The SEND U Blog

Reflections and Resources for Lifelong Learning for Missionaries

Strive to Excel – But for What Purpose?

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On January 19, 2011

In Training

An excerpt from my devotional journey this morning:

Scripture: “So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. ” 1 Corinthians 14:12

Observation: Spiritual gifts are not designed to show off our spirituality but to build up others. But building up others does not come automatically. We must exert initiative in using and developing those gifts. Paul has said that we do not determine which gifts we possess; this is the Spirit’s decision (1 Cor 12:7-11). But we can choose which ones we will abound in, which ones we will seek to develop and exercise on a frequent basis. To the Corinthians, Paul says that they should seek to develop those gifts which result in the church being built up, and he is promoting prophecy over against tongues. Timothy is told “to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ” 2 Timothy 1:6.

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Operation World – A Wealth of Information

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On December 30, 2010

In Training

I received my copy of the new version of Operation World yesterday.  I had ordered the Professional DVD edition with many additional maps, charts, and PowerPoint presentations, as well as the right to reproduce the content for ministry purposes. It even gives me the ability to put OW on my Kindle.   The DVD edition costs $30, including shipping, and is well worth the investment.  I thought that it would be ready for me to take back to Ukraine when I was in the USA in November, but it arrived at our US office address just a couple of days after I left. So I am just starting to investigate the wealth of resources available on the DVD.

Thus far, I have been surprised to find out that I can create my own maps, displaying for example the evangelical annual growth rate for each country of the world.  That particular map (shown below) shows that there is a solid band of countries from Senegal in western Africa, across the northern part of Africa, through the Middle East and all the way east to Kyrgyzstan – all with annual growth rates of the evangelical church ABOVE 4%.  There is no other place on the globe with such a distinctive band of countries where the church is growing as quickly.  In other words, the 10-40 Window is where the church is growing fastest. Amazing!

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Training for Cross-Cultural Church Planters

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On December 28, 2010

In Church Planting, Team Leadership

In SEND U, we are very open to partnering with other organizations in providing training for our missionaries.   As the saying goes, “Why re-invent the wheel?”  One of the more profitable partnerships for SEND has been with ReachGlobal, the international mission arm of the Evangelical Free Church of America.   Through ReachGlobal’s training arm, EQUIP, SEND U has developed and facilitated an online training module for SEND team leaders.   A second edition of this training module is scheduled to begin on February 14, 2011.   Although the primary target of this training is for SEND team leaders, I am willing to enroll a few team leaders from other mission organizations. More information about this training module is available on the SEND U wiki. Contact me if you are interested in enrolling.

Another opportunity for partnership in training comes in the area of training church planters.  Our SEND Directors’ Council recently asked SEND U to develop a plan for church planter training – both basic training for appointees and continuing education for mission members. Fortunately, our Leadership Team had already been thinking along those lines and was ready with part of the solution to the DC request. We are recommending the ReachGlobal/ EQUIP church planting school for all SEND missionaries who have completed their language study and are headed into a church planting ministry.   Two members of our Leadership Team attended the training last summer, and based on their very positive evaluation, we are making this recommendation.

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Webinars for Training Missionaries

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On November 22, 2010

In Resources

Another training resource that is available to missionaries are webinars (interactive seminars offered over the Internet).These webinars allow a missionary to receive additional training from experts in a particular subject area without requiring the missionary to trave or experience a significant interruption in his ministry.

The best source that I have found for webinars for cross-cultural missionaries is The Mission Exchange (formerly EFMA). SEND International became an associate member of The Mission Exchange (formerly EFMA), largely so that we could benefit from the learning initiatives provided by this network of mission agencies and denominations.

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Wiki Resources for Missionaries

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On November 16, 2010

In Resources

Last month I asked our SEND missionaries to fill out a simple survey about what roles they thought SEND U should play in our mission organization.  I used the analogy of a campus.  If SEND International was a university campus, what role or roles would SEND U fill on that campus?  Would we be like the classroom where missionaries would receive formal instruction and training from the “experts”?   Would we be more like the faculty offices where missionaries could meet with the “experts” to discuss their questions about what they are learning and doing?   Or should we think of ourselves more like an academic counselling department where you could get assistance if you are struggling to succeed?  All of those options were chosen by a significant percentage of our missionaries.   But the highest number of our missionaries said that one of the roles that SEND U should play is that of a library – a place where missionaries could go to find information and resources for their life and ministry.

We have been seeking to provide that library of resources on the SEND U wiki, and through this blog, and so it is encouraging but not surprising that our missionaries see that as a valid role.  During the recently completed online module for SEND team leaders, the class participants suggested a number of books in the area of leadership, and these have been added to the wiki.   A couple of resources were also mentioned in the area of discipleship, but this area is still pretty skimpy.   

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