Rumbie and Misty taking a break from counseling training in Zimbabwe
Current Board Members:
Gary Reed, President
Amy Whistler, Vice President
Kim Kurtz, Treasurer
Misty Bodkins, Secretary
Chris Roys
Gary Reed, President
Amy Whistler, Vice President
Kim Kurtz, Treasurer
Misty Bodkins, Secretary
Chris Roys
At the heart of Ministry Care is equipping, empowering, and training Nationals and also offering care, encouragement, and help to missionaries.
Why Train Nationals?
In the US we can stop and think about our options if we are going through a difficult time or a crisis and need assistance. We can easily look in the phone book and find numerous listings for counselors, mental health clinics, and specialized groups. There are other countries around the world however, where this is not so easy and such services may not even exist. For example, Zimbabweans face numerous daily challenges and little assistance. One area in these countries that can be improved upon is the offering of counseling services that offer hope through focusing on Christ. A listening ear and the ability to show the way out of those difficulties is what it takes to turn a heart from despair to hope in Christ.
Misty's passion has been working with nationals from the very beginning. Rumbie, who runs the counseling ministry in Zimbabwe and whose vision is to work with younger kids for counseling, brings insight and wisdom into this ministry by understanding the cultural influences and customs that may influence the counseling session. Thus, she will be a better counselor than someone from outside Zimbabwe. Nationals have the chance to offer help and hope and healing to their own communities while also sharing the Gospel to those who are suffering. Therefore, it is of great value to come alongside nationals, train and equip them, and release them into their own ministries.
Misty's passion has been working with nationals from the very beginning. Rumbie, who runs the counseling ministry in Zimbabwe and whose vision is to work with younger kids for counseling, brings insight and wisdom into this ministry by understanding the cultural influences and customs that may influence the counseling session. Thus, she will be a better counselor than someone from outside Zimbabwe. Nationals have the chance to offer help and hope and healing to their own communities while also sharing the Gospel to those who are suffering. Therefore, it is of great value to come alongside nationals, train and equip them, and release them into their own ministries.
Why work with Missionaries?
Research confirms that missionaries are experiencing many traumatic incidents. Depending on the frequency and severity of traumatic events, up to a third of missionaries may experience post-traumatic stress that could affect their personal relationships and ministries. Promoting personal and spiritual resilience factors can buffer the impact of trauma. Proactive, preventative care will ultimately reduce costs for missionaries (financially, socially, etc.) by preventing serious psychological consequences, ministry failure, and attrition.
By providing effective spiritual support to missionaries, they can then be helped to develop a stronger, deeper relationship with the Lord, a sturdy theology of suffering, and access to ministry care. Through ministry care, missionaries can be accompanied during the spiritual struggle common after trauma, and spiritual growth can be nurtured. Helping missionaries in understanding the forgiveness process could enhance not only spiritual growth, but also emotional and physical health.
An effective strategy for reducing post-traumatic stress and enhancing the missionaries’ ability to cope with inevitable traumatic stress has many components. Some include providing member care resources that focus on the development of interpersonal skills, managing conflict, team building, marriage enrichment, crisis preparation, and stress management through training, consultation, pastoral care, and appropriate counseling interventions. The reduction of post-traumatic stress starts before the trauma occurs by fostering behaviors that enhance stress management and increase the quality of social supports and marriages.
Member care (caring for missionaries) has sometimes been seen as an optional or expendable service. However, missionaries sent to the final and high risk frontiers of missions will be more resilient and able to continue to thrive, grow, and do the work of the kingdom if they are well prepared, receive timely crisis support, and live in a ministry environment equipped to provide relational support that communicates agape love among the redeemed of the Lord and to the world.
By providing effective spiritual support to missionaries, they can then be helped to develop a stronger, deeper relationship with the Lord, a sturdy theology of suffering, and access to ministry care. Through ministry care, missionaries can be accompanied during the spiritual struggle common after trauma, and spiritual growth can be nurtured. Helping missionaries in understanding the forgiveness process could enhance not only spiritual growth, but also emotional and physical health.
An effective strategy for reducing post-traumatic stress and enhancing the missionaries’ ability to cope with inevitable traumatic stress has many components. Some include providing member care resources that focus on the development of interpersonal skills, managing conflict, team building, marriage enrichment, crisis preparation, and stress management through training, consultation, pastoral care, and appropriate counseling interventions. The reduction of post-traumatic stress starts before the trauma occurs by fostering behaviors that enhance stress management and increase the quality of social supports and marriages.
Member care (caring for missionaries) has sometimes been seen as an optional or expendable service. However, missionaries sent to the final and high risk frontiers of missions will be more resilient and able to continue to thrive, grow, and do the work of the kingdom if they are well prepared, receive timely crisis support, and live in a ministry environment equipped to provide relational support that communicates agape love among the redeemed of the Lord and to the world.