Last week our whole family was in Charlotte, NC for a week of next-steps and training with SIM, our long-term missions agency. This was the first visit our children have had to the beautiful SIM campus, and they had a great time. Bob and I love being there, meeting and learning from all the SIM USA staff at the sending base.
We were there as part of a group of 14 individuals and families (that brought a total of 25 children!) training to launch long-term with SIM. They came from all over the States, and are being sent out to 13 different nations over the next months-to-year. It was such a privilege to learn with and from them, as we all encouraged each other in this special time.
One reason we love SIM and believe God has placed us with them long-term is the strength of the organization in their member care. This mission has been around for 124 years, and supports 4,000 ministry workers, of 60+ different ethnicities, to over 70 different nations. SIM has learned the value of excellent member care for the long-term health and sustainability of missionaries. They want to see God glorified in the spiritual vitality and holistic health of His servants, not just in the external fruit of their work. What a great organization to work with!
We got to spend a little bit of time with the fabulous Ackleys. They (especially Meg) have walked with us and prayed faithfulfully for our family over the past year with YWAM, and all along our process of preparing for full-time work through SIM.
One day the kids (who spent their days at the MK house while we were in meetings and classes) were escorted through the SIM USA office, where they met many home-based missionaries (like the Ackleys!) who are serving from here with their professional skills. They come from backgrounds like IT, security, finance, counseling, medicine, insurance, cross-cultural communications, Human Resources, project management, purchasing, donor relations, and more. Without this support structure behind the field missionaries, much of the global work simply would not be possible. At each office a different staffer would supply the kids with an ingredient (flour, butter, m&ms…), which were toted back to the MK house kitchen where a fabulous pan of monster cookie bars was crafted! What a great illustration of teamwork, unity, and the necessity of a large variety of skills contributed.
It is truly our honor to prepare to serve here with SIM in a supportive role. While we will be going to the field on short trips to any of the 13 nations where Sports Friends ministers, the work of sustaining, strengthening, and expanding the global outreach through the International Support Services staff is ciritical!
After all, where would monster cookies be without chocolate??