Saturday Workshops
TRACK #1: Spiritual Vitality
The Leader's Soul - Morris Dirks (9:45am & 11:00am)
Many leaders now realize that business as usual is not working – deep down inside something is missing. This sacred thirst is the beginning of a deeper intimacy with God. They are ready to shed old ways of being and explore new pathways of renewal that will form the soul. The time has come to assess the realities of ministry and take the journey toward spiritual wellness.
In this workshop we will look closely at three areas that often sabotage the leader's soul. It is important to know how to engage in self-care. However, this requires self-awareness. Many leaders become trapped by the systemic dangers that come with ministry. Unaware of the pitfalls, they fail to care for their own soul. We will assess these areas and develop strategies to build spiritual and emotional health. (This workshop will be 2 hours in length - part I and part II).
Building and Maintaining Healthy Marriages - Perry Bradford (1:30pm)
The challenges of cross-cultural ministry place significant stress on a marriage. This workshop will seek to identify common stress points, and how member care may be of help.
What Does it Really Mean to Love God, Others and Self? - Dr. Randy Roberts (3:00pm)
Rightly understood, Jesus’ teaching in Matt. 22:34-40 reveals the key commitments around which all of our life should be focused. To live out these words faithfully, however, some popular understandings of the “God first, others second and self third” model of priorities must be challenged and replaced by a more integrated and actionable approach. This workshop will seek to demonstrate that the latter is what Jesus actually had in mind and why genuine spiritual vitality and biblical balance is best built on that foundation.
TRACK #2: Church-based Care
The Life Cycle of Missionary Care - Rakel Thurman (9:45am)
Caring for missionaries from “the cradle to the grave”. How can the local church be actively involved and provide good member care for their missionaries throughout the missionary's life cycle? One church’s experience of what works well, and what is not working so well.
Building Vitality in Our Single Missionaries - Diana Stuhr (11:00am)
What are some of the unique needs and stressors of single people serving cross-culturally in God's Kingdom and mission in the world? How can we support our faithful, courageous singles who go as God calls them, knowing that they leave behind their closest family and friends? Are there ways we can help them prepare to confront various difficulties that they may encounter?
Pre-Departure Assessments - John Jordan (1:30pm)
Short-term missions can serve a significant role in cross-cultural work. Discover some essentials of preparing your short-term teams for effectively engaging in another culture. See how they can play a significant role in providing pastoral care to your missionary families. You will receive resources to ensure your pre-departure check list is complete. We will also look at the strategic value of team debriefs following their trip.
P.O.M’s (Parents & Family of Missionaries) - Dick Gardner (3:00pm)
A significant and often much forgotten group of people are the family members who wave good-bye to family members working cross-culturally. This workshop will look at practical needs and methods for caring for these family members left behind.
TRACK #3: Agency Care
Assessing Family Health: Looking behind the Prayer Card - Dave & Sheri Grissen (9:45am)
There is no denying that cross-cultural workers and their families live in the proverbial fishbowl. For that reason there is often a high level of pressure to look your best in every way. This facade can bring devastating results throughout the family and ministry. This workshop will review the connection between spiritual growth and emotional health. Topics will include family-of-origin issues and the potential impact of transition and cross-cultural living on hidden dysfunctions. Time will be given to signs of a healthy family.
Staying Healthy When the Situation Isn’t - Dr. Laura Mae Gardner (11:00am)
A crucial attribute our missionaries need in their toolkit is emotional resilience. How can a missionary maintain equilibrium and thrive in a context of widespread change? What if this change comes unexpectedly; contains elements of injustice and evil or nothing is predictable? How does one stay balanced, winsome and productive? This session is filled with illustrations and will suggest practical ideas for encouraging our missionaries toward emotional wholeness.
Who Cares? An Overview of Missionary Care from the Perspective of an Agency - Vera Stair (1:30pm)
In the world of missionary care, who is responsible for caring our workers? Is it the agency? The church? Someone else? We will take a panoramic view of the world of missionary care, including a working definition of the term and its purpose. You will also be exposed to the role of the Sending/Home Church, the role of the mission agency, the place for therapists and academicians in missionary care.
Missionary Transition: How to Help in Challenging Times - Dr. John Branner (3:00pm)
Missionary families need extra care and support as they move between cultures and you can have a tremendous impact by coming alongside them during these times. If you want to be a special encouragement to missionaries in transition, this session can help. Learn about the transition process and its challenges, then discuss ways churches and individuals can offer emotional & practical support both as missionaries move abroad and as they return to the U.S. for home assignment, or due to life/career transitions.
TRACK #4: Mental Health Care
PTSD and Trauma Debriefs - Dick & Dr. Laura Mae Gardner (9:45am)
If you hear of an accident, critical incident, or disaster whether natural or human-induced you will probably find somewhere in the account of its impact the term PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). What is the nature of PTSD and what does trauma debriefing have to offer regarding diagnosing and preventing PTSD? How does it differ from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome? What does trauma debriefing look like? We hope to cover these topics and give participants tools to help in these situations.
An Introduction to Personal Debriefing - Dr. John Powell (11:00am)
Personal debriefing can be an important process in maintaining and renewing personal, relational and spiritual vitality. Other debriefings such as financial, ministry, pastoral, even crisis debriefing, are perhaps more common, yet personal debriefing is emerging as an important approach and a helpful part of soul care. Only a small proportion of missionaries actually receive such a debriefing. It is a relational process allowing missionaries to tell their story in depth and find it to be accepted and understood It assists in allowing a variety of experiences to be more fully “arranged on the shelves of one’s mind”. An adequate personal debriefing usually requires two days or more, and when done within a group can productively utilize a week. This workshop will be an overview of personal debriefing used in connection with transitional times, and especially upon return to the home culture. The focus will include important elements of the debriefing, aspects of the process, qualities of the debriefer, and the place and timing for the most effective outcomes.
Conflict Transformation: An Integrated Approach - Dr. John Powell (1:30pm)
Conflict as a part of human experience does not escape missionaries. This workshop will explicate an approach which is being used effectively in the transformation of conflict arising among even the most devoted and mature missionaries. The idea of transformation of conflict focuses on growth and meaningful development beyond that of resolution alone. It has been used especially where conflict is diminishing the group’s work, and is also utilized in specific individual interpersonal conflict. Successfully used, it can have a liberating effect on the soul growth of the individuals involved. It is Scripture based and includes the essential components of deliberate preparation, special attention to process, and an accountable and committed follow-up. This integrated process will be discussed with particular attention to the interests and questions of participant.
Managing Stress and Burnout - Lisa Wold (3:00pm)
Due to the frequent nature of cross-cultural work, stress is an ever present reality. This workshop will look at both large and seemingly minor stressors on a missionary family. We will discuss symptoms of stress and burnout with a view toward health and/or restoration to effective ministry. There will also be a focus on the emotional, physical and spiritual impact of stress as well as the impact of stress on depression.
TRACK #5: Theology and Preparation
A Theology Of Pilgrimage - Perry Bradford (9:45am)
Everyone needs a plan for ongoing spiritual vitality! Far too often the tyranny of the urgent prevents the ongoing nurture of spiritual growth and health.
Theology of Pastoral Care - Dr. Dennis Ahern (11:00am)
This workshop will look at the application of the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, and their impact on the Church’s theology of missionary care.
Toward a Working Theology of Suffering - Kacy Dudrey (1:30pm)
This workshop will provide an outline to begin to design one's own personal theology of suffering from central Biblical passages and themes. Practical consideration of cross-cultural worker care and debriefing will also be discussed.
Crisis Consultation - Bob Klamser (3:00pm)
How would you prepare your workers for the potential of being a hostage in a volatile situation? How would you equip them for such a stressful event? More workers are heading into areas of the world where such events are a real possibility. This is a “hands-on” workshop to highlight the need for workers to be equipped to respond appropriately to dangerous situations like a hostage crisis.
TRACK #6: Missionary Kid Care
MK Care: Building A Developmentally Appropriate Flow Of Care (part I) - Becca McMartin (9:45am)
The 5 year old MK has significantly different needs and challenges than a teen heading to university. This workshop will expose you to some of the diverse challenges and developmental transitions facing MKs at each age level, and strategies to help missionaries care for their children’s needs. This will also address needs during the post-high school years, including gap years, university and beyond.
MK Care: Building A Developmentally Appropriate Flow Of Care (part II) - Becca McMartin (11:00am)
The 5 year old MK has significantly different needs and challenges than a teen heading to university. This workshop will expose you to some of the diverse challenges and developmental transitions facing MKs at each age level, and strategies to help missionaries care for their children’s needs. This will also address needs during the post-high school years, including gap years, university and beyond.
Building a GATE: Helping your MK Transition to Young Adulthood - Dave Kronbach (1:30pm)
There are significant transitional needs for MKs heading to college. This is a practical workshop on how to come alongside missionary parents facing the departure of their children for young adult life.
Keeping Kids Safe: Child Abuse Signs And Prevention - Charlett Smith (3:00pm)
The unusual nature of cross-cultural ministry places families and especially children at risk for various forms of abuse. We will look at the impact of ministry site (urban and rural), educational options, cultural influences (including the use of national house workers) and the health of the family and agency in response to abuse. We will also look at proper procedures of follow-up with abuse signs.