Meet Taylor Knopf -- Communications Intern for LA

It's exciting to report that we now have a second set of hands working on communications projects in Latin America. Taylor Knopf arrived on March 2 to serve as the Communications Intern. Please read Taylor's introduction and contact her to welcome her to the LA team!

Taylor & Melissa in Costa Rica

Hola! My name is Taylor Knopf. I recently joined the ReachGlobal Latin America team as a Communications Intern. I will be living in San José, Costa Rica, for the next 5 months serving with Melissa in the area of communications. It is exhilarating to use my passion for writing to share what God is accomplishing in Latin America!

I am a university student, and, so far, I have spent three semesters at Miami University in Ohio studying journalism. Recently, I was accepted into my first choice college in Michigan, though. So, this fall, I will transfer to Hillsdale College as a sociology major in the journalism program to finish my degree.

My experience with ReachGlobal has been interesting. God’s hand was very apparent in the whole pre-field process. In June 2010, I planned to go to Budapest, Hungary, in March 2011 for a communications internship with EFCA. Some unfortunate complications arose, and the trip was cancelled in late December. I admit that I felt very disappointed then. It may have been shocking to me, but it wasn’t to God. He says in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, [...] plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The Lord closed the doors in Budapest, but He quickly opened new doors in Latin America!

Arriving in San José just one week ago, I already love the city. My Spanish needs a lot of work, though. I am limited to very basic words and phrases at the moment. Therefore, I will be attending a one month language intensive in May and moving in with a Tico (Costa Rican) family!

I am really looking forward to what God has in store these next few months. It is so exciting to see Him work!

Meet Mark Wold -- Global Training Team Interview Series (Part 4 of 4)

Name: Mark Wold

Where do you currently live? Indio, California

What is your history with RG? I was an EFC pastor for 35 years, focusing on pastoring unhealthy churches to help them and their leaders get healthy. Then, they all started growing and impacting the world.

What is your current position? ReachGlobal Director of Church Health and Development

What does that mean? What do you do? I am seeking to help RG personnel provide training for national leaders overseas to build healthy churches and leaders in their networks.

What is the most exciting aspect of your role? When RG personnel or national leaders choose equippers that I can train so that they can effectively train the others in their networks. That is our ideal.

Have you ever been to Latin America or lived here? I've never lived in LA. I have only been to Costa Rica for the last RGLA conference, done a tour of the Caribbean Islands and Puerto Vallarta, and last spring I went as part of a RG training team to help the churches in Venezuela. It was so effective that they invited us back to do more than we were able to do in one day each.

What excites you about doing ministry in LA? I see the Lord doing significant things despite many obstacles in LA. I also see the need for training pastors and leaders to be very high as the number of unhealthy churches seems very high.

My daughter-in-law is from Peru, and we had quite a few people in our church from LA, so our interest and concern for reaching its many cultures is very high.

How can you be a resource to our LA missionaries? Each of us [on the Global Training Team] not only has a lot of expertise in (and beyond) our primary training areas to bring to the field, but we also bring proven effectiveness in cross-cultural training wherever we've been.

I can provide training to help churches and leaders discern biblical and cultural health and growth tools to help them develop their people and ministries. I will also soon be developing a website offering a ton of teaching materials for national and RG personnel to use -- something that many have asked for and become excited about.

One of our priorities is that the nationals are the leaders, not us, so we adapt and adjust materials to fit the needs and requests they make.

How can we partner with you to enhance our ministry? Let us know about areas where we can bring or secure training, and you can be the bridge to enable those doors to open.

LA has been a surprisingly difficult setting for us to get involved with, but once it happens, it will grow and bring significant help, so please make this a short-term priority for your team. It will bring long-term results.

How can people contact you? Email me at mark.wold@efca.org or call me at 760-406-3506 or Skype at mrkwld.

Meet John & Cheryl Fornelli -- Global Training Team Interview Series (Part 3 of 4)

Name: Rev. John & Cheryl Fornelli

Where do you currently live? Aurora, IL

What is your history with ReachGlobal? Started with RG in 2009 after being with UIM as hispanic church planters from approximately 2000-2005.

What is your current position? Narrative Evangelism and Discipleship on the Global Training Team

What does that mean? What do you do? We give seminars on orality to national leaders in various countries, training leaders to use chronological biblical narratives for evangelism and discipleship.

John is also seeking to serve for longer periods of time on church planting teams as an evangelist.

What is the most exciting aspect of your role? Multi-cultural, multi-level acceptance and the quick develop, empower and release of leaders. Cheryl especially enjoys training leaders using biblical narratives, and John especially enjoys talking to people about Jesus.

Have you ever been to Latin America or lived here? We lived in Costa Rica for 10 months while studying Spanish, and we've done short-term trips to many LA countries.

What excites you about doing ministry in LA? The teachable, humble people and the opportunity to see or hear of people coming to Christ.

How can you be a resource to our LA missionaries? We are fluent in Spanish, and we can train people how to minister to those who can't, won't or don't have access to the Word of God. 

Our workshops are multi-generational, fun, flexible, interactive and practical.

How can we partner with you to enhance our ministry? Connect us to ministry trainers who will train others.

How can people contact you? John.Fornelli@efca.org or Cheryl.Fornelli@efca.org or call us 630-768-6351 / 630-977-9588.

Visit our website: http://www.jcfornelli.com/.

Meet Gene Wilson -- Global Training Team Interview Series (Part 2 of 4)

Name: Gene Wilson

Where do you currently live? Plantation, FL

What is your history with ReachGlobal?

• Church planting, Quebec (1981-99)
• Latin America Church Planting Coach (2000-2009)
• Church Planting Director (2009-present)

What is your current position? Church Planting Director

What does that mean? What do you do? My vision: A transformational church planting movement among every people where we serve.

My mission: Develop systems and key people to multiply healthy churches.

Major goal: 100 Acts 19 places from which 2,000 church planters are developed, empowered and released.

What is the most exciting aspect of your role? Coming alongside church planting leaders and empowering them.

Have you ever been to Latin America or lived here? I've never lived there, but I've traveled extensively in Latin America and the Caribbean (including Miami!).

What excites you about doing ministry in LA? They are embracing church planting and missions more and more, and that brings us together. They naturally integrate words and deeds, physical and psycho-social needs, local and global mission.

How can you be a resource to our LA missionaries? I am coaching Mike [Gunderson] and will join him in teaching/training occasionally. I try to keep up some of my relationships with national leaders and encourage them.

How can we partner with you to enhance our ministry? Just let me know if there is some way that I can help through consulting on new initiatives, teaching or helping you make connections.

How can people contact you? Gene.Wilson@efca.org or 954-915-8085

Anything else? We miss the Latin America leadership team and many of the missionaries. If you are involved in church planting, we would love to receive your email updates.

There are lots of resources available at http://www.globalchurchplanting.net/ that you can check out!

Meet Al & Edie Lewis -- Global Training Team Interview Series (Part 1 of 4)

Welcome to the beginning of a new short blog series introducing the members of the ReachGlobal Global Training Team. An amazing resource for training and equipping national leaders, this team travels all over the world -- and would love to come alongside our team in Latin America in any way they can.

Meet Al & Edie Lewis today, and watch for future installments introducing Mark Wold, Gene Wilson, and John and Cheryl Fornelli. Discover how they can partner with you in LA to multiply healthy churches.

Name: Al and Edie Lewis

Where do you currently live? Fort Dodge, IA

What is your history with RG? We joined RG two years ago after serving as a pastor in the EFCA for 23 years.

What is your current position? Director of Pastoral Training

What does that mean? What do you do? I [Al] provide biblical and theological training for pastors around the world who cannot otherwise get training. Edie teaches, counsels, mentors and trains pastors’ wives and other women leaders.

What is the most exciting aspect of your role? I am excited about starting training networks that allow us to train national trainers who, in turn, train national pastors.
I am especially excited about pastors learning to study and teach the Word accurately.

Have you ever been to Latin America or lived here? If so, where? I have made several missions trips to Mexico while pastoring and have been to Venezuela with RG.

What excites you about doing ministry in LA? I am excited about LA pastors becoming skilled in Bible study and teaching and preaching, especially those who cannot get training presently.

How can you be a resource to our LA missionaries? I can teach or train on a wide range of biblical or theological topics, and I can train staff or nationals to set up training networks.

How can we partner together to enhance our ministry? We want to be at your service to be used however you think is best. We are willing to travel and pay our own way to help you equip your pastors in the best possible way. I have limited ability to communicate in Spanish but not enough to teach or preach.

Examples of pastoral training courses:

• Biblical or systematic theology
• A framework for a biblical worldview
• Practical bible study methods
• Teaching and preaching skills
• Biblical counseling
• A biblical view of marriage and family
• Individual books of the bible
• Other courses as needed

Recruiting New Missionaries -- YOU Can Help!

When we think about our needs as missionaries, we often think about financial needs, prayer needs, material needs, etc. But what about our personnel needs?

Just recently, RG LA missionary Joyce Werntz stepped full-time into the role of recruiting new missionaries for ReachGlobal Latin America -- a role that not only serves the missionary candidate but serves our region as a whole.

Joyce is working hard, traveling to missions conferences, colleges and universities, and churches around the U.S. to identify potential candidates -- passionate, talented Christ-followers with a heart for missional service. She has the opportunity to share the RG LA needs with people who are often ready to respond to God's call -- if only they knew how they might be used.

You can help Joyce in her recruiting efforts in two ways:

1. Consider the opportunities for others to serve alongside you and your team in your country or city -- short term team opportunities, internships, or full-time missionary roles -- and tell Joyce all about it!
2. Keep your ears and eyes open for potential candidates -- and send candidates straight to Joyce.

By providing detailed needs to Joyce, you help her to match missionary candidates with their ministry sweet spot. Two of the top questions Joyce hears as she's recruiting:

• "What can I do as a missionary?"
• "How can God use me (my talents/my profession/my skills) on the field?"

And by sending candidates her way, you allow her to build relationships and guide and encourage them through the application process.

Joyce is excited about recruiting for Latin America. Get excited, too, and help her help you!

Meet Miguel De Marco -- Leadership Interview Series (Part 5 of 6)

While you may already know the other members of the leadership team, you probably aren't familiar with the newest member of the LA leadership team! In this installment of our leadership serires, Miguel De Marco shares some about his background in missions and ministry and his excitement about joining the LA family.

Please pray for Miguel and his wife, Liliana, this week as they attend REV at the national office... and please send Miguel a note to welcome him to ReachGlobal Latin America!

Name
Miguel Angel De Marco

What is your history with ReachGlobal?
Just arriving!

In that case, tell us a bit more about your history outside of RG.
I've been in ministry for 30 years:

• Church planter and minister (Iglesia Cristiana Evangelica Argentina)
• Editor (Christian Leadership Development; Apuntes Pastorales magazine)
• Missionary assigned to the Latin Missionary Movement (COMIBAM International)
• Leadership trainer (Instituto Forum Latinum)
• VP of Ministries with Latin America Mission (LAM) for the last 11 years
• International consultant
• Specialist in Institutional Strengthening, Strategic Planning, etc.

Why are you excited about joining the RG LA team?
I love the RG Leadership's emphasis on excellence and results, and I hope to learn and contribute to these. Also, I'm excited about the possibility of being a resource in assisting the Latin missionary movement within their indigenous ventures, helping them to develop a responsible way of sending international workers/missionaries.

What is your position on the leadership team?
I've been appointed as Area Leader for Holistic Ministries and trainer/coach for missionary agencies.

What does that mean? What do you do?

1. I will assist Brian in overseeing/coaching RG missionaries serving in holistic ministries.
2. I will train and coach Latin missionary sending structures and Christian non-profit organizations.

What makes you a good boss or leader?
I think experience helps a lot, especially with several years spent helping others to fulfill the Lord's call for their lives. Also, my pastoral background helped me become more sensitive to people.

What do you want to/need to work on as a boss or leader?
Getting with the RG ethos and culture; learning how to match with the rest of the team and how to assist Brian better.

What has God been teaching you lately about being a leader?
I am learning...

1. How to honor the Lord's call for His people.
2. How to enrich and empower them, exposing them to different perspectives and better practices.
3. How to take care of them.

Why do you love Latin America?
It's my continent, my people. It's easy for me to love it!

What excites you about the ministry we're doing in LA?
I'm not very well familiarized with all RG missionaries and their ministries yet, but I love the ProMETA program and performance. I think it's cutting edge. Also, after the week-long meeting with the ADT in Tennessee, I'm excited about the potential for the near future of RG LA.

How can people contact you?
Email: miguel.demarco@efca.org

More Personal...

Tell us about your family.
We were all born in Argentina; my wife Liliana and I were second generation there. In 1991 we moved to Costa Rica, and in 1994, to the States.

My wife Liliana is an excellent manager. She has a BA in theology and education and experience in Donor Services management. We have three children:

• Juan Angel, 27, architect, single, pursuing his Master's at Princeton.
• Eugenia, 26, mechanical engineer, single, working with a NASA contractor in D.C.
• Gabriel, 23, BA in philosophy, single, pursing his Master's at FSU.

Where do you currently live?
The Redlands (Miami area, Florida)

What's the last book you read?

• The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success by Stein & Book
• The Castle by Franz Kafka
• The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen

What do you like to do for fun?
Read, golf, bike... and eating international cuisine!

Prayer requests:

• Our adjustment to the RG LA team
• Building our support team
• Knowing the Lord's desire better

Meet Mike Gunderson -- Leadership Interview Series (Part 4 of 6)

Although he's been part of ReachGlobal Latin America for years, Mike Gunderson doesn't speak as much Spanish as his colleagues -- but he speaks great Portuguese! Learn more about Mike, his role with the ADT, and how you can lift him up in prayer.

Name
Mike Gunderson

What is your history with ReachGlobal?
We served for 20 years in Brazil. We went as church planters and then moved into leadership development, working with German and Brazilian teachers and trainers. In the past year, I have transitioned into the role of Church Planting Coach for Latin America.

What is your position on the leadership team?
Church Planting Coach for Latin America

What does that mean? What do you do?
I train church planters in Latin America, train coaches of church planters, and lead the RG church planting team.

What makes you a good boss or leader?
Who said I was good? I love Latins, training, and coaching church planters!

What do you want to/need to work on as a boss or leader?
I need much better Spanish, and more experience in various parts of Latin America.

What has God been teaching you lately about being a leader?
I learned (from Keith Anderson at our ADT meetings in August) that my identity as a leader, from a biblical standpoint, is not just that of a servant, but also that of shepherd, priest, and steward.

Why do you love Latin America?
I love the warmth and passion of the Latin people.

What excites you about the ministry we're doing in LA?
I believe we are on the cusp of greatly increasing our impact on the people of the Latin American Continent.

How can people contact you?

• Email: michael.gunderson@efca.org
• Text or call: 952-715-2589

More Personal...

Tell us about your family.
My wife Linda has been a discipler and teacher of women and youth for many years and in many contexts. She has given great energies to raising and coaching our two kids:

• Nicolas, 19, is a sophomore at Bethel in St. Paul, MN. He's majoring in chemistry and on one of the University worship teams, playing acoustic guitar.
• Ali, 17, is a freshman at Northwestern College in St. Paul. She's majoring in psychology.

Where do you currently live?
Minneapolis, MN

What's the last book you read?
Humility by Andrew Murray

What do you like to do for fun?
Play games with my family.

Prayer requests:

• Pray for our kids, Nick & especially Ali, as they transition to America and college life...
• And pray for their empty-nest parents!

Meet Keith Anderson -- Leadership Interview Series (Part 3 of 6)

Which member of the Area Directional Team has been part of ReachGlobal the longest? Keith Anderson! In this installment of our leadership series, you'll hear directly from Keith... and find out how you can pray specifically for him as you continue to keep the entire ADT in your prayers.

Name
Keith Anderson


What is your history with ReachGlobal?
Believe it or not, my parents were doing support team building when I was born, so I have been part of ReachGlobal for nearly all of my life. However, Judy & I were officially accepted in 1978.


In terms of area leadership, I was involved from 1992-2000, and now again since 2004. My ministry has included church planting and theological education (Hebrew and Old Testament) in Venezuela, field leadership and administration, and now I serve as Director of ProMETA.


What is your position on the leadership team?
Although I really don't have a specific title, my focus as a team member is on leadership development.


What does that mean? What do you do?
My focus on leadership development flows out of my role as Director of ProMETA, a Master's level program designed to equip Spanish-speaking leaders in Bible and leadership. ProMETA has over 120 active students (with about 50 of those enrolled in a course each quarter). These students represent 24 different countries and dozens of organizations and churches. My responsibilities as Director are becoming more and more like those of a university president, but I hope much less bureaucratic!


What makes you a good boss or leader?
I'm a strong believer in implementing biblical leadership. Biblical leadership cannot be summarized with two or three words -- it is a complex configuration of responsibilities, attitudes, commitments, sensitivities, and submission to the Lord of the Church.


The three primary metaphors that bring together what I believe are at the core of biblical leadership are shepherd, servant, and priest. To be a good leader, it's critical that I be as biblical as possible.


What do you want to/need to work on as a boss or leader?
I have made it a personal goal to work more intentionally on hearing God (and what He wants me to do as a leader), because a biblical leader is only as effective as his or her level of obedience and faithfulness in carrying out the "orders" of his or her boss.


What has God been teaching you lately about being a leader?
There are two major themes that God has brought to my mind in recent months:

1. The value of all His servants. Each person, in God's sight, has incredible value, and I need to make sure that I am doing all I can to develop, empower, and release His people for service.
2. The need to remember that all I do is out of brokenness. Everything I do as a leader (and as a person) is the result of His enabling, and it's critical that I live in light of my dependency on God.

Why do you love Latin America?
I have spent more of my life in Latin America than in any other region of the world, and I've been greatly impacted by the culture, customs, language, and people. There is very little about LA that I don't like, but if I had to choose one thing I love most, it would be the value Latin Americans place on relationships and the joy Latin Americans bring to life.


What excites you about the ministry we're doing in LA?
I like the focus RG has on coming alongside what God is doing in the region. As a leadership team, we are sharpening our focus on those priorities that we believe God has given us. As we sharpen our vision, it may seem an overwhelming task, but I like it because it does two things for us:

1. It will help to keep us focused as we move ahead in the next ten years.
2. It also requires us to see ourselves as incapable to do this ourselves. It forces us to go to our knees in dependence on God. 

How can people contact you?
I can always be reached by email -- keith.anderson@efca.org.


More Personal...


Tell us about your family.
My wife Judy and I have three married sons and two granddaughters.

• Our oldest son lives in Boston with his wife and twin daughters and works online while doing his Master's online. His wife is currently applying to med schools.
• Our second son lives with his wife in the Chicago area. He's a student at TEDS and an assistant soccer coach at TIU. His wife is a marketing director for a health care organization.
• Our youngest son lives with his wife in Fort Lauderdale. He's a second year med student, and his wife just graduated as a nurse.

Where do you currently live?
Judy & I are "empty-nesters" living in San Jose, Costa Rica.


What's the last book you read?
I have read a few books in the last two months:

• Don Carson's Scandalous -- I would highly recommend it.
• Wayne Cordeiro's Leading on Empty -- also very good.
• Henri Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal Son
• Tim Keller's The Prodigal God

Currently, I'm reading Robert Wuthnow's Boundless Faith: The global outreach of American churches and Justo Gonzalez's The History of Christianity in Latin America (also written in Spanish).


What do you like to do for fun?
I like most everything that has to do with beaches: snorkeling, scuba, boogie-boarding, fishing, aquariums, eating seafood (!). Also, photography and working in the Hebrew Bible.


Prayer requests:

• I’m convinced that God designed us to build healthy rhythms into our lives. This includes taking a Sabbath rest and a time for recreation (there is a difference!). Thus, I would want people to pray that I would have the wisdom and the discipline to have a healthy rhythm. 
• I would also like to have prayer for developing a growing and joyful walk with Jesus.
• Finally, mobilizing prayer for our sons and their families is always needed. I can think of few things that are more debilitating and de-energizing for missionary parents than to be wrestling with family issues across the ocean.

Meet Omar Rodriguez -- Leadership Interview Series (Part 2 of 6)

For the second installment of our RG LA Leadership Series, you have an opportunity to learn more about Omar Rodriguez and his role with Latin America. Please continue to pray for the entire leadership team in general and for Omar specifically!

Name
Omar Rodriguez

What is your history with ReachGlobal?
I have been a missionary with the EFCA since 1993, serving 1 year in Mexico City and 10 years in Venezuela. I've been part of the Area Directional Team since 2000.

What is your position on the leadership team?

• Catalyst for Church Based Training
• Area Crisis Manager

What does that mean? What do you do?
Church Based Training: Our principal goal is to help local church leadership to effectively nurture believers toward maturity in essential Bible knowledge, godly character, fruitful ministry skills, and Biblical relationships.

Crisis Management: If missionaries get into serious trouble, I coordinate RG efforts to help them. [Read more about Crisis Management from this previous blog entry.]

What makes you a good boss or leader?
I'd like to think that I can lead well under pressure, and I enjoy helping my teammates to succeed at what God has called them to do.

What do you want to/need to work on as a boss or leader?
I'd like to be a better encourager.

What has God been teaching you lately about being a leader?
To be a better student of those you lead, and to deal with "relational stuff" faster.

What excites you about the ministry we're doing in LA?
The hope I feel in seeing a new generation of leaders arising to serve the Lord.

How can people contact you?
In case of EMERGENCY, my cell is 714-930-6451. Otherwise, email me at omar.rodriguez@efca.org.

More Personal...

Tell us about your family.
I've been married 24 years to Rebecca, who works at developing women's ministries in the region. We have two sons: Omar Daniel is in his second year at UCLA studying engineering. Benjamin is a junior in high school.

Where do you currently live?
Fullerton, CA (USA)

What's the last book you read?

• The Pacific
• James in the New Testament
• Deep Survival

What do you like to do for fun?
Ocean kayaking (even if I hardly get to do it anymore!), hanging out with Beck (always an adventure), and traveling with the family.

Prayer requests

• Wisdom
• Wisdom
• Wisdom

Meet Bob Werntz -- Leadership Interview Series (Part 1 of 6)

As you get to know more about Bob (in his own words) and his role on the leadership team, please remember to keep him and the other area leaders in your prayers!

Name
Robert (Bob) Werntz

What is your history with ReachGlobal?

• Worship Pastor at Park Hills EFC 1995-1998
• Founded Evangelical Free Church of Honduras church plant in 2001 – and have been part of the ADT since that time I think.

What is your position on the leadership team?

Financial Management

What does that mean? What do you do?
I monitor our financial resources and manage their application with the counsel of the Area Directional Team. I find creative ways to report the financial information so that the ADT can more easily make necessary decisions… I’m the guy that reminds the ADT of the financial realities under which we serve!

What makes you a good boss or leader?
I guess I often see things from a different angle; I like to find creative solutions.

My StrengthsFinder strengths are strategic, focus, input, learner, and deliberative.

What do you want to/need to work on as a boss or leader?
I want to work on balancing my desire to focus on the task with the need to cultivate quality relationships. 

What has God been teaching you lately about being a leader? 
To try to see people and ministry as Christ sees them.

Why do you love Latin America?
I love the culture and the people – and I love the music!

What excites you about the ministry we’re doing in LA?
Multiplying our resources by serving national movements – including movements that are not EFC but are compatible.

How can people contact you?

• Email: Robert.werntz@efca.org
• Skype: robertwerntz
• Facebook
• Text/phone: 815-275-6346

More Personal…

Tell us about your family.
Wife Joyce serves full time with RG CONNECT. We have three sons and three granddaughters.

Where do you currently live?
Freeport, IL (USA)

What’s the last book you read?
Doce Cuentos Peregrinos – por Gabriel García Márquez

What do you like to do for fun?
Date day with Joycie! Music!

Prayer requests

• For my family
• For wisdom for the ADT
• For continued health and growth of the Evangelical Free Church of Honduras

We'd Like To Introduce You To...

...the Latin America Area Directional Team!

While everyone knows that Brian Duggan is the International Leader for Latin America, it's evident that there is some uncertainty as to who else serves as an area leader.

Please follow the upcoming short series of blog entries introducing you to...

• Arthur Ellison
• Bob Werntz
• Keith Anderson
• Miguel De Marco
• Mike Gunderson
• Omar Rodriguez

Some of these introductions may be brand new while others are re-introductions of old friends. However, no matter what your previous relationship, we hope that, through this blog series, you feel more connected to these leaders, better understanding their roles in RG LA.

Meet Your RG LA Pastors-to-Missionaries

A long-standing part of the ReachGlobal Latin America family -- faithfully serving as missionaries in Venezuela from 1971-2000 and as ENHANCE team members since 2001 -- George and Donna Warren probably aren't strangers to most of the RG LA staff. However, do you know how they serve you in their current role as Pastors-to-Missionaries (PTMs) for Latin America?

What do PTMs do?
As part of the ENHANCE team, PTMs come alongside missionaries to provide support, strengthen, and encourage them in their walk with the Lord. While they do work for ReachGlobal, they are are careful to maintain confidentiality in their interactions with LA staff.

The nitty-gritty of their role includes:

• Visiting with missionaries on the field
• Attending debriefing sessions for missionaries returning on home assignment to the States
• Crisis debriefing
• Assisting in the candidate process -- occasionally attending REV and PT Live
• Working towards conflict resolution
• Advocating for missionary care in churches
• Walking alongside missionaries going through difficult times
• Ensuring necessary counseling occurs when needed
• Providing tools for self-care and healthy teams (such as a the Healthy Teams Toolbox)
• Encouraging missionaries to take needed rest

What is missionary health all about?
According to George, it all comes down to the heart -- having a transparent walk with the Lord. Reading the Bible and obeying God's Word. And walking the journey with others -- having a handful of people with whom you can talk in confidence and pray in earnest.


Why might you contact George & Donna (your Latin America PTMs), for example?

• For help with emotional or mental issues or stressful situations in your ministry or personal life
• For support throughout a ministry change or ministry decision
• For post-traumatic stress counseling
• For counsel in family issues and decisions -- from children returning to the States for college to caring for aging parents
• For conflict resolution
• For a field visit from George and Donna!

While travel to the field has been difficult in the past, George and Donna love to spend time with you (the RG LA staff) in the field -- and they are more equipped to do so at this point. They have received an invitation to visit with staff in Costa Rica in November, and they welcome and encourage invitations to visit other LA locations, too.

How should you contact them?

• Email -- George.Warren@efca.org and Donna.Warren@efca.org
• Skype -- gewarrenps139
• Phone -- (714) 256-4668

For George and Donna, PTM is not a job. It's being part of a family and a ministry. They desire to be there and available for their RG LA family whenever and wherever needed.

Introducing our new Communications Coordinator

I’d like to introduce our newest staff member, Melissa Putney.  Melissa will be serving in the role of Communications Coordinator for Latin America and is a much needed addition to our RG staff. 

The role of Communications Coordinator involves several aspects:

·        Liaise between the National Office and Latin America

·        Help improve our overall communications in all formats (web, newsletters, printed materials, PowerPoints, etc.) for both external and internal communications

·        Provide training and act as a resource to our RG staff in their communications

·        Develop a Latin America communications strategy and plan

Although she will be available to help with your communications questions and provide recommendations, Melissa is not the originator of content.  That still needs to come from you, our RG staff who are experiencing God’s work in your area in unique ways.  Thus Melissa would appreciate your help in several ways:

·        Please add her to your regular prayer updates distribution and while you’re there, please make sure I am on the list as well.  I read these and pray for each of you.

·        Send her stories and God-sightings that she can edit and publish

·        Let her know how you are communicating outside prayer letters, such as your blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc. 

·        Consider helping Melissa with skills you may have such as editing, writing, web updating, photography, videography

Short Bio: After graduating from Clemson University in 2006, Melissa moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, and entered the corporate world – initially participating in a rotational leadership development program at Vanguard and later working as a corporate recruiter for Red Ventures (a sales & marketing firm based in the Charlotte area). While in Charlotte, she also became involved at Church at Charlotte, a local EFCA church, volunteering as a youth leader with the junior and senior high youth groups.

While working in Charlotte, she felt the Lord calling her to full-time ministry or mission work and began exploring the options and listening for God’s leading. It was through connections at Church at Charlotte that she discovered the opportunity to serve Christ in Latin America with ReachGlobal. God affirmed this decision, and after raising support for her two-year ministry assignment, Melissa moved to Costa Rica in early March to serve as the Communications Coordinator for Latin America.

Fine print: Melissa has joined RG for a two-year fixed term and is living in Costa Rica.  She will report directly to me.  Her KRAs will be based on the area KRAs and her role will develop as our communications abilities improve.  Although Melissa’s work will be primarily in English, she will attend one semester of Spanish starting in May.  She may be contacting you for information on your current communications approaches and to solicit stories from you.  Please understand that Melissa is not an administrative assistant and will not be able to help you in those types of areas. 

So please welcome Melissa to the RG LA team!