“Who Ya Gonna Call?”
By Bill MacLeod, Director
During our recent trip to the Middle East, we learned that a mutual friend and his family living in a
nearby country were evacuating their home as their area was under attack, but they and other
Americans were not fleeing their adopted country, just getting out of harms way for a few days
until the barrage subsided.
I wondered – “What kind of trauma / ptsd will this family deal with going forward? Who ‘back home’
in their sending church will have a level of expertise to know how to check in on them, what
questions to ask, and how to help them in the immediate future, and when they come home on an
earned ‘home stay’?” As Ghostbusters asked years ago: “Who ya gonna call?”
“Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I
seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well
supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice
acceptable and pleasing to God.” Philippians 4:16-18
It is clear from his own words, that the Church of Philippi knew how to take care of their missionary
Paul!
So how can we look after the cross-cultural workers God has put under our care? One way would
be to attend Care Connexion this May 15-16!
WHO SHOULD ATTEND CARE CONNEXION?
Care providers for missionaries…because this is:
Training to help those responsible for the care of missionaries on and off the field.
If you’re a missions pastor, a counselor or coach, a missions educator, a missionary care provider,
a missionary supporter, a friend or family member . . . maybe you are the missionary yourself . . .
this conference is for you!
The theme is Love Beyond the Margins ~ Aligning body, mind, and spirit…and it is being hosted at
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church (9800 SE 92nd Ave., Happy Valley, OR 97005).
Care Connexion is built on four relational pillars which, if strong, provide the likelihood that the
cross-cultural worker remains on the field and does not become part of an “attrition” statistic. All
four are related to the cross-cultural worker’s relationship with: 1. Their sending church, 2. Their
sending agency, 3. Their Biblical / theological training, and 4. Their psychological / interpersonal
relationships state.
Besides a “chill, local pastor” whose name cannot be published because of endangering
international ministry workers (you have to attend to discover their identity!) featured speakers will
also include Matt Mikalatos , and Kathy Khang, and there will also be workshops presented on
these topics:
5 Breakouts from MissioCare Collective, WYAM, Barnabas, Sanctuary Inn to aid you in caring for your missionaries more effectively:
- Mentoring to Wholeness
- The Biblical Basis of Member Care
- The Building Blocks of Trust
- An Open Letter From Your Missionary
- Third Culture Kids – What to Know
3 Breakouts featuring counselors from Core Values Counseling, Charis Counseling, and MissoCare Collective providing education, tools, and resources to increase your awareness of emotional health and how to support people navigating difficulty in their lives:
- Mental Health Informed Ministry: The beauty between Chaos and Control
- Trauma-Informed De-Escalation
- Overcoming the Silent Struggle: Understand the Potential Impact of Neurodivergence, Addiction, Depression, and Trauma on the Global Worker
3 Breakouts hosted by ministry professionals from Genesis Christian Mediation, Hope Chaplain, and Pastor Karen Shimer, designed to give you some practices to help you in caring for others and yourself when in difficult spaces:
- Art is for Life
- A Mediative Journey into the 4 Spaces of Forgiveness
- The Ministry of Presence: A deeper look below, as it will be a Chaplain-level course, broken into 3 sessions designed for your care ministry or mission teams:
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- Module 1: The Foundation of Presence
- Module 2: The Heart of Presence
- Module 3: The Practice of Presence
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Mission organizations who will have exhibits at Care Connexion include:
And more….
We are also hosting a Ministry Prayer Room with prayer during all worship and keynote sessions.
During all workshop times we will have opportunities for prayer ministry in our prayer room!
Register HERE today before the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL ends tomorrow!
“Who Ya Gonna Call?” when your missionary faces the unthinkable? Hopefully YOU will be
equipped to answer the call after attending Care Connexion 2026!
