Two Opportunities
Dear Friends of NAB International Missions,
Over the past year I have been raising a number of topics that represent the significant changes happening in international missions, sharing some of the ways we are reshaping our work in light of these global shifts. Last month I was in Hungary unveiling our new International Partnership Grant system by which our partners can receive significant short-term financial support from NAB to initiate new ministries. We are very early in this new venture, but already this concept is receiving positive attention from other mission agencies seeking ways to accomplish similar goals.
Our national missionary partners will be a significant part of our future, but today I want to focus on continuing to send our own missionaries. In one of my updates this year I spoke of how our strategy is not an “either / or” strategy, but a “both/ and” strategy. We need both international partners and our NAB staff on the ground.
Our website has a listing of nine career missionary opportunities in four countries, multiple two-week teaching opportunities in many locations, and of course our partnership opportunities through Gateway. The local NAB church is still the first line of movement in our global work. I want to highlight two of these opportunities and ask you and your church to pray for God to supply workers.
The first is for our team in Japan. We would be well served by strengthening our team in Japan by adding at least one more couple. There is much work to do in supporting the Japan Baptist Conference in their church planting work and in the development of national leaders.
We have a pressing need right now in finding someone to serve in Paul and Melissa Ewing’s church while they come on home assignment next year (July 2016 – Sept 2017). We are looking for an experienced pastor who has a love for the Japanese people and culture. Language training is not required, but it would obviously be beneficial.
This is a great opportunity for someone to explore career missionary service in Japan. It would not only meet a great need, but also provide a setting for someone to be immersed in the work for a full year. Perhaps you might be thinking of someone right now that you could encourage to consider this role.
Our second pressing need is in Central Europe. Our ministry is expanding at a fantastic rate,
while at the same time our missionaries are getting closer to retirement. We have a wonderful window of opportunity to bring one or two new families to Central Europe and be mentored by Ron and Jeannie Seck, creating an intentional hand off of relationships and roles.
Our work in Central Europe is using CHE strategies (Community Health Evangelism) with the Roma and the poor primarily in rural Hungary, Serbia, and Romania. Our missionaries have been key leaders in Community Development among the poor.
We will be participating in a conference, studying Community Development in urban settings in Paris next year (April 6-8, 2016). We feel this is a wonderful opportunity for potential NAB missionaries to attend the conference, experience the passion for this work, and spend some time with Ron and Jeannie Seck, all to explore Central Europe as a setting for career missionary service.
Once again, you may have someone in mind who would resonate with this opportunity. Please take the time to encourage your friend to consider this. But if nothing else, would you take these two needs to your church for prayer? Who knows how God might use someone in your own church to answer these prayers.
Norman Poehlke
Vice President of Ministry Outreach