By Jennifer Johnson
Christian Missionary Fellowship plants international churches, trains national leaders, coordinates a child sponsorship program, develops campus ministries in key cities around the world, teaches Community Health Evangelism, drills wells for clean water, manages a microloan program, and more. But much of this work depends on consistently recruiting new people to serve””as interns, exchange students, and short- and long-term missionaries.
Josh Weingart and friends dig a well in the Turkana district of Kenya. An internship with CMF in Kenya in 2010 changed Weingart”s life. He has since launched WaterDrop Shop (www.thewaterdropshop.com), whose work, in part, supports CMF missionaries Gene and Melba Morden.
Recently CMF developed a new “Is Missions for Me?” seminar designed to discover more potential recruits for its programs while resourcing and supporting local church efforts. The event is hosted by a church (although several churches can partner to bring it to their area) and usually held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (although it can be shortened, if needed).
There is no cost for the church to host the seminar or for participants to attend, other than any small fees the church might charge for refreshments, and CMF staff and missionaries lead every session, ranging from “How Do I Know If I”m Called?” and “Characteristics of an Effective Missionary” to “What Ministry Role Is for Me?” and “Introduction to Support-raising.” Each topic is designed to help people interested in missions think through the pertinent issues, evaluate their own gifts and skills, ask questions, share concerns, and leave with specific action steps.
“There are many people who go on short-term trips every year,” says Erin Githiru, director of mobilization. “Our hope is that even those people will be challenged to ask, “˜Should I consider going long-term?” These seminars meet people at every level, and also allow room for the spirit to work in each individual and through the group participation.”
The seminar is targeted for any interested individual college-age and older, and includes an optional session on “Families on the Mission Field” to provide helpful
information for adults in every life stage. Learn more at www.cmfi.org/mobilize/.
Very good!
Anything that gets the Church thinking & praying about missions is good.
The thousands of unreached people groups still scattered around the globe ought to haunt us.
We can do this!
Yes, “thousands” is a lot, but there are millions of churches!
If only we would focus on what God focuses on.