| As I sat at the table with four missionaries and a stack of magazines listening to the instructions for a visual debrief, I thought I had nothing to debrief over. I discovered differently! What is a “debrief”? Most commonly it is understood as an in-depth review of a military operation. But it is also used by the business, health care, first responders, and faith-ministry sectors of society. This process can be as simple or casual as having discussions over dinner or coffee with a trusted friend or as intense as a full multi-week residential program. What do missionaries and ministry leaders need to be debriefed about? Just about anything that they encounter while going about their work to show God’s love to people. There are difficult people, family situations, sometimes cross-culture tensions, economic woes, political maneuverings, and any variety of unexplainable happenings that build up over time and require processing. Do all ministry leaders who need debriefing get it? A short survey of a member care group resulted in a resounding “NO”! In far too many instances the programs are beyond the budgets of those needing them. Unfortunately, there are agencies and offices that send out missionaries who do not make provisions in support funding to cover debriefing. That’s where Missionary Support Network comes in. At this time, we have a cooperative agreement with Life Impact Ministries to help fund stays at their Oases which are scattered around the world. As we grow, we plan to have our own facility at which to host ministry leaders who need a place to rest, recover and refocus. You can join us in serving those who need debriefing by tapping the “DONATE NOW” in the top menu bar. Thank you for continuing on this journey of learning about missionaries, what can be done for them to overcome the stresses of their work, and how having a “time out” can help them continue on with their mission. |