Resilience and Empowerment in Member Care - South Pacific Region

Empowering and Equipping South Pacific Region Member Care Marion Knell

Who Cares Social Networks Family & Friends Prayer Partners Trainers Supporters Home Church Local Church Email Forums The Field Office Home Office Individual September 2015 Australia 2

Who? Each of these has... Expectations of their own roles Expectations of others roles Responsibilities, defined and undefined Skills, knowledge, appropriate and inappropriate September 2015 Australia 3

Communication Communicate.... our expectations our roles and responsibilities the lines of communication September 2015 Australia 4

When? Aftercare Re-entry Recruitment From Recruitment Routine Debriefing Selection To Retirement and Missionary Life Cycle Beyond Personnel Development Placement Appraisal Induction Orientation September 2015 Australia 5

Equipping and Empowering We are not looking for perfect people but for those who have begun to understand themselves and others and to grow because of this Marjory Foyle 1997 September 2015 Australia 6

Resilience The ability to come back into shape The ability to rebound from severe stress Flexibility, pliability, suppleness Strength of character, toughness, hardiness, adaptability, buoyancy The opposite of resilience is rigidity and fragility The capacity to take life as it is and to manage it in a healthy way (M Foyle) September 2015 Australia 7

Resilience Spiritual Resilience Personal Resilience Physical Resilience September 2015 Australia 8

Spiritual Resilience People develop Spiritual Resilience when they: Have a personal Theology of Suffering Exercise Spiritual Disciplines Are able to forgive, receive grace, accept vulnerability Have personal connection to God Participate and receive from a worshipping community September 2015 Australia 9

Personal Resilience People develop Personal Resilience when they have: A strong sense of call Ability to cope with distress Flexibility, adaptability Good social support network Healthy family relationships September 2015 Australia 10

Physical Resilience People develop Physical Resilience when they have: Healthy exercise, eating and sleeping Work/life balance, boundaries Rest relaxation, restoration Understood their limitations September 2015 Australia 11

Resilience Spiritual Resilience Personal Resilience Physical Resilience September 2015 Australia 12

Flow of Care Selection and Screening Preparation and Support Re-entry and Re-integration September 2015 Australia 13

Selection and screening What are we looking for/at? (characteristics, experience etc) How can we find it? (tools, skills etc) Who will do it? Brainstorm September 2015 Australia 14

Selection and Screening Motive and Call Character Development Relationship/Life Skills Family Issues Health Issues Qualifications/work experience Spiritual Maturity/Christian Ministry Theology of suffering September 2015 Australia 15

Selection and Screening Pointers to possible trouble: Persistent nervousness at interview and afterwards Overloaded family history Certain physical or mental health problems Children in trouble Repeated interpersonal relationship or occupational problems September 2015 Australia 16

Selection and Screening Positive things to look for: Insight capacity Reasonable adaptability A humble learning attitude Progress in handling old problems Some knowledge of personal strengths and weaknesses September 2015 Australia 17

Questions How do we gather information? Are our questionnaires relevant? Who does our interviewing? September 2015 Australia 18

Resilience Spiritual Resilience Personal Resilience Physical Resilience September 2015 Australia 19

Preparation and support What sort of preparation do people need and when? What support do they need while away, individually, as a team, as a family Who will do it and how? Brainstorm September 2015 Australia 20

Spiritual Preparation Theology of Suffering Theology of rest Accountability Spiritual Warfare Training Learn how to receive from nationals Prioritise Prayer Life Sustain personal walk/resources Relationship with God is about more than reading Firm Prayer Support 10. Local church ministry experience Australia 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. September 2015 21

Briefing Theoretical Information Practical Information Country-specific Information Locality-specific Information Team Dynamics Information Security Briefing Health Briefing Stress and Trauma Briefing September 2015 Australia 22

Equipping Cross-cultural skills Spiritual skills Ministry skills Lines of accountability Relationship skills Teams Marriages Parenting September 2015 Australia 23

Questions What do we cover at orientation? What do we expect to be covered at local, national/international level? What do we prioritise at preparation? What do we do at field conferences? Who visits? When? Why? For how long? September 2015 Australia 24

Support What are the key ways of Missionaries staying in contact with you? You staying in contact with missionaries Missionaries staying in contact with the world they have left behind? September 2015 Australia 25

Resilience Spiritual Resilience Personal Resilience Physical Resilience September 2015 Australia 26

Re-entry and re-integration What are the challenges of Home assignment? What are the major considerations at re-entry and beyond? Who does what and how? Brainstorm September 2015 Australia 27

Home Assignment Accommodation Finance Transport Care for the family unit Controlling the schedule Sending Church R&R Holiday Equipping/Training September 2015 Australia 28

Questions Do we help workers plan home assignment? How do we help them balance work, family, ministry, leisure, spiritual refreshment? September 2015 Australia 29

Re-entry Identity Grief Issues Employment Finance Housing Family Needs Social Skills Spiritual Needs September 2015 Australia 30

Questions Do we have/know trained debriefers? Can we manage practical needs of resettlement? Do we include kids? Do we manage ongoing expectations? Can we manage a crisis evacuation? September 2015 Australia 31

Resources www.robertsoncooper.com/resilience www.headington-insttute.org www.mmct.org trauma and resilience www.globalconnection.co.uk code of good practice www.peopleinaid.org Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills September 2015 Australia 32

Lessons from Jesus Matthew 14:13-33 He had selected these 12 disciples mainly on character Already identified potential leaders Peter, James and John Already done a short-term trip with extensive briefing (Matthew 10) Warned them of suffering Inductive teaching (Matthew 13 parables) A bad thing happens John the Baptist September 2015 Australia 33

Lessons from Jesus Success story v13-21 ministry experience Sending away v22 MAKES Jesus is absent Unfamiliar territory Lack of safety Jesus supports at a distance Jesus comes alongside Jesus invites Peter to join him Peter steps out but ultimately fails Ministry and discipleship continue September 2015 Australia 34

Key points Have a simple statement of what you are aiming for Have a flow chart for member care Take small steps Gather a team Network! September 2015 Australia 35

Questions 1. What has shaped your character? 2. What are the challenges in your organisation to co-operation, communication and delivery of Member Care? 3. What practices does your organisation use to build and support resilience? 4. What area would you like to concentrate on in delivering a Member Care programme? September 2015 Australia 36