Global Workers and Partners Week 2024
Models of Collaboration
For Global Workers and Partners Week, we are excited to share reflections on both the importance and the gift of collaborative approaches, as the whole church is needed for the whole mission of God. We all have a part to play in a larger story, and it often involves leaning in to do collective work.
From October 28th-November 1st we will be hearing inspiring stories from EMCC Global Workers and Partners, learning from their collaborative approaches, and seeing the results of intentionally engaging in God's good work with others, together.
This year, we hope these stories will encourage us all in considering how we can collaborate more with others around us, seeking to demonstrate Jesus and His Kingdom in a variety of contexts.
Inspiring Stories
Part 1 - Models of Collaboration ⇩
Introducing this year's theme with reflections from the Lausanne Global Congress, and the story of Ken and Carolyn Benson's journey with MissionPrep and how collaboration continues to lead their ministry, and make it possible.
Part 2 - Co-Equipping in Mexico ⇩
Sharing the stories of collective work between supervised and recognized global workers, as well as sister denominations in Mexico to support and equip pastors.
Part 3 - Mutual Support in Romania ⇩
A story of EMCC global workers coming alongside national church planters in Southern Romania.
Part 4 - Serving Young People Together ⇩
A video interview where Rob Dilts and Rob Gulliver share the fruits of collaborating with each other, and the learning journey that takes place.
Part 5 - Join in Mission, Together ⇩
A final encouragement and links to kickstart further collaboration with workers and partners.
Part 1 - Models of Collaboration
Our theme for this week centres on the various ways collaboration takes place in the midst of the collective witness of the EMCC. This week will focus on the ways global workers and partners contextualize this willingness to collaborate in different contexts.
During the Fourth Lausanne Congress, one of the largest gatherings of global evangelical church leaders, a major focus of conversation was on the importance of collaboration. Michael Oh, CEO of Lausanne Global, asked those in attendance what it is that we, who are God's strategy, called to do? He shared that we are called to declare and display Christ together. In order to do this, he also shared that "we need the whole body for the whole mission of God." Those of us reading this are part of that 'we'! How can we be in collaboration, not competition, with each other? We choose to live into Ephesians 4:11-12.
[We] were called to one hope when [we] were called; one Lord, "The gifts [Jesus] gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."
We hope that you receive these stories and prayer requests this week, willing to extend your mind and heart to consider the ways collaboration can enrich us and be a powerful demonstration of Jesus and the characteristics of His Kingdom.
Be encouraged as you go about your day, listening to the Spirit of Jesus and obeying as he prompts, knowing He will continue to call us in collective ways.
-Nicole
For World Partners Team
Long Obedience With Co-working in Mind
with Ken & Carolyn Benson
MissionPREP (MP), has been training Global Workers for 35 years, since 1989. We have seen hundreds of people prepared for effective cross-cultural ministry and/or debriefed upon return. Over that time, we have worked with more than 30 Canadian and 30 American mission agencies. We give praise to God for the number of people who have been served through this work and the global impact they have made around the world.
MP operates with minimal staff consisting of one full-time person and four part-time staff. However, some of our programs have as high as 17 people serving in various capacities from hospitality to facilitating programs – both adult and children. These servants come from various mission agencies and local churches, all with cross-cultural experience or a strong commitment to cross-cultural ministry. This collaboration has allowed us to achieve far more than any one ministry could on its own. God has used MP as a quarterback, working with many partners to serve a common goal.
Now, MP has sensed the Holy Spirit’s leading to merge with the MORE Network (a ministry of Outreach Canada) with the final stage of the merger planned for the end of 2024. MP and MORE have already been collaborating on the RE-VIEW debriefing program for the last few years. Initially, MORE supported the program financially and together scheduled it to complement their REBOOT program for college students. MP has since helped MORE establish a RE-VIEW program in Alberta, sharing curriculum and sending staff to assist. All these God inspired opportunities for collaboration and now a future merger are examples of courageous collaboration to the point of merger in order to maximize Kingdom impact.
Praise the Lord!
Part 2 - Co-Equipping in Mexico
We are grateful for today’s story of multiple levels of collaboration, where EMCC supervised and recognized workers are collaborating with multiple denominations in Mexico to equip and encourage pastors in their context.
The IEM (Iglesia Evangelica de Mexico) and IMM (Iglesia Misionera de Mexico), both of whom have relationship to EMCC, saw the need for training up their pastors to better care for their flocks and equip them in their shepherding role. Often, Mexican pastors in rural villages have little biblical training and pastor while working full-time in other jobs. These pastors have a huge heart for the people of their community and want to serve them well.
This is where the commitment of the Chapples and the Englishes has come, to serve these pastoral couples well and coming alongside their journey for further training. This collaborative work is supported by the EMCC through an initiative which provides the SEAN materials – a key part of this continual equipping.
We appreciate you receiving these stories from Mexico, and considering how you can participate, with prayer being a great place to start.
-Nicole
For the World Partners Team
Collective Training of the Mexican Church
with Dan Chapple & Phil English
Dan & Phil have been using a program called SEAN – Study by Extension for All Nations in Spanish. The pastor and some of the congregation work together through the material at their own pace. When Dan or Phil can visit, the group discusses the material together. For the communities further away, there may be a local facilitator available, allowing them to study at a quicker pace. The students have been excited about what they are learning, leading to a desire to share with others. That is the ideal! As one group matures, they are then able to disciple others in learning their Bible and growing in their relationship with God.
Phil writes: “Many leaders struggle with feelings of inadequacy for the task of leadership, and many struggle to balance their work life with the overwhelming amount of need in ministry. Many believers struggle to remain faithful to their spouses, families, and to their faith because of social/family pressures, economic desperation, and traditional expectations. Not only is it necessary to teach and train in formal settings, it is essential that we spend time with them in their homes, encouraging them, counselling them, praying with them, and helping them apply Biblical truths to their daily lives.”
Dan writes: “One of the highlights, for me, was hearing from pastors of two different churches who started studying Semillas [SEAN] with their lay leaders. Each of them told me of different ladies in their Semillas groups who realized that they had never understood the message of the gospel and wanted to surrender their lives to Christ. Both ladies had been attending church for many years and were even helping lead the children’s programs.”
Dan & Phil have spent many hours on the road traveling to these various villages and towns, usually with a couple other trained leaders. The roads are sometimes dangerous and some of the residents of these communities experience opposition.
“Pastor Luis* shared that they led five people to the Lord from a town about a 45-minute walk away. One of the members of his congregation, who is also studying with us, will be helping to lead a new Bible study with them. In another town [nearby], there are four new believers. But in both towns, they are the only known Christians, and they are experiencing significant levels of persecution.”
Please pray for these believers that are new to the faith and already facing opposition. Pray for the safety of the pastors who are going into other villages to share the gospel and disciple. Pray for multiplication of these learning communities, as trained leaders seek to see these learning communities grow and reach more places throughout the country.
*named changed for security purposes
Part 3 - Mutual Support in Romania
Today's reflection is another example of collaboration of EMCC supervised and recognized workers. This time, the goal is to support the continued growth and maturity of the Romanian church.
At World Partners, we discuss the roles of global workers changing and evolving as they work with a maturing national church.
I had the opportunity to be with both Dorothy Reid (WP supervised worker) and Kevin and Michelle Weppler (WP recognized workers) in May. It was an incredible privilege to see these workers seek to serve their communities in unique ways. Their hearts of service, as long-time workers, continues to be to serve the direction and calling of Romanian colleagues.
May their co-participation to support Tavi and Nicoletta's vision for the gospel in Romania be an inspiration to our own participation, where Jesus has us.
-Nicole
For World Partners Team
Supporting Gospel Multiplication
with Dorothy Reid and Kevin & Michelle Weppler
In southern Romania, the perseverance required to see any fruit from gospel witness is extraordinary. It can "take years for a person to come to Christ, or even build trust in an environment in which evangelicals were highly suspect."(1)Tavi and Nicoletta both came to know Jesus as teenagers, and as a couple, felt a continued call to ministry. As they shared with Greater Europe Mission at the start of this year, “Lord, please confirm my direction in missions in two ways. [Let] at least one person respond to the gospel and be baptized, and please bring at least one more person to work alongside Nicoletta and me.”(2)
Since that prayer request was given, God has been faithful to provide ministry partners, including Dorothy, Kevin, and Michelle. Tavi reflects that "Ever since I prayed for confirmation, God has shown his faithfulness. [We] have not lacked for help on our church planting team, and I know I am exactly where God wants me to be.”(3)
Dorothy writes: “Though we live in different communities, and our ministries look different, the Wepplers and I are delighted to support Tavi and Nicoletta in their vision to see people reached for Christ, and a church planted in the village of Maruntei. It is a joy to meet together on Sundays as Tavi leads us in worship and the Word!"
World Partners is grateful for this example of workers providing support to local leaders to display and demonstrate Jesus' character and Kingdom in Southern Romania.
1, 2 and 3: quotes from GEM article, published January 2024.
gemission.org/gods-provision-in-southern-romania/
Part 4 - Serving Young People Together
Today's reflection is a video interview with Rob Dilts and Rob Gulliver, pastor at First EMC in Pembroke
Rob D, along with his wife Sharlene, are World Partners supervised workers working and living in Golden Lake. They have an intentional focus on reconciliation with Indigenous people and serving youth through Pinaaz-i Zibi Maamawi (Travelling the River Together). The desire to serve youth in a variety of ways has now evolved to, along with PZM volunteers, run a youth drop-in on Friday evenings in their community. First EMC, where Rob Gulliver pastors, has played an instrumental role in seeing this drop-in come to fruition.
Be encouraged as you listen to this conversation, as both Robs reflect on the fruits of collaboration over their years of friendship and connection.
-Nicole
For the World Partners Team
Part 5 - Join in Mission
Thank you for joining us this week for stories from supervised and recognized global workers, First EMC, church planters in Romania, pastoral training networks in Mexico, and mission mobilizers in Canada. When listed this way, it is a beautiful picture of how collaborative our shared mission to declare and display Christ together can be.
As a final encouragement, let's return to Monday and receive this question from Michael Oh, CEO of Lausanne Global, as an encouragement.
"What if instead of saying to each other 'I don't need you', we said to one another 'I need you'? Let us all take up our part in the whole body of Christ for the whole world."
Re-read the invitation in Ephesians 4: 11-16, as you listen to Jesus and consider how He is asking you to participate as part of His global church today.
Grace and peace,
-Nicole
For the World Partners Team
Be Part of the Collaboration
Begin (re)connecting with the workers and partners who are a key part of displaying and declaring Jesus, in culturally relevant ways, in a variety of contexts.
Supervised Global Workers
Global Projects