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MISSIONS INTERLINK
CHURCH COMMUNIQUE
July 2007
Welcome to this edition with information geared to assist local churches in their participation in cross-cultural mission, in, from, and to New Zealand. Feel free to circulate or copy for others in your church. The contents list will help you to latch on to what is of most interest to you.
CONTENTS
1. Reflections on MI-7
2. Worth Keeping – The Book on Missionary Retention
3. Mission Books NZ Launched
4. Interviewing Skills Workshop Sept.15th
5. Gods Awesome Book on DVD
6. Missionary Enrichment Retreat
7. ReWire – the Joint Orientation Course
8. Envision- A Missions Conference for Churches
9. International Director Sought for European Christian Mission
10. World Vision Seek Church Relations Coordinator in Africa
11. 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus 2007
12. Pre-Employment Adventure at Great Barrier Island
1. REFLECTIONS ON M I – 7
Greetings to all our church partners. It was good to have so many Churches represented at MI-7, the triennial consultation on mission held at Rotorua June 5-8th. In fact the churches stream was the largest grouping there and together they formed about ¼ of the participants. How appropriate this was as a major emphasis was to see the local church take its rightful place as the main human agent in world mission. To quote Bill Hybels, “The local church is the hope of the world”.
Dr Omar Djoeandy – our main speaker took as his thesis:
“God is Remodelling Missions in the 21st Century
By sending His whole church
To do His holistic Mission
In His world
For His glory”.
The input of this Indonesian born, Chinese ethnic, Australian citizen medical doctor who had both trained and served in Kenya was highly appreciated with comments like “Relevant, challenging and authentic”, “Really appreciated his honesty and humility”, Heaps of encouraging ideas- I’ve always wondered why Christians didn’t work together more”, “Right on the mark”,” Engaging and challenging”. Overall participants rated Omar’s sessions at 9.7 out of 10!!! Altogether the event was rated an outstanding success, although suggestions for improvements were also noted in the evaluation exercise.
Several churches that couldn’t be represented had asked for copies of materials shared at MI-7 and these are still available and we would be happy to email these to you at your request if your church has missed out. Just phone or email our office.
Also you can find a well written and presented report on MI-7 in the July edition of the Baptist magazine. Bev Edmiston who contributed this from her perspective from within Tranzsend was an enthusiastic participant. A little further removed was a centre spread in the July 9th edition of Challenge Weekly.
Good and all as the input was, the greatest blessing is always the fellowship –meeting up with new friends and old, sharing ideas and information, enjoying first rate camp meals together, and communing with the Lord and one another around the communion table. That really takes a lot of beating!
Perhaps more exciting for Helen and I are the possibilities that now arise because of MI-7. Some initiatives of cooperation already begun received impetus there. Others were determined together and we are encouraged to know of on-going efforts to do things in community rather than alone. If we are truly willing to look for new paths in mission in, from and to New Zealand we can open up some innovations that could truly bless the world.
2. WORTH KEEPING – THE BOOK ON RETENTION OF MISSIONARIES
At last we are able to announce the publication of this long awaited book released on May 31st. This book is based on the ReMap 11 survey that NZ Agencies participated in sometime back, coordinated by Rachel Murray. Subsequent surveys among missionaries were also added to the mix along with stories from several different countries. Reviews suggest that this could be a very worthwhile reference book providing a benchmark for churches and agencies in retaining the involvement of their mission partners.
You can get a copy for NZ$35.00 plus p&p from Life Resources – see next item.
3. MISSIONS BOOK NZ LAUNCHED
Max Palmer and the team at Life Resources have taken a major step forward in establishing a Missions Books NZ marketing division. Max had a list of titles already available at MI-7 and now staffers Marnie Weir and Kristie Ferguson are on the job filling the gap left from the closing of CMD and its associated book service. They expect to develop this further but for now already have 26 titles listed. You can access the list(and the resources) on line www.lr.org.nz or call 0800446569 or 03 365 2121
I strongly recommend this initiative and encourage all of us to use and publicise this service.
4. INTERVIEWING SKILLS WORKSHOP –SEPT 15TH
Our friends at BCNZ are hosting a day long workshop to improve our interviewing skills. Always an important part of selecting people for service- missionaries and pastors too. The full invitation follows:
A BCNZ School of Global Mission Workshop
IMPROVING THE INTERVIEWING of OVERSEAS MISSION CANDIDATES
Bible College of New Zealand ~ Auckland Campus
221 Lincoln Road, Henderson
Saturday 15th September 2007
9:30am – 4:30pm
Programme Outline
v Current recruitment practice, including:
· Understanding competencies and cultural fit
· CVs, written applications, telephone screening, referee checking
· Psychometric assessment
· Dealing with unsuitable applicants decisively yet positively
· Specific Interviewing Approaches, including:
o Small group and panel interviews
o Interviewing people from different cultural backgrounds
o When in doubt: do’s and don’ts
o How do you decide? ‘Vanilla’ vs. ‘Wild Card’ candidates
v Family Issues, including:
· Evaluating family dynamics
· Interviewing and debriefing children
· Making decisions about education
v Relational Readiness, including:
· Personal and spiritual maturity, cross-cultural sensitivity
· Flexibility, adaptability and teamwork
· Dealing with issues of authority
Participants are asked to come prepared to explain and discuss how they handle the evaluation of candidates’ readiness for relational aspects of overseas mission service.
v Dealing with Sensitive Personal Issues, including:
· Medical and sexual issues
· Dealing with psychological ‘baggage’
· Getting the most out of psychological reports
Speakers with expertise in the fields of Human Resources, Medical Care and Mission will make presentations, including Gordon Duncan & Peter Browning of Farrow Jamieson, a widely respected recruitment agency, Barry McKessar, OMF’s International Coordinator for TCK Care,
and Dr Catherine McArthur, a Mission agency medical examiner.
Cost: $40 including lunch
Ask about special discounts for groups of 3 or more, and for non-Aucklanders.
Payment by cheque or cash (sorry, we can’t do credit card payments).
Registration is essential!
Please contact Ian Dally at iand@bcnz.ac.nz or on (09)837.9758 before September 12th.
5. GOD’S AWESOME BOOK ON DVD
Wycliffe are excited to announce that the first half of God’s Awesome Book seminar, presented by Ian Vail will be available on DVD from August. It is one of Wycliffe’s “Resourcing the Church” seminars and is designed to restore faith and confidence in the Word of God. This two DVD set contains nearly 4 hours of the seminar divided into six sessions especially suitable for home groups. A printed Study Guide with discussion questions is also included. The set covers the first three modules of the complete seminar:
· The Bible as History
· Is the Text Reliable
· Those ‘Boring Genealogies”
Convincing today’s generation of the authenticity and authority of the Bible is an essential building block in their progress in world mission. A great resource for your church.
See the new website at www.wycliffe.org.nz
6. MISSIONARY ENRICHMENT RETREAT
The next MER is scheduled for October 23-28th at Lake Taupo Christian Camp. This low key event is for folk who are on home leave or staying permanently. It provides a safe place to process the past, consider the present and prepare for the future. Led by capable facilitators with valid cross cultural experience, MER’s have met the needs of over 250 Kiwi mission partners.
Churches or agencies sometimes sponsor the participation of their missionaries and details of cost and program can be found on the website www.missions.org.nz or by contacting the MI Office.
7. REWIRE – THE JOINT ORIENTATION COURSE.
Four of our mission agencies OMF,Interserve,SIM and Wycliffe cooperate in presenting an introduction to mission for people considering overseas service. This is especially geared for people in a hurry including short termers and is deliberately brief for today’s world. The dates are September 21-23, the location is Edinburgh College, Level 6, The Cogita Building, 20 Amersham Way, Manukau City. Alison Given at Interserve is coordinating this and she can be contacted at 09 6300981 or Alison@interserve.org.nz. Any potential candidate is welcome – no need to be connected with these nor any other mission.
8. ENVISION- A MISSIONS CONFERENCE FOR CHURCHES
Envision is a one day national mission conference for mission enthusiasts and those not yet sure of how they can be, or even should be involved in mission.
Envision 07 will be an action packed day with 5 keynote speakers- Jamie Wood (Pioneers),Robert Coenradi (Southern Cross Bible College),Phil Richardson (Church Centred Mission), Christine Harding (Pastor & lecturer Vision College) Peter Mihaere (Tranzsend), a selection of country reports, electives and mission agency exhibits.
Venue: Bethlehem Events Centre, Elder Lane, Bethlehem, Tauranga
Date: August 18th 2007
For further information and/or to download a registration form go to www.envision.org.nz or contact Pete Cossey at admin@strategic-missions.org.nz
9. INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR SOUGHT FOR EUROPEAN CHRISTIAN MISSION.
The European Christian Mission is seeking to appoint a new International Director. ECM is a forward looking, interdenominational mission committed to the task of church planting in Europe. We currently work in 18 European countries, with a worldwide team of over 200 people.
The role of the International Director is to head up a small leadership team and to be responsible for providing vision and direction for the work, as well as having an ambassadorial role in representing the mission in a variety of contexts both in Europe and around the world.
For this exciting and challenging position we are seeking a person who has leadership skills and who has proven ability to generate vision. Full details of qualifications and experience required can be obtained from the Mission Secretary at the address below.
Terms and remuneration are to be negotiated. The closing date for applications is 1st October 2007.
For further information, contact the Mission Secretary:
Mr Arthur Prescott
ECMI
P.O. Box 12569
Lapworth
Solihull B93 3AE, U.K.
Phone: +44 (0) 1564 784282
E-mail: arthur.prescott@ecmi.org
10. WORLD VISION SEEK CHURCH RELATIONS COORDINATOR IN AFRICA
We are looking for a person to lead our Africa region in the area of Christian Commitments strategy. They would report to our Africa Vice President and be based in Nairobi. This person would need to have a good understanding of Africa, be able to integrate theology and development practice as well as influence key leaders within our organisation as well as network widely with faith based institutions and organisations. They would also need to be able to be open and encourage expressions of Christian faith in different contexts and understand the challenges working in restricted contexts also.
A copy of the Job Description is available at MI or contact Margaret-ann.mcclean@worldvision.com.au
11. 30 DAYS MUSLIM PRAYER FOCUS 2007.
13 September – 12 October 2007
The world is changing rapidly these days and Islam is having a powerful impact, not just internationally but also here in New Zealand. What better way to influence the world than by praying for Muslims. The 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus will help you pray with insight and clarity for Muslims around the globe. Packed full of interesting prayer information with additional articles and an attractive colour cover, these booklets are great for personal daily or family devotions, staff devotions, intercessory prayers in church services etc. This year there is a special lift-out prayer calendar for “Busy Christians on the Go” along with some exciting field-tested ideas for using 30 Days in Home Groups. For the first time in 10 years we have had to increase our prices slightly: 1-9 copies are $6.00 each, 10-49 copies are $5.00 each and 50 plus copies are $4.00 each.
For more information contact Suzanne on marn@talk.co.nz or 021 185 3334 or PO Box 45 270, Te Atatu Peninsula, Auckland 0651.
12. PRE-EMPLOYMENT ADVENTURE AT GREAT BARRIER ISLAND
Are you in touch with youth who are finishing school but not sure what is next? “Venture at Orama” – a 3 month long skills development experience may be an important building block. ‘Not all who wander is lost’, to quote Tolkein and living in community while learning in a supportive environment may provide direction on life’s pathway.”
Contact 09 429 0063 or info@orama.org.nz to learn about the October 2007 and 2008 courses.
It is a pleasure to bring these ideas and information to you. May it encourage you in your church’s vision and program.
Sincerely in our Lord,
Gordon
Gordon Stanley
Director
Missions Interlink (NZ)
PO Box 143, Paparoa, 0543
Ph 64 (0) 9 431 7027
email: info@missions.org.nz
missions.interlink@maxnet.co.nz
Web: www.missions.org.nz
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