Empowering and Equipping South Pacific Region Member Care Marion Knell

Who Cares TheIndividualTheIndividual Field Office Home Church Home Office Family & Friends Prayer Partners Forums Supporters Trainers Local Church Social Networks September 2015Australia2

Who?  Expectations of their own roles  Expectations of others’ roles  Responsibilities, defined and undefined  Skills, knowledge, appropriate and inappropriate Each of these has... September 2015 Australia3

Communication  our expectations  our roles and responsibilities  the lines of communication September 2015 Australia4

When? AftercareRecruitmentSelectionPlacementInductionOrientation Appraisal Personnel Development Routine Debriefing Re-entry To Retirement and Beyond From Recruitment Missionary Life Cycle September 2015 Australia5

Equipping and Empowering “We are not looking for perfect people but for those who have begun to understand themselves and others and to grow because of this” – Marjory Foyle 1997 September 2015 Australia6

Resilience  The ability to come back into shape  The ability to rebound from severe stress  Flexibility, pliability, suppleness  Strength of character, toughness, hardiness, adaptability, buoyancy  The opposite of resilience is rigidity and fragility  The capacity to take life as it is and to manage it in a healthy way (M Foyle) September 2015 Australia7

Resilience  Spiritual Resilience  Personal Resilience  Physical Resilience September 2015 Australia8

Spiritual Resilience People develop Spiritual Resilience when they:  Have a personal Theology of Suffering  Exercise Spiritual Disciplines  Are able to forgive, receive grace, accept vulnerability  Have personal connection to God  Participate and receive from a worshipping community September 2015 Australia9

Personal Resilience People develop Personal Resilience when they have:  A strong sense of call  Ability to cope with distress  Flexibility, adaptability  Good social support network  Healthy family relationships September 2015 Australia10

Physical Resilience People develop Physical Resilience when they have:  Healthy exercise, eating and sleeping  Work/life balance, boundaries  Rest relaxation, restoration  Understood their limitations September 2015 Australia11

Resilience  Spiritual Resilience  Personal Resilience  Physical Resilience September 2015 Australia12

Flow of Care  Selection and Screening  Preparation and Support  Re-entry and Re-integration September 2015Australia13

Selection and screening  What are we looking for/at? (characteristics, experience etc)  How can we find it? (tools, skills etc)  Who will do it? Brainstorm September 2015 Australia14

Selection and Screening  Motive and Call  Character Development  Relationship/Life Skills  Family Issues  Health Issues  Qualifications/work experience  Spiritual Maturity/Christian Ministry  Theology of suffering September 2015 Australia15

Selection and Screening Pointers to possible trouble:  Persistent nervousness at interview and afterwards  Overloaded family history  Certain physical or mental health problems  Children in trouble  Repeated interpersonal relationship or occupational problems September 2015 Australia16

Selection and Screening Positive things to look for:  Insight capacity  Reasonable adaptability  A humble learning attitude  Progress in handling old problems  Some knowledge of personal strengths and weaknesses September 2015 Australia17

Questions  How do we gather information?  Are our questionnaires relevant?  Who does our interviewing? September 2015 Australia18

Resilience  Spiritual Resilience  Personal Resilience  Physical Resilience September 2015 Australia19

Preparation and support  What sort of preparation do people need and when?  What support do they need while away, individually, as a team, as a family  Who will do it and how? Brainstorm September 2015 Australia20

September 2015 Spiritual Preparation 1. Theology of Suffering 2. Theology of rest 3. Accountability 4. Spiritual Warfare Training 5. Learn how to receive from nationals 6. Prioritise Prayer Life 7. Sustain personal walk/resources 8. Relationship with God is about more than reading 9. Firm Prayer Support 10. Local church ministry experience Australia21

September 2015 Briefing  Theoretical Information  Practical Information  Country-specific Information  Locality-specific Information  Team Dynamics Information  Security Briefing  Health Briefing  Stress and Trauma Briefing Australia22

September 2015 Equipping  Cross-cultural skills  Spiritual skills  Ministry skills  Lines of accountability  Relationship skills Teams Marriages Parenting Australia23

Questions  What do we cover at orientation?  What do we expect to be covered at local, national/international level?  What do we prioritise at preparation?  What do we do at field conferences?  Who visits? When? Why? For how long? September 2015 Australia24

Support What are the key ways of –  Missionaries staying in contact with you?  You staying in contact with missionaries  Missionaries staying in contact with the world they have left behind? September 2015 Australia25

Resilience  Spiritual Resilience  Personal Resilience  Physical Resilience September 2015 Australia26

Re-entry and re-integration  What are the challenges of Home assignment?  What are the major considerations at re-entry and beyond?  Who does what and how? Brainstorm September 2015 Australia27

Home Assignment  Accommodation  Finance  Transport  Care for the family unit  Controlling the schedule  Sending Church  R&R  Holiday  Equipping/Training September 2015 Australia28

Questions  Do we help workers plan home assignment?  How do we help them balance work, family, ministry, leisure, spiritual refreshment? September 2015 Australia29

Re-entry  Identity  Grief Issues  Employment  Finance  Housing  Family Needs  Social Skills  Spiritual Needs September 2015 Australia30

Questions  Do we have/know trained debriefers?  Can we manage practical needs of resettlement?  Do we include kids?  Do we manage ongoing expectations?  Can we manage a crisis evacuation? September 2015 Australia31

Resources    – trauma and resilience  – code of good practice   Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills September 2015Australia32

Lessons from Jesus – Matthew 14:13-33  He had selected these 12 disciples mainly on character  Already identified potential leaders – Peter, James and John  Already done a short-term trip with extensive briefing (Matthew 10)  Warned them of suffering  Inductive teaching (Matthew 13 parables)  A bad thing happens – John the Baptist September 2015 Australia33

Lessons from Jesus  Success story v13-21 ministry experience  Sending away v22 ‘MAKES’ Jesus is absent Unfamiliar territory Lack of safety  Jesus supports at a distance  Jesus comes alongside  Jesus invites Peter to join him  Peter steps out but ultimately fails  Ministry and discipleship continue September 2015 Australia34

Key points  Have a simple statement of what you are aiming for  Have a flow chart for member care  Take small steps  Gather a team  Network! September 2015 Australia35

Questions 1. What has shaped your character? 2. What are the challenges in your organisation to co-operation, communication and delivery of Member Care? 3. What practices does your organisation use to build and support resilience? 4. What area would you like to concentrate on in delivering a Member Care programme? September 2015Australia36