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Reflecting on Building Bridges – EMCC 2024

How do I summarise EMCC 2024?

As statistics? Almost 200 participants from 22 nations, 1 Devotional speaker, 1 Plenary speaker, 14 workshop speakers, 7 musicians, 18 interest groups, the AV and sound tech team… and a LOT of coffee! It was the first EMCC where both the plenary and devotional speakers did not have English as their first language, one from Switzerland and one from Romania. That was so exciting and long overdue. However, it’s not the statistics that lifts my soul. It’s the fact that God was so present and the Holy Spirit was clearly at work.

Our topic was Building Bridges: Cultivating mutual respect, understanding and learning across generations, cultures and genders. Conscious that we had a lot of newcomers to EMCC, we experimented in bridge building by randomly sitting people with those that they did not know for the first meal. It was an attempt to help them meet people and not feel alone. How wonderful it was to see people building those bridges and making connections with people over their goulash! More than one person told me that they were clearly meant to be at their particular table – God turned the random into special conversations with connections and friendships made.

Devotions

Rafael Nǎstase (now Chair of Member Care Europe board) led our devotional times, based on Philippians 2 v 1-11. He encouraged us to remember that it is our God who triumphs and that we need to stay close to Him, our rock. We explored how to launch bridges with younger generations, remembering our history and learning from it. God praised his Son, Jesus, (Luke 3 v 22) and our young people also need to be praised, to be supported and encouraged.

A particular image that has stayed with me from the devotions is Michelangelo’s painting ‘Creation of Adam’. Rafael explained that God is seen reaching down to Adam but there is a small gap between his outstretched hand and that of Adam. God knows our weaknesses and puts all of his efforts towards reaching us, but we still need to reach out to him, to bridge that gap between us.

We considered Zebedee’s sons, James and John. Their mother asked Jesus to take one of them on his left and one on his right in his kingdom (Matt 20 v 20-28). Of course, she did not understand what she was asking for, but what she showed is a mother’s love, wanting the best for her sons. Our young people and our communities need such a motherly role model but they also need male role models and Raphael talked about the role models needing to represent priest, protector, provider and parent. It was moving to hear Rafael speak as both a son and also the father of two sons.

Humility – a rare flower, grown on the grave of pride

During the last of the devotions, Rafael talked about the bridge to life. When Jesus was asleep during the storm on the boat, Peter had to learn a lesson to trust in God but also come with humility. Another quote struck me: ‘Humility – a rare flower, grown on the grave of pride’. Jesus refused to use his reputation or his status as the son of God. Rather, he became the bridge to life, being obedient to his father and suffering death so that we may have life.

Plenary sessions

It will be impossible to do justice to the talks that Christian Quartier gave. There was such depth that I am still processing it. Taking our theme of Building Bridges, Christian asked us to consider the reasons behind how we build bridges. Of course, bridges need to be built where there is a divide or a difference. Too often differences are discussed as negative. Yet we are made to be in relationships and in community. Christian encouraged us to consider difference as a source of joy and positivity. When we are in a place of safety, we can see unity in diversity (NOT unity in uniformity), we can embrace another’s uniqueness, we can be curious and appreciate similarities and respect differences. However, when we are not in a place of safety, differences can feel like danger, threat or risk. As Christian put it, ‘Difference is not better or worse. It’s just different’!

Craig Storti writes about 2 dimensions of difference: Visible (e.g. behaviour) and Invisible (e.g. hurt, assumptions, values, beliefs). From an early age we learn that difference is not good. We have a need to protect ourselves. We have an inherent need for connection, security and boundaries. A helpful diagram Christian used, (reflecting on John 1 v 17 ‘grace and truth came through Jesus Christ’) illustrated that when we know God’s grace and truth, we can have security and safety.

If you don’t accept yourself, you cannot offer yourself in relationships

The Table of Difference is a place where there is mutual respect, authenticity, freedom, with boundaries and where everyone is treated the same (Phil 2 v 4). It is not a place of fear, shame, anxiety, uniformity or terror. It is not a place where there is no welcome for an individual as they are or where everyone is expected to be the same. In order to sit at this table of difference, we need to remain true, sincere and authentic with ourselves. We need to stay engaged with the thoughts, beliefs, emotions and points of view of others. We also need to welcome others and have a desire to understand who they are.

Another quote which hit me ‘If you don’t accept yourself, you cannot offer yourself in relationships’ (Kimberly Weeks). God believes in and loves us and it’s important that we understand that and accept ourselves as we seek to bridge difference.

The essentials to building bridges include being face to face if at all possible, having mutual respect and compassion, mutual commitment to understand the other, willingness to accept that the difference may not be reconcilable, and a need to take personal responsibility and accountability.

I am not doing justice to the depth of Christian’s teaching as it’s hard to summarise it in a few words. However, the final thought that he left with us was the need for compassion. Helping someone with the compassion of possibility (Gabor Maté) allows space for them to become who God wants them to be. And that, surely, is what we should all be focused on, not the difference.

Final comments

There is not space to delve into the wealth of discussion and teaching which came through the breadth of workshops and interest groups. It was heartening to see participants want to engage on such a variety of issues: sabbaticals; retreats; handling conflict (the bridge of peace); building bridges to TCKs and their parents; and building bridges between singles and families. It was also encouraging in our session ‘Paradigm Shift – MC with a Global South majority’ to hear from Wania Honman, Ravi David and Jiska Chin-A-Teh about their experiences as we consider member care for an increasing number of mission partners from the Global South who are coming to Europe.

Thank you to everyone who came to EMCC 2024. It would not have been such a great event if you had not come ready to learn, grow, participate, meet new people and share together. Our purpose-designed jigsaw of 200 pieces would not have been completed if you’d kept your piece to yourself (if you know you know!). Thanks and praise most of all must go to our Saviour God who came and inhabited all of the preparations by so many speakers and worship leaders. Our prayer is that you continue to think on what you heard and experiences and grow in yourself and in your member care role.

If you have read this summary and wish you had come, make sure to look out for details of EMCC 2026 in one year’s time and book your place so that you don’t miss out! The planning for it has already begun.

Picture of Sarah Hay

Sarah Hay

Sarah has a background in HR, initially in the National Health Service, UK and then in Nepal with International Nepal Fellowship for 3 years, where she also began member care for expatriate mission workers. After returning to UK and starting a family, Sarah began working as HR and Member Care Manager with European Christian Mission Britain, where she’s been for almost 15 years. Since 2015, Sarah also became Course Leader of the MA in Member Care at Redcliffe College, before then developing a new MA in Staff Care and Wellbeing at All Nations Christian College following the college merger. She has the best of both worlds in being a member care provider but also an equipper and encourager of member care students across the world. Last but by no means least, Sarah is married to Rob and has two sons who are now both at university. Sarah is also a board member of Member Care Europe.

Picture of Sarah Hay

Sarah Hay

Sarah has a background in HR, initially in the National Health Service, UK and then in Nepal with International Nepal Fellowship for 3 years, where she also began member care for expatriate mission workers. After returning to UK and starting a family, Sarah began working as HR and Member Care Manager with European Christian Mission Britain, where she’s been for almost 15 years. Since 2015, Sarah also became Course Leader of the MA in Member Care at Redcliffe College, before then developing a new MA in Staff Care and Wellbeing at All Nations Christian College following the college merger. She has the best of both worlds in being a member care provider but also an equipper and encourager of member care students across the world. Last but by no means least, Sarah is married to Rob and has two sons who are now both at university. Sarah is also a board member of Member Care Europe.

A true story of how local resources, nationals, etc., can all play a significant role in providing member care.

So, what are common themes that people put in their “Go Bag”?

The Church needs to lift its eyes and realize that we are the possessor of hope.

You can be a whole person even though your heart is divided.

A pattern for sustaining ministry in the frantic world of the twenty first century.

A book to encourage and equip single mission workers.

Designed to assist and encourage people who live overseas.

A work-book for those considering a cross-cultural marriage.

Christian Quartier

He is married to Simone and is father of 3 adult TCK. He is passionate about strengthening, resourcing and empowering cross-cultural Workers and their families through debriefing, critical incident debriefing and brief counselling. Restoring a sense of peace (shalom and wholeness) in their lives when that peace has been disturbed or shattered is at the core his ministry. He is also active in membercare training and consultancy.

Scott Shaum

Scott Shaum‘s deep joy is living life with his wife, Beth, their three sons and wives, and three grandchildren. That and really good food shared amongst a bevy of friends; or in solitude with a stack of books. As Associate Director of Barnabas International (20 years) and an ordained pastor, the Father’s goodness in his life is reflected as a pastoral, companioning presence with other shepherd-leaders scattered globally and locally. A scary-tough decade resulted in authoring The Uninvited Companion: God’s Shaping Us in His Love Through Life’s Adversities. He has contributed to Trauma and Resilience (ed. Schaefer and Schaefer) and Tender Care (Barnabas Books). You can find his latest rambles at tendingscatteredwool.com.

Gary W.

Gary W. left the US in 1983, following a call from the Lord to serve overseas, and served as a tentmaker in France until 1988 and then in Switzerland where he lives now. As a professional, he worked full-time as a research chemist and in later years as an IT specialist. In terms of ministry, he has served mostly in pastoral settings with services of teaching, preaching, counseling, and inner healing. Since taking an early retirement in 2013, he has done short-term ministry trips in eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia. He joined OM in 2017 and has been doing pastoral care for workers in Asia through short visits and online. Gary is married to Beverly and they have five adult children.

Cathy Thompson

Cathy Thompson is a missionary kid with degrees in Physical Education, Anthropology, and Cross-Cultural Leadership. She has further studies in Ministry Leadership Development, Member Care, Conflict Management, Counseling, Child Safety and Forensic Investigation. Since 1992, Cathy has served with Pioneers as Team Leader in Hungary and since April 2009 as Area Leader for East Central Europe. Cathy also serves as Pioneers’ Child Safety Officer for Europe, as a member of several working groups on training and leadership development, and on the executive team of Shoulder to Shoulder. She is committed to seeing teams work well as they incorporate singles, couples and families into multicultural teams.

Charley Warner

Charley Warner has been involved in member care in Eurasia since 1992. He and his wife, Cheryl, serve with Barnabas International and live in Irpin, Ukraine. Charley is also a board member of Member Care Europe.

Suzy Grumelot

Suzy Grumelot has served with World Team in urban church planting in France for the past 35 years. In 2012, with French partners, an historic new church was birthed in central Paris. In addition to discipling women and overseeing Bible studies, Suzy is involved with training, networking, prayer, and mentoring of new believers and church planters. She serves on the executive team of Shoulder to Shoulder and is the co-author of Sacred Siblings: Valuing One Another for the Great Commission.

Amrei Wehmeyer

Amrei Wehmeyer has been working with DMG interpersonal and TEAM in Portugal since 1991. She is currently leading the Member Care Center ReCanto da Fonte in Lourinhã on the Silver Coast of Portugal. Amrei also serves on the board of Member Care Europe.

Barry Danylak

Barry Danylak is an international speaker, author, and pastor-theologian with expertise on topics related to singleness, marriage, sexuality, and family in the biblical and modern world. Barry serves as Executive Director of SEE Global, a ministry based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada that equips church leaders around the world. He is ordained and has served as a pastor for over 10 years with the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada. Barry holds a PhD in New Testament with the Divinity Faculty of the University of Cambridge and is author of Redeeming Singleness: How the Storyline of Scripture Affirms the Single Life, Singleness in God’s Redemptive Story, and a forthcoming book, Paul and Secular Singleness in 1 Corinthians 7, scheduled for release by Cambridge University Press in 2024.

Maria Techow

Maria Techow is a Clinical Psychologist in Denmark with a heart for mission. In her working life she is the head of department for Psychiatry & Existence, and Competence Unit for Expats at Center for Family Development. She has been working with mission organizations for more than 13 yeas, screening candidates for the mission fields, offering crisis counselling and online therapy and helping families in their re-entry process, among other initiatives leading TCK groups for years. She is the co-author of the book: GO! My personal guide and diary before, during and after moving abroad, an interactive book for TCKs. The book is as a starting point for conversations between children and their parents, for children’s groups, in schools and across cultures and border. She is the mother of four, a writer and a speaker in various Christian settings. Maria is also a board member of Member Care Europe.

Evi Rodemann

Evi Rodemann lives in Hamburg, Germany and works as a theologian and event manager. She engages in the international work of the Lausanne Movement and the Mission Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance as well as being the CEO of her own organisation LeadNow. Her focus is the younger leaders generation. She has a Master in European Mission and Intercultural Christianity and currently works on her PhD researching event impact. www.evirodemann.com, www.leadnow.center

Rafael Năstase

Rafael Năstase is a missionary who served with his wife Alice, seven years in Republic of Moldova, being involved with Operation Mobilisation (OM) in church planting, discipleship and mobilizing churches for missions. Returning in his home country, Romania, he stepped in the leadership position from 2007-2019 as National Director of OM. Now he coordinates the church relation department of OM in Romania and is the national member care facilitator. Rafael has a BA in Philosophy and Journalism and got a master in Theology at Baptist faculty. Being born in a Romani (Gypsy) family he is passionate working towards getting his doctorate in ecclesiology and ethnography at the University of Bucharest, researching on the role of the church in transforming Roma communities. Rafael also serves on the board of Member Care Europe.

Sonja Pichler

Sonja Pichler is a happy single, born originally in Germany and has been living in Switzerland since 2010. During her time in Switzerland, she finished her studies as a counsellor; currently she is responsible for Member Care in OM Switzerland. In the international setting of OM she is involved in the Face2Face courses, both German and English. For the AEM in Switzerland she ministers in the annual debriefing week for intercultural workers. Sonja also works for a local church and as a licensed counsellor, both part time. Her professional qualifications are Psycho-Social Counsellor, Trauma focused counselling, Supervision (in process). She simply loves to see people thrive in who they are and who they are becoming. Her recreational oasis she finds in reading, walking and journaling (Bullet point and Bible Art). Creativity is one of her big resources.

Mihai Lundell

Mihai Lundell has helped to form national member care networks in countries like Romania and Italy. He served for over 20 years as a missionary and country director for the mission One Challenge in Romania before he and his wife Tammy accepted a new challenge in Genova, Italy caring for and coming alongside local pastors and Christian leaders. As a member of the European Member Care Board, Mihai works to build Member Care awareness and networks in eastern and central European countries that are just beginning to understand the need for MC. He is passionate about building bridges between new and old generations and making sure the voices of Eastern Europe are heard and respected. He is a former investigative journalist for WCCO television in Minneapolis with a doctorate in missions from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN and a masters in child psychology, trauma and developmental disorders from the University of Minnesota. Currently he collaborates with the Gaslini Institute in Genoa Italy in child trauma counseling and serves as an advisor for the Association of Christian Counselors in Italy.

Sarah Hay

Sarah Hay has a background in HR, initially in the National Health Service, UK and then in Nepal with International Nepal Fellowship for 3 years, where she also began member care for expatriate mission workers. After returning to UK and starting a family, Sarah began working as HR and Member Care Manager with European Christian Mission Britain, where she’s been for almost 15 years.  This continues to involve her in the recruitment and preparation of new workers, their member care whilst overseas plus debriefing and re-entry assistance when they return. Since 2015, Sarah also became Course Leader of the MA in Member Care at Redcliffe College, before then developing a new MA in Staff Care and Wellbeing at All Nations Christian College following the college merger. She has the best of both worlds in being a member care provider but also an equipper and encourager of member care students across the world. Last but by no means least, Sarah is married to Rob and has two sons who are now both at university. Sarah is also a board member of Member Care Europe.

Jonathan Ward

Jonathan Ward is involved in the Federation of Francophone Evangelical Missions and its member care network (www.resam.fr), and he serves at a retreat centre in France dedicated to caring for pastors and cross-cultural workers (www.pierresvivantes.org). He and his wife Rachel were raised on the mission fields of France and Angola respectively. They have three adult children. Jonathan also serves on the board of Member Care Europe.