***Note that though you'll read something about a limousine, you will probably not have this same experience. It just so happened that a limo was able to take them to the hostel for the same price as a taxi.**** :)
First Presbyterian Church, Stanley became interested in New York City immediately after the 9/11 attacks. Just like the rest of the country, our hearts were broken for the people of NYC and we wondered what we could do to minister to them. A call to MTW Atlanta put us on the trail of Operation Exodus and in the summer of 2003 we took our first trip to Manhattan. We took a limo from the airport to the Youth Hostel on 103rd and Amsterdam – one of the largest youth hostel in the US. Everyone just stared at us as we emerged from the limo… picture the Beverly Hillbillies riding into Beverly Hills! ha-ha
Wildness ensued!! The early years of working with OE were both challenging and exhausting – I’m originally from Tennessee, work in an NC town of 3,500 people, love the mountains, and only speak hick-English. Arriving in Manhattan was a culture shock to say the least!
During our first summer experience we lived in a youth hostel, did OE in Riverbank State Park, and basically just survived. We were in over our heads and sinking fast. We brought crafts with glue but there was no place to wash your hands… we planned some drama skits but the kids were spread out between the basketball court, pool, water fountain, and soccer/track… we planned groups games but the kids would rather jump rope…. Our entire group was stretched beyond our capability. But God upheld and sustained us and we managed to finish the week. Whew!!
When I returned home, I slept for 3 straight days. My wife thought I had some strange virus. She is a former InterVarsity campus minister who has lead Global Mission Trips in Africa and Europe. I have lead at least 12 mission trips myself, so we’re no rookies. But that first year of OE was the hardest mission trip I’ve ever taken. So why am I telling you all this?!
Because after two weeks of being “dog tired,” I wanted to go back! And go back we did for 4 straight years. God grew in us a love for the students and tutors at OE that could not be thwarted by physical, mental, or emotional hardship. All our team could think of was those faces/names/people we had ministered to (and who had ministered to us). So from 2003-2006 we left the country for the city and followed the call of our great and awesome God to serve NYC and Operation Exodus.
Things obviously changed from 2003-2006 – OE found a ‘home’ to host their program, tweaks occurred that made the relationships between OE and churches thrive all the more, and the OE kids became more open to the “veterans.”
Then from 2007-2010 we took a break from Manhattan and served in rural MS. But the adults and youth of the church couldn’t get the kids of OE off our hearts/minds. So after a several year hiatus, God has called us back to OE and we look forward to re-establishing old friendships, making new ones, and being transformed by God’s renewing grace. God helping us, we hope to love and serve the kids/tutors of OE and be stretched beyond our limits again so that we can see and experience His mighty hand at work in us and through us – for His glory and our good. Hope to see you there!
Scott Deneen, Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church Stanley, NC
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Reverse Culture Shock
It may sound like I am starting with the end when we should be thinking about the beginning, but is important to think now about what will happen after. We talked about in the last post about debriefing on the field but also once home. It is also important to begin thinking about Culture Shock, yes even though you are still going to a city in the US, your team will experience culture shock in one way or another.
Many people are surprised at how well their cross-cultural adjustment goes on the field. In fact, some find it harder to readjust once they return home. They experience Reverse Culture Shock. The individual has had a wonderful, hopefully life-changing experience, which causes him to view the world, the church, himself, and life in general from a new perspective. Yet friends and family to whom he returns have not had such an experience and do not share the same perspective. Prepare your participants to expect the following when they return home:
• Being out of sync.
• Conflict in values: change in perspective concerning American
values/lifestyle
• Disinterest in mission experience from others: encourage your team to have an open and accepting attitude towards family and friends who do not share the same experience.
• Individualism vs. Team: seeking God and doing ministry at home typically as an individual as opposed to being a part of a community.
Encourage team members experiencing reverse culture shock. The following ideas/responses might help your team cope with reentry.
• Encourage team members to remain a “team” at church and involve the community of believers in ministry.
• If someone boasts, "This project has made me more Christ-like," explain that your life should reflect the difference Christ is making and that this kind of comment may invalidate itself.
• Encourage team members to listen to what family and friends experienced while the team was on the mission field. Don't forget your responsibility to spend time with your spouse, children, roommates, parents, and siblings. Do not ignore the needs of those closest to you as you readjust and they readjust to your being home.
• Make sure your team integrates peers left behind. How do you avoid being cliquish? How do you exert a positive influence without coming across as spiritually superior?
Many people are surprised at how well their cross-cultural adjustment goes on the field. In fact, some find it harder to readjust once they return home. They experience Reverse Culture Shock. The individual has had a wonderful, hopefully life-changing experience, which causes him to view the world, the church, himself, and life in general from a new perspective. Yet friends and family to whom he returns have not had such an experience and do not share the same perspective. Prepare your participants to expect the following when they return home:
• Being out of sync.
• Conflict in values: change in perspective concerning American
values/lifestyle
• Disinterest in mission experience from others: encourage your team to have an open and accepting attitude towards family and friends who do not share the same experience.
• Individualism vs. Team: seeking God and doing ministry at home typically as an individual as opposed to being a part of a community.
Encourage team members experiencing reverse culture shock. The following ideas/responses might help your team cope with reentry.
• Encourage team members to remain a “team” at church and involve the community of believers in ministry.
• If someone boasts, "This project has made me more Christ-like," explain that your life should reflect the difference Christ is making and that this kind of comment may invalidate itself.
• Encourage team members to listen to what family and friends experienced while the team was on the mission field. Don't forget your responsibility to spend time with your spouse, children, roommates, parents, and siblings. Do not ignore the needs of those closest to you as you readjust and they readjust to your being home.
• Make sure your team integrates peers left behind. How do you avoid being cliquish? How do you exert a positive influence without coming across as spiritually superior?
Friday, February 18, 2011
On Field Debrief & Follow up
This post is direct towards Team Leaders.
It is also important from the beginning to think about how will debrief your team.
How will you debrief?
1) Structured debrief
• nightly team meetings
• scheduled small group/one-on-one time
• questions for reflections (Devotional material)
2) Unstructured debrief
• seize the "teachable" moments
• set up one-on-one relationships
For additional resources on debriefing, I recommend reading Seth Barne's blog sessions on debriefing, to read click here.
Follow-up debrief
On the mission field, Christ becomes the all-consuming passion. Being in an environment where we are dependent on our powerful Lord will cause some participants to realize how passive and limiting their relationships are with Christ. This will powerfully inspire them to seek the Lord’s goodness and abundant blessings in their own lives. Upon returning home, encourage team members to apply the ministry mindset at home to expand the Lord’s kingdom wherever their daily influence might be.
Reverse Culture Shock
Many people are surprised at how well their cross-cultural adjustment goes on the field. In fact, some find it harder to readjust once they return home. They experience Reverse Culture Shock. The individual has had a wonderful, hopefully life-changing experience, which causes him to view the world, the church, himself, and life in general from a new perspective. Yet friends and family to whom he returns have not had such an experience and do not share the same perspective. Prepare your participants to expect the following when they return home:
• Being out of sync.
• Conflict in values: change in perspective concerning American
values/lifestyle
• Disinterest in mission experience from others: encourage your team to have an open and accepting attitude towards family and friends who do not share the same experience.
• Individualism vs. Team: seeking God and doing ministry at home typically as an individual as opposed to being a part of a community.
Encourage team members experiencing reverse culture shock. The following ideas/responses might help your team cope with reentry.
• Encourage team members to remain a “team” at church and involve the community of believers in ministry.
• If someone boasts, "This project has made me more Christ-like," explain that your life should reflect the difference Christ is making and that this kind of comment may invalidate itself.
• Encourage team members to listen to what family and friends experienced while the team was on the mission field. Don't forget your responsibility to spend time with your spouse, children, roommates, parents, and siblings. Do not ignore the needs of those closest to you as you readjust and they readjust to your being home.
• Make sure your team integrates peers left behind. How do you avoid being cliquish? How do you exert a positive influence without coming across as spiritually superior?
It is also important from the beginning to think about how will debrief your team.
How will you debrief?
1) Structured debrief
• nightly team meetings
• scheduled small group/one-on-one time
• questions for reflections (Devotional material)
2) Unstructured debrief
• seize the "teachable" moments
• set up one-on-one relationships
For additional resources on debriefing, I recommend reading Seth Barne's blog sessions on debriefing, to read click here.
Follow-up debrief
On the mission field, Christ becomes the all-consuming passion. Being in an environment where we are dependent on our powerful Lord will cause some participants to realize how passive and limiting their relationships are with Christ. This will powerfully inspire them to seek the Lord’s goodness and abundant blessings in their own lives. Upon returning home, encourage team members to apply the ministry mindset at home to expand the Lord’s kingdom wherever their daily influence might be.
Reverse Culture Shock
Many people are surprised at how well their cross-cultural adjustment goes on the field. In fact, some find it harder to readjust once they return home. They experience Reverse Culture Shock. The individual has had a wonderful, hopefully life-changing experience, which causes him to view the world, the church, himself, and life in general from a new perspective. Yet friends and family to whom he returns have not had such an experience and do not share the same perspective. Prepare your participants to expect the following when they return home:
• Being out of sync.
• Conflict in values: change in perspective concerning American
values/lifestyle
• Disinterest in mission experience from others: encourage your team to have an open and accepting attitude towards family and friends who do not share the same experience.
• Individualism vs. Team: seeking God and doing ministry at home typically as an individual as opposed to being a part of a community.
Encourage team members experiencing reverse culture shock. The following ideas/responses might help your team cope with reentry.
• Encourage team members to remain a “team” at church and involve the community of believers in ministry.
• If someone boasts, "This project has made me more Christ-like," explain that your life should reflect the difference Christ is making and that this kind of comment may invalidate itself.
• Encourage team members to listen to what family and friends experienced while the team was on the mission field. Don't forget your responsibility to spend time with your spouse, children, roommates, parents, and siblings. Do not ignore the needs of those closest to you as you readjust and they readjust to your being home.
• Make sure your team integrates peers left behind. How do you avoid being cliquish? How do you exert a positive influence without coming across as spiritually superior?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Setting the Foundation
Prepare your team. Ninety-five percent of what happens on a mission trip has been pre-determined before you leave home. The degree to which you prepare your team will be the degree to which you will be able to process, understand, and respond to what you experience.
Plan ahead. While preparing for all the elements of the project you may find yourself overwhelmed, and forgetting the ultimate goal, may quickly forfeit potential spiritual growth.
Identify assumptions. The assumptions and expectations you have about what you think God will do in and through your team will largely set the tone for the project. We encourage team leaders to view short-term projects as a blessing from the Lord as He uses you to expand His kingdom and sanctify your hearts. Our powerful Lord is capable of producing much change on a short-term trip. First, we need to be open to the change the Lord is making in our hearts. Then, we will be ready to process this change.
Preparing for debrief
Definition of debrief. Debrief is the process whereby the team discusses and reflects on experiences - sharing insights, blessings and personal application. This time helps team members process change in their hearts and look at implications for the future. If you plan debrief at the beginning, you can carefully gauge team interactions so that specific goals are accomplished.
There are two assumptions we are making regarding debrief:
• The short-term experience is a catalyst for growth and ongoing involvement in missions.
• If the short-term experience produces a heart change, then that participant will in some way be out of sync with the world. This is referred to as reversed culture shock and will discussed later.
Identify goals. Set goals as you debrief so your time is constructive. Goals should help participants apply experiences to their personal lives, building a ministry mindset at home with a clear understanding of kingdom growth. Also, discuss re-entry adjustments and practical applications.
Potential goals for your team:
Spiritual (Discipleship & Worship)
• Understanding of Christ
• Understanding of Scripture
• Understanding of my role in the Lord’s Kingdom Ministry (Servant-hood)
• What does a servant’s heart resemble?
• How can I develop a servant's heart?
• How can I continue genuine ministry at home?
Relational (Fellowship)
• What do we want our team to relate?
• How can this experience change how I relate to people?
Let us pray for a strong foundation for our teams serving at Operation Exodus in 2011
"Debrief during and after a project is more directly responsible for reaching your goals than the project itself." - Dan Faber, Missions Pastor
Plan ahead. While preparing for all the elements of the project you may find yourself overwhelmed, and forgetting the ultimate goal, may quickly forfeit potential spiritual growth.
Identify assumptions. The assumptions and expectations you have about what you think God will do in and through your team will largely set the tone for the project. We encourage team leaders to view short-term projects as a blessing from the Lord as He uses you to expand His kingdom and sanctify your hearts. Our powerful Lord is capable of producing much change on a short-term trip. First, we need to be open to the change the Lord is making in our hearts. Then, we will be ready to process this change.
Preparing for debrief
Definition of debrief. Debrief is the process whereby the team discusses and reflects on experiences - sharing insights, blessings and personal application. This time helps team members process change in their hearts and look at implications for the future. If you plan debrief at the beginning, you can carefully gauge team interactions so that specific goals are accomplished.
There are two assumptions we are making regarding debrief:
• The short-term experience is a catalyst for growth and ongoing involvement in missions.
• If the short-term experience produces a heart change, then that participant will in some way be out of sync with the world. This is referred to as reversed culture shock and will discussed later.
Identify goals. Set goals as you debrief so your time is constructive. Goals should help participants apply experiences to their personal lives, building a ministry mindset at home with a clear understanding of kingdom growth. Also, discuss re-entry adjustments and practical applications.
Potential goals for your team:
Spiritual (Discipleship & Worship)
• Understanding of Christ
• Understanding of Scripture
• Understanding of my role in the Lord’s Kingdom Ministry (Servant-hood)
• What does a servant’s heart resemble?
• How can I develop a servant's heart?
• How can I continue genuine ministry at home?
Relational (Fellowship)
• What do we want our team to relate?
• How can this experience change how I relate to people?
Let us pray for a strong foundation for our teams serving at Operation Exodus in 2011
"Debrief during and after a project is more directly responsible for reaching your goals than the project itself." - Dan Faber, Missions Pastor
Friday, February 4, 2011
Two New Weeks Open for June
Hi friends,
We now have two weeks in June that we need mission teams to come serve at Operation Exodus!
June 18-25 - We need to team to lead our after school program so that we can having training and planning for our summer program staff.
June 25-July 2 - The new start date for Summer Program at our Inwood site (Heights will start a week later)
Please contact MTW for more details
Will you pray with us that the Lord will provide teams for these weeks?
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Team leaders do not forget that your Project Orientation Trip rsvp forms are due by 2/15
We now have two weeks in June that we need mission teams to come serve at Operation Exodus!
June 18-25 - We need to team to lead our after school program so that we can having training and planning for our summer program staff.
June 25-July 2 - The new start date for Summer Program at our Inwood site (Heights will start a week later)
Please contact MTW for more details
Will you pray with us that the Lord will provide teams for these weeks?
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Team leaders do not forget that your Project Orientation Trip rsvp forms are due by 2/15
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