Resources for Missionary Recruits Online by Marty Andry, Doug Lucas, and Chris Bushnell

Chapter 3

Networking With Others -- The Challenge of "Going it Alone"

Although it may sound surprising, many believe that the most important decision you will make is not where to serve or what to do, but rather, with whom you will work! In previous decades, some say we referred to direct-support missionaries as "independent" not only because of the structure of the churches that sent them, but also seemingly because of their lifestyle. Some were apparently very independent, and, in fact, unable to work side by side with others because of extremely well-defined personalities or views that were somehow different from others.

Today, however, the choice is yours. If you decide to "solo" somewhere, you should be aware of the particular stresses that isolation can cause. Marjory Foyle broaches the issue in her helpful book, Overcoming Missionary Stress.[(Wheaton, IL, 60189: EMIS, 1987).] Some are able to build friendships with nationals so that even their social needs are met. Others, meanwhile, will "perish" before such bridges are fully constructed. In fact, in certain areas (especially where citizens of the USA are unwelcome), such relationships can be literally years in formation.

Remember that spouses and children must be taken into account as well. In fact, if one spouse is particularly gifted at making friends quickly, it may actually serve to draw attention to the other spouse's lack of friends, causing an inner retreat. This is not to imply that a family will never be able to serve in a particular mission field alone. It does suggest, however, that in such cases, clear communication and careful planning must be the rule.

One Possibility: Being Sent Directly by a Local Congregation

For several years now, many in the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ have argued that the most effective use of funds and the most biblical approach to mission oversight involves going out under the direct oversight of a local church or group of local churches. In actuality this means forming your own mission board, made up of leaders from your church or local area. Checks are sent directly to your congregation itself. All offerings to the mission work become a part of the church's own mission outreach, and are thus tax–deductible for the giver, since the IRS automatically allows any gift to a church to be considered tax–deductible.

Advantages of this method include the fact that you can practically design your structure the way you want it and all money given for the cause goes directly to the work. Some argue that this method most closely resembles that of the church in Antioch when they sent out Paul and Barnabas. If the overseeing congregation has the benefit of a keen leadership, then a wonderful camaraderie can develop between the church, its elders, and the missionary family.

However, this method is not without its risks. In most cases you will be "re–inventing the wheel."Most likely, there will already have been dozens, if not hundreds, of missionaries who formed similar outreaches before. In each case, they will have learned incredibly important lessons about how to handle international finances, visa applications, language school, children's schooling, retirement, overseas work, etc. If you decide to go this route, be sure to contact others who have been down the same road and "pick their brains" to avoid falling into common pitfalls.

In addition, you will probably be on your own in other ways. If you succeed in opening an effective work and need more personnel, the leaders in your churches may not be equipped with adequate time or resources to recruit additional laborers for you. If you break your momentum and return to the USA for that purpose, your work may suffer and when you return to the field, your contacts will lose their direct communication link. Unless your church leaders are equipped and ready to spend lots of time on the phone, their only source of information will be you—overseas.

Finally, there may be political issues to resolve. In his little manual, If You Want to be a Missionary, David Filbeck points out that today, "most governments require an organizational structure with which they can deal directly. To government functionaries, a formal missionary organization represents a more responsible way of allowing foreigners to enter in order to do missionary work."[(Joplin, MO: College Press, 1977), p. 25, now out of print.] Filbeck's conclusion is that this places a "heavy burden on the (direct—support) missionary recruit. For a missionary sponsored by a mission board, there are administrators to take care of such details.

The direct–support missionary, however, must write to other missionaries on the field, to embassies and consulates, and to anyone else who might provide the needed information. Moreover, he may have to incorporate a missionary organization here in the USA first and go through a process of registering it in the foreign country he wishes to enter."[Ibid.]

Once again, the decision must be yours, with input from your family and especially from your local church. If you do decide to follow this route, make sure your congregation understands the amount of responsibility such a decision entails. Begin contacting missionaries who are already working within the country to find out what type of "sending agency," if any, the government requires. If incorporation is necessary, try asking the membership of the congregation for names of Christian lawyers that might already have experience with non–profit incorporations. In some cases, the church itself may have already gone through the incorporation process. If the status is still good (Don't assume anything! ), it could save you a lot of time later.

Joining a Team

In contrast, some missionaries feel as if they will be able to maximize their effectiveness if they serve as a part of a "team" of workers, tracing their beliefs to such New Testament examples as Paul and Barnabas. Modern-day management principles seem to support such a view, with today's business world stocked full of talk about quality circles and work groups. What are the advantages of working together with a team?

• Biblical precedent: It was God himself who suggested that Aaron serve as Moses' spokesman. And why do you suppose Moses sent twelve spies instead of just one? Jesus sent out the disciples two by two; one of Paul's trademarks was his unique "team ministry" approach in church planting.
• Mutual accountability: Team members can help each other remain steadfast in pursuing their stated goals.
• Mutual edification: When one falls, the other can help lift him/her up.
• Pooled strengths: Together, they provide a well–rounded synthesis of social networks, skills, and various other resources, allowing each team member to specialize in the area where he or she is most gifted.
• Strength in the "common mind": Brainstorming sessions come alive in a group and decisions are discussed much more objectively when third (and even "fourth") party observers are present.
• Motivation: On a more personal level, teams can develop a kind of "magical momentum" that is beyond description. If high levels of communication are achieved, and if "I, me, mine" attitudes change to a "we, us and ours" level, then a noncompetitive spirit encourages innovation without struggle for identity. In such cases team members report a much higher level of job satisfaction.

Although working closely with others may appear to be a panacea against a backdrop of cross-cultural challenges, the truth is that it is difficult enough to breed close cooperation in one's home culture, let alone overseas. In fact, remember that even Paul and Barnabas themselves eventually split over differences of opinion. Thus, prospective mission teams need to get all the training they can, especially in areas such as communication, interpersonal relationships, leadership, followership, motivation, creativity and group process. Some agencies offer special team-building seminars, based on material from the American Management Association's Extension Institute, various university studies and the experience of their own mission teams.[The Am. Mgt. Ext. Inst. is at 135 West 50th St. , New York, NY 10020.] Certain mission agencies have inserted team building modules into their normal start-up processes.[See, e. g. , Christian Missionary Fellowship, Box 26306, Indianapolis, IN. , Pioneer Bible Translators, PO Box 381030, Duncanville, TX 75138-1030 and Team Expansion, PO Box 4100, Cincinnati, OH 45204.]

Team Building

If you are forming a team, be prepared. Just because you may have decided to work with others, that does not mean that you will automatically be a team. Teamwork takes preparation and practice. Just as any athletic team would not be successful without preparation and practice, neither do mission teams.

There are resources available to help you in building an effective team. One of the best sources of helps would be a public library. Business and industry have started learning the effectiveness of teamwork. We have been influenced greatly by the success of the Japanese. A large public library will be full of resources to help you with team building. Many of them will contain activities to help your team learn how to work together. There are also organizations which can help you build your team.

For those willing or able to work with an existing mission group, the North American Christian Conventions and "Envision" conventions (National Missionary Conventions) are virtual "shopping malls" full of opportunities. Those who wish to widen their search may want to contact Intercristo Computer Matching Service.[P. O. Box 9323, Seattle, Washington 98109; Tel. 1(800)426–0507.] They will do a profile on your particular yearning, then try to match your skills with the needs of hundreds of missions (both denominational and interdenominational).[You may or may not be somewhat uncomfortable with several of the agencies Intercristo would recommend since vast doctrinal differences abound. Some such organizations will inevitably ask their recruits to sign doctrinal creeds in an attempt to unify their mission's teaching. Although doctrinal discussions are outside the scope of this handbook, prospective recruits with these mission organizations should certainly read statements of faith very carefully, since they may later be used to sanction or prohibit certain mission-wide policies and teachings. Keep in mind that the lack of a written statement may simply increase the difficulty of your task: the unwritten policies, hidden agendas, and doctrinal stances of the organization can sometimes be more important than that which is in black and white.]

If you plan to join an existing mission group or a team on the field, John A. Gration, in a little brochure by IVP, suggests that you may want to ask:

• What is the team's history?
• What doctrinal or philosophical distinctives make this group unique?
• What are the team's financial policies?
• Are there standing policies regarding the education of the "missionary kids," furloughs, daily work schedules, etc. ?
• In what manner does the team relate to the national church?
• What is the atmosphere or "culture" of the team?
• Are there "standards of conduct" within the team or mission?[Steps to Getting Overseas, (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1986).]

Last, but certainly not least, remember that your stateside supporters are a part of your "extended team. "Relating to your sending church(es), as well as other family and friends, is part of your "job" as missionary. Regular communication cannot be over-stressed. Before your relationship with your sending base has a chance to sour, make sure you dedicate adequate time to the subject of reporting and communication. How often would they appreciate hearing from you? What type of report are they expecting? Likewise, make sure they are aware of your needs, though you yourself may not become conscious of these until you are well into your work abroad. Some churches send monthly cassettes, complete with sermons and/or devotionals, as well as magazine subscriptions and church bulletins. Every situation is different, so perhaps there is only one absolute:Make certain that expectations are as clear as possible, even if it means writing them down. For every hour spent with supporters in communication prior to departure, you will have saved weeks of misunderstandings down the road.

Interdenominational Organizations

Typically if you opt for an interdenominational mission agency, an organization which spans several denominational lines, there will be a Board of Directors which sets the mission policy. An Executive or General Director will be in charge of carrying out that policy on a daily basis. In larger organizations, a Personnel Department or Director of Recruitment might carry out most of the correspondence with prospective missionaries. Regardless of who replies to your inquiries, you should make sure you gather plenty of information about the organization, both from the mission itself, as well as from the mission's peers and others who may be informed.

For example, let's suppose that Intercristo provides you with the name of a mission agency that places English teachers in China. If you are an English teacher who wants to go to China, your first step is, of course, to write or call the mission and ask what kind of information they can provide you about their work. Always type your letter. Be sure your return address is on the letter as well as the envelope! You may want to request a copy of their:

• Doctrinal statement and/or statement of purpose
• Constitution
• Previous year's financial report
• Application
• Current fields/projects (Do they work in an area in which you feel called to serve?)
• Personnel needs and policies regarding hiring/support
• Outside references from the field in which you are interested (e. g. , English teachers might seek out another similar agency and write for another opinion on the organization being considered. )
• Status of the organization in the eyes of the IRS (If the organization has filed proper forms and was accepted by the IRS, then gifts to the organization are tax–deductible for all donors. This translates into a double blessing for your supporters, since it means they give more to your mission work and less is spent on taxes. The IRS permits a percentage of these gifts to be subtracted from the tax–payer's income, almost as if it were given directly to the organization by the tax–payer's employer. This is to encourage charitable gifts on behalf of US citizens. )

Many jobs are salaried, but most missionary positions are supported by gifts that you will have to raise from churches and friends. Do try to keep in mind that the mission may not be able to afford to mail out all the above items to every inquirer. You'll have to be pretty serious, in their eyes, before they will invest this much time and effort.

While waiting on the arrival of the above information, begin writing and/or calling others. Check the Mission Handbook, a list of a large number of North American Protestant mission agencies[Ed. by Samuel Wilson and John Siewert (Monrovia, CA: MARC, 1986).] Call local preachers and other church leaders and ask for their opinion of the mission. Contact a nearby seminary or Bible college. Remember, these people are about to become your lifeline — in more ways than one! It is your reputation that will be at stake if you later find out they have been accused of misappropriating funds or mishandling a doctrinal issue.

In the end, only you, your family and your spiritual leaders can make the final choice of organizations. Keep in mind that if you hail from a fairly conservative Christian Church or Church of Christ congregation, it might be possible that no amount of persuasion would convince your local church leaders to support you — financially or otherwise. During the mid–1920s, severe tension among the Christian Churches brought about a church split that has, at times, made it somewhat difficult for some leaders to envision any mission work being effectively carried out through mission societies. Regardless of your opinion on this issue, remember that it will perhaps be a factor during your support-raising process.

In general, if you are going to have to answer to a director or team leader who does not hold to "Restoration Movement tradition," you should know that some Christian Churches and Churches of Christ might question the advisability of serving with that particular organization. If you decide to pursue such a path, you will need to have carefully thought through your doctrinal stand and how you plan to interface with the organization and with Restoration churches that support you. Nearby Bible colleges might be able to help you sort through these issues, but the final decision must rest with you, your family and your spiritual overseers.

Restoration Movement Cooperations

More recently, several organizations have arisen from within the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. Christian Missionary Fellowship, Taking Christ to the Millions (TCM), International, Pioneer Bible Translators, African Christian Mission, and Team Expansion, among others, have formed mission agencies related to or wholly within the Christian Church/Church of Christ. In some cases, funds are sent to a central office, where a general director, under the oversight of a mission board, oversees their use. A certain percentage of the funds is used for administrative needs, but the bulk of the money raised goes directly to the respective missionary family. In others, funds are sent directly to individuals called "forwarding agents" who voluntarily handle and report on funds for their respective direct-support missionaries. The decision regarding which type of group to choose lies in your hands, as well as in the hands of those kind enough to support you and your project.

Some of the organizations begin providing a portion of living expenses for accepted mission candidates long before they actually have their own individual support raised. This can be quite helpful in cases where the recruit has a family with a certain amount of financial needs that simply must be met during the deputation (support–raising) process.

In all cases the benefits of being backed by a mission organization have attracted dozens of new recruits over the past few years. Filbeck explains that, "once accepted, a recruit has the prestige and the promotional backing of the organization which will dispose churches and individuals to pledge the financial support needed. In effect, acceptance by a missionary fellowship, or some similar organization, provides another recommendation for the missionary recruit. "[Ibid, p. 27.] Alexander Campbell addressed this very topic when he called for "a more rational and scriptural organization" for carrying out mission work.[Alexander Campbell, Millennial Harbinger (Nov. , 1842), p. 523.] He further wrote that

• We can do comparatively nothing in distributing the Bible abroad without cooperation.
• We can do comparatively but little in the great missionary field of the world either at home or abroad without cooperation.
• We can do little or nothing to improve and elevate the Christian ministry without cooperation.[Ibid.]

Thus, regardless of the approach one takes in departing for overseas work, the one clear trend being seen today is the creation and nurture of networks of missions and missionaries cooperating together. If you feel God calling you to a team approach, go back and re–read Chapter 1 several times until you are satisfied that God will guide you in your search for the right career, place, mode and length of service (See Chapter 4). Then invest in some serious prayer time in this regard. It may take quite a number of months to correspond and/or meet with the people and organizations you're examining.

Questions to consider...

• Do you work more effectively alone or in groups?
• What expectations do your prospective supporters have when it comes to your work in the field?
• Can you find an organization which espouses beliefs and values similar to your own?
• Can you think of certain functions that a lone forwarding agent would not be able to perform as well for you?

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