PRE-CONFERENCE EVENT

Introduction to Member Care 101
Member care is a term widely used in the mission context but not always understood. Some think that it is another word for counselling for mission partners or cross cultural workers. Some think it is pastoral ministry. Some think that it is not needed in their organisation or context. Harry Hoffmann (Global Member Care Network), Mihai Lundell (Member Care Europe) and Mike (Member Care Italy) will use their personal experience and training to help flesh out what member care really is. They will consider why member care is so vital in the mission context. They will explore the current trends, practical examples and more. If you’re in a member care role but are not quite sure what you should be doing, this is for you. If you’re wanting to move into a member care role, this is also for you! It’s also for church and organisational leaders who want to understand why they should consider member care.
“The point of member care is to launch and sustain resilient individuals in successful ministry.”
Global Connections Member Care Guidelines 2023
Speakers

Harry Hoffmann
Harry Hoffmann (Germany) is the founder of several Member Care Centers in China (大文 DaWen / The Bridge, 2005 & 2010) and Thailand (The Well, 2000; La Siesta, 2025). He also serves as the coordinator of the Global Member Care Network. Harry holds degrees in Chinese Studies, Theology & Leadership, and Conflict Management.
With over 30 years of cross-cultural ministry experience across Asia and as the father of three adult TCK daughters, Harry’s passion is to see Global South Member Care ministries and leaders thrive and multiply.
Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, he has produced numerous free online Member Care courses and devotionals, viewed by more than 15,000 people worldwide and translated into over 10 languages.

Mike
Mike graduated from Continental
Theological Seminary (Belgium) with a Master of Theology and also holds an M.A. in Modern Languages from the University of Milan, Italy). Besides working as language teacher, he is now a full-time cross cultural worker in an Islamic country, as well as serving as a junior Christian counselor.
In 2024 he co-founded Member Care Italia.

Mihai Lundell
Mihai Lundell served as country director for the mission One Challenge in Romania for over 20 years, where he helped to pioneer a national Member Care movement. In 2018, he and his wife Tammy accepted a new challenge in Genova, Italy caring for and coming alongside local pastors and Christian leaders. He is a member of both the European Member Care Board and the European representative to the Global Member Care Board. He has a doctorate in missions from Bethel Seminary in Minnesota and a master’s in child psychology and developmental disorders from the University of Minnesota, followed by a master’s degree in child trauma counseling from Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary. Currently he collaborates with the Gaslini Institute in Genoa, Italy in child trauma counseling and works with UNICEF in crisis counseling for children living in war-torn countries.
When
Monday 20th April 2026 from 9.00am – 15.00pm.
Location
Chiesa Evangelica Battista Rimini: Via Cesare Pavese, 8, 47921 Rimini RN
The church is walkable from Rimini train station. You can take a train from Rimini to Cervia (the ticket is about €3,50). Cervia station is also walkable to Hotel Club Dante. If you are travelling internationally, or from a long distance within Italy, and want to attend, you can stay at Hotel Club Dante on the Sunday night, 19th April. There will be a group going together on the train from Cervia into Rimini (about 15 min) on the Monday morning.
Costs
Please note that if you want to stay in the hotel for the extra night, you will need to book this additional via our doo Booking registration.
As a day guest, the pre-conference costs €35, lunch and coffee break included.
Bookings

Ponte di Tiberio, Rimini, RN, Italia
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