Spiritual Leadership of the Area Moving missionaries to where God wants them to be

What are we talking about? Not just leadership that is spiritual Leadership of others in spiritual matters Enabling the missionaries in our area to strengthen their personal and corporate experience of God's presence and power, and their ability and desire to glorify God's name The risk of dichotomizing life What are we talking about? Not just leadership that is spiritual - dependent upon and directed by the Spirit of God. In this sense, everything we are talking about these days is "spiritual leadership" But rather leadership of others in spiritual matters - Enabling the missionaries in our area to strengthen their personal and corporate experience of God's presence and power, and their ability and desire to glorify God's name In talking about this, we risk dichotomizing life into spiritual and non-spiritual components But yet failing to talk about this area might imply that: It is not necessary to lead missionaries in the areas of personal spirituality - It is not possible to for us to provide leadership in this area

Misconceptions about spiritual leadership of the area It is not necessary to lead missionaries in the areas of personal spirituality It is not possible to for us to provide leadership in this area Misconceptions about spiritual leadership of the area It is not necessary to lead missionaries in the areas of personal spirituality It is not possible to for us to provide leadership in this area We will drill down into both of these. Any other misconceptions that come to mind?

It is not necessary to lead missionaries in spirituality because missionaries are already "spiritually fit" and don't need the help of mission leadership in this area because it really is none of our business how our missionaries fare in their personal relationship with God It is not necessary to lead missionaries in the areas of personal spirituality – because missionaries are already "spiritually fit" and don't need the help of mission leadership in this area They are not automatically fit because of their role. Missionaries struggle spiritually just like any other Christian. Under direct and sometimes severe attack because they are on the front lines God has designed us to stay fit in the context of fellowship with others (Heb 10:24-25) because it really is none of our business how our missionaries fare in their personal relationship with God Our responsibility as brothers and sisters - Gal 6:1-2

Our responsibility as a mission SEND International, recognizing its responsibility before a holy God to do His will, shall endeavor to provide spiritual encouragement, servant leadership and sufficient resources for you to carry out your ministry as a missionary. (Spiritual Covenant) The Mission recognizes its responsibility for the ongoing development of its members and thus is committed to its personnel to: 3. Help strengthen family life and maintain vitality of Christian life. (MM, p. 34) Our responsibility as a mission Spiritual Covenant - "SEND International, recognizing its responsibility before a holy God to do His will, shall endeavor to provide spiritual encouragement, servant leadership and sufficient resources for you to carry out your ministry as a missionary.“ p. 34 - The Mission recognizes its responsibility for the ongoing development of its members and thus is committed to its personnel to: 3. Help strengthen family life and maintain vitality of Christian life. Agreement w/ DMG, FAM, and a few other partner missions - RESPONSIBILITIES OF SEND - "3.1 SEND will be responsible for the spiritual, physical, and mental welfare of the missionary during their term of service on the mission field." But we leaders also bear a responsibility in this area.

Our responsibility as leaders Leaders are responsible to serve as well as to lead and administer and promote spiritual vigor in the fellowship by prayer and the ministry of the Word. MM, p. 12. It is the responsibility of leaders to endeavor to provide conditions and assignments that will sustain the spiritual, social and physical well-being of both missionary families and single missionaries. MM, p. 13. Our responsibility as leaders SEND Member's Manual - p. 12 H. Responsibility of Leadership. 2. Ministry - Leaders are responsible to serve as well as to lead and administer and promote spiritual vigor in the fellowship by prayer and the ministry of the Word. An earnest concern for the material well-being of the fellowship is to be exercised. SEND Member's Manual - p. 13 G. Interdependence It is the responsibility of leaders to endeavor to provide conditions and assignments that will sustain the spiritual, social and physical well-being of both missionary families and single missionaries.

It is not possible to for us to provide leadership in this area because we feel inadequate to help fellow missionaries in this area. because we feel unable to do so in our capacity as supervisors It is not possible to for us to provide leadership in this area because we feel inadequate to help fellow missionaries in this area. We are far from having it all together ourselves. Many of us have little pastoral experience. Do area directors need to be spiritual giants in order to give spiritual leadership? Leading while on the journey is more effective than pretending we have attained Sharing your struggles, becoming vulnerable because we feel unable to do so in our capacity as supervisors. Spiritual leadership needs to come from pastoral care type of people, counsellors. Our SEND manual doesn't see this as a problem. After all, parents provide spiritual leadership for their children. if leadership does not address spiritual issues, we are in danger of minimizing the importance of spiritual vitality

What does it mean to lead others in their spiritual lives? John R. Mott - A leader is a man who knows the road, who can keep ahead, and who pulls others after him. John Piper: I define spiritual leadership as knowing where God wants people to be and taking the initiative to use God's methods to get them there in reliance on God's power. What does it mean to lead others in their spiritual lives? Does it mean we have to be their pastor? How can we be their supervisor and yet lead them spiritually? A leader A person who knows where he is going and can bring others along with him. John R. Mott - A leader is a man who knows the road, who can keep ahead, and who pulls others after him. Howard Hendricks - A leader is a person with a magnet in his heart and a compass in his head. Spiritual leadership John Piper: I define spiritual leadership as knowing where God wants people to be and taking the initiative to use God's methods to get them there in reliance on God's power. Henry Blackaby - "The spiritual leader's task is to move people from where they are to where God wants them to be" - Spiritual Leadership, p. 20. Two components in the definition The leader has clear objectives. He knows where he is going. He knows what needs to be done. The leader is able to motivate others. People follow him.

Where does God want our missionaries to be spiritually? Can we describe spiritual vigor? Spiritual well- being? What does that look like? Can we describe spiritual vigor? Spiritual well-being? What does that look like? Small group work.

How can we determine where our missionaries are at spiritually? Become vulnerable yourself Annual assessments Asking them to share their spiritual journey Small groups Mentors for younger missionaries Invite a pastor to missionaries to visit your area Anonymous survey Becoming vulnerable yourself Annual assessments Asking various missionaries to share their testimonies, their spiritual journey (e.g. Dave Benzel's testimony, Lisa Zuk's testimony) Accountability groups, cell groups, mentors for younger missionaries Visiting missionary pastor (Dave King) Anonymous survey (men's ministry in OMC)

How do we move missionaries to where God wants them to be? Leaders are responsible to serve as well as to lead and administer and promote spiritual vigor in the fellowship by prayer and the ministry of the Word. (MM, p. 12) What type of public ministry do ADs need to have in area meetings? How can we move missionaries (those we supervise) to where God wants them to be? (part 1) Some answers are given in our members’ manual. SEND Member's Manual - Leaders are responsible to serve as well as to lead and administer and promote spiritual vigor in the fellowship by prayer and the ministry of the Word. (p. 12) What type of public ministry do ADs need to have in area meetings? Do area directors need to lead their areas in Bible studies or prepare devotionals for area meetings? What do we do if we don’t see that as our area of gifting? Should we see ourselves as a pastor (providing pastoral care) of the missionaries in our area? Make sure it happens (Piper on men leading families)

How do we move missionaries to where God wants them to be? It is the responsibility of leaders to endeavor to provide conditions and assignments that will sustain the spiritual, social and physical well-being of both missionary families and single missionaries. One vital condition for this is the provision for the practice of Christian community and interdependence in the Body of Christ. (MM, p.13) What conditions and assignments sustain spiritual well-being? How do we move missionaries to where God wants them to be? (part 2) It is the responsibility of leaders to endeavor to provide conditions and assignments that will sustain the spiritual, social and physical well-being of both missionary families and single missionaries. One vital condition for this is the provision for the practice of Christian community and interdependence in the Body of Christ. (MM, p.13) What conditions and assignments sustain spiritual well-being?

How do we move missionaries to where God wants them to be? Components of Member Care a. Spiritual Growth – activities such as team retreats, prayer meetings, and Bible studies. (MM, p. 32) Area Conferences b. Priority should be given to use conferences for the development of spiritual life, vision and planning for future expansion, training, study, and information exchange. (MM, p. 65) What have your areas done to encourage the spiritual lives of your missionaries? How do we move missionaries to where God wants them to be? (part 3) Components of Member Care a. Spiritual Growth – activities such as team retreats, prayer meetings, and Bible studies. (MM, p. 32) Area Conferences b. Priority should be given to use conferences for the development of spiritual life, vision and planning for future expansion, training, study, and information exchange. (MM, p. 65) What have your areas done to encourage the spiritual lives of your missionaries? men’s breakfast men’s Bible study prayer partners Again, make sure it happens even if you don’t lead it yourself.

Resources Thomas, Gary. Sacred Pathways. Books on WEA website (http://www.wearesources.org/) Doing Member Care Well Too Valuable to Lose Piper, John. "The Marks of a Spiritual Leader", article on Desiring God website. Thomas, Gary. Sacred Pathways. Different ways that people relate to God. Books on WEA website (http://www.wearesources.org/) Doing Member Care Well - edited by Kelly O’Donnell Too Valuable to Lose - edited by William D. Taylor Piper, John. "The Marks of a Spiritual Leader", article on Desiring God website.