Director’s Desk

This discussion was carried on from theIMTN.org Currents which can be viewed by clicking here.

Meeting with the EEMA in Spain provided another opportunity to reflect on one of our most challenging problems in the IMTN: valuing training. I know trainers value training, that is a given. It was good to hear those promoting missions from, to and in Europe express the need for training. But the problem missionary training providers face around the world is how to get those who need the training to value it?

Hearing some anecdotes describing frustrations of mission agencies trying to assist new cross-cultural workers serving in the European context reminded me of how we identify with the need for more and better training, and even develop premiere training programs only to watch needy workers stay away by the droves. This reminded me of what a colleague says about creating awareness, how we need to move people from a position where “they do not know what they do not know” to where “they know what they do not know.”

In the IMTN, we have batted this question around for many years. Mission agencies are loath to require training principally out of the fear of losing potential candidates who can quite easily join another agency that does not require as much training. Churches underwrite and support missions and could be more intentional about requiring their outgoing workers to get training, but they are largely unaware of the unique challenges of cross-cultural ministry. The primary training concern of Churches is for theological preparation, not cross-cultural training. Research demonstrates that cross-cultural pre-field training plays a significant role in the retention of long term cross-cultural workers. So, what are we to do about this? Download the Becoming an Intentional Intercultural Church manual for use in your church or mission.

I think there are two things we need to do. First, we need to celebrate the success of those who took the time to prepare for the rigors of cross-cultural ministry, who worked systematically at developing the needed skills and strove to grow in areas of character and spiritual formation. Let’s celebrate the training along with the accomplishments and create more understanding of the benefits of appropriate pre-field and in-service missionary training. Second, let’s work towards creating awareness. If we can help move people from where “they do not know what they do not know” to where “they know what they do not know” we can stimulate the sense of need and value for training. This is one of the primary reasons why we plan to develop online assessments. One advantage of completing an assessment process is that it immediately creates an awareness of need and this will be the beginning of valuing training.

Do you have any ideas about the subject of valuing training? Your thoughts are welcome. Comments are welcome and once validated they will be posted to the blog.

Blessings!
Rob Brynjolfson