2024: Adapting Our Care of Increasingly Diverse Global Workers

All Nations International
Dr. Ho is the international executive leader of All Nations, a global Christian missions organization with workers making disciples and church planting in 45 countries. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Dr. Ho is passionate about finishing the Great Commission in this generation by sharing the love of God among every people and in parts of the world where the name of Jesus Christ is little or not known. Dr. Ho received her doctorate of strategic leadership from Regent University in 2016. She is married to John and has two young adult sons.

Shine in the World Ministries (SHINE) and Merge Twin Cities (MERGE)
Dr. Wanyonyi is an experienced missionary leader with a track record of effective evangelism leadership and movement mobilization. As a former college professor, Dr. Wanyonyi is skilled in adult education, volunteer management, curriculum development, public speaking and diplomatic leadership. With degrees in global and contextual leadership, divinity and cross-cultural studies, he is commonly referred to as “the new Billy Graham” of a globalizing world.

Jesus calls us to proclaim His favor to the nations in a time of unprecedented ethnic, socio-economic and demographic diversity among His Kingdom workers. We are living in a time when God is sending from everywhere to everywhere. Therefore, member care must create a global culture of care in tandem with what Jesus is doing in the nations.

Jesus left us the Great Commission that anticipates disciples from the whole world, and disciple-makers from and to the whole world. Member care models that are monocultural or mononational, rather than Kingdom-focused, result in missional drift. Our member care models need to be reoriented to Jesus and His mission on earth. We must pray for, anticipate and embrace the multidimensional missional loop as the evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in our time.

Holy Spirit-led member care takes competent communication with global cross-cultural workers seriously. The message calls us to an awareness and understanding of the Shame/Honor, Fear/Power, and Guilt/Innocence communication nuances and the enormous impact these cross-cultural nuances have on felt member care.

In this global era, member care is diversity care! In essence, we are global citizens caring for a mosaic of God’s people. To do diversity care well, each of us must actively cultivate a global mindset – intellectually, emotionally and socially. Let’s explore the key competencies, attitudes, behaviors and knowledge needed to develop a global mindset. Then, we can care well for people, irrespective of their backgrounds.

Practically, what does it take to reach the 3 billion? The great news is that people with minimal access to the Gospel are 50 times more responsive to the Gospel than those with access! That’s where we need to go! Yet evangelicals invest 100 times more in church planting where there is already a significant number of Christians, instead of going where there are little or none. Come and learn how you and your church – irrespective of size, experience and resources – can be equipped and catalyzed to take the Gospel to the 3 billion who have the least access but have the most open heart to the Gospel!

Dr. Ho is the international executive leader of All Nations, a global Christian missions organization with workers making disciples and church planting in 45 countries. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Dr. Ho is passionate about finishing the Great Commission in this generation by sharing the love of God among every people and in parts of the world where the name of Jesus Christ is little or not known. Dr. Ho received her doctorate of strategic leadership from Regent University in 2016. She is married to John and has two young adult sons.

The face of missions is becoming increasingly diverse. The number of missionaries from racial and ethnic minority communities in the U.S. is growing, contributing to the racial diversity of missionaries from the U.S. serving in international contexts. Because missionaries of color tend to face unique challenges on the field, this workshop seeks to equip individuals, teams and churches to support the flourishing of missionaries from diverse communities on the field.

Lindsey Huang, Ph.D., is the director of kids’ ministry and missions at Cornerstone Church in Litchfield, Minnesota. Previously, she was associate professor of intercultural studies, as well as program director for the Doctor of Intercultural Studies at Cook School of Intercultural Studies (Biola University). She has published her qualitative research on the experiences of U.S. missionaries of color in missiological journals, such as Transformation and Mission Studies. Lindsey has extensive international and domestic intercultural experience. She currently serves on the board of directors for Students International, a missions organization serving in Central America and the Caribbean.

Missionaries are frequently asked to tell the story of their initial call to missionary service, but few are asked to discuss the ways that God is continuing to clarify their sense of calling. In a study of mid-career missionaries who were thriving in their calling, Dale discovered that these missionaries would like to have ongoing discussions with their supervisors and supporting churches about the ways that God is challenging them to live into their callings. This seminar will introduce Work as Calling Theory from vocational psychology and discuss practical steps that supervisors, missions organizations and local churches can take in supporting missionaries so that they can live out their calling.

Dr. Lemke is associate professor of Christian ministries at the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. He formerly served as a missionary to Japan with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. His life vision is to resource global leaders to make an impact in their local communities. Dale is married to his beautiful wife, Heidi, who happens to be a Northwestern alum. They adopted their two girls, Mia and Selah, while living in Japan. Since returning to the States, they have added two cats to the family

Nathan served for 10 years on an international mission team in SE Asia. On this team were 65 missionaries from 20 different sending countries, the majority being from Asia. He learned as much about himself as he did about other cultures in this diverse team. We will explore the challenges, blessings and beauty of seeking to do missions in unity and diversity.

Nathan attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. After three years of pastoring in Iowa, the Martin family left as missionaries to Cambodia with OMF International where they served for 10 years. Alongside ministries of visitation, evangelism and church planting, the Martins worked closely with the Cambodian Department of Education to foster literacy and rural libraries. Nathan is now a regional mobilization manager for OMF and excited to help the church connect with the world.

Well, the name just about says it all, doesn’t it? Let’s talk about all the things we normally avoid: sex, politics and changing culture. By talking about what’s really on the hearts and minds of your missionaries, you can help them stay on the field.

Amy Young, MA, LPC loves a good story. She served in China for nearly 20 years (plenty of stories there!). As the founder of Global Trellis, her current story involves helping Great Commission workers have tended souls and growing skill sets. Amy has written six books for global workers, including Looming Transitions and Becoming More Fruitful in Cross-Cultural Work. She lives in Colorado and is delighted not to have to get up in the middle of the night to cheer for the Denver Broncos and Kansas Jayhawks

Each of us has a unique journey with God. Missionaries have distinct challenges in their spiritual journey, as well as numerous benefits. In this workshop, we will take a closer look at what it’s like for missionaries to navigate their spiritual life while living overseas. We will also talk about some practical ways that the local church can support and come alongside them as they journey with Jesus.

Linda Gunderson served as a missionary and church planter with her husband in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for 20 years. Since 2010, she has served on the member care team for ReachGlobal in various capacities. Linda is a trained spiritual director, and her great joy is to walk alongside missionaries as they journey with Jesus.

For years, the relationship between churches and their ministry partners has been an exchange of money for a monthly newsletter, creating a church that watches the missionaries go and do the work. This structure has caused the church to be less engaged in missions. We want to see churches much more involved with their missionaries and personally connected to both the mission and the person. A “supporting church” just sends money, whereas a “partnering church” sends people, resources, care and money.

The Nicholsons have a deep passion for missions and mobilizing the local church to do missions alongside their missionaries. Bryan’s roots trace back to South Africa, where his grandparents were missionaries for over 35 years, fostering a legacy of service that has profoundly influenced his journey. With over two decades of experience in TV and production, Bryan brings a wealth of expertise to the digital side of ministry for H2T. In contrast, Stefanie’s upbringing in a mission-focused church laid the foundation for her calling to serve globally. She served overseas in the Philippines and East Asia, which formulated her vision of churches being actively engaged in missions.

A growing number of workers from non-majority culture backgrounds are being called to serve in missions. Both majority culture and non-majority culture workers are often prepared to serve cross-culturally but not prepared to co-labor with an intercultural mindset. This workshop will aim to focus on how we can prepare and support workers from culturally diverse backgrounds AND for culturally diverse environments. How do we, as senders, engage in learning and adapt our models in order to better support those we send from everywhere to everywhere?

God’s call to missions affects the whole family. Missionary parents raise their kids in a cross-cultural setting, and under the spotlight that comes with vocational ministry. In this session, we will explore the impact of those factors on parents and missionary kids. We will consider some of the practical and
emotional challenges that missionary families navigate as the children grow up and, eventually, leave home. We will also discuss ways that we, as people who care for these families, can offer help and encouragement at each stage of the journey.

Heidi Tunberg spent her childhood in Malaysia and Singapore where her parents were missionaries with the Evangelical Free Church. She is a licensed psychologist who spent seven years in private practice, but her love of missionary kids (MKs) prompted her to move into caring for them full time. Since 1999, Heidi has been with ReachGlobal as MK Care Coordinator focused on MKs in their teens and twenties. She seeks to be a resource to parents as they raise their kids internationally. She currently lives in Minneapolis, MN with her two matching schnauzers.

What does it mean to provide “member care”? In our time together, we will touch on four must-haves of comprehensive care; review five key skills every member care provider needs; and share resources for 16 topics you can use with others.

Amy Young, MA, LPC loves a good story. She served in China for nearly 20 years (plenty of stories there!). As the founder of Global Trellis, her current story involves helping Great Commission workers have tended souls and growing skill sets. Amy has written six books for global workers, including Looming Transitions and Becoming More Fruitful in Cross-Cultural Work. She lives in Colorado and is delighted not to have to get up in the middle of the night to cheer for the Denver Broncos and Kansas Jayhawks

The CRI is a proprietary coaching assessment developed by Dr. Cerny. These 21 strategically chosen, comprehensive questions encompass seven broad areas of experience. The results give the responder and the coach key insights and questions for good dialog around issues of resilience that lead to insight and actions toward growth. This session will focus on 1) describing coaching as a means of processing experiences and supporting our global workers during times of crisis and challenge, 2) introducing the CRI as a valuable tool, 3) providing attendees with an experience in taking the instrument.

Patrick Repp is a former psychologist, and marriage and family therapist. He is the founder and former executive director of MN Renewal Center, a group of therapists who offer counseling services to clergy, missionaries and military personnel, as well as the community. He and his wife, Janell, are also former short-term missionaries to Nigeria. In his retirement, Patrick has started Relumine LLC, a coaching and consulting ministry to Christian leaders and organizations. He also works with Dr. Len Cerny as an authorized distributor and senior trainer of the Cerny Resilience Inventory (CRI).

Debriefing is one tool the church can engage to help our cross-cultural workers thrive for the long haul. Come learn about what it means to help our cross-cultural workers unpack the bucket full of things they’ve collected over a period of time. We will cover the basics and benefits of debriefing.

Peggy Spiers is a member of the global support team for All Nations International. She works to develop and sustain healthy partnerships between goers, senders, home churches and agencies. Peggy helped to develop a training called Sender’s U that helps to equip local churches to send and care for workers on the field well.

In this workshop, we will continue the conversation on embracing Holy Spirit-led member care that is rooted in an understanding of the various cross-cultural nuances from Shame/Honor, Fear/Power and Guilt/Innocence communication playing fields, and how they intersect with God’s Kingdom agenda of forming a new, redeemed humanity.

Dr. Wanyonyi is an experienced missionary leader with a track record of effective evangelism leadership and movement mobilization. As a former college professor, Dr. Wanyonyi is skilled in adult education, volunteer management, curriculum development, public speaking and diplomatic leadership. With degrees in global and contextual leadership, divinity and cross-cultural studies, he is commonly referred to as “the new Billy Graham” of a globalizing world.

What if missional discipleship was at the heart of our care for God’s beloved global workers? What could that make possible? In 2023, Valeo Research Institute conducted a needs assessment to discern the current opportunities, obstacles and trajectory for our global member care community. This session
will unpack the results of that study and clarify the next steps we must take individually and collectively as we chart our course toward the future of member care.

Geoff Whiteman is passionate about helping people and communities connect their life’s purpose with God’s mission in the world. Geoff serves as the director of Valeo Research Institute. He volunteers as the People Care and Development Track co-leader for MissioNexus and is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Kentucky. Geoff spent some of his formative years as a TCK in the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and Singapore. He and his wife, Kriss, have been engaged in vocational service since 2000, and supporting the care and training of those in cross-cultural work since 2007. Those experiences are what led him to study and research global worker resilience.