As missionaries, Dargan and I rely on the support of people to continue to minister to the MK of AGWM. We went to Belgium as missionaries in 1999, with a fully raised budget. When we returned from our first full term, we were asked to move back to the States and take over the MK program. With the schedule of AGWM, we were unable to complete an itineration prior to taking over ISMK. Currently, we only have about 60% of our budget raised. Over the course of 14 years (since our last itineration), we have lost some support, and gained some other supporters. The net result is a zero loss, and zero gain. However, budgets have changed quite a bit since our first term. As the MK Ministry Director, I am already on the road about half the year. It is very challenging to try and raise a budget in the midst of running the MK program and spending any time with my family. We need to raise $2,000 in monthly support. EVERY missionary family benefits from the MK program. Your support will impact every family, no matter where they serve.

This summer we also had a full month of training new MKs and helping veteran MKs with their transition back to the USA. Approximately 100 new MKs were trained and prepared to transition with their parents to a new country and life. One of the greatest joys is seeing young American kids catch their parents vision for missions, and be able to declare “God has not only called mom and dad, but God called our entire family to be missionaries!” This training process for MKs is critical to the overall effectiveness of a missionary transitioning to a foreign country. If the kids understand the call of God, and are able to personalize it, the parents are able to focus more on the areas to which God has called them.

This summer, ISMK did something unique during the annual Missionary Renewal. About 130 MKs left the CBC campus for a week-long “MK Camp” held at the Royal Rangers campground in southwest Missouri, Eagle Rock. Jr high and Sr. high MKs left mom and dad for a week of their own camp. Specifically focused on them.

This summer we made two major changes to the youth program during Missionary Renewal: first we combined the junior high with the senior high, then we sent them to Camp Eagle Rock for the entire time. Camp Eagle Rock is owned by the GCAG, managed by the Royal Ranger department. It is located approximately 2 hours Southwest of Springfield, or about an hour west of Branson. From an administrative standpoint, taking the MKs to Eagle Rock was quite a bit more logistics. There was a lot more work in arranging that entire program. However, as this camp-style event is repeated, the logistics will become easier.

Since the major overhaul to the schedule of MR, the youth program has struggled the most. One of the greatest things about MR has traditionally been the relationships that the MKs form with each other. With the changes to the schedule, the MKs were really struggling making the same depth of connection that they had in the past. Many of the staff lamented that specific challenge. The other main challenge with the schedule change was the effect it had on our evening services. We were losing the overall spiritual depth that MR has known in the past. The changes that we made to the program this year were an effort to change those specific challenges: time with God, and time with one another.

Overall, the camp was highly successful. Our two main objectives were definitely accomplished, as demonstrated in the response we received from parents and MKs following the camp. I was able to attend a couple of the services, and I was overwhelmed with joy as I saw these things taking place. Things that we, in the MK office, had dreamed about and had planned and hoped would happen! The MKs were definitely connecting with one another and with the staff at a much deeper level. The MKs had more time to build life-long relationships. They also had plenty of free time.

The greatest benefit to the retreat style youth program was the service/meeting times. Every MK was present for every session. MKs were not reliant on parents to drop them off and pick them up. The prayer times were meaningful, not rushed, and exactly what our MKs need more of.