MBMS International creates new initiatives; approves budget

FRESNO, CALIF.

Mennonite Brethren Missions and Services International, the overseas mission agency of the North American MB Conference, held its annual staff planning meetings in March and its board meeting in Omaha, Neb. Apr. 15-16.

The first initiative, discussed at the annual staff planning meetings and later refined at the board meeting, is the establishment of a new church planter program to help change the way missions is done through the MB Church.

Growing internationalization of staff, with representatives from Africa, Europe and Latin America has expanded MBMS International's vision, stated Harold Ens, general director. "We are attempting to find new ways to meet Christ's call to evangelize the whole world, with an approach that meets cultures head-on with the power of God's love," Ens said.

Changes to the way church planters are trained will couple the energies of North American and overseas church discipleship. The new Church Planting Residency Program, which is being developed with MB Biblical Seminary, will allow candidates to train in North America for two years before going overseas, said Neil Fast, board chair. Program participants would complete one year of training at the Seminary's Center for Training in Missions/Evangelism, followed by a year internship under a North American church planter.

"Experience has shown that the unique set of skills necessary to become a church planter can be transferred cross-culturally," said Ens. "The MB Conference can train workers here in North America, using our Seminary and experienced church planters, for either overseas or local church planting assignments."

The second new initiative approved by the board is sending North American MBs on "Prayer Journeys", beginning November, 1998. A prayer journey would be a team of four to five people who would visit a foreign country for several days and they would pray for the people of that country, said Ens. "They would not intrude on the work of missionaries or the local church. Their specific goal would be to pray for grace and intervention from God in the lives of those who have not yet met Christ."

The first year, the program will target Peru, Brazil and Lithuania. Participants will be oriented on the principles of effective intercession, and will be responsible to raise their own funds.

"One of the constant challenges we face is to have a stable, long-term presence in a new mission field," Ens said. "This group has proposed we send a team of people committed to a 10-year assignment among a people group that has no multiplying church movement." According to Ens, a multi-disciplinary team would provide a balanced emphasis on church planting, social ministry and leadership training. It would also allow a continued presence should one or more missionaries leave the field.

The new team concept does have its challenges in terms of defining group members' roles, resolving conflict, building strong leadership and allowing for flexibility to add new team members, admits Ens, but adds, "The experience of other agencies who have used this model tells us that it is an effective way to do mission."

The mission agency also aims to expand its short-term medical program, which recruits physicians for overseas service for short-term assignments. A network of people in key North American locations will be developed to recruit funds and personnel. David Dyck, program director, says that providing medical aid to needy communities is a key way of sharing Christ's love. "By working with local people to help them in ministry to the sick and the improvement of living conditions, North American physicians have an opportunity to facilitate greater spiritual as well as physical health."

At the annual staff meetings, board members met with E.D. Solomon, who teaches at Centenary MB Bible School in Shamshabad, India. Solomon, who also is treasurer of the India MB Conference Missions Committee, shared about some of the issues affecting the Conference. He told of the missions committee's leadership role in Muslim ministries and in fundraising among Conference churches.

He also shared his testimony of growing up as the son of a long-serving MB pastor, and resisting the call to ministry until all doors were closed.

He spoke of the need for a new relationship between India and North American conferences. While acknowledging the role of North American missionaries in birthing the India church, he expressed the need that new mission efforts in India be done in partnership with the national conference.

He also outlined areas where MBMS International can continue to assist the India church. The migration of people to large cities calls for an urban mission strategy. He expressed excitement over a coming missions conference led by Gordon Nickel, Resource Missionary for Muslim Ministries.

Stating that youth and children's ministry continue to be areas of need, Solomon added, "There is a need for renewal of women's training programs. Please pray for India."

In the board sessions, Harold Ens announced his intention to remain as General Director through 2005. He is committed to completing the agency's Global Missions Guidelines. The guidelines affirm the agency's commitment to evangelize unreached groups in urban areas, primarily in the 10/40 Window that stretches through Africa and Asia. They call for increasing partnership with national MB conferences and a commitment to economic development and aid in conjunction with evangelism, church planting and leadership training.

David Dyck shared that shifts of missionaries and budget resources from Latin America toward Asia within that time frame are continuing on target. "Strong partner conferences in Colombia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay allow for focus on needier areas such as Peru and Panama, while accommodating an overall decrease of support to Latin America of about 15% by 2005." Opportunities to investigate the placement of missionaries in many parts of Asia where evangelism is needed are being pursued, he said.

The board also heard that the fiscal year, which ends May 31, is slated to end with a balanced budget. A 1998-99 budget of $4,915,788 US was approved.

On Sunday following the board meeting, board and administrative staff members promoted the agency in local churches, preaching, sharing prayer requests and reporting on MBMS International's role in global missions. -- Brad Thiessen, MBMS International

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