My "Organizational Member Care Service" Class

Last week I was in Columbia, South Carolina for my third member care course in a Masters in Ministry Care at Columbia International University.  This time our topic was Organizational Member Care Services, where we looked at mission, vision, needs assessments, and proposal presentation for a Member Care facilitator to use in working within their organization.  

Ten of the 15 students had been in previous classes with me, which made it more enjoyable.  There are people who are clinical counselors, pastoral counselors, and others like me who are facilitators.

The class was taught using "Adult Learning" principles, which meant that we had a lot of personal interaction and group presentations.  With the breadth of experience in our group, and the variety of nations we represented, there were some very good interactions.

On Thursday we had to do a role-play with our "administrators" to present a proposal we had worked on throughout the week.  Our profs were those administrators--much too nice, I might add!  Dr. Laura Gardner   (L) has contributed much to the member care field. Many of us have used her writings to help us establish our member care programs. Dr. Jim Smith (R) was one of her doctoral students, and oversees the Member Care program for his mission organization.

We gathered for a group photo on Friday before lunch.  (We're missing one member of the class who cannot be photographed because of the sensitivity of their ministry location.)

I leave with some work left to finish--but much of it is very practical and my project is based on being sure to facilitate the transition for our Asian Access missionaries who are moving under the SIM USA banner this year.

Next week I'll be joined by four other Asian Access people in Charlotte, NC for meetings with SIM to work through details of our transition.

Today I was struck by the passage my brother in law preached (I'm weekending in Cape Cod with Stan's brother and family) from in 1 Corinthians 16:15 & 16

You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 

The role of a Member Care person is to be the one who serves those who are serving. As one of my classmates said, they are "missionaries to the missionary."  It is important to care and encourage those who are involved in front-line ministry -- and it was nice to see Paul confirming that role in the Corinthian church.