Do you train your short term missions trip participants for cross-cultural ministry? You should, to help them understand the cultural difference they will encounter and how to deal with them. It is key that they understand that their actions have the ability to either help or hinder the long term missionary efforts on the field they serve. Often the difference comes back to cross-cultural preparedness. Here are some resources to help you lead a basic one-hour class on preparing for cross-cultural ministry.
training
Planning
No one plans to fail… they just fail to plan. Do you have a plan for your ministry? A good plan helps you understand what you need to do to accomplish your goals and helps you make decisions about time, staff, and finances. Planning allows you to do things now to make these future events a reality. But how do you develop a plan? There are two basic types of plans – strategic plans and action plans. Strategic plans (or master plans) are documents that establish ministry objectives for several years and determine the direction of your ministry. Often these plans are made in special planning meetings by the senior leaders with input from various stakeholders. Action plans are plans to carry out specific parts of the overall strategic plan. These include plans for programs and events, such as camps, conferences, training events, or other projects. Below are some resources from CIVICUS that can help you plan more effectively.
Security Training
Do you train you missionaries in basic emergency preparedness? If you’re looking for something basic, here are some resources for a one-hour class designed for short-term missions trip participants. Click the Security category to see other video resources.
On-the-job Development: What Gets in the Way?
Here is a great article about training, or coaching, missionaries on the field – also read the longer article in Momentum magazine.
On-the-job Development: What Gets in the Way?
by Dr. Keith E. Webb
Do you receive adequate help developing on-the-job?
Most non-profit workers say they receive adequate pre-field training, but inadequate on-the-job development. Continuous on-field development is a key factor in worker longevity and effectiveness. We know this, but it’s difficult to do.
Sending organizations point to a lack of experts, time and money constraints, geographical distance, or simply a lack of follow through.
- Experts. By far, I hear leaders lament that there are just not enough experts to mentor all their field workers.
- Time. Those who do have expertise are usually the ones with the busiest schedule and the most fruitful work. Many are reluctant to give time to newer expatriate workers instead of the local co-workers with whom they partner.
- Money. Some sending organizations try to visit their staff once a year, and have their staff gather somewhere for a conference once a year. Twice a year simply isn’t effective for on-going development. Conferences tent to produce largely motivational and relational results, but the effect usually dissipates quickly after returning home.
- Geography. Many workers live in remote locations. Organizational leaders are constrained by time and money in getting out to where their workers live.
- Reality. Many organizations have coaching/mentoring plans that include regular monthly meetings. In reality, however, these plans often break down because of one of the above factors, or simply because the plan looks good on paper but it doesn’t work.
What’s the answer here? I believe the answer is in rethinking how we help people develop, where and how often that’s done, and who can do it.
Coaching is one answer to effectively develop workers on-the-job.
How about you?
- How have you overcome these limiting factors?
- What ways have you found to develop others on-the-field?
I’ve written up a few ideas in an article published this month in Momentum magazine. Read the article: “Coaching Workers”
Copyright © 2010 Keith E. Webb & CRM
Dr. Keith E. Webb is a trainer and cross-cultural leadership coach helping non-profit organizations, teams, and individuals multiply their cross-cultural impact. Find more free articles at http://www.CreativeResultsManagement.com.