MC: Global Letters for a Global Community—8

Love Never Fails

The Great Commandment and the Great Commission are inseparable.

Dave Pollock (Dave died eight years ago, 11 April 2004)

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We are writing to member care workers and all those with member care responsibility within international mission/aid who identify with the historic Christian faith. We write to encourage us all to stay the course in our service to God and humans and to take full advantage of the many opportunities to provide and develop member care. We write fully aware of the problems that can discredit, divide, and disable the church-mission community (CMC) and all of our member care efforts. We write with a commitment to the love that is necessary to resolve these problems and to promote health within the CMC.

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"It has been my conviction over the last four decades of my work in missions that member care is by its very nature the tangible expression of the love of Christ for us and our love for Him. It is not simply a program or a plan; it is the product of who we are because of our relationship to Him and our being His “new creation.” He is Emanuel, God with us, and it is Christ in us that is the hope of glory. The flow of caregivers, cooperating together to support mission personnel, is one more demonstration to the world of the unity for which Jesus prayed. Providing the flow of care is a body effort of mission agencies, sending churches, supporting families, and committed caregivers who realize that the Great Commandment and the Great Commission are inseparable." Dave Pollock, Developing a Flow of Care and Caregivers, Doing Member Care Well, (2002, p. 3)

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We wish the very best for all those attending the Member Care Conference in Bangalore, India (18-20 April) and the Global Member Care Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand (23-27 April 2012). We remember dreaming of international member care gatherings like this with Dave Pollock and others in the 1990s. We were inspired by  a compelling vision to see quality member care and member caregivers going global and a desire to build upon foundational gatherings in the 1980s such as the Mental Health and Missions conferences (Indiana, USA) and the International Conferences on MKs (Manila, Quito, Nairobi).   
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May these two upcoming conferences in India and Thailand (Asia!) be an incredible time together, far beyond expectations. May they result in a wealth of new and old treasures (resources, relationships, directions) to strengthen the mission/aid community and far beyond (MT 13:52). May those with member care responsibility be encouraged to carry member care’s foundational practice of love to the ends of the earth and to the end of this age! Amo neniam pereas (I Cor. 13:8).

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 Kelly and Michèle

MC: Global Letters for a Global Community--7

Seeing the Light

You are the fountain of life.

In Your light we see light.

Psalm 36:9

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We are writing to member care workers and all those with member care responsibility within international mission/aid who identify with the historic Christian faith. We write to encourage us all to stay the course in our service to God and humans and to take full advantage of the many opportunities to provide and develop member care. We write fully aware of the problems that can discredit, divide, and disable the church-mission community (CMC) and all of our member care efforts. We write with a commitment to the love that is necessary to resolve these problems and to promote health within the CMC.

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We have just signed a petition:  Shine the Light—Together! We signed it because we care very much about how an international fraud, NCI KB, has seriously affected the public, charities, and especially the church-mission community—including the Evangelical member care community. This petition is an international call for integrity and action---for transparent and verifiable disclosures from individuals, projects, and organizations affected by this fraud.  

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 The petition has a brief update about the fraud with links to core documents for more information. The initial case went all the way to the Swedish Supreme court which upheld the previous verdicts of NCI being an ongoing gross fraud. NCI was largely an affinity fraud with one of the main organizations affected—people and projects--being Youth With A Mission. Note that this petition does not implicate any person or organization. Rather it calls for a positive and ethical response by people and organizations in order to help turn around this fraud.

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Would you seriously consider rallying with others internationally and signing the petition? And then sharing it with others?  Important efforts like this succeed as we get more informed and in solidarity spread the word (email, Facebook, etc.).  The comments of the signatories so far are also quite powerful to read, many of them who have been tracking with this fraud since NCI was publicly confronted in 2007.

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Thank you very much for your support, especially on behalf of the church-mission and member care community. To read and sign the petition, please click here:

 http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/shine-the-light-together/
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Kelly and Michèle

MC: Global Letters for a Global Community--6

A Birthday Wish

We are writing to member care workers and all those with member care responsibility within international mission/aid who identify with the historic Christian faith. We write to encourage us all to stay the course in our service to God and humans and to take full advantage of the many opportunities to provide and develop member care. We write fully aware of the problems that can discredit, divide, and disable the church-mission community (CMC) and all of our member care efforts. We write with a commitment to the love that is necessary to resolve these problems and to promote health within the CMC.

*****

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I was born in 1956. And today I am 56 years old.

It’s great to be alive! The photo above is me, Kelly.

Circa 1956 in California.

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So it’s my birthday and I have a special wish: for truth and peace to prevail in the Evangelical mission and member care community (Zech. 8:19). May the long-standing requests to meet with leaders be honoured--and for everybody concerned to do so with transparency, accountability, and courage. May healing light shine on the long-standing malaise. May we truly persevere in loving one another as Jesus Christ has loved us.

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So what are we waiting for?

Meeting would be a great gift—for everybody.

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Kelly for Michèle too

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PS  “Everybody….heals with love.” (Ingrid Michaelson) Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=438HDK6IVmU&feature=related

MC: Global Letters for a Global Community--5

Getting Stuck and Unstuck

 If you want to know which way to go,

then look where everyone else is going, and go the other way.

Irish Proverb

.....

We are writing to member care workers and all those with member care responsibility within international mission/aid who identify with the historic Christian faith. We write to encourage us all to stay the course in our service to God and humans and to take full advantage of the many opportunities to provide and develop member care. We write fully aware of the problems that can discredit, divide, and disable the church-mission community (CMC) and all of our member care efforts. We write with a commitment to the love that is necessary to resolve these problems and to promote health within the CMC.

*****

The image above is a reminder that sometimes we all get stuck in life. This is true in our member care community.

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Currently there is a protracted moral and relational traffic jam within the member care community. It became apparent trying to work through differences and management issues in the mid 2000s. Then it progressed into trying to sort through overlapping areas of health and dysfunction. And then with time it became clear that intertwined if not underlying so much of this malaise was a major international fraud (Nordic Capital Investment, NCI) that had wreaked havoc in the church-mission community. It affected a major part of the Evangelical member care community with which we have been closely associated over the years.

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The good news though is that there is much that can be done to help—to get unstuck. To do so we will need the courage to change course: getting informed, meeting together with professional mediation and documents, and acting on the facts of the matter—the truth. Here are three key suggestions that can help us as the member care community to do so.

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1.  Living as High Virtue-Humans (excerpt from this weblog, 25 January 2010). Resilient people have inner strength, good social support, and a sense of purpose and/or trust in God. These qualities have been essential for several of us as we have confronted a grievous situation within parts of the international Christian community that has striking similarities to the Madoff case: major [ponzi] fraud. We have all had to muster plenty of virtrios (perseverance, honesty, and courage) in the face of a malicious “trimangle” of corruption, cover-ups, and cowardice….We as a group have learned that prudently confronting trimangles (unmasking/exposing/reproving darkness, as commanded in Ephesians 5:11) is not without its risks. Defamation, dismissals, and distress historically accompany the actions of virtrios humans. We have also learned that the levels of risk and fear are not the main criteria for determining whether an action is right or wrong. Do not be afraid to go public as you stand up for what is right, Christ says. For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. Do not fear intimidation, discrediting, loss of livelihood, and even loss of life. Your task is to be true, not popular. I will take care of you. (Matthew 10 and Luke 6, paraphrases from The Message)….The exploitation of people (corruption), distortions of facts (cover-ups), and avoidance of responsibility (cowardice) do not simply go away on their own. They are resilient too. The world will not be any more safe—or virtuous-- until virtrios people act to make it so.

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2. Dealing with the NCI Fraud: The Facts and the Fallout. NCI is an affinity-based fraud that affected many people and orgnizations in the Christian community. Millions of dollars/euros remain missing. Although an important part of NCI has been succesfully prosecuted in Sweden, there is much that is still not being dealt with. Many organnizatons for example have not specifically and verifiably disclosed how they have been affected. We believe people deserve to know the fuller picture. There are plenty of documents (especially court documents) and testimonies that shine light on what has happened and plenty of support for those who have the courage to help. We are reminded of the saying that the only thing necessary for evil to prosper is for good people to do nothing. (For more information on the NCI fraud see the Summary on the PETRA People website. For updates and analysis see the PETRA People weblog)

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3. Speaking Truth to Power. This challenging reflection on living in truth is a three-minute podcast by author Rhidian Brooks on the BBC's Word for Today. (To listen, go to the Web Links section on the   PETRA People website. The mp3/audio is an attachment located at the bottom of this section). Speaking truth to ourselves as well as to others is risky. Yet it is necessary for true change—to get unstuck. As Rhiadian Brooks concludes: "Sometimes you have to give up your power in order for other people to hear the truth."

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Kelly and Michèle

Reflection and Discussion

Regardless of your familiarity with the issues in the member care community or the NCI fraud, what helps you get unstuck when there are "moral and relational traffic jams"?

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When is changing course not appropriate and staying the course is?

MC: Global Letters for a Global Community--4

Traveling Together

We are writing to member care workers and all those with member care responsibility within international mission/aid who identify with the historic Christian faith. We write to encourage us all to stay the course in our service to God and humans and to take full advantage of the many opportunities to provide and develop member care. We write fully aware of the problems that can discredit, divide, and disable the church-mission community (CMC) and all of our member care efforts. We write with a commitment to the love that is necessary to resolve these problems and to promote health within the CMC.

*****

I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly.God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ,  who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love. What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other.   
Ephesians 4, The Message

Kelly and Michèle

Reflection and Discussion
List a couple applications of what it means to "travel together in truth and love" in member care or any other setting for you. What helps or hinders this type of committed lifestyle? What is the cost?

MC: Global Letters for a Global Community--3

Going Steady

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ἡ ἀγάπη οὐδέποτε πίπτει

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We are writing to member care workers and all those with member care responsibility within international mission/aid who identify with the historic Christian faith. We write to encourage us all to stay the course in our service to God and humans and to take full advantage of the many opportunities to provide and develop member care. We write fully aware of the problems that can discredit, divide, and disable the church-mission community (CMC) and all of our member care efforts. We write with a commitment to the love that is necessary to resolve these problems and to promote health within the CMC. 

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My dear, dear friends! I love you so much.

I do want the very best for you.

You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride.

Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God.

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Summing it all up, friends,

I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating

on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—

the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly;
things to praise, not things to curse.

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Put into practice what you learned from me,
what you heard and saw and realized.

Do that, and God, who makes everything work together,

will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Philippians 4:1, 8,9; The Message

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With much thanks to Paul the Apostle!

Kelly and Michèle

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Reflection and Discussion

What are some ways for the global member care community to "stay on track, steady in God"--to minimise distraction, stagnation, division, compromise, corruption and to maximise focus, development, unity, commitment, and health?   

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Enjoy the music video from Ingrid Michaelson et al!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=438HDK6IVmU&feature=related

MC: Global Letters for a Global Community—2

Friendships and Consultations

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A loyal friend is a powerful defense:

whoever finds one has found a true treasure.

A loyal friend is something beyond price,

there is no measuring his/her worth.

A loyal friend is the elixir of life,

and those who fear YHWH will find one.

Ecclesiasticus 6, NJB

*****

We are writing to member care workers and all those with member care responsibility within international mission/aid who identify with the historic Christian faith. We write to encourage us all to stay the course in our service to God and humans and to take full advantage of the many opportunities to provide and develop member care. We write fully aware of the problems that can discredit, divide, and disable the church-mission community (CMC) and all of our member care efforts. We write with a commitment to the love that is necessary to resolve these problems and to promote health within the global CMC.

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Where were you in September 1998? We were in Oxford, where the above photo was taken. Twelve international colleagues met in Oxford, UK for three days to discuss the development of member care, Participants were from seven countries and four continents. One key outcome was the formation of the Member Care Task Force (MemCa) as part of the World Evangelical Fellowship (Alliance). This helped set the stage for future MemCa work, including forming relationships, convening consultations, and doing projects. At this first MemCa consultation, we took time for developing our friendships (and having some fun!). We stayed together at a lovely English manor (Stanton House), and in addition to discussing the serious matters at hand, we visited C.S. Lewis’ house together and we walked together along the Thames River after an enthralling Evensong service.

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Above photo, left to right: John Powell (USA); Melody Min (Korea), Paul Ralph (USA), Naomi Famonure (Nigeria), Betty Lou Pollock (USA), Marcia Tostes (Brazil), Kelly O’Donnell (UK/USA), Pablo Carrillo (Spain/Mexico), Ken Gamble (Canada), Michele  Lewis O’Donnell (UK/USA), Dave Pollock (USA)

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In April of this year, the first major international member care consultation will be convened (major in terms of size). We are really looking forward to the gathering of so many people from so many places and backgrounds. To help prepare for it, here are several historical notes-quotes over the past 20 years. We highlight two of the central and overlapping aspirations that routinely appear in the docs: a) the commitment to developing the member care field via solid relationships and strategic projects; and b) the commitment to intentionally meeting around the world to “knit the net” of member care colleagues and ultimately convening a major international consultation.  

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Notes and Quotes

1992

“ I believe there are three necessary steps for launching member care in a more coordinated direction….Step two is to convene a major member care conference which will attract participants from various countries and organizations….Finally I am convinced that the time has come to actively pull together the various pockets of member care workers around the world. It is also time to systematically train and mobilize many others for this strategic ministry. And the time is here for anointed leaders to step forward and help steer this field in response to the Lord’s direction.” An Agenda for Member Care in Missions, Missionary Care (1992, pages 294, 297)

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1993-1994

The first of several member care consultations for the Middle East region (Cyprus) and for the North Africa region (Spain) took place in these years, in association with regional mission partnerships.

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1995

“The current effort to reach the world’s unreached peoples requires hardy folk who are willing to work together, make sacrifices, become vulnerable, and serve the lord wholeheartedly in the midst of stressful situations. But understand this as well: it also necessitates a concomitant, cooperative effort to undergird the missionary personnel involved in these demanding endeavours” On Behalf of the 10-40 Window of the Heart, International Journal of Frontier Missions (special issue on member care, page 169).

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1996

“There is a need to deliberately join together with a core group of like-minded colleagues in order to further develop the member care field, especially within frontier missions…We must develop a ‘macro model’ of member care….In short, we would be an interagency, informally affiliated group of friends, who are highly committed to work together on consensually-derived, cutting edge member care projects which will be of direct, strategic benefit to those serving in frontier missions.” For Everything There is A Season…And a Summons (July 1996, pages 1, 2; email-letter sent to many colleagues).

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1997

Examples from 1997: Meeting on member care (pastoral care) for Latin American workers at COMIBAM II in Acapulco Mexico; and forming the Asia MC-MK group at the Asia Mission Congress II in Pattaya, Thailand (photo is of the member care people who met, with significant involvement and direction from Met Castillo and Polly Chan)

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1998

“Here is a brief summary about our current thinking [for developing a member care task force, initially referred to as MECA]…. 3. We want to develop relationships within MECA, based on both friendship and task. ….4. We sense that MECA is to complement and encourage the different facets of member care throughout the world….6. Here are some of the main contributions MECA can make: a. Convene an international member care consultation—the first of its kind—before or after the WEF Mission Consultation on Missiology, to be held in Brazil October 10-16, 1999...Colleagues from around the world would be invited.” Summary of the first member care meeting with Dave Pollock at the home of Michèle and Kelly O’Donnell in Oxfordshire, UK, 1-3 April 1998, pages 1, 2)

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1998

“We think a primary way forward for MemCa is to work alongside Asians, Africans, and Latin Americans to support them in developing appropriate member care resources for their respective regions and to encourage them to share their resources and experience with the global missions community. MemCa will thus be truly an international effort….Who are the missing faces from our MemCa group? Representatives from India, Central Asia, the Chinese World, the Arabic World, and Eastern Europe. …It will likely take “five years to “knit the net” at the regional level and the global level—to develop some basic member care resources to fill in important gaps….Potential Projects [seven:] 5. Convene a global member care consultation, possibly in three years time.” Summary of the first MemCa Consultation, Oxford, UK, September 1998)

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1999

Above photo: Second MemCa Consultation in October 1999 in Brazil, following the Latin American Member Care  Consultation. Photo, left to right: Kelly O’Donnell, Dave Pollock, Esly Carvalho, Ken Grant, Marcia Tostes, and Marjory Foyle

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2000

“The Member Care Task Force (MemCa) is an affiliation of international colleagues committed to help develop member care resources within missions…members are also committed to provide personal/professional support for each other as needed. Our friendship and Christian fellowship provide the foundation for our joint work…. Working Together: Projects: Help establish and strengthen member care affiliations—national/regional groups, strategically located member care hubs, and Partnership working groups….5. Convene a global member care consultation, and smaller more informal gatherings/retreats.”  (Member Care Task Force and Global Network—Guidelines, pages 1, 2)

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Photo above: Working together to establish and strengthen member care affiliations—The special member care meetings at Mission Africa, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, 2000.
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2001

“We believe the Lord was really with us, guiding us, and strengthening both our friendships and our joint efforts….2. Here is a brief report on our overall agenda items that we had proposed to cover: …. c. The need for member care consultations and efforts in the Newer Sending Countries, especially Africa, India, etc…. We want to support each other as we go after projects related to our overall MemCa goals….12. Consider planning an international member care consultation (this has been one of our goals but we have not made any plans).” Summary of the third MemCa Consultation, held in Port Dickson, Malaysia 2001, pages 1, 2,4)

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Participants: Belinda Ng—Singapore, Sarah Yap—Malaysia Beram Kumar—Malaysia, JJ Ratnakumar—India, Pramila Rajendran—India, Harry Hoffmann—Thailand, Steve Burgess—Philippines, Susan Burgess—Philippines, Tonica van der Meer—Brazil, Naomi Famonure—Nigeria, Marjory Foyle—UK, Hartmut Stricker—Germany, Kelly O'Donnell—France, Bruce Narramore—USA, Kathy Narramore—USA, Dick Gardner—USA, Brent Lindquist—USA, Dave Pollock—USA. And there were two guests: Mike Culy—USA, Bill Mauger—USA.

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MemCa members who could not come: Marina Prins--South Africa, Ken Grant—Ecuador, Esly Carvalho—Ecuador, Marcia Tostes—Brazil, Don Smith--New Zealand, Ruth Myors—Australia, Kath Donovan—Australia, Laura Mae Gardner—USA, Friedhilde Stricker—Germany, Michele Lewis O'Donnell—France.

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2002

“Doing member care well helps us to do missions well. Here is an update about a group of 30 international colleagues who are working together to develop member care around the world.  By “member care” we mean the investment of supportive resources to help mission personnel (including home office staff and children) remain healthy and effective, from recruitment through retirement…. Members are also committed to provide personal/professional support for each other as needed. Our desire is for our friendship and Christian fellowship to provide the foundation for our joint work…. Working Together and Projects….5. Convene a global member care consultation within the next two years, and help organize smaller gatherings/consultations at the regional level.” Global Member Care Resources, 2002 description for WEA-MC Connections journal, page 2)

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2003

“In our first issue (October 2001) we looked at the crucial importance of developing working relationships and personal friendships with one another in member care ministry. In the February 2002 issue, we explored the nature of 21^st century networks, observing that they have a unifying purpose, independent members, voluntary connections, multiple leaders, and multiple levels. Then in the July 2002 issue, we listed 10 core principles (taken from chapter 48 in Doing Member Care Well) to help form and maintain member care affiliations…. The final item we would like to share is a list of some thoughts that can help us all "kit the net" together more.” Member Care Network Briefing, February 2003, Number 6, pages 1, 2)

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2003                                                                  

“Thirty member care colleagues met in Vancouver, Canada for our MemCa Consultation, over a six day period. The Consultation was part of a broader conference on globalisation, sponsored by the WEA Missions Commission. This was our fourth such Consultation since MemCa was launched in 1998. Our purpose for meeting in Vancouver included: Relationships—building closer friendships among ourselves and the Missions Commission…We spent several hours listening to different members share updates and issues about member care within their regions….12. Additional  Projects This last item is actually a grouping of various projects that were either discussed in Vancouver or else have been discussed in the past. We include them here as they are important to keep track of and pursue.    g. We want to continue to link with other networks outside of the Evangelical missions world, such as the international health care and humanitarian aid communities. h. We have had discussion in the past about organising an International Member Care Consultation. There has been no further progress on this idea.”  Summary from the MemCa Briefing 2006—Global Member Care Resources Consultation  (MemCa) 31 May—6 June,  2003 Vancouver, Canada

Participants: Africa: Karen Carr, Darlene Jerome (Ghana), Naomi Famonure (Nigeria), Dirk Visser (RSA); Asia: Pramila Rajendran (India), Belinda Ng, Gracia Wiarda (Singapore), Harry Hoffmann (Thailand), Philip Chang (Malaysia), Byun-Moon Kang, Grace KS Lim (Korea); Australasia: Murray Winn (New Zealand); Europe: Anke Tissingh, Rosangela Amado (Spain), Kelly O’Donnell (France), Siny Widmer (Switzerland),  Annemie Grossshauser, Hartmut and Friedhilde Stricker (Germany), Marion Knell, Marjory Foyle (UK), Arie Baak (The Netherlands), The Americas: Marcia Tostes (Brasil), Dave Pollock, Brent Lindquist, Richard and Laura Mae Gardner, Bruce and Kathy Narramore, Denny Milgate (USA)

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2004

“1. Help establish and strengthen member care affiliations and regional consultations…International Member Care Conference. Still an option but no clear way forward. May want to hold one on different continents.  For now there is the sense that we need to focus on/strengthen Asia and Africa regions first. One idea though was for an International Consultation in April/May 2007 as part of the European MC Consultation, in The Netherlands. (Discuss this broadly and inclusively with those inside and outside of MemCa).” MemCa Projects and Updates, June 2004—June 2005 (these action points emerged from the overall and ongoing goals for MemCa, since 1998; page 1)

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2005

“Global Faces facilitates personal and professional relationships between member care workers. We do this primarily by inviting qualified colleagues to participate in strategic member care gatherings around the world. Phase One: including several MCWs from NSCs to participate at PTM in the USA and EMCC in Europe; Phase Two: inviting experienced MCWs to attend regional NSC member care/mission gatherings; Phase Three: involving several groups to convene international member care consultations on different continents.” Global Faces Brochure (a proposed joint project with MemCa and other organizations)

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2006

“In MemCa we build ongoing relationships in order to support quality people with strategic influence who are doing quality projects with strategic impact. We prioritise four "clusters of projects" which we call our "Four Directions"…. Direction One: Strategic Gatherings (Connections). Global Faces. Connect influential member care workers (MCWs) from the A4 regions with international MCWs at specific consultations around the world, including UPG partnerships.” MemCa description prepared for the fifth MemCa Consultation, South Africa, June 2006

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2006

“MemCa is an affiliation of international colleagues (currently about 20) committed to help develop member care resources within the mission/aid community. Our members come from different organisations and churches, and represent various geographic and speciality networks in member care. We are a “partnership of networks” and the networks connect to MemCa via their leaders/liaisons who are part of MemCa. Our special emphasis is on working together and with others to support personnel from the A4 regions (Asia, Africa, Arabic-Turkic, America-Latina), and those working among UPGs (unreached people groups). Members are also committed to provide personal and work-related support for each other as needed. Our growing friendship and Christian fellowship provide the foundation for our joint work.” MemCa is part of the Mission Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA).” Member Care Briefing, June 2006, Number 17

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2007-2010

“Our reticence to tackle “tough stuff” is even more apparent when the stakes are raised and we are faced with the choice of whether or not to confront serious deviance and evil…Your task is to be true, not popular…espouse virtue and expose evil.” High-Virtue Humans, CORE Member Care, 25 January 2010; retrieved from:
http://coremembercare.blogspot.com/search/label/virtrios

Detail, The Descent from the Cross,

by Rogier van der Weyden, circa 1435

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2011-2012

“The Global Member Care Network is excited to announce the First Global Member Care Conference…The heart of the conference is to create a platform to hear global voices about member care in a borderless world, which is characterized by increasing hostilities and schisms. The environment that workers are serving in is getting harder, more dangerous, more challenging, more persecution, more risks, and more suffering. We need to hear how workers can overcome these challenges and thrive in their lives and their ministries. Out of this gathering we will see great opportunities for networking, sharing our stories and resources, and learning to care for His workers effectively.” Global Member Care Conference –Global Voices on Global Challenges, 23-27 April 23-2012, Chiangmai, Thailand. (retrieved from the Global Member Care Network website:

http://www.globalmembercare.com/index.php?id=187 )

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Kelly and Michèle

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Reflection and Discussion

In light of the above notes-quotes: Share a few thoughts about forming international friendships in member care and/or convening international consultations in member care.--past, present, future.

MC: Global Letters for a Global Community--1

Resilient Love

*****

The world is indeed full of peril

and in it there are many dark places.

But still there is much that is fair.

And though in all lands,

love is now mingled with grief,
it still grows, perhaps, the greater.

--Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

*****

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We are writing to member care workers and all those with member care responsibility within international mission/aid who identify with the historic Christian faith. We write to encourage us all to stay the course in our service to God and humans and to take full advantage of the many opportunities to provide and develop member care. We write fully aware of the problems that can discredit, divide, and disable the church-mission community (CMC) and all of our member care efforts. We write with a commitment to the love that is necessary to resolve these problems and to promote health within the global CMC.
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Member care is founded upon the Biblical command to love one another (John 13:34-35) and on the ethical sense of duty to help vulnerable people (Proverbs 24:11-12). The commitment to love one another and duty to others is tested in many ways for all of us, individually and collectively. The testing is often in the furnace of health, relational, and organizational struggles.

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Member care above all involves the trans-cultural practice of fervently loving one another. Such love, as affirmed in I Cor. 13:8, never ceases. It is both sacrificial and celebratory. We grow together in the mission/aid community, we celebrate life together, and by God’s grace we do our utmost to stay close together. Resilient love is the ultimate measure of the effectiveness of our member care.

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Kelly and Michèle
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Reflection and Discussion

Identify a current situation where you want to apply or develop resilient love.

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Note: Letter 1 includes some adapted excerpts from the Preface in Global Member Care: The Pearls and Perils of Good Practice (2011).