A Few Notes...
For the past few months, I’ve attempted to write this article. The content is important, but I kept trying to change the story’s ending. Sadly, I haven’t succeeded. This year will be a challenging one for our local churches. We have only a few IWs available to connect with our NCD congregations. A few churches have made arrangements with specific missionaries with whom they have an established relationship. A few IWs have also scheduled speaking dates with churches with whom they are connected. More than a few churches will need to be flexible and very creative to connect Alliance missions in a vibrant way within their fellowships. Many will want to collaborate with sister congregations who will be hosting an IW, speaking in that church.
There are a few IWs, who manage their own calendars, in our area for varying periods of time:
Mike & Elissa Picconatto, Envision workers in Berlin, will be here for about 12 months beginning in September.
Chris O’Dell, Envision worker in Taipei, arrived in MN in June for a 4 month Home Ministry Assignment (HMA).
Chuck Fanberg, aXcess IW in Central America, arrived in July and is currently here for a year long HMA. Various responsibilities will limit his availability.
A few of you (churches) are preemptively working out your own alternatives. For others, the news in this article might surprise a few people. For all of our churches, local missions teams will need creative and calculated to meaningfully represent Alliance missions to the local body. So, Dave, what do you suggest we do? This is a pertinent & great question. During COVID, we creatively implemented new ministry tools. What worked for you during the lockdown days of the pandemic? This is a tool bag of resources to re-open for this season.
Videos on the Alliance website, or personal videos from individual IWs, maybe even from a few TCKs, could be fresh options.
Coordinating & sharing events and dates with neighboring churches, can maximize an individual IW’s availability.
Intentional midweek visits with available IWs in the area are an option — coffee with your missions team, or a mid-day meal, can be valuable for both parties.
Sermons and Bible studies with a missions focus can be informative & inspirational.
An established pattern of interaction with IWs (email, prayer, social media) raises the congregations awareness of, and connection with, our global corps of missionaries.
Lord permitting, we will have a few more IW options for 2025. Ideally, corporately we will continue to nurture meaningful relationship building connections with our global family of IWs throughout 2024 and beyond. Thank you, local churches, for encouraging our IWs, for praying for TCKs and for “sowing the seed” as we build up the body of believers in our neighborhoods and beyond!
A few of you might have more questions — feel free to contact me. I look forward to the conversation!
Dave Manske
Missions Mobilizer