Prayer Calendar: July 12-18, 2015

“As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” (Exodus 17:11-12, NIV)

Ned and Marlene McGrady minister to missionaries through the WGM Member Health Team, and their goal is to be Aaron and Hur when missionaries face conflict and crisis.

July 12 – 18: Ask God to guide the Member Health team as they care for WGM missionaries around the world.

The Ministry of Being Mom

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By Veronica Porter, Missionary, Papua New Guinea
July-September 2015

“Mama! I’m thirsty!” “Mama! I need help!” “Mama, will you read to me?” “Mama, I love you so much!” Crying, screaming, fighting, playing, hugging, kissing, cleaning, reading, homeschooling; someone always needs me, and these are just some of the things that make up my days. This is to be expected; I am a stay-at-home missionary-mom with three little ones ages 5, 3, and 1; and baby number four is on the way.

God has given my family the task of serving Him in Papua New Guinea, and I have the privilege of being Mama to missionary kids, which is a full-time job! However, I often struggle on homeland ministry assignment when people ask me what my ministry is. I always feel that being wife, mama, and teacher, and making friends with nationals is never a good enough answer. How have I truly impacted God’s kingdom with these roles?

I have really wrestled with this during our time on the field and here in the U.S. on HMA as we prepare to return home to PNG. Is what I am doing truly “ministry”? I have not yet decided if the answer is yes or no, but I have at least decided that it is necessary. Over and over, Scripture states how our children are a blessing and priority and that we have a responsibility to raise them in the Lord. My husband and I have decided that our kids must come before ministry. How can we effectively minister if we as a family are unhealthy? So, for now, keeping us healthy looks like me staying in the home without a lot of other official “ministry.”

And you know what? I am happy with that because everyday life can be exhausting in a remote country like PNG. Power outages, little or no water at times, cooking everything from scratch, kids that are always filthy, and bouts of unexplained illness are just some normal daily occurrences. I also get to pour myself into my children. Missionary kids have some special challenges that many other kids don’t face: not knowing where they belong, saying goodbyes constantly, dealing with cultural challenges, and more. But they are also blessed in ways other kids aren’t, like growing up cross-culturally, being bilingual, having crazy pets, and many more amazing experiences. I get to be a part of every one of them, good or bad, and point our kids to the Lord through it all.

Another reality of ministering in PNG is that homeschooling is the only option for our kids’ education. The responsibility of their schooling falls on my shoulders. When we return to PNG, I will have my plate even more full with homeschooling my crew.

Since I focus on our house and kids, my husband is truly able to take part in some amazing ministry opportunities. Seth has done many building projects, taught classes, traveled into the bush to preach, and built deep friendships with young men in the area. And I don’t stay home all the time either. We go out as a family and fellowship with the amazing people we have been called to serve. I sit and visit with other mamas, and we watch our kids play together. I play sports with some of the youth while others watch our kids. We try to be a part of the Papua New Guineans’ community and live everyday life with them, as a family.

Is being a stay-at-home missionary-mom a ministry? I don’t know, but I am pretty blessed to be one.

PRAY: Raising kids is not for the weak. Take time to pray this quarter for those stay-at-home missionary-mamas who are balancing homeschooling, home responsibilities, and building relationships with others in their community. Pray that God will grant them small, still moments where He can continue to reveal Himself to them.

Prayer Calendar: July 5-11, 2015

From The Ministry of Being Mom, by Veronica Porter: "My husband and I have decided that our kids must come before ministry. How can we effectively minister if we as a family are unhealthy? So, for now, keeping us healthy looks like me staying in the home without a lot of other official 'ministry.'"

July 5–11: Pray that God will be close to missionary mamas whose primary ministry is raising their families and caring for their homes.

An excerpt from: 

Who’s Got Your Back?

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By Bonnie Gouge, Regional Director for South America
July-September 2015

Do you ever wish that someone would just listen to your heart and hear your concerns? Don’t you want to know that someone “has your back?” Do you wish you had a mentor?

Scripture gives us many examples of mentoring and of learning and gaining wisdom from others. For example, Elijah was a mentor to Elisha. Paul was a mentor to Timothy. These older men poured into younger men, shaping their lives and helping them mature spiritually so that they were better prepared for kingdom work.

World Gospel Mission believes in its missionaries and wants them to succeed. When our new missionaries go to the field, a mentor takes time to be with them, helping them in their transition to the new culture, place, and language. Many times, we just listen. Other times, we lend a helping hand. We are often called upon to share what we have learned as we have served.

My husband, Ron, and I have worked with new missionaries in Spain. And that has not been easy since we do not live there. Thanks to technology, we can still connect with new missionaries in Spain through Skype. We work with them through a written mentoring program, but also spend a lot of time just listening, helping them process their new life in a new place.

As a mentor, I am keenly aware of my own inadequacies. I realize that although I have served for many years in a “foreign” country, I do not have all the answers. In many ways, I just “press on” as Paul writes in Philippians 3:12: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on.…” Our hope is that in spite of our mistakes and inadequacies, our experiences can help someone else grow and mature and maybe even miss some of our pitfalls, helping prepare them to reach out to their world for Christ.

Perhaps you never had a mentor to help you along your life’s journey, but I imagine there are younger people around you who could use a helping hand. Will you “have their back?”

PRAY: Is mentorship the next step in your journey in helping you grow deeper in your walk? Take time this month to pray and ask God to direct your path to the right person who can help you with this process.

Prayer Calendar: July 1-4, 2015

When  new missionaries go to the field, a veteran missionary helps them transition to the new culture, place, and language. Many times, these mentors just listen. Other times, they lend a helping hand. They are often called upon to share what they have learned as they have served.

July 1–4: Pray for wisdom for veteran missionaries who are in mentoring relationships with new Missionary Disciples.