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Announcements and News.....
Member Care
June, 2005
Amongst the present mission community, “Member Care”
is a reoccurring “buzz phrase.” Jesus had His own plan for member care
(Mark 10:28-30) and promised to meet the needs of those who served.
Missionary TECH Team recognizes the legitimacy and responsibility of
giving attention to its members. A built-in TECH “family” provides
initial assistance and covers crises and celebrations. Administration
of clear procedures and direction, provision of medical insurance, and
assistance in building a retirement fund also help define
present care.
Recently, God led Buel and Gerry Meadows to Missionary TECH
Team. Buel is a retired pastor and will be directing Member Care at
Missionary TECH Team. The following is an article written by Buel on
this area of service.
Missionary TECH Team: Member Care
Our name says a lot. We are here to serve others and to enable them to
do a great service for the Lord Jesus. The word “team” means knowing
one another’s abilities, skills, limits, etc. Serving and enabling
begins with each of us ministering to each other. It then moves on to
the like-minded ministry organizations with whom we partner.
The first part of Member Care is accomplished, I believe, through the
daily chapel time. Department reports on Monday mornings help us to
pray more effectively for each other and the work in which we are
involved. Regular Bible study three days a week encourages and
challenges us spiritually. The Friday small group prayer meetings
allow us to share our needs and those sent in to us during the week by
ministry partners.
On the personal level, there are ways this team helps each other:
helping in moving, taking meals in when one is ill, getting together
to share a meal, and fellowship. The TECH family get-togethers are
refreshing and relaxing — games, food, fellowship, cookouts, a time to
get to know each other better.
When one of our team members is developing ministry partners, we make
suggestions on how they can effectively present their ministry and
needs. Personal visits and phone calls are made and letters sent out.
“Coaching” is regularly provided.
Too, we praise the Lord for the Mission Interns – persons already
having a fair degree of technical skills – that God sends to work with
us. They are searching for God’s leading and direction in their lives
and bring to us new knowledge and skills. The Interns encourage us,
even as we encourage them. We pray with and for them, even as they do
for us.
That word “team” is important. If you have played in any team sports,
you have probably seen a person who believes, “I can do it myself, if
they would just get out
of my way.” I trust you have also seen a team that “works well
together.” This “works well together” is the desire for which we
strive. Missionary TECH Team practices what Paul taught in I
Corinthians 12:12-31. Paul told the church at Corinth that “The body
is a unit, though it is made up of many parts…” (v. 12). “But in fact
God has arranged the parts in the body…” (v. 14). “…its parts should
have equal concern for each other” (v. 25). NIV
Each person is important to the work. Each one needs to do their work
as “unto the Lord” and be an encouragement to those around them.
Please join us in asking that our loving Father would bless and guide
our TECH family as we serve Him together.
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