Video Mission Trip for RGLA

In January 2012, we (RGLA) will have the privilege of hosting 4-6 video producers in various locations where we work. These video producers will shoot and edit videos for our promotional and story-telling use -- all in the span of a two-week trip.

The Moving Latin America Pictures trip can only happen if God provides the right producers for the job, though. Please share the link to the trip description with your prayer partners, friends, family, and churches who may be interested in taking part (or who, in turn, may pass it along to someone they know).

You can also view a short blurb on the RGLA News & Stories site -- easy to share on Facebook or through email.

Download the Moving Latin America Pictures Information Packet to attach to emails or hand out to potential candidates or churches.

Even if the video producers do not come to your personal ministry location, keep in mind that this mission trip can benefit your future support-raising efforts as we create videos that promote the work of God in Latin America through ReachGlobal. You are a part of the larger story!

We also ask you to pray for God's provision of the right producers for the trip and for the planning and preparations that must occur pre-trip.

Ten Year Goals - Part 2 (and half as long)

In Part 1 of this series we spoke about the first four goals in our ten year plan. In this segment we will discuss two more goals that relate to our missionary staffing.  Thanks to your feedback we will keep these videos under three minutes long - although this one goes a little longer - and we will also post a written version for those of you who find your attention drifting or simply prefer to read.




Trivia question: Where was this video recorded in Costa Rica?
Hint: Some great trout fishing is just steps away

2010 Educational Survey Results

An update from Area Leader Omar Rodriguez:

I wanted to share the results of the recent survey that was sent out in an attempt to quantify our region’s educational ministry efforts. Although brief and incomplete, I think that it gives some encouraging insights into the educational ministries that ReachGlobal missionaries are carrying out in Latin America and the Caribbean.

First, let me thank all of those who responded. Of the 60 survey requests, 28 individuals responded (a 47% response rate). From those 28 responders, we were able to gather the following data:

• 226 individuals were taught in a formal education setting (formal = Seminary, Bible school or any other kind of institutional setting).
• 2,985 individuals were taught in a non-formal learning setting (non-formal = SS, CBT, church planter training program, workshop, conferences).
• 339 individuals were taught in an informal setting (informal = one-on-one or small group discipleship, mentoring or coaching relationship).
• 6 formal courses were taught.
• 67 non-formal courses were taught.

While numbers do not tell the entire story, they do tell part of the story. In fact, each number represents the story of a fellow brother or sister that God has, to a certain extent, entrusted to us. I think that we know each other well enough to know that these numbers do not represent notches in our belts. Rather, these are individuals who are working to equip themselves to better serve our Lord and Savior, and we have the joy and responsibility of being a part of that process. That’s a blessing and a privilege!

 

We know that you put your hearts and souls into your teaching, and we are very grateful for that. As we hear of events or occasions where teaching is being conducted, we do pray for you and for those who are studying. We know that it is not just an academic exercise but a powerful time that God uses to transform lives and to equip His children for ministry. As you engage in teaching throughout this year, know that your ministry is appreciated and valued!

Blessings,
Omar Rodriguez, Latin America Area Leader

RG LAC Ten Year Goals - Part 1

In our last video we introduced the vision for our division for 2020.  In this segment we will discuss the first half of our ten year goals that will help us achieve what God has set before us.



Your RG leadership team appreciate your feedback.  Feel free to contact any of us with questions, recommendations or concerns.

You may read this post instead.

Expenses - what was the policy on that again?

Sometimes digging up the mission policy manual and finding a specific item can be a bit much.  So to hit the highlights on expenses Wayne Anderson has provided the following "cheat-sheet".  Perhaps that is a poor choice of words when it comes to expenses.  Thanks Wayne!

v       Approved taxable compensation (should NOT run through pcard, verify a PCF sent to payroll

•       Adoption costs – up to $5,000 per child
•       Approved travel for bereavement or sick leave – policy specifically says staff are to pay for the tickets personally and be reimbursed through payroll
•           Relocation funds
•           MK education including home school curriculum
•           College child visits to field – 2 per year
•      Travel to help child enter college – one time
•           MK at boarding school – travel 3 times per year
•           Deacon fund grants/benevolence
•           Dependent travel for home assignments upon DBM approval
•           Foreign income taxes
•           Rent for field housing, also mandatory expenses required by rental contract
•           Renovation costs when missionary vacates field housing if required by rental contract

       Personal costs that are not allowed

• Pet expenses
• Payment of mortgage for field housing owned by staff when on home assignment
• Note: if staff is renting the field housing, it is allowable to pay rent to retain the housing while on HA and expense to IMA
•  Hotels and meals for any personal stops when traveling home for home assignment
• Utilities for housing
•  Mileage for commuting
• Travel for a spouse or child who do not have a specific ministry assignment
•  Moving due to personal preference (ministry expense if RG or landlord require it)
•  Extracurricular MK education costs e.g. music lessons, field trips, sports.
•  Child care
•  Base rate for primary telephone

v            Other

•       Ministry expenses are defined as those which are directly related to the goals and objectives in a missionary’s job description.
•            Pcard is default tool for reimbursable expenses – not personal credit cards
•            All personal advances (for MAP or unusual travel) must be processed by National Office
•          All giving for ministry projects or IMAs should be processed through National Office
•          Honorarium checks to missionaries should be made payable to EFCA (if possible), sent to National Office for deposit
•          Noncash gifts must be approved by Donor Services

Personal Prayer Teams: An Introduction

Arthur, Director of PrayGlobal, introduces you to the idea of Personal Prayer Teams and the role they will play in Latin America going forward. You can expect to hear more from Arthur and PrayGlobal in the near future!

Last month the Latin America Division Leadership Team met in Costa Rica to continue our work on our 10- and 3-year goals and our 6-month tactical plans.

One of the 3-year goals we established is for all of our staff to develop a small personal prayer team in addition to the broader prayer support we receive from those who are on our donor/supporters list. As a first step, each of the LA division leaders committed to developing our own small personal team in the next six months.

This personal prayer team goal aligns with the rest of ReachGlobal -- with the Africa and Asia Divisions already adopting this same 3-year goal for their area staff. As the Director of PrayGlobal, this is one of my first initiatives to strengthen and grow a culture of prayer in ReachGlobal.

A smaller, personal prayer team will be new to some of us, while others of us have had one for years (for ourselves or for our family). A personal prayer team is a formally recruited group of 3 to 9 individuals we personally know who are committed/called to pray for us regularly -- usually daily. It is this group that forms our core prayer support. They pray for our most personal, ministry and daily life needs, challenges and opportunities. They are the kind of people we go to first when effective prayer is critical or when we are in crisis.

In 2002 -- two years after Tim Addington became the senior leader at ReachGlobal -- I began to establish a small personal prayer team for him. This team has become a core lifeline for him and his wife, Mary Ann, for almost a decade now.

My wife, Karen, and I have a small personal prayer team, as well, who has prayed for our ministry, for us, and for the salvation and sanctification of our three children for 4 years now. We know from experience both the increased fruitfulness and the protection that comes from having a personal prayer team on our side.

I look forward to talking with you all more about how you can develop a team for yourself. And in the near future, we will provide coaching and teaching to better equip you in this area.

I know our God will do extraordinary things in and through us as we grow a culture of prayer and dependency on Him.

Area leadership update - March 2011

Have you ever wondered what the Latin America area leadership team does?  Do you know who is on the team? Do you ever wonder if there is an overall strategy for the area?  Watch this video to learn more...