Nurturing Missionaries to Persevere Todd and Tamara Rasmuson Bethlehem Baptist Church Todd and Tamara Rasmuson Bethlehem Baptist Church

The Nature of Nurture You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name... (3 John 1:6-7)

The Nature of Nurture Head (Knowledge) Head (Knowledge) Heart (Character) Heart (Character) Hands (Skills) Hands (Skills)

The Nature of Nurture Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. —Ephesians 6:4 …shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly. — 1 Peter 5:2 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. —Ephesians 6:4 …shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly. — 1 Peter 5:2

Nurture Program Head (Knowledge) Head (Knowledge) Heart (Character) Heart (Character) Hands (Skills) Hands (Skills)

Nurture Program Heart (Character) Heart (Character) Head (Knowledge) Head (Knowledge) Hands (Skills) Hands (Skills) Knows how to study the Word, in context, for personal growth, and guidance in gospel contextualization. Knows how to articulate and teach sound doctrine (Titus 1:9) Knows how to steward suffering as normative to the Christian life (2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 4:12-19) Knows how to study the Word, in context, for personal growth, and guidance in gospel contextualization. Knows how to articulate and teach sound doctrine (Titus 1:9) Knows how to steward suffering as normative to the Christian life (2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 4:12-19)

Nurture Program Heart (Character) Heart (Character) Head (Knowledge) Head (Knowledge) Hands (Skills) Hands (Skills) Humble learner/servant-leader Maintains a vibrant devotional life Christian Hedonist Uses gifts to build up the body of Christ Practices healthy conflict transformation Humble learner/servant-leader Maintains a vibrant devotional life Christian Hedonist Uses gifts to build up the body of Christ Practices healthy conflict transformation

Nurture Program Heart (Character) Heart (Character) Head (Knowledge) Head (Knowledge) Hands (Skills) Hands (Skills) Knows how to articulate the gospel and help others grow in it. Capable of learning language and contextualizing appropriately. Skilled at particular tasks necessary for missionary service (ex. BAM, community development, etc.) Knows how to articulate the gospel and help others grow in it. Capable of learning language and contextualizing appropriately. Skilled at particular tasks necessary for missionary service (ex. BAM, community development, etc.)

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS Matthew 28:19-20 MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS Matthew 28:19-20 SERVE AS SENDERS 3 John 8 SERVE AS SENDERS Fellow workers for the truth John 1:8

Nurture Program Relationships of nurturing: –Cohort group –Global outreach mentor Relationships of nurturing: –Cohort group –Global outreach mentor

GPs on the Field Barnabas teams

GPs on the Field Barnabas teams Pastoral care Barnabas teams Pastoral care

GPs on the Field Barnabas teams Pastoral care Missions committee Short term ministry Barnabas teams Pastoral care Missions committee Short term ministry

GPs on the Field Barnabas teams Pastoral care Missions committee Short term ministry Bring missions into all areas Barnabas teams Pastoral care Missions committee Short term ministry Bring missions into all areas

Tough Examples Team conflict Sexual brokenness Financial challenges Team conflict Sexual brokenness Financial challenges

GPs Leaving the Field Shattered dreams Resettling Serving the next generation Shattered dreams Resettling Serving the next generation

Agency Partnership The local church is foundational The agency supports, especially with strategy and ongoing accountability The church comes alongside in conflicts involving global partners and agencies The local church is foundational The agency supports, especially with strategy and ongoing accountability The church comes alongside in conflicts involving global partners and agencies

Hope in God Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. —Romans 5:3–5 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. —Romans 5:3–5

Hope in God For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. —Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. —Romans 8:18

Reflections on Ten Years