Member Care Updates Expanding the global impact of member care
Working together for wellbeing and effectiveness
Special News—November 2025Global Pearl: 11Living Freely in Jesus Christ  Image from cover of GMC 2Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46-------------------- OverviewGreetings! In this issue (#199) we continue our 12 part series called Global Pearl to help shape and support good member care practice around the world. Throughout the series we emphasize Jesus Christ—the Global Pearl of Great Price (MT 13:45) as we collaborate to engage in mission among all peoples—the global treasure of great price (MT 13:44).Featured ResourcesCore Book--God on the Move: Making Disciples Among the Nations (2025), edited by Dave Coles. This book shares some of the "countless stories have emerged about powerful movements of God drawing hundreds of thousands from unreached people groups into saving faith. These testimonies reflect the fresh and transformative ways God is working through movements, known as Church Planting Movements and Disciple Making Movements...Designed for everyday readers, busy missionaries, and global believers alike, this guide distills and simplifies key ideas from the book Motus Dei (2021)...Readable, relevant, and rooted in solid research, this timely resource is for anyone eager to see how the gospel is multiplying across the nations today." (quote from William Carey Publishing)Podcast--Marriage: Conflict and Tools with Jonathan and Elizabeth Trotter). This is the second of three episodes on marriage from Jonathan Trotter's Digging In the Dirt podcast (2025).“In Part 2, the Trotters talk candidly about how they "conceptualize conflict, as well as some evidence-based tools for approaching conflict, including what to do if one or both people get “flooded.” Note the written resources included in all three podcasts' descriptions. Johnathan is one of the joint authors of Tough People in Tough Places--chapter 16 in Global Member Care Volume 3--and the author of Digging in the Dirt: Musings on Missions, Emotions, and Life in the Mud (2023) and co-author with his wife Elizabeth of Serving Well: Help for the Wannabe, Newbie, or Weary Cross-Cultural Christian Worker (2019).Multi-Sectoral Tools--Travel Health Resources from Thrive Worldwide. Thrive Worldwide i s a leading providing health, wellbeing, and leadership support to organizations, leader, teams, and individuals working to make the world a better place. Check out their many services and resources including consultation, training, and free written resources online.Blog Post-- "Expanding the Foundations of Good Practice" is an excerpt from chapter 11 of Global Member Care Volume 1. "This chapter explores what I believe is the foundational stone in our search for trans-culturally relevant ethics...It is based on doing what we “know” is morally right to do. It shines light on our inner sense of duty. I believe that it must especially take into account human rights in a way which hitherto has received minimal consideration in the member care field. This includes understanding and protecting the rights of mission/aid staff and the people with whom they work, as described for example in international human rights documents."See these Member Care UpdatesHuman Rights & Good Practice–Commemorating & Reaffirming the UDHR (Dec 2023)Unreached Peoples: Reviewing and Renewing Our Roots (April 2019)Jesus Christ: The Lord of Member Care (September 2015)
News and NotesMental Health and Missions ConferenceTheme: With Grace and Truth: Pathways for Humble and Effective Service/Care
Texas USA (20-23 November 2025)International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime (15 November)World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence (18 November)World Children's Day (20 November)See our framework for engaging in the world as followers of Jesus Christ:Following Jesus Globally: Engaging the World through Global Integration, Lausanne Global Analysis (2020) and the expanded version (chapter 2) in Global Member Care Volume 3: Stories and Strategies for Staying the Course (2024). ----------------- Warm greetings, Kelly and Michèle   --See more resources on our MCA website and MCA Facebook page --Send us your ideas and resources for future MC Updates
--Forward to your colleagues and networksMCAresources@gmail.com
Featured Resources
Global Pearl: 11
Living Freely in Jesus Christ
 Image from cover of GMC 3
So if the Son sets you free,
you will be free indeed.
John 6:36
If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples;
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:31-32
--------------- Resource One--Special Book
God on the Move: Making Disciples Among the Nations
Dave Coles, editor 
Available for pre-order—publication September 30, 2025
"Countless stories have emerged about powerful movements of God drawing hundreds of thousands from unreached people groups into saving faith. These testimonies reflect the fresh and transformative ways God is working through movements, known as Church Planting Movements and Disciple Making Movements.
Motus Dei (2021) offered a groundbreaking, scholarly exploration of these movements—filling a critical gap in mission literature. Now, God on the Move makes that rich insight accessible to a much broader audience. Designed for everyday readers, busy missionaries, and global believers alike, this guide distills and simplifies key ideas from Motus Dei, without sacrificing depth or credibility. With inspiring case studies, biblical reflections, and practical insights from around the world, God on the Move serves as both introduction and invitation—to witness, understand, and join in what God is doing through modern-day movements.
Readable, relevant, and rooted in solid research, this timely resource is for anyone eager to see how the gospel is multiplying across the nations today." (quote from William Carey Publishing)
See also: Supporting Arabic-Speaking Workers (MENA Care): MC for/from all Peoples, Member Care Update (July 2021) and Supporting Chinese Workers: MC for/from All Peoples, Member Care Update (May 2021).
 This podcast is the latest episode (November 2025) of Staying the Course in Member Care and Mission (STC). It features the second of three episodes on marriage from Jonathan Trotter's Digging In the Dirt podcast (2025).“In Part 2, the Trotters talk candidly about how they "conceptualize conflict, as well as some evidence-based tools for approaching conflict, including what to do if one or both people get “flooded.” Note the written resources included in all three podcasts' descriptions. Johnathan is one of the joint authors of Tough People in Tough Places (chapter 16) in Global Member Care Volume 3.
We find Jonathan and Elizabeth's material on cross-cultural, marital, and family life to be insightful, challenging, encouraging, and relevant for member care and mission! We think you will too, and like us, will want to dive deeper into their work.
Digging in the Dirt podcast description: "Welcome to ground level, to the dirt and the mess. We like green grass under a clear blue sky. We like victory and breakthrough and answered prayers. But sometimes it rains, the shadows deepen, and life turns muddy. Sometimes God seems quiet. What then? What happens when depression descends, or anxiety hangs like a sword overhead? What happens when loneliness suffocates, the thief steals more than stuff, and you get blood on your shoes? In this podcast, we'll delve into the disasters, the darkness, and the deluge, and offer some comfort, presence, and a gentle invitation to hope."
See also: Jonathan's book, Digging in the Dirt: Musings on Missions, Emotions, and Life in the Mud (2023); the Trotter's book, Serving Well: Help for the Wannabe, Newbie, or Weary Cross-Cultural Christian Worker (2019); and Growing in Grace and Good Works (featuring and Marital Check-Up Inventory and other resources by Dr. Laurie Tone), Member Care Update (March 2024).
Note--STC podcasts (video and audio versions) feature our interviews with and materials from several of the 50+ contributors in Global Member Care Volume 3 (GMC 3). GMC 3 is a collaborative book with 20 chapters full of stories and strategies, and reflections and resources from colleagues around the world. It is inspired by the vision to see member care further develop globally to support mission among all peoples.
STC Podcasts—Featuring GMC 3 Chapter Authors
--Overviewing Global Member Care Volume 3 (August 2024)
--Prioritizing Frontier People Groups (September 2024)
--Developing Member Care in Indonesia (October 2024)
--Mental Health as Mission–Trauma Training and Care (November 2024)
--A Team Model for Pastoral Coaching (December 2024)
--How Is Coaching Different? (July 2025)
--The Unseen Journey: 50 Years of Gospel Advancement (August 2025)
--Caring about Global Governance for the Sake of Human Flourishing (September 2025)
---Don't Call Your Kids 'World Changers' and One Simple Way to Bless TCKs (Oct 2025)
--Marriage: Conflict and Tools (November 2025)
STC Podcasts—Featuring GMC 3 Consulting Editors
--Trauma and Tragedy on the Mission Field (January 2025)
--Trauma and Soul Care (February 2025)
--Sharing My Father with the World (March 2025)
--What We Wish Mission Workers Knew—Counselors' Perspectives (April 2025)
--Resilience, Trauma, and Post-Traumatic Growth (May 2025)
--Asia MC Network Conferences and the MC and Counseling Seminars (June 2025)
Resource Three--Multi-Sectoral Member Care
Travel Health Resources
Thrive Worldwide  Image ©2025 KOD
Thrive Worldwide is a leading providing health, wellbeing and leadership support to organizations and staff working to make the world a better place. Check out their many services and resources including consultation, training, and free written resources online. The description below of their three broad areas of work are from the website.
"We work with CEOs and leaders to help them cultivate a workplace in which people find joy and do their best work.. - Culture surveys
- Consultancy and advice
- Trauma-informed leadership training
- Leadership coaching
Learn more
We help to develop resilience and wellbeing in teams so that they can thrive even in the toughest situations. - Equipping managers
- Psychosocial training
- Developing workplace peer support
- Creating psychological safety
Learn more
We provide holistic care for individuals whatever their past experiences, current situation or future plans. - Counselling and trauma support
- Coaching
- Occupational health
- Medical and travel clinic
Learn more"
See also: How Are You Doing? Tools for Wellbeing and Growth, Member Care Update (February 2024); and Physical Health Care for Mission and Humanitarian Workers (chapter 19) by Ted Lankester and Brian Wainaina (both staff with Thrive Worldwide) in Global Member Care Volume 3.
Global Member Care--12 Pearls
Twelve special blog posts to explore good practice
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven
from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband....
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl.
Revelation 21:21
 Image from cover of GMC 1 This set of blog entries from 2011 explores member care by using brief quotes from the book, Global Member Care Volume 1: The Pearls and Perils of Good Practice (GMC 1). There is one excerpt from each of the book's 12 chapters. Each excerpt is like a huge pearl—a pearl gateway—that allows us to enter more fully into the global field of member care. Below are quotes from chapter 11 of GMC 1.Pearl Eleven--Expanding the Foundations of Good Practice"This chapter explores what I believe is the foundational stone in our search for trans-culturally relevant ethics. Stone Five is fascinating! It is based on doing what we “know” is morally right to do. It shines light on our inner sense of duty. I believe that it must especially take into account human rights in a way which hitherto has received minimal consideration in the member care field. This includes understanding and protecting the rights of mission/aid staff and the people with whom they work, as described for example in international human rights documents (discussed below).
However, the primary focus of this stone is not just mission/aid staff. It is also on the ethical responsibility—ethical imperative—for personal and group duty (often sacrificial duty) on behalf of humanity. It is about the duty and choice to risk one’s own rights and well-being in order to extend member care, broadly speaking, to vulnerable populations. More specifically, it is a principled commitment to improve the quality of life and seek justice for those whose human rights, including religious liberties and freedom of conscience as well as physical safety and economic livelihood, are habitually threatened through neglect, disasters, poverty, discrimination, fear, and persecution." (page 187 in GMC 1)Reflection and Discussion--Recall one aspect of your life/work that relates to the quote above.--Connect the above quote with a current international area that interests/concerns you.--Discuss the quote with colleagues.See also: Integrity for Mission and Member Care: Living in God's Light Always and Everywhere, Member Care Update (June 2023).
--------------------- For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
Member Care Associates
MCAresources@gmail.com
Member Care Associates Inc. (MCA) is a Christian non-profit organization working internationally and across sectors. We focus on personnel development for mission, humanitarian, development, and health workers and their organizations; global mental health; ethics and good practice; and integrity/anti-corruption. Our services include consultation, training, research, developing resources, and publications. MCA is shaped by the Global Integration framework and the Missio Dei model of global member care (updated in Global Member Care Volume 3 in 2024). ----------
Our Special News-Updates 1) promote the wellbeing and effectiveness (WE) of staff and their families and sending groups and 2) support the diversity of colleagues with member care responsibilities. The focus is on the mission sector with applications for/from the overlapping health, development, humanitarian, and other sectors.
Global Integration (GI) is a framework for responsibly and actively engaging in our world--collaborating locally through globally for God's glory. It encourages connecting relationally and contributing relevantly on behalf of human wellbeing and the issues facing humanity, in light of our integrity and core values (e.g., ethical, humanitarian, human rights, faith-based). See more perspectives about GI HERE. |
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