2. Missionary Care
[Missionary] Member care is the ongoing investment of resources by mission agencies, churches, and other mission organizations for the nurture and development of missionary personnel. It focuses on everyone in missions (missionaries, support staff, children, and families) and does so over the course of the missionary life cycle, from recruitment through retirement.
(Kelly O’Donnell, 2002, Doing Member Care Well, p. 4)
Institute role
Much research
Best practices

3. Why missionary care?
Moving families internationally is costly—financially, organizationally, and personally.
Missionaries suffer much higher rates of loss and trauma than they usually would in their home countries.
When missionaries are effective and successful, both the home church and the host church are benefitted.
Too many early returns and broken people
94% on-field trauma, 86% multiple events
Broken missionaries hurt mission, discourage recruitment and giving

4. 2010-2015 Psychological Services
2011 Dr. Ann Hamel began coming to all Mission Institutes
2013 Dr. Ann on retainer to counsel and do crisis intervention in between Mission Institutes
crisis intervention
institutional personnel issues
conflict resolution
referral

5. 2010-2015 Psychological Services
2015 Dr. Roseane Alonso added to MENAU staff for missionary care
How does the the current support system care for missionaries?
What kind of missionary care system would enhance Adventist mission and missionaries?
What specific areas of service or types of care need to be improved or added?
adjustment training
relational counseling
counseling network

6. Best Practices for Missionary Care Self Care/ Network Care Master Care
Mutual Care
Network Care
Best Practices for
Missionary Care
Network Care
Specialist Care
Sender Care/
Receiver Care
Pastoral
Medical
Sender Care
Specialist Care
Self Care
Training
Interpersonal
Mutual Care
widely accepted and well researched areas of care
Families
Receiver Care
Financial
Crisis
Counseling
Adapted from O’Donnell, K
Going Global: A Member Care Model for Best Practice. Evangelical Missions Quarterly 37, pp

7. Best Practices in the Flow of Care
Best Practice Principle 1—The Flow of Christ
Missionaries’ relationships with Christ are fundamental to their well-being and work effectiveness. Missionary care resources strengthen their relationships to the Lord and help them to encourage others in the Lord.
What Adventist missionary care resources are provided to strengthen missionaries’ relationships with Christ?
retreats, pastoral visits, coaching

8. Best Practices in the Flow of Care
Best Practice Principle 2—The Flow of Community
Self care is basic to good health. Self-awareness, monitoring one’ s needs, a commitment to personal development, and seeking help when needed are signs of maturity. Likewise quality relationships with family and friends are necessary for missionary health and productivity.
How are potential missionaries and their families evaluated for personal maturity and good relational skills?
When personality/relational deficits are discovered, what community is responsible for helping missionaries grow?
Takes time, is PR the answer, home church

9. Best Practice Principle 3—The Flow of Commitment An organization’ s staff is its most important resource. As such, sending and receiving groups are committed to work together to support and develop their personnel throughout the missionary life cycle. They demonstrate this commitment by the way they invest themselves and their resources, including finances, into staff care.
Other than financial support, what resources are committed by either the sending organization or receiving organization to ensure that missionaries succeed?
Numerous families sent home discouraged
Organizations destabilized

10. Best Practice Principle 4—The Flow of Caregivers Specialist care is to be done by properly qualified people, in conjunction with sending or receiving groups.
Eight specialist domains of care—PPractical TTools FFor CCare.
Pastoral/Spiritual (retreats, visits, regular debriefing)
Physical/Medical (medical care and advice)
Training/Career (ongoing education, job placement, coaching)
Team building/Interpersonal (group dynamics, conflict resolution)
Family/MK (MK education options, marital support group)
Financial/Logistical (salary and benefits, retirement, medical insurance)
Counseling/Psychological (screening, training, brief therapy)
Crisis/Contingency (crisis intervention, debriefing, evacuation plans)
How do we rate as an organization?
Here is where we shine

11. Best Practice Principle 5—The Flow of Connections Missionary care providers are committed to relate and work together, stay updated on events and developments, and share consolidated learning from their missionary care practice.
How can we work together to provide a more comprehensive and integrated flow of care to all families who are called by the church to live and work cross-culturally?

12. The Flow of Care Best Practice Principle 1—The Flow of Christ
What Adventist missionary care resources are provided to strengthen missionaries’ relationships with Christ?

13. The Flow of Care Best Practice Principle 2—The Flow of Community
How are potential missionaries evaluated for personal maturity and good relational skills?
When personality/relational deficits are discovered, what community is responsible for helping missionaries grow?

14. The Flow of Care Best Practice Principle 3—The Flow of Commitment
Other than financial support, what resources are committed by either the sending organization or receiving organization to ensure that missionaries succeed?

15. The Flow of Care Best Practice Principle 4—The Flow of Caregivers
Eight specialist domains of care—PPractical TTools FFor CCare.
Pastoral/Spiritual (retreats, visits, regular debriefing)
Physical/Medical (medical care and advice)
Training/Career (ongoing education, job placement, coaching)
Team building/Interpersonal (group dynamics, conflict resolution)
Family/MK (MK education options, marital support group)
Financial/Logistical (salary and benefits, retirement, medical insurance)
Counseling/Psychological (screening, training, brief therapy)
Crisis/Contingency (crisis intervention, debriefing, evacuation plans)
How do we rate as an organization?

16. The Flow of Care Best Practice Principle 5—The Flow of Connections
How can we work together to provide a more comprehensive and well-integrated flow of care to all families who are called by the church to live and work cross-culturally?

17. The Flow of Care
How can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!
Romans 10:14, 15