritual lives.

Wednesday: Pray for patients and clients whose lives are touched by our students, teachers, and graduates.

Thursday: Pray for wisdom, strength, and perseverance for our nursing students during their busy three-and-a-half-year course to become triple qualified as nurses, midwives, and community nurses.

Friday: Pray for the nursing school staff as they balance time with family, community, church, and further education along with their teaching responsibilities.

Saturday: Pray for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of the nursing school staff, students, graduates, and their families.

God has Blessed Us

An excerpt from...

God has Blessed Us

By Debbie McKelvey, Texas/Mexico Border Ministries
October-December 2013

During one of my training meetings at World Gospel Mission, the group was asked to think of a champion who took real ownership in our ministry. My head began to spin because so many people have played an important role in what I did on the Tohono O’odham Reservation on the American Indian Field and in what I am currently doing on the Texas/Mexico border.

(The) one I thought of was Mary Jane Richards. At the time of the meeting, Mary Jane (she’s on my left in the picture) had not only been a prayer and financial supporter but also one who had scheduled three church services and one AWANA group and tried to get me into a high school social studies class. She also provided a place for me to stay with Ruth (the lady to my right).

Thank you to WGM’s many champions who have done so much, from mailing used clothes to visiting our mission fields. When you get to heaven, you’re going to be so surprised at how God has used you to bring others to heaven with you!

Debbie McKelvey mentions several practical missions-active ideas that her ministry partners have done to encourage her in ministry. Learning by their example, here is a monthly checklist that you and your family can do this year to be more intentional about your missions activities.

January: Spend this month praying for your missionary partner.

February: Encourage a missionary partner by sending a handwritten note to them, letting them know you have been thinking of them.

March: Planning an upcoming family vacation? Think about using this time to serve on the mission field together. Contact Noritta Carter at wgmteams@wgm.org or 765.671.7204 to find out what teams would be available for you to join.

April: In the article “The Path Is Waiting,” you are challenged to consider completing the World GO! Manual Bible study. Ask someone to do the study with you and complete chapter one on prayer this month.

May: A new Kids’ World article is released bimonthly, offering ways you can help kids get involved in missions. As you begin to plan your summer activities, visit the Kids’ World page to print out a few of the fun activities your family can do together for missions at www.wgm.org/kidsworld.

June: It’s Vacation Bible School time for many churches. How does your church plan to use the offering they receive from these boys and girls? Perhaps your church could donate a percentage of that offering to help children in need around the world. Find projects for kids at www.wgm.org/kidscatalog.

July: Take this month to put your “Yard Sale for Missions” checklist to good work and clean out some items you have in storage.

August: Consider sending a little piece of home to a missionary serving overseas. Many simple everyday items are not available in all areas of the world. Write to your missionary partner this month asking them for a wish list of items. Then go shopping! Mail this to your missionary family as a special care package.

September: This time of year often brings drought and famine to our brothers and sisters in Africa. WGM assists with caring for the physical and spiritual needs of others in crisis through the President’s Crisis Relief fund. Join this team by giving a financial gift at www.wgm.org/crisisrelief.

October: The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Pray over the list of ministry opportunities WGM has globally (www.wgm.org/go) and ask God to call more workers to the mission field.

November: This month reminds us of God’s richest blessings on our lives. Have you been blessed by The Call magazine? You can share this resource with others. Sign them up for a free subscription at www.wgm.org/callsubscribe.

December: It’s the season of giving! Consider a special gift to WGM as a year-end gift. You can donate online at www.wgm.org/donate.

A Prayer Offering

An excerpt from...

A Prayer Offering

By Nathan Vitatoe, Spain
April-June 2013

Prayer is the foundation of who we are and all that we do. The outpouring of love for our family and our ministry that we receive from the prayers of our brothers and sisters in Christ is truly humbling. With the hand of God guiding us and the earnest prayers of His children for His will to be done, we are sustained and encouraged during the spiritual warfare that comes with being travelers of the gospel.

Kenzie and I recently invited our family, friends, and prayer partners to join us for seven consecutive days of specific prayer for our family and ministry. The response of encouraging tweets, e-mails, messages, and “Likes” to our updates on our Facebook group BarcaJourney touched our hearts tremendously.

We all go through ups and downs in life. We need each other as the body of Christ, His Church, to support and encourage one another. It’s our joy to be able to pray for our fellow global Christians by sharing life and ministry together.  

As followers of The Way, we all journey together on the path where He has placed us as the hands and feet of Christ, sharing the truth and hope of knowing Him to a spiritually needy world. We have the wonderful privilege to communicate with the Creator of the universe, our heavenly Father, at any moment. Take time today to share your heart with the Lord.

PRAY: Does God want you to commit to full-time service on the mission field? Not sure? There is no better time than now to begin forming your prayer support team. Ask your family, friends, and church to commit to seven consecutive days, like the Vitatoes’ challenge to their partners, to faithfully pray for your discernment. Like Nathan said, “With the hand of God guiding us and the earnest prayers of His children for His will to be done, we are sustained and encouraged….”

Not Just a Coffee Table Prop

An excerpt from Not Just a Coffee Table Prop

How to make the most out of The Call
By Rachel Elwood, Support Staff
January-March 2013

If you’re like me, when a magazine comes to your home, you read through it quickly, looking for topics you’re interested in or writers you follow, and then you toss it on the coffee table.

But The Call isn’t just a magazine; it’s inspiration to be a more missions-active Christian. The Call can be a teaching tool. Here are a few suggestions for using it to introduce others to missions.

Social Networking: Did you read something that gave you new ideas on how to share Jesus with others? Post it in your Facebook status. The entire issue is online at www.wgm.org/call, so you can post a link to an entire article. Publicly sharing your passion for missions can have a significant impact on others.

Give It Away: After you’ve enjoyed reading The Call, why not pass it on? Give your copy to a friend or neighbor and help spread the message of the Great Commission. Need more copies? Contact us and we’ll send you additional copies at no cost to you.

Action Step Challenge: Get practical! Every article in every issue of The Call has an action step that relates to the story. That may be praying, giving a financial gift, studying a Bible passage, or doing a specific task, such as writing an encouraging note to someone who gets on your nerves. Get a group of friends together, such as your Sunday School class or Bible study group, and have each person select one action step to complete that week. The next time you meet, talk about your experiences. Prepare to be amazed at what one small group can do for the kingdom!

ACT: Can God use something as simple as a magazine to speak to someone’s heart? We sure think so! Renew your free subscription today or sign up a friend.

Discover Your Cause

President's Perspective

By Hubert Harriman, President
January-March 2013


Steve and Alene Burgert, missionaries to Kenya recently spoke at WGM's chapel for support staff. As they began to share, we immediately sensed the energy of a God-given cause. Alene’s training and experience in prison chaplaincy ministry in the United States had “unknowingly” prepared her to play a vital role in the new prison chaplaincy training program envisioned by the Africa Gospel Church. She exuded passion and compassion as she told the story of Peter, who was converted while serving a life sentence. He was miraculously released and is now studying at Kaboson Pastors Training College, preparing to go back into the prison as a chaplain. Alene had not only discovered a God-given cause; she was intent on duplicating that cause in the lives of other people, in order to touch needy communities with the life-transforming message of the gospel. There is no greater cause!


This is why WGM has captured this as its central ministry focus. We state simply, strongly, and succinctly that our central focus is“Whole person transformation into the heart and soul of all communities.” We truly believe God can do this, and it is the reason Jesus came among us. This is happening over and over again across our fields of ministry. We have some incredible God-given causes that bring healing and help into individual lives and into the heart and soul of communities.

By the help of God, WGM is intent on helping believers discover missions—to discover their God-given cause. Without this, we die. With this, we live!

So, what is your cause?

ACT: Discovering your cause may seem a daunting task, but WGM is here to help. A resource to get you started on this journey is the World GO! Manual. Download the first chapter and get started on your path to discovery at www.wgm.org/worldgo.

Deputation Travels

An excerpt from Deputation Travels

Building partnerships for the missionary journey
By Eileen McGuire, Retiree
October-December 2012

I arrived at Southwest Indian School on July 31, 1960. I cannot begin to tell you all the things that I learned in my 45 years of serving there, but I loved teaching the Indian children. There were definitely some bumps in the road, but it is not my practice to nourish negative emotions.

I loved meeting people as I traveled on deputation (now called homeland ministry assignment). It amazed me how loving, kind, and helpful these precious individuals and churches were.

As I traveled, I would arrive at the home where I was told that I’d share the evening meal. Often these people were complete strangers, but in a very short time we were conversing because we were in the same family—the family of God.

As each deputation came around, I looked forward to seeing these devoted supporters just as much as they looked forward to seeing their missionary.

I’m so glad that God can trust His people to do His work around the world. I know that God blesses all obedient giving and that He provides both the joy for strength and the provisions for ministry. I want to say “thank you” for your involvement in reaching the lost. Your work has not been in vain.

ACT: Missionaries are still traveling on homeland ministry assignment today. If you are interested in inviting a missionary to speak in your church about their ministry, contact Tara Mast at church@wgm.org or 765.671.7244.

Choosing the Farmer's Tan

An excerpt from Choosing the Farmer's Tan

By Troy Simpson, Ministry Partner
October-December 2012

Each year, students around the United States wait anxiously for the arrival of spring break. Most students can’t wait to hit the beaches in Florida; California; or Cancun, Mexico. But, for a few students at Mississinewa High School in Gas City, Indiana, spring break means spending the week in Honduras, working and building relationships with the students of Amor Fe y Esperanza (a school for the children whose parents live and work in the city dump of Tegucigalpa). The team works hard under the hot Honduran sun and usually ends the week with some super “farmer’s tans.”

ACT: Get your local high school involved in missions, too. Grab a few chaperones and students and plan your next spring break atwww.gowgm.org/teams.

STEERing Money to Missions

An excerpt from STEERing Money to Missions
By Tracy Dubois, Support Staff
April-June 2012

Founded in 1957, STEER is a nonprofit organization dedicated to “STEERing money to missions.” The company uses a three-way cooperative concept that enables donors, farm or ranch families, and missionaries to work together using the resources God has given them.

A donor supplies investment funds, or units, to cover the production costs of a crop or head of livestock. A farmer donates his time and feed to raise livestock (cows, hogs, sheep, etc.) or donates land, equipment, and his labor to raise crops (wheat, barley, corn, soybeans, etc.). When it’s time for harvest or butchering, the farmer selects an organization from STEER’s list of more than 80 partners. A missionary with that organization then receives the funds for ministry.

STEER has enough donor investment funds but is looking for more farm and ranch families to join the cause. As of September 2, 2011, WGM had more than 60 donor units available with STEER that just need a farmer to get involved. Are they waiting for you?

ACT: Visit www.steerinc.com or e-mail steerinc@steerinc.com to learn more about partnering with STEER.

Clip and Save for Missions

An excerpt from Clip and Save Networks for Missions
By Tracy Dubois, Support Staff
April-June 2012

Extreme couponing is the latest craze to hit homes, grocery stores, and reality TV. But even if clipping coupons isn’t your thing, you can still save money and help raise funds for missions each time you head to the supermarket.

Taylor Christian School in McAllen, Texas, has been using groceries as a fundraiser for years, and missionary Betsy Tarr is carrying on the tradition.

Here’s a quick look at each program and how you can get involved.

Labels for Education® (www.labelsforeducation.com or www.elabelsforeducation.com): Clip and save UPC codes and beverage caps from products including Campbell’s®, Glad®, Pepperidge Farm®, Pop Secret®, Prego®, and V8®. Labels have values of one, five, or 10 points.

Box Tops for Education (www.boxtops4education.com): Clip box tops from brands such as Betty Crocker®, Green Giant®, Hefty®, Kleenex®, Nestle®, Pillsbury®, and Ziploc®. You can also earn eBoxTops when you shop online at stores like Lands’ End, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble. Taylor Christian School will receive 10 cents for every qualifying box top.

Tyson Project A+™ (www.tyson.com/projectaplus): Clip Tyson Project A+™ labels and send them to Taylor. The school will redeem them for cash. Each Tyson label is worth 24 cents.

My Coke Rewards for Schools (www.mycokerewards.com): Coke Rewards points are completed online. Enter your codes, select Taylor Christian School, and donate. Participating brands include Coca-Cola, Sprite, DASANI, Minute Maid, Fanta, Barq’s, Nestea, and Mello Yello.

Office Depot® 5% Back to Schools Program (www.officedepot.com): For each qualifying purchase of basic school and office supplies, you can earn 5 percent in credit for Taylor Christian School to use toward free supplies. Provide Taylor’s ID number (70099367) when you shop online, in a store, or over the phone.

Camping on HMA

An excerpt from Camping on HMA
A Ministry to Missionaries
By Don Moon, Argentina
January–March 2011

As missionaries consider what is affectionately called the Homeland Ministry Assignment (HMA) trail, a major question often looms in front of them—Where are they going to stay each night as they travel many miles over a period of time that often turns into months?

Occasionally they stay in motels along the way, and several have spent a night in their car. Most often, ministry partners, people just like you, provide for them as they make their way from state to state. This is a great ministry to missionaries, and several hosts have declared that they, too, received a blessing from having a missionary in their home.

ACT: Have an RV you’d be willing to share with a missionary? E-mail your missionary friends and let them know.

Hands and Feet

An excerpt from Hands and Feet
Missions-active Christians Making a Difference in Their Communities
By Tim Rickel, Support Staff
January–March 2011

As I write this, my wife is just finishing radiation treatments for breast cancer. The journey started with a heart-stopping phone call in April, surgery in May, and radiation therapy in July and will continue with hormone therapy for the next five years. No chemotherapy, praise God!

In this journey, we have been blessed by many friends who made a difference when we were feeling lost and out of control. From our experience, here are some practical ways you can make a difference when you feel overwhelmed by a prayer request.

*Pray. It makes a difference.

*When you pray for someone who is going through a trial, write them a quick note telling them you just prayed for them.

*If someone’s life is disrupted by an illness or disaster and you think of something you could do to help, call them and say, “I’d like to stop by with supper for you this week. When is a good day?” If you freeze a dish like a casserole, they can use it when they need it. Other ideas are cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, or watching the kids so a couple can have an evening alone. It all depends on the situation and the personality of your friend.

*One church sent Laurie a quilt to use when she went for treatments. It has gone with her to every appointment and has been a huge comfort in the car. I would never have guessed.

*Give the gift of normal conversation. If someone who is going through a trial needs a shoulder to cry on, be that shoulder. But if they are putting on a good face, let them know you are praying for them, and then take your cue from them. If they are smiling, smile back!

Giving the Gift of Connectivity

CHURCH CHALLENGE

Bauer Community Fellowship
Giving the Gift of Connectivity
By Sarah Westfall, Administrative Assistant/Copywriter
November/December 2008 Call to Prayer

Technology has become an essential tool for today’s church in the United States. If you tried, I almost guarantee you would struggle to find churches that do not have a website, never use PowerPoint or a projector, or do not at least have microphones or sound equipment. While many churches use these technologies during Sunday services or as a jump-start to their Christmas cantatas, Bauer Community Fellowship in Hudsonville, Michigan, decided to take it one step further.

About a year ago, BCF began to tackle how they might become better partners with the missionaries they support. Sure, the church sent money every year and had missionaries speak when they were in the States. But BCF wondered whether they were really connecting with their missionaries. As members of the Body of Christ, should their partnership in missions go deeper? The answer was yes—but how?

BCF’s lead visual tech, Bob Young, along with the missions committee decided to equip their missionaries with a webcam, a small camera used to transmit video over the Internet. A webcam allows people to hold a live video chat, connecting people in a way that far surpasses e-mail or a phone conversation because you not only hear the person’s voice but you also see his face and emotions.

Using webcams, BCF now spends five to ten minutes one Sunday morning a month having a live discussion with one of its missionary families to learn more about the family’s life and ministry. The webcam video feed is projected on a screen so the congregation can see and hear the missionaries; additionally, the missionaries are able to see the congregation on their end through a second webcam placed in the church sanctuary. This sanctuary webcam allows the missionaries to see what is happening in the church during the interview, and they can also remain connected after the interview and be a part of the worship service.

Bauer Community Fellowship has been able to give the gift of connectivity to its missionaries as well as its congregation. How can our churches better utilize technology we already have to connect with our missionaries? What can we provide in addition to financial and prayer support that will fuel a deeper commitment not only to the missionary but also to the cause of missions?

In a way that makes sense for your church, consider the following suggestions for using technology to enhance your missionary interface and to give the gift of connectivity:

• Dedicate a page on your church’s website to your missionaries. Include missionary pictures, links to their websites or blogs, contact information, and updates or prayer needs.

• Stream your worship services on the Web and invite your missionaries to participate. In addition to using webcams to interview missionaries, your church can use this same technology at a very minimal cost to have your worship services streamed live from your church’s website.

• Record a two- to three-minute phone call interview with a missionary and play this missionary update over your sound system during your Sunday morning service. Consider projecting a picture of the missionary while the audio is playing to connect a face with a name and personal story. Ready to take the next step? Post the recorded interview to your website as a downloadable MP3 file.

• Give your missionaries digital cameras and ask them to share their recent photos with your congregation from time to time. Be sure to also send the missionaries photos of church events and members of your congregation.

• Make missionaries your Facebook friends! If your missionaries and members of your congregation are on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/) or another online community, encourage your congregation to add the missionaries as friends so they can stay in touch by posting photos, leaving comments, and sending messages.

• Use PowerPoint or another visual medium to project missionaries’ pictures, prayer requests, current projects, or contact information before, at the beginning of, or after your weekly service. Getting the word out can be challenging, and a consistent, visual reminder is key to keeping people connected.

• Send missionary care packages that include CDs or DVDs of a particular sermon or sermon series. If any of your missionaries is a pastor on the field, this gift may be particularly helpful in encouraging spiritual growth and in fostering continued connection to the church.