Partnership Development

Money... it is never an easy topic, especially in these economic times. I have hesitated to bring up this topic on my blog. I do however have a very specific need and goal right now that I want to share with you. 

Let me back up a minute though because I know I have a variety of people reading this blog. Some from different faith backgrounds and others who are only generally familiar with the term missionary and what that entails. So let me cover a few basics to help get everyone on the same page. 

I am in the process of partnership development. Some may be more familiar with the terms deputation or support-raising. For those not familiar with any of these terms, this is basically a process in which missionaries develop a team that will partner with them in prayer and financially while they are serving.

So why the change in terms you might ask? It is because of the shift in focus and direction. The old model had most of the focus on what the supporter could do or give to the missionary. This shift in focus is a reminder that in reality this relationship is a partnership, one that involves supporters and missionaries working together to accomplish their part of the Great Commission (Mt 28:19-20).

Right now I am in the process of partnership development and raising the financial support I need to reach my goal of returning to the ministry in Indonesia. I cannot leave for Indonesia until I have commitments for 100% of my support and all of my outgoing expenses funded. This means I need to have commitments for $3,500/month and $18,500 for outgoing expenses. Right now I have commitments for 23% of monthly support and 11% of my outgoing support.

Here are a few answer to frequently asked questions I get about support raising and the process. 

So what is support and why do I need to raise it? Support are the funds I will need to meet my financial needs while I am serving in Indonesia. The hospital there will not be paying me a salary. This means I need to raise the funds to cover my living expenses (food, rent, utilities), ministry expenses, travel, medical/evacuation insurance, retirement, and social security, etc. I also need to raise funds for outgoing expenses which includes training, language school, and setting-up my house. This process is different from some mission organizations and non-profit companies who pay a stipend or salary to their employees. 

Who gives and why? Family, friends, and churches give to help meet my financial needs. People give for many reasons. Many churches give out of a sense of vision and mission to accomplish the Great Commission -- taking the love of God to the nations. For individuals, it usually starts with a relationship. Many partners give out of a sense of gratitude to God for what he has done for them through Christ. Others give out of a sense of obedience to the call in 1 Corinthians 4:1 to fulfill our stewardship of the gospel. And many partners have a strong sense of passion to see the gospel spread among certain people groups, such as the people of Indonesia. Finally, some want to support a certain type of ministry such as providing medical care to those in need.  

A Year of Blogging

It is hard to believe but I started this blog a year ago this month. In that time the blog has been visited almost 1100 times. So I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the year.

In that time there have been a total of 20 posts. The top five read posts were:

1. Why WorldVenture
2. Counting the Cost
3. Officially Appointed
4. Birthday Celebrations
5. The Question of When

The blog has been read by people in twelve different countries. This includes the United States, Madagascar, Indonesia, Canada, Russia, Malawi, Germany, Philippians, Bolivia, Faroe Islands, Guinea, and Malaysia. For some of the countries I can imagine my friends reading the blog. The others I wonder how and why you stumbled across this blog? Feel free to comment and share!

Finally it is fun to see how most people read the blog - the number one referring site is Facebook (by about 100 to 1). Others include my email newsletters and some read the blog through an email or RSS subscription.

I have had fun chronicling my thoughts over the past year. It is even more fun to imagine where I will be and what will have happened by this time next year. Lord willing I will be posting from Indonesia!

MedGo

In the past, I have talked a bit about my job description (you can read that post here if you missed it). One of the activities that I think I will find the most challenging and exciting is working with the MedGo program. MedGo is a relatively new program the hospital has started to train, mentor, and disciple young Indonesian doctors and nurses as they prepare and serve as medical missionaries. Originally the program focused on doctors but has expanded to include twelve nursing students. Seven of those students recently graduated and are beginning their internship year serving in the different areas and departments of the hospital. In early 2012 they will also spend two months studying at a nearby Bible school. Following this internship year and in partnership with other organizations these young nurses will begin serving as missionary nurses at a number of locations throughout Indonesia. Fluent in the language and culture they are able to reach out and serve in many areas others cannot go. There they will build bridges and share the Good News by providing health care to those in need.

My involvement with the Medgo program will occur as I teach and help with practicum at the nursing school and hospital, giving me daily interactions with these students. All students at the nursing school attend a small group weekly Bible Study. In the past, I have served as the leader of one of these groups and I imagine that I will do so again, giving me the opportunity to disciple my small group of students. After graduation these nurses have committed to serving with the MedGo program for three years including the internship year at the hospital. I will continue to work with them as they transition from school to working as a nurse and then go out to serve throughout Indonesia for two years. Hopefully I can help to mentor and care for them as they care for others. Most importantly I hope to lead by example as a I serve as a missionary nurse.

Yanto

So I wanted you to have the chance to meet one of these young nurses and hear his story. This is Yanto.

He was born and raised in Nias, a small island off the west coast of northern Sumatra. His hopes and dreams collapsed on the day his father died. This deep disappointment dragged him into despair. He began seeking occult power by contacting a witchdoctor who could teach him black magic. Yanto believed someone had used black magic to cause his father’s sudden death. Hatred drove him to try to take revenge on this enemy.

His mother felt sorry for him but Yanto was beyond her grasp. There was nothing she could do but she kept on praying for him. Amazingly, despite the turbulence in his life Yanto did manage to finish high school.

In 2006 one of his relatives urged him to travel to far off West Kalimantan (province where Bethesda Hospital is located) to become a policeman. Off he went with great hopes for a brighter future in a new place. He quit drinking and smoking and expected to be accepted for training as a policeman. However, life in the new place was hard on him. Four times he failed the entrance exam to become a policeman. This situation forced him to think more seriously about his life; its purpose, his failures and the hatred which was rooted deep in his heart. In desperation he meditated on a Bible verse given to him by an evangelist: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28). For the first time in his life Yanto realized his need to have a Savior. Giving up all the witchcraft and hatred which he had brought with him from Nias Island, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Being a new person in Jesus, Yanto stopped pursuing his dream to become a policeman. Instead, he prayed a lot and patiently waited for God’s guidance for his future. In 2008 Yanto applied to study at Bethesda Nursing Academy and was accepted. Through spiritual nurture provided by this institution Yanto has learned more about God and has grown spiritually. He clearly understands that God can use him to serve others through the nursing profession.

Being one of the twelve students in the MedGo Commission’s Missionary Nurse Scholarship Program is a unique blessing for Yanto. It has helped him and his family to cope with their extreme financial limitations due to the death of his father. Most importantly, his mother has accepted Yanto’s decision to become a missionary nurse, an unfavorable career choice to most Indonesian parents. 

MedGo 2011 Class at Graduation from Nursing School

Please be praying for this group of seven new nurses as they begin their three years of service as missionary nurses. Pray also for the five students who are just starting their senior year. Finally be praying for me as I prepare to help with this program. While I am very excited to work these young men and women I know there will also be many challenges.