Chad and Dargan Phillips

ISMK Fired Up Launches

2009-08-13T08:35:00.002-05:00

Hello Missionaries and MKs! ISMK Fired Up is launching in just a couple weeks. I have a few important details for you.

1. The reading guide can be found on the ISMK website, under the Fired Up link on the left hand side of the screen. It is labeled Year One Bible Reading Guide (http://www.ismk.org/docs/Year%20One%202009-2010%20Reading%20Schedule.pdf). We will all be reading the same chapters each week, and discussing them in our online groups. This is the most important aspect of this program - reading the Bible.

2. Online groups will be assigned the week of August 24. The small group leaders will invite MKs to a closed group for only people in their group. I have already invited the MKs to a group for everyone in Fired Up. Only those registered for Fired Up will be assigned a group, or allowed in the main group. TCKs will have a seperate group.

3. FUNDS! We have an MA trying to raise his budget to help us run all our discipleship. We need to raise his budget. We have a seperate account for AGWM ISMK Fired Up. We need $10-$20 monthly pledges for this program to be fully effective.

4. If MKs still would like to sign up, we have room. I have 3 groups of leaders on stand by for extra MKs. That is enough for about 30 MKs. After that, we will have no more room for this school year. Anyone who starts after September 1st will not get the certificate of completion.

5. Public questions about the program can be posted in the ISMK Fired Up group on facebook. As always, I am available for any personal questions!

6. We look forward to seeing you online!

MK In Springfield needs help

2009-04-15T13:20:00.001-05:00

Hello friends,

I am writing on behalf of an MK in Springfield, MO. She lives here and her parents live in a sensitive country in Eurasia. She needs to learn how to drive! She doesn't have a car, but needs to get her drivers license before she can purchase one.

Are you able to help a young lady learn how to drive? Please contact me in the ISMK office!

blessings,

Chad Phillips

ISMK FIRED UP. MKs - sign up today!

2009-03-19T12:17:00.001-05:00

Spring is finally here in Springfield, MO! I know that many of you are probably still hip deep in snow, and still others of you live in places where it never gets below 80 degrees! However, for us here… this is a great time of the year. I hope and pray that you are all having a great time as well!

I wanted to write you a quick note to let you know that ISMK FIRED UP is ready for you to sign up! This is a new initiative of MK (grades 7 – 12) small groups online! We will probably be using Facebook, but we are not necessarily limited to that. Each small group leader can decide what will work best for their group. Every MK that signs up for ISMK FIRED UP will be assigned a small group, and with it, a leader and assistant leader. The leaders are all MKs that have grown up where you are, and they are looking forward to meeting you younger MKs! ISMK will also be a part of these small groups.

ISMK Fired Up has 2 main goals:

1. Community. We want to be a part of a small group community with MKs around the world. We want you to have the opportunity to build relationships with other MKs! I believe that we can strengthen each other. You have the opportunity to meet MKs, and to be a part of other MKs lives!
2. Discipleship. We will all be reading the Bible together, which we have tried to make attainable. We plan on reading about 4 chapters per week. At this rate, it will take 6 years to complete the entire Bible – which is a long time, but I know it will be worthwhile! This will also generate discussion online with the other MKs and the leaders.

This program will launch on September 1st, however, all applications need to be done as soon as possible. We need to assign MKs to leaders/groups. No more applications will be accepted after August 1st for the 2009 – 2010 school year.

This is going to be a group effort that I think we will all benefit from! I think it will take a little bit of effort to start with, but will be well worth our time! Check out the promo video on at www.ismk.org/fired_up.

I hope to see your name on the ISMK FIRED UP list!

Parental Update, March 2009

2009-03-19T11:23:00.001-05:00

Happy March!

We are in the middle of the spring class of Candidate Orientation. ISMK has had meetings with all the new families that are being interviewed this week, and it has been a very hectic week. Although the spring class is smaller than the fall class, we have a great group of families going through. Many of you will remember your interview with the Executive Committee. Most Candidates are in the middle of those interviews today!

We have recently mailed out our newest Communiqué to your MKs. They should be receiving it in the mail soon. If they are not receiving the mail from our office, please let us know – we may not have the correct address for them in the official database here!

I have 2 things I want to make you aware of – the new discipleship program (ISMK Fired Up), and the Annual MK Update form that you all fill out.

I want to make sure that you are all aware of the discipleship program. Our recent Communiqué is all about the Fired Up program. We want MKs around the world to join us in reading the Bible! We have alumni (we have screened them) who would like to be mentors to current MKs. Our goal is to set up small groups online, where MKs can connect with each other and with an alumnus to discuss the Bible and other relevant topics. The discussions will be in a closed “internet” room with alumni as the leaders. ISMK will also be in the discussion rooms. Our goal is to read about 4 chapters of the Bible each week, and discuss what we have read. I believe we are going to be able to create some great small groups and truly have a greater role and presence in the spiritual lives of MKs. I also believe it is going to strengthen the sense of community within our MKs.

As parents, I ask that you encourage your MKs to be a part of this program. I believe it will strengthen everyone that is a part. I also believe that it could be a great launching point for family devotions! If you ever have any questions about the program, or any aspect of it, please feel free to contact our office. MKs have until August 1st to apply for the 2009 – 2010 school year, and applications are now online at the ismk.org website. They will each be assigned a small group and leader before the launch on September 1st.

The next area I needed to address with you is the Annual MK Update forms. Each year we send out a form for you to fill out that keeps us up to date with the MKs. When we receive the forms, we type in the data and change what needs to be changed. Well, you may have noticed that we are trying to do this electronically now…. And we failed miserably! L The computer that tried to send it out crashed almost immediately! I know that many of you fought your way through the online document, and some of you were not going to fight with it. First let me say… SORRY! Trying to send out 1400 emails that are all merging with your account information here was just too much for the system. We are now working on another solution which will be web-based. We hope to have it up and running within a year. Know that we are working on it. However, also know that we are not programmers and will have to rely on outside to complete the necessary work. We appreciate your feedback – even your frustrations! We took that feedback to the “web guys” and worked on solutions. Although it is a long process, it will be done!

Funniest response – “Your form doesn’t work. You need something more 21st century, like an online link.”

MK, Kristi Schubert goes on Task Force

2009-03-12T14:20:00.001-05:00

Five days…depending on where you are and what you are doing, five days can fly by or seem to stand still. When spent with Missionary Kids, five days seem to be over way too soon. In January, I had the privilege of ministering to MKs in Pacific Oceania. Our time spent together included Bible lessons, crafts, games, and plenty of fun sprinkled in. This was an awesome opportunity to build relationships and encourage MKs, who are often the ones doing ministry themselves.

Engaging MKs, whether here or abroad, is a rewarding experience. Interacting with MKs allows you to learn about their lives, their likes and dislikes, their dreams and the specific challenges they face. As you spend time loving on MKs, opportunities to minister make themselves available, whether that means praying with them or speaking a timely word. While your investment does mean the world to missionary families, you’ll likely find it is your privilege and blessing to be a part of the lives of these awesome individuals. No matter if you’re with them a long time or a five short days, MKs will make a lasting impression on you. Thank you so much for your role in the MK program. Your support not only ministers to those on the field, but makes it possible for MK alumni like me to continue ministering overseas as well.
Written by MK alumni Kristi Schubert. ISMK encourages alumni MKs to engage in ministry and give back to the ISMK program.

Parental Update, February 2009

2009-03-12T14:19:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to update you on the ISMK program! We are in the middle of a couple large projects right now. The most immediate one is Missionary Training and Missionary Renewal. Last summer was our first summer with the changed schedule. While the schedule is something we can work with, it provided us many challenges. The main challenge was the amount of hours that staff had to work without taking a day off. Most of our staff were physically exhausted by the end of Missionary Renewal, and less effective because of their exhaustion.

One of my goals this year was to make sure they had a day off in between Missionary Training and Missionary Renewal. However, the schedule changed again for this summer, so we have multiple adjustments to make at the same time!

The other challenge is to make sure that the MK staff will make enough money to make it worthwhile to come work the summer programs. If the staff do not make enough money, they will not work. If they don’t work, we are not able have an effective program. Last summer we saw the challenges of an understaffed MK program. These issues have been addressed, but now the challenge is to put it into place and see what it will look like! I believe that this summer we will have a top notch program with the right amount of staff. Also, with the addition of a day to Missionary Renewal, I believe we will be even more effective than we were last summer.

Should you ever have questions, or concerns, please feel free to write me!

The next major project we are working on is the “ISMK Fired Up” discipleship program. You will be hearing about this regularly for the next few months as we prepare to implement this new program. We will be promoting this among the MKs for the next 6 months, with a launch date of September 1st. Pray with us as we work on the details of this program!

The foundation of ISMK Fired Up is the reading of Scripture. We are setting up a global schedule for Bible reading, which will include a discussion guide and small group MK leaders to facilitate the discipleship process. The discussion guides we are going to be using (partly) have been written by the National Youth Ministry of the Assemblies. They are called “Fire Starters”, and can be found on the ag.org website under the youth ministries area. We will be organizing them into a usable fashion for MK discipleship. I would love for all our parents of teenage MKs to encourage their kids to sign up for this program. It will be online for them to apply in April.

Our goal with Fired Up is to provide a Bible training program for our MKs, with qualified small group leaders and a relationship-based internet setting. We will have an application process for the leaders as well as for the MKs. Once the applications are in, we will be assigning small group leaders to MKs (based on geographical locations). I truly believe in the discipleship of our MKs! This is one step closer to a comprehensive discipleship program for our children. We have plans to take it deeper in the future!

We have not sent out the Parental Update form this year, as it is all going digital. We sent out the first version of the update last month via email. However, as soon as we hit “send”… the computer froze that was trying to process the request. We are still on the drawing board, trying to get a suitable solution. The AGWM IT people are hard at work trying to make this work. We pray it will get to you in the next month! Thanks for your patience.

Thanksgiving Retreat 2008

2009-02-10T15:48:00.002-06:00

ISMK held its annual Thanksgiving Retreat back up in Winter Park Colorado once again this year. We were blessed to have Scott and Crystal Martin as our guest speakers. When the staff arrived on Sunday afternoon, there was very little snow on the ground. Monday and Tuesday we held prayer meetings, as we prepared the arrival of the college MKs. We interceded for SNOW as well. It is difficult to have a ski retreat without snow. We had heard rumors of potential snow later on that week. God heard our prayers. It started snowing on Wednesday night, snowed again on Thursday night and never stopped. By the time we left on Sunday, several of the interstates around us were totally shut down. Needless to say, the skiing and snowboarding were awesome on Friday and Saturday.

While we prayed for snow, we were more serious about our prayers for the MKs. As you are aware, MKs arrive at Thanksgiving Retreat with very different expectations and spiritual levels. We know that skiing/snowboarding is a draw for MKs. We know that some MKs arrive in Colorado with only skiing on their mind. We also know that some MKs will arrive in Colorado with a true desire to reconnect with God and with other MKs. Whatever their goals when they come; whatever their relationship with God; we pray and believe that God will minister to them!

When the MKs arrived on Wednesday we had an orientation meeting. I told them that I had 2 goals for retreat, the first is that they meet with God. The fun, the skiing, the hot tubs, the tubing, all of those things will happen – but they are secondary. Our principle goal is for MKs to meet with God! We had several powerful services. God met MKs on different levels and in different ways. We had powerful services, with great altar times. We also had meaningful small group discussions. The retreat is always finished with an amazing creative worship service, where MKs minister to each other. I believe that my first goal for retreat was met. God was active and He touched lives throughout the retreat.

My second goal for ski retreat is for MKs to connect with each other. MKs have very unique relationships. We consider each other family, although we are not technically related in any way! When MKs head off to college, they separate from their MK family. Many MKs will go places where there are not many other MKs. I believe that ski retreat is a great place for them to reconnect with each other. I am so committed to those relationships that I have even given an entire morning to connecting with other over a cup of coffee (at my expense). In fact, the MKs will spend approximately ten hours in services over the course of four days. We want them to minister to each other. I know that God works through those relationships, and healing takes place for many of our MKs during those times of fellowship.

While the skiing/snowboarding was great this year, I was more excited about the presence and moving of a loving God. As you think about MKs, I would encourage you to pray for our MKs each year at Thanksgiving time. I have never been more aware about how MKs come to Thanksgiving Retreat with a heart that is hoping to meet with God! Thanks for praying for the MKs! As always, if you ever have questions about how things are done, or what happens at any ISMK event – please feel free to contact me.

Summer 2008 ISMK Activities

2008-09-05T10:33:00.000-05:00

MK Ministry Touches Africa
This July, MK Ministry Director Chad Phillips, who is passionate about helping MKs see the “other” side of missions, led a team of teenage MKs on a missions trip to Tanzania, Africa. The team camped ten days on the Indian Ocean without electricity or running water. They began the trip with a Tanzanian PK retreat for about 50 local pastors’ kids. The full-day retreat was unlike any these Tanzanian PKs had ever seen. Relationships, which are often not stressed in that culture, were the focus of the retreat. The team demonstrated to the PKs the value of authentic relationship with Christ through authentic relationships with each other.

For the remainder of the trip, the team spent each day painting at different village schools and government buildings. In the afternoons, they hosted a kids’ outreach with dramas and testimonies and followed up with a crusade each evening. At every service at least one person came to Christ. A man in full Muslim garb even came to one of the services. The team introduced him to the pastor of the local Assemblies of God church, and prayed with him as he gave his heart to the Lord. Does it get any better than that?

ISMK is currently planning next summer’s MK missions trip. We hope to work with the International Church in Podova, Italy and assist with a Vacation Bible School.

Boot Camp Prepares and Encourages MKs
Each summer the MK program hosts a summer camp to assist new MKs as they prepare for living on the field, and to encourage veteran MKs as they make the adjustment back to U.S. culture. During the first two weeks of the program, we have the opportunity to minister to missionary kids who are about to enter the field for the first time. One of the highlights for the older MKs (grades 4 through 12) is the MuKappa “Boot Camp” week. They spend five days camping (no tents or campsites) in the woods, and are not permitted to bring make-up, cell phones, iPods, or any other modern conveniences. The camping experience breaks down comfort zones and helps establish a fun, yet challenging environment for open communication. Many MKs come into the program unsure about their parents’ missionary calling and the thought of living in another culture. We at ISMK believe that God calls entire families into missions, not just parents. It’s always exciting to see how God uses their week of camping to open their hearts and give them a vision for personal ministry to the fields where they will live.

The final week of the program, our ministry focus changes as we help veteran MKs with reentry to the U.S. and provide an environment for emotional healing. The days are full of fun “American” activities like baseball games, bowling, and visiting theme parks. The evening services provide time for discipleship, prayer, and worship. One specific evening, our upper elementary (grades 4 and 5) MKs experienced a moving prayer time which led into a discussion of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. By the end of the evening many parents were waiting outside the room while the Spirit of God moved. Several MKs were filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit that night! MKs that go into full-time ministry often experience the call of God during our summer program. Perhaps some of these Upper Elementary kids will become the next generation of missionaries!

Giving back: Alumni-led Task Force
Your investment in MKs truly makes a difference! Many of them, after having graduated high school, are passionate about investing in and encouraging younger MKs. Our annual MK Task Force trips allow alumni to give back to ISMK by leading on-field MK retreats. In January 2008, six MK alumni traveled to Togo, West Africa where they ministered to about 30 younger missionary kids. Every age level of MKs was included in the activities. They played games, enjoyed snacks, made crafts, and spent the evenings in worship and discipleship. The team didn’t receive most of their luggage until the second-to-last day, but they remained flexible and had a wonderful attitude about ministering to the MKs.

We were also blessed this year to be able to take a trip to India, Turkey, and Tajikistan. Chad Phillips led the retreat in India and was able to invest in the lives of the MKs while speaking in the chapel service at the international school in Turkey. The opportunity to pour into the lives of the MKs through counsel and fellowship was well worth the discomforts they endured: no electricity or heat for three days!

Parental Update, May 12

2008-05-13T13:41:00.000-05:00

Happy Spring, parents!

I have just written to the MKs on the ismk email system. I thought I would drop you a note as well. We are in the process of hiring the SOM staff, booking the places for the events, hiring the caterers, and setting the schedules. It is a fun time!

I have received questions from many missionaries and MKs about the changes to the MK program this summer. It will be challenging for us to be able to do everything that have done in the past, with less time. However, the MK program will continue to effective, and a great time for MKs. Over the course of the past four years, we have been fine tuning what we do, in order to make the MK program more effective. This is just another step in that process. The key is the presence of the Holy Spirit. I know that God is going to meet us, and move among us.

Also, pray with me that God will direct the right staff and the right leaders for each program. Staffing the program is always something we do with prayerful consideration. We believe that the people working with our kids are critical in the overall function of the program.

I recently returned from a trip to central Eurasia and India. It was a wonderful time seeing TCKs in the “natural habitat.” Let me say THANKS to all of you that made that trip such a great experience!

The MK MISSIONS trip still has openings for MKs. Is your MK interested? We would love for them to join us. There is the possibility of significant funds coming from your (00) ADP to help them with this trip. I would love to see 3 more MKs sign up to come with us to TANZANIA! It is a trip of a lifetime! Contact me if your MK is interested.

Cristi Alexander has been in the MK office for two years, overseeing our MK publications. Recently, Cristi went through Candidate Orientation, and is now itinerating to minister in Central Eurasia (pledges - 294597 J)! We will miss her, but we are excited for the opportunities that God has for her in missions. With Cristi moving into full time missions, we have hired a new person in the office – Amy Reasoner. Amy is a sharp young lady, with great skills that will bless your MKs. We would like to officially welcome her to the office!

Teachers Needed!

2008-03-31T13:56:00.002-05:00

I have just returned from a trip where I was able to meet with many of our MKs in Central and Southern Eurasia. It renewed my passion for teachers in our MK schools. There is a great need for teachers at the schools our MKs attend. If you are a part of a school that needs teachers, would you contact me? I would like to put together a video of places that need teachers. Let me know if you are interested, or have a need for teachers! I believe that our MKs need to have qualified teachers, from year to year! They deserve the best we can give them, and we want to help make sure that happens.

If you have followed these newsletters, you know that we have an MK Missions Trip scheduled for July this summer. Area Director Greg Beggs is helping us put together this trip. I truly believe it will be powerful! We have some updates to that trip that you need to know about. Because of the unrest in Kenya, we have changed the country to Tanzania. We will be doing youth and children’s ministry for our entire time there. No experience is necessary!

Currently, we have 8 people registered for the trip (after a couple had to cancel). I have room for a total of 15. I believe that our MKs need to experience missions for themselves, and that this is an amazing way for them to do that. I believe that God will use these trips to direct our MKs back into missions. Often times MKs are in one region, one country, and they never actually experience what missions truly is. They have heard mom and dad, and they see it through the eyes of someone else’s call. I want to make missions personal!

Would you consider presenting this trip to your MK? I know that airfare and costs are difficult, but I also know that God provides (even for little missionaries). I have seen MKs raise the budget, and it is a huge faith builder! The cost of the trip is airfare plus $1,000. If you are in Europe, we can pick your MK up on our way there! Your MK can meet up with us. He/she doesn’t need to fly to the States to be a part of this trip.

Please contact my office if you are interested! We need to work on airplane tickets, but we still have enough time. Don’t hesitate! Let us know. I will be going on the trip, and will get to be a part of the ministry time with the MKs. Last years trip was powerful, and I know that this one will be amazing as well!

I know that you are all thinking about the changes to the summer programs. I want to let you know that even though the schedule has changed, we are committed as ever to provide the highest quality program possible. As I have been going over the schedule for the events, I am excited to see what God is going to do. Pray with us that God will touch the lives of our MKs. I always ask that you pray with me that the Holy Spirit will be poured out in a fresh way. I am passionate about our MKs being filled with the Holy Spirit – and I want you to pray with me that God will move among our kids again this summer!

Katherine is back home!

2008-02-14T15:26:00.002-06:00

Katherine arrived back in our home on Tuesday. She is actually very sad to be leaving the hospital! She had everyone at her beckoning call, all the food she could eat, nurses taking care of her every need, and her parents sleeping in the recliner next to her bed... just in case she needed them! She had it all!

We just want to say thanks to all of you for praying for Katherine. She is doing a lot better. She is still on anitbiotics, and will stay home for a few days. We are hoping that she will be able to go back to school on Monday. Today Dargan went by her school and picked up all of her assignments she missed... she has lots of catch up work to do! We are all sleeping a little better, and we are happy to be home again as a family!

Thanks again for all your prayers!

Katherine needs prayer

2008-02-08T21:05:00.001-06:00

Hey friends,

Katherine is still in the hospital this evening. I am sitting here next to her bed wishing there was more I could do for her. She came through the emergency appendectomy on Monday, and has been doing okay in the hospital. Today our surgeon came in and told us some disheartening news. Her white cell blood count has gone up to 17,000. It should be below 10,000. From what I understand, that means she is fighting infection in her body. She is on a very strong antibiotic as well. If her count does not go down, it will probably mean another surgery for her. We know that God has a plan, and we believe Him for her healing! Please pray with us. Thanks for your prayers.

Chad

Katherine's Appendectomy

2008-02-05T11:41:00.000-06:00

Hello friends around the world!

I just wanted to give you all an update on Katherine. Friday night she came home from a friends house with a tummy ache and not feeling well. Throughout the night she was throwing up and running a fever. None of us slept too well! I called our family doctor on Saturday, but she seemed to be getting better - no more throwing up. He recommended that we go ahead and take her in to the urgent care anyway. Saturday afternoon we went to urgent care and saw a doctor. His diagnosis was a urinary tract infection. We took her home and started giving her the medication. On Sunday she was not throwing up, and her fever was being kept under control with tylenol/ibuprofin. We had a superbowl party at our house Sunday night... she stayed on the couch in our room, still not feeling up to par. Sunday night she just kept complaining of a stomach ache, and her fever still kept coming back.

On Monday morning we took her back to Urgent Care. After spending all day at urgent care they decided to do a CT scan on her. She had issues drinking the liquid, and opted for a tube to be placed in/through her nose - to put the liquid in her tummy through the tube! Immediately after the scan, she threw up everything! Thank God she was able to keep it in for the duration of the test!

They immediately sent her over to the ER for an appendectomy. When we arrived in the OR, the surgeon and operating staff were waiting for her. I was amazed at how quickly everything was proceeding. They were waiting, the OR was ready for her, and we didn't have to wait at all for her to go into surgery. I guess the hardest time for us was when she looked up and asked us if she was going to die. It was a difficult day all the way around, but sending her into surgery was tough!

About 2 hours after she went into surgery, the doctor came out and gave us the good news that everything went well. She definitely had a ruptured appendix, and had a really large absess growing in her abdomen. They cleaned her out, and sewed her back up! She is now recovering at the Cox South Hospital in SGF. The doc said she will be in the hospital "the better part of a week."

It has been neat to see how God has worked in all of this. We have had people offer to pray with us (that we have never met before); our doctor at the Urgent Care happened to be someone that Chad plays basketball with at James River AG. Didn't know he was a doctor! The hospital staff were very attentive to everything! It has just been obvious that God's hand is in all of this. Why do bad things happen? We don't know why (we could get in a long talk about that one) - but we do know positively that God is in the midst of it all! When we suffer, He is with us, and He is helping us. It is a growing experience to go through trials - and hopefully we all learn to lean more on Him through these challenging times!

I have often thought of a young MK out in the Pacific, on a small island, who had an emergency appendectomy just a couple of months ago - i think in December. He did not have access to a hospital, and had to fly to Australia (8 hours I think) to a medical facility, with a ruptured appendix. When we have difficult times, we can only look at all the circumstances and realize how blessed we truly are!

Thanks for continuing to pray for our little princess!

Chad

Parental Update, January 25, 2008

2008-01-25T16:14:00.001-06:00

Greetings from the wonderful world of MKs!

The ISMK office is in the process of setting the schedules and hiring the staff for the summer programs of ’08! It is always a fun time. It is a challenge with all the time changes this summer. We want to keep the same quality, but with less time. We are challenged to have powerful services, meaningful small group times, and plenty of social interaction opportunities. I know it will be good, but challenging. We appreciate your prayers as we go through this process.

I would like to encourage you to register for Reentry! If you are returning this summer for SOM (Missionary Renewal) and you have children – I believe they will benefit greatly from the Reentry Program. We will have some quality time talking about the cultural changes. It will also provide your children with more time to develop their meaningful relationships with other MKs. I believe that is a critical element of the MK experience.

In just a few weeks I will be travelling to Eurasia. I am looking forward to connecting with some of you and your kids! It is my first trip into this region, and I believe it will be meaningful. For those of you that will be at the Graduation in Bangalore – make sure you bring your kids with you! Register your kids for that TCK weekend.

I am currently doing a course online about education consulting for MKs/TCKs. The course is the first one of the kind, and is fun to see what other organizations do for their MKs. Bethanie and I are both going through it to see how we can better our help for the missionary families. I would love to include you in some of the questions we are being asked.

The first thing I am looking at is a specific role for an education consultant. We have an education consultant in the ISMK office - Brenda Dickey. She is certainly qualified, and ready to assist at any moment. However, what I would like to know is the missionaries’ perspective. How do you see an education consultant functioning within our system? Would they be involved in the interview process? Do you see us doing more, educationally, than we are right now? I would love to know your thoughts. How can we be better at what we provide? By the way, if you are interested in learning more about being an education consultant for your region/area, let me know!

We are praying for you and your families. Please let us know of any concerns or areas that we need to address. Our goal is to serve you and your families!

Email sent to MKs on January 5th RE: SOM

2008-01-08T13:06:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year MKs!

I remember growing up in the Netherlands, where New Years’ Eve was the big celebration of the year – filled with lots of fireworks! It was the only night of the year that you could legally do fireworks. It always seems kind of quiet to me celebrating the New Year in the United States. I don’t hear the far off fireworks (or the ones that I am setting off). I miss that about Holland! You will find that when you move back to the States, there will be certain things about where you are that you will miss.

I wanted to write all of you about the upcoming changes to School of Missions. At the bottom, I ask for feedback, so READ ALL THE WAY! As you know, there are some drastic changes to SOM. The main change is the amount of days. SOM has been from a Tuesday night the first week, ending on a Thursday night the next. We had Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of full MK activities. The actual program was only in session for seven days. This has been the schedule for quite a few years. The Executive Committee (EC) has changed the length of SOM to be from Sunday night to Thursday night – that gives us Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of full time MK activities – four days.

Obviously, with the change in schedule, the MK program will have to change to reflect those dates. You need to know that the MK program is going to be awesome once again next summer. I do not believe that these changes will be too drastic on the program. We will still have a day at Silver Dollar City, and we will still have at least three evening services together (even though the parents don’t have evening services). We will still have our daily fun activities as well. The biggest challenge will be that we simply have less time together as friends, bonding. While we used to have the weekend to “hang out” with each other, we don’t have that anymore. What that means is that we will have to maximize our time together that we do have.

One other area that is changing is the Reentry program. Reentry is a VOLUNTARY program. Your family can choose to attend or not. Reentry will run from Friday evening through Monday evening. That gives us another three full days of MK activities with you! I believe that the days we are losing for SOM, we are regaining during Reentry. Some of the things that we typically did during SOM, we will now be doing during Reentry. We would LOVE for all of our MKs that come for SOM to stay for Reentry. That is something you will need to talk to your parents about. If you believe that you need more time with MKs, and the MK program – have you parents register for Reentry. Believe me that it will be well worth your time! I am already excited about it!

While change is never easy or fun, sometimes it is necessary. The EC has made these changes to help your families with itineration and the whole financial aspect of it. They are also changing the focus (which is why they are changing the name from SOM to Missionary Renewal). Instead of looking at this as a negative thing, I am challenged to see how we can be more effective in what we do! If you look at a youth camp in the States, they also run four days and five nights. In that amount of time, they are very effective in building relationships and powerful altar services. Those of you that were in Costa Rica at the youth retreat this year will remember how awesome one week together can be!

What will make ours unique will be that everything is focused on MKs and MK isssues. Can we be effective in that amount of time? I believe we can! Can we build meaningful relationships in that amount of time? I believe we can! Are we going to take out critical parts of the ISMK program? NO WAY! We believe in you, and we want what is best for you! We will work with the time that we have to make it an awesome time.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. I believe that discussion is great! We all have ideas, and this would be a great time to throw them out there. What would you like to see happen with SOM (Missionary Renewal)? How would you like to see the MK program change within this time frame? What events would you change? I will see if I can set up some kind of a discussion room on the website. If you want to write on my wall on Facebook – that would work as well!

We love you all and we are praying for you!

Missionary Renewal

2007-12-14T13:23:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

As we enter 2008, we are all looking forward to the new things that God has in store for the this year! So many changes are happening in world missions. We are truly excited to see what God has in store.

I am sure that you have already heard of many of the changes that are happening with the summer programs. Candidate School (CS) is being reduced from three weeks to two weeks, and School of Missions is being renamed to Missionary Renewal and is being shortened from 7 full days to 4 full days.

I want to let you know that the MK department is excited about the changes that are happening, and we are looking forward to these new challenges. I believe that the changes being made are truly with the missionaries best interest at heart!

ISMK was a part of a committee looking at the summer schedules. During CS our Missionary Associate (MA) MKs were on campus only for the first two weeks and the Candidate MKs stayed on for the third. It was always a let down for the Candidate MKs to say goodbye to their friends, and then have only half the number of MKs for the last week of CS. I have always felt that the MA kids walked away with just as much of a passion as the Candidate MKs! The bulk of the MK identity training was done in the first two weeks, to make sure that all of the MKs had the same training. The third week was always fun, but not as much instruction. I believe that we will still be able to have a quality Pre-Field preparation for our MKs in two weeks. We will continue to have MuKappa. Candidates coming through the summer programs can expect to have the same level of quality that ISMK has always given our missionaries!

Missionary Renewal (MR) certainly will have a new look for the MK program as well! However, I believe that the changes in the schedule are a positive thing for the MK program as well. While we are losing three days of ministry, we are able to adjust some of our activities so that we minimize the effect of that. We are adjusting some of the schedule, and will have a very powerful week. I believe that the changes in schedule force us as a ministry to be more effective, and more purposeful in everything we do. That is definitely a great thing for us! We will still have a day at Silver Dollar City with all the programs, as well as four evenings of powerful services. Pray with us that God will continue to touch lives and baptize MKs in the Holy Spirit during MR! I know that God has great things in store for next summer, and I am excited about the positive changes that are happening! We will still have a great, fun time with the MKs - and God will move in the services.

I am also very excited about REENTRY. Because of the change is schedule, we are able to be much more focused on the entire reentry program. Immediately following MRW, Caring Connection will lead the annual Reentry program. ISMK will be doing a bulk of our cultural adjustment sessions during Reentry! Some of those sessions were during SOM last year. I would encourage you to make sure you REGISTER for Reentry!!! Our program for those about to enter college is continually getting better, and these changes will help us even more!

Thanks for taking the time to read this letter. Needless to say, I am looking forward to next summer. The ISMK program is a part of World Missions, and I believe we need to morph and make ISMK what it needs to be for this generation of missionaries and MKs! We will not accept anything but the best possible program for our MKs. We pray that you have a great winter/spring (summer/fall depending on where you are)!

Thanksgiving Retreat

2007-11-28T09:20:00.000-06:00

We recently returned from Winter Park, Colorado. Each year the Assemblies of God World Missions sends its college aged MKs to Colorado for a Thanksgiving Retreat. This year was the 35th anniversary of the ISMK Program, and the college retreat! The first AGWM College MK retreat was held in August of 1972! AGWM was lightyears ahead of other missions sending organizations.

This year we had the previous MK Ministry Directors attend the retreat. Each morning we had them share in a Q&A session. We had each of them share about the history of the program, why we do what we do, as well as lots of personal stories. We will be making a DVD of those sessions, as well as the video that I put together for the retreat. It was great to be able to hear from each of them. The only disappointment was that the original Director, Joan Schnelle, had to cancel because of illness in the family.

Each evening we had services, which were all great. Don Triplett spoke on Thursday night about being a Missionaries' Kid vs. being a Missionary Kid. John Bueno spoke on Friday night, and gave some of his testimony along with a great message about following God's plan! I spoke on Saturday evening, along with out "creative worship" service. All in all, I think the retreat touched lives! We all left there longing for more times of worship together. It is always amazing how quickly MKs can reconnect with each other!

I also left retreat with a burden for some of our MKs that are struggling with various MK challenges. Moving back to the States can always bring many challenges. I would ask that you pray for MKs that are struggling with cultural re-adjustments, which is only one of those challenges.

I will be posting the video on the internet as soon as I can. You should be able to see it in on this website later today.

2007-11-05T15:06:00.000-06:00

Last summer was our first ISMK missions trip to Honduras. We had 12 people go, and it was amazing! Since it went so well, and so many have expressed an interest in another missions trip, I am going to lead another one!

Dates: July 24 – August 5, 2008
Cost: Airfare plus $1000*
Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Summer of 2008 I will be taking a missions trip to Nairobi, Kenya, with ONLY high school MKs! We will be working with a local missionary and the Area Director, doing ministry to young people in the city of Nairobi. We have room for 15 people on this trip (12 MKs and 3 staff). As of November 1st we already have 8 people (2 staff and 6 MKs) registered for the trip. These spots will be on a “first come, first serve” basis. There is a $100 deposit to reserve your place on this trip. If you want to be a part of this trip, fill out the application and send it in along with your $100. The total cost of the time in Kenya is $1,000, which will include all your transportation, meals, lodging and a one-day safari. Airfare will vary depending on where you are flying from.

I pray you are all doing well! Pray for us, as we are headed into Thanksgiving Retreat in just about 12 days! Things are hectic, but we are excited about the great things ahead. I would love to see the trip to Kenya filled up before Christmas, so everyone has the time to raise the necessary funds. So, if you are interested, I would encourage you to talk to your parents now. We will fill up, and we will not go over 15 people.

Northern Asia

2007-10-02T14:52:00.000-05:00

Hello MKs and friends! I wanted to ask for you prayers as I head out to Northern Asia this week. I will be gone until the middle of October. We have quite a few families living there, and I will be meeting with them. For safety sake, I won't say much - but thanks for your prayers!

MK Events 2007

2007-09-14T14:19:00.000-05:00

ISMK believes in reaching out to MKs where they live. Each year MK alumni travel around the world to regional retreats. In the Spring of 2007 we had the opportunity to minister to MKs in several countries.
· Nairobi, Kenya—80 MKs from South, Central, and East Africa
· Costa Rica—100 MKs from all over Latin America and the Caribbean
· Southern Spain—172 MKs from all over Europe

Alumni MKs also served in discipleship rolls at retreats for Latin American MKs in Waxahachie, Texas; an MK retreat in Eurasia, and a retreat in Mexico. In the coming year ISMK will travel for the first time to families in China. Every summer, ISMK leadership and staff live at Evangel University for six weeks as we minister, train, and challenge new MKs getting ready to face the challenges of living overseas for the first time. This summer over 300 missionary kids gathered and were ministered to during the summer program. God continues to open amazing doors of ministry and opportunity to reach the MK family.

In July, 2007 we led an MK Missions Trip. Partnering with Book of Hope, 10 MKs and three team leaders visited Honduras to share the Book of Hope in schools, perform skits, and share the love of Jesus. Here’s what some of the MKs who attended the trip had to say…

“Honduras was truly amazing, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I was there. I was blessed with getting to meet new friends, see some of God’s beauty and have a taste of a new culture…It was an honor to work with other MKs, meshing our multi-cultured skills together and tweaking our habits to compliment each other…The highlight was to see the children’s excited faces and hear their anxious voices about their new-found knowledge: that there is a hope, our Jesus.” —Anna, MK from Thailand

“I have lived on the field all my life; however I have never gone on an overseas [missions] trip before. This summer, however I got the privilege to journey with fellow MKs on a trip to Honduras…The children were so sweet and so eager to hear what we had to say…If you didn’t go this summer you most definitely must go next time. It’ll change your life (it changed mine) and give you a new view of life and the world!” —Stephen, MK from Northern Asia

“The 2007 MK missions trip was an amazing experience. The memories our team built…will not fade any time soon!...Seeing the excitement of the little kids getting a Book of Hope at each elementary school we went to was a source of encouragement.” —Sarah, MK from Northern Asia

“I would definitely encourage anyone who has never been on a missions trip to get out there and go do it!” —Melody, MK from Japan

MK Discipleship

2007-09-14T14:17:00.000-05:00

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19, 20, NIV). The Great Commission—Jesus gave a powerful, world-changing command to His disciples and anyone who called Him, Lord.
To be a disciple means to learn, the word disciple comes from the Latin word meaning pupil. So the heart of discipleship in Jesus’ own words is teaching and learning. At the International Society of Missionary Kids (ISMK), we are passionate about discipleship. ISMK serves over 1,500 MKs from ages birth to 23. The families that these MKs represent are called to serve overseas and fulfill the Great Commission. Yet often while living in isolated areas, MKs struggle in their walk and commitment to the Lord. When they return to the U.S. for college or to work, many struggle with cultural adjustments and finding a church home where they can grow and mature in their faith.
The mandate for ISMK must be discipleship! But discipleship doesn’t just happen—there must be intentionality and purpose in reaching MKs. When MKs have a strong walk with the Lord and are plugged in to a local church, they help create healthy missionary families who can serve and fulfill the call God has placed on their lives.
Through annual events and regular communication with MKs, we continue to develop an intentional discipleship plan to reach, teach, train, and encourage all Assemblies of God missionary kids. We send four age-appropriate newsletters directly to each MK every year. These quarterly newsletters include communication from us, devotional challenges, games, and culturally relevant information. We are also making strides to connect with MKs through electronic media, including monthly e-mails, blog sites, and information sharing accounts. Staying in touch with MKs and helping them be part of a community are very important in keeping the doors open for training and discipleship. We are passionate about training MKs to be involved in a church wherever they live. MKs are challenged to stay strong in their walk with the Lord, to work through trauma and grief, and to get plugged in to a local church when they return to the U.S.
The core values of the MK program include helping MKs establish their identity within the MK program, helping them face and deal with transitions and adjustments, and discipling them throughout their MK journey. As Jesus challenged His disciples to go and change the world, ISMK is committed to strong training, teaching, and support for each MK world changer!

MK Email; Sept 1

2007-09-11T15:30:00.000-05:00

Hello MKs!

I know that it has been way too long since I have written to you! So many things have been going on in the MK world, that it is hard to know where to start. Let me start by saying hello! Candidate School is over. School of Missions is over. MK Missions Trip is over. General Council is over, and my family vacation is over! So many things in one summer! I don’t think you want to hear about them all at one time J. Let me just say that they all went great. Although I didn’t go to General Council, Bethanie Skipper did – and she is my witness that a fun time was had by all mks! For those of you who were at one of the summers events, can you write me and let me know what made it special for you? I love knowing what happened!

The thing that is on the front of my mind (which is about all I can handle) is the MK Missions trip to Honduras. We promoted it for a year, and had 15 signed up to go. When we finally departed, there were 12. It was definitely a highlight of the year for all of us that went on the trip. I don’t think that any of us had ever been to Honduras; and most of the MKs had never been to a Latin American country. I wish I could adequately describe the trip, but I don’t think I can. It was amazing. Hanging out with the high school MKs, and watching them actively involved in missions was so much fun. Seeing MKs out of their own comfort zone; in a truly foreign country; not speaking the language… so many things about it that made it unique. I will be featuring the MKs letters about the trip in days to come. On that note, how many of you are interested in a missions trip next summer? You need to know that these trips are all self-funded, meaning you have to raise your own support :-).

I am also in the process of considering all the different blog rings out there. What do you use? Do you use myspace, xanga, blogspot, facebook…? You may use them all. Which one is your favorite, and why? If we were to set up an official (private) chat room for AG MKs, what would you want it to look like? Is that something you would see as being valuable, or not? These are just things that we are considering. I have issues with the advertisements that show up on some of them! They certainly have drawbacks. I see where we need to be so careful in what we do, and the blog sites we go to! What do you think about them?

One other question for all you MKs – what kind of things would you like to see in the newsletters we send out? Is there some kind of information that you think would be valuable? We want to be intentional in what we do. We want it to have meaning! Let me know what we can do to make improvements in what we are doing.

I will be in touch with you all. Keep in touch!

Blessings,

Bwana Chad

MK Email; Sept 12

2007-09-14T09:32:00.001-05:00

Hello again MKs!

I have a question for you today. What are you willing to risk? That is a tough question to answer, isn’t it? Generally, the very next thing you will think is “that depends on what I am going to gain.” There is a game show on TV here in America. I think it is called “Deal or No Deal.” Contestants are asked to risk all their winnings for the possibility of winning more! What if they were guaranteed to win the maximum prize?

A couple months ago, I wrote to you about being “passionate for your world.” The very first thing that I said was “you have to BELIEVE A GREAT DREAM! When you are thinking about your future and what you want to become – you set goals for yourself! You should have high expectations. It should be something GREAT!”

Once you have a dream on your heart; once you believe that you know where God is directing; once you believe that you have some direction – then you will need to step out in faith. Your dream can be as simple as believing that God wants you to witness to someone in your class. It can also be something as major as believing that you know what God wants you to do with the rest of your life! Once you have some direction that you believe God wants you to go in – you have to step out in faith! If we never step out in faith, then we will never see the great results that God wants us to see. This is the second step – being willing to RISK EVERYTHING for what God is calling you to do!

As MKs, you have a unique perspective on this, since your parents have a dream, or vision, for what God wants them to do. Your parents have risked everything. They have given up the security of family, a steady paycheck, and a comfortable culture. They have a dream, and they are pursuing it. Those are your parents. Where do you stand?

My challenge to each one of us today is simple. What is your dream & how much are you willing to risk seeing that dream fulfilled? I can say that you will never be disappointed with the results from risking everything for God! Let’s see what great things that God is going to do through you! Go ahead. Step out in faith!

I would love to hear from you. Are there areas in your life that you believe God is challenging you to step out in? Do you feel like God is asking you to do something, but it is a bit scary? Let me know, and I will pray with you that God will direct you!