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“Unmet pastoral care to missionaries is one of the most critical issues regarding longevity and effectiveness of missions.” -  A worker from North Africa
Providing financial and logistical support to these faithful servants is important, but even more needed in these difficult times is an intentional and strategic ministry of encouragement, pastoral and emotional care.  Effective support in these areas can help make sure workers leave the mission field fulfilled instead of burned and empty.
These gaps in care often lead to a high attrition rate among mid- and long-term missionaries. Seeking to help churches, agencies and others working closely with missionaries, a local group of leaders will host Care Connexion 2010 on April 16-17, 2010 at Cedar Mill Bible Church in Portland, OR.
Care Connexion will focus on equipping and networking leaders to provide relevant and effective care for missionaries.  Those attending will meet partners in the ministry of Missionary Care from churches, missions organizations, schools and Christian counseling Centers. Speakers from around the country will share strategies, resources and encouragement in efforts to meet the needs of overseas workers.
For a complete list of break-out sessions and keynotes, visit www.careconnexion.org

... Programs for children are led by a caring staff.

Breathe is held at Credo, a Christian conference center located in the charming village of Wilderswil, one of Switzerland's most breathtaking regions. Credo has a view of the majestic Jungfrau and the Lake of Brienz. Meals are prepared by an outstanding Swiss chef and wait staff.

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Next program:  18 to 30 April 2010, at ACTI in Singapore. 
For more information:   
www.acti-singapore.org   
admin(at)acti-singapore.org  

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Contact info is given so folks can make their own arrangements.

If you have any additions or readers of the newsletter have any suggestions based on personal experience let me know and I will see if they fit our intents. la_dolce_vita(at)earthlink.net

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This coming summer Barnabas will be offering three locations for our 13 day MK Transition seminar.  We are blessed to offer your MKs and families the following dates and venues:
1.       Biola University:  July 11 – 23
2.       Seattle Pacific University: July 18 – 30
3.       Cedarville University: July 18-30
 These transition seminars are designed for graduating seniors who have lived overseas and are transitioning back to North America to either attend college or work.  Information for these seminars can be found at barnabas.org/reentry/who.php.�� Here you can find out things like, “Who it is for?”; “What’s it all about?”;  “When & Where?”; “How much does it cost?”  and also how to SIGN UP!  Information about our new online registration sign up process can be found at this link:

barnabas.org/reentry/signup.php
Space is limited and registrations are already coming in…so if you want any of your high school seniors to attend…they need to register ASAP…as spaces will fill out quickly.

 

 

 

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- The Seventh (7th) Member Care Europe Consultation - Spain
- Euro TCK - Spain
- Breathe Conference - Switzerland
- European Oasis holiday facility - Slovakia
- Retreat Centre for sale - France
- Working from a Place of Rest, book launch - UK
- En route express - UK
- Peer to Peer CID Workshop - USA
- ELIM Renewal Retreats for Missionaries & Pastors - USA

...

Instructor:  Roger Boyd, PhD, International Partner/Distributor for CernySmith
Cost:  $155 US (For Non-Profit and Educational Coaches) Includes all materials, lunch, 1 personal CSA assessment and 1 additional CSA trial use.
Registration: Contact Roger Boyd by going to www.acrossculturesconsulting.com  or call 084 806 6473 (in Thailand).   Register by February 13, 2010.  There will be no registration at the door.
The CernySmith Assessment (CSA) is designed to evaluate and enhance cross-cultural adjustment for international personnel and their family members (age 15 and above). Each online English language assessment takes about 20-30 minutes to complete and is appropriate for anyone living cross-culturally longer than 30 days.
This Coach Certification Workshop for coaches and other helping professionals provides a brief overview of the research and development of field-tested CSA.  The training describes and illustrates the 20 statistically-derived assessment scales within 5 domains of well-being.  Workshop participants will be provided with interpretation tools in manual form, and there will be opportunity to have coaching procedures modeled and practiced.  For more information about Roger Boyd and the CSA go to www.acrossculturesconsulting.com  or www.cernysmith.com  

... 3.
HCJB Global President Wayne Pederson speaks at the inauguration in Quito.
Perhaps the central concept is summed up in “Latin American missionaries.” Working with about a dozen mission agencies, HCJB Global is participating with the Latin American church to provide missionaries with an “integrated training that includes bi-vocational skills, cross-cultural relationship building, language acquisition, spiritual formation and biblical studies,” states the program’s website.

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Our purpose is to help provide and develop
member care resources. This bi-monthly Email Forum is a service dedicated to glorify God
through networking, discussion and sharing information on issues related to
Member Care within and from Africa.
Your contributions are very much appreciated at membercaremc(at)gmail.com

... This represents a strong continuation of a 10-year-old ministry of encouragement of those serving cross-culturally, but particularly those serving in difficult or dangerous places in the world.

The website (formerly MemCare By Radio) was launched in 2005 and averages 80-100 hits a day. It is packed with content, including the daily produced, 15-minute programs and a large archive dealing with the subjects from recruitment to retirement: encouragement, health, crisis, TCKs (Third Culture Kids), culture shock, singles, moving, debriefing, depression, stress, leadership, education, etc. Isolation due to culture, language or religion can discourage otherwise healthy Christian expatriate workers. Missionaries and Christians on foreign business assignments all need encouragement to keep the ‘salty’ kingdom outlook on life that Jesus encouraged us to pursue.

Member Care Radio is a media ministry of TWR specially prepared for cross-cultural workers whose obedience to the Great Commission has taken them to difficult regions. As tentmakers and technology spreads around the world, Member Care Radio is also spreading its reach to encourage those whom the Lord has called to serve around the world, no matter where they live. Connecting needs with resources and awareness building done by the Member Care Radio ministry is widely recognized by member care organizations and ministries globally.

Speaking fluently in more than 200 languages and dialects, TWR exists to reach the world for Jesus Christ. Our global media outreach engages millions in 160 countries with biblical truth. Since 1952, God has enabled TWR to help lead people from doubt to decision to discipleship.

Together with international partners, local churches, and other ministries, TWR provides relevant programming, discipleship resources, and dedicated workers to spread hope to individuals and communities around the globe. Whether using high-powered radio to reach people in the Middle East and Latin America, streaming content to Internet users in Asia and Europe or visiting face-to-face with listeners in Africa, TWR leaves a lasting spiritual footprint.

For more information visit www.membercareradio.com

 

... I would like to get in contact with someone who is coordinating research among missionaries, and would like to join some current project. Please contact me if you have suggestions. Corry Nap, nap(at)intransit.nl

 

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The MK program includes approximately 1,390 missionary kids from birth through age 22. All are or will face major adjustments as they leave behind the familiar to go to the unfamiliar. We have found that MKs handle these adjustments better if we offer them a sense of meaning and purpose regarding their role in the missionary family.

 

First, ISMK EQUIPS MKs as missionaries called to reach their own generation. We assist with cultural training, education, retreats, discipleship, and life transitions. Missionary families are more effective if the children are equipped educationally, emotionally, and spiritually to handle the challenges they will face.

 

Second, ISMK ENGAGES MKs completely in missions. They are an important part of the missionary family of Assemblies of God World Missions. MKs are engaged in discipleship and in missions. MKs handle adjustments better if we offer them a sense of meaning and purpose regarding their role in the missionary family, understanding that God calls the entire family not just the head of the household.

 

Third, ISMK ENABLES parents to fulfill their missions calling by providing support in an area where a missionary family is often vulnerable. When an MK struggles with educational, cultural, and spiritual adjustments, the parents’ energies are divided between ministry and the well-being of their family. We provide discipleship and resources specifically designed for MKs to help them through transitions. By helping MKs establish an identity rooted in Christ, we not only free parents to do their ministry effectively but also multiply their efforts by encouraging MKs to share in their family’s vision for missions.

 

You too can better care for the missionaries you support by caring for their children. We hope this site will encourage you to become better acquainted with missionary kids so you can touch their lives.

 

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Introducing our MK-TCK Resource Center! Welcome to our MK-TCK Resource Center, your portal to MK and TCK websites, forums, books, blogs & magazines, and a global MK-TCK events calendar.
We keep an extensive directory of:
Global MK & TCK Events
MK & TCK Books
MK & TCK Websites
You'll find search tips for the Websites, Library, and Events by clicking the tabs above.

 

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If you’re an Army Brat, Missionary Kid, Cross Cultural Kid, or an expatriate interested in what sociologists have called “The prototype citizens of the future”, then we’ve rounded up 10+ comprehensive resources to help you on your way, including stories, news, books, TCK research, videos, sites, blogs, comics, organizations and groups.

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mkPLANET is a growing community designed and run by current missionary kids (MKs) and adult missionary kids (AMKs) as an active community providing information, interaction, and support.