I have recently accepted the position of Mission Director for Heart of God Ministries (HGM). I am so excited about this opportunity to expand our work. Let me tell you about it.
HGM is a ministry that focuses on
training and sending folks to the
2 billion people in the world who have never heard of Jesus. They
currently have 56 missionaries, not counting children, serving on 9
teams in 6 different countries. The Mission Director is responsible
for providing strategic leadership and missionary care for this amazing
team of missionaries.
You may remember that I went over to the
HGM campus just east of Oklahoma City in September. I went to teach on
contextualization. On our last day there John Zumwalt, the founder of
HGM, took me to breakfast and asked if I would take the Mission
Director position. The position had been open for several months
following the passing of Orv Halley earlier this year.
I was shocked. I had met Orv. He was
an amazing man who lost a battle with pancreatic cancer. How could I
ever replace Orv? This was the first question I asked John. He said
something like, "You can't. I'm not asking you to. I'm asking you to
be the Mission Director for HGM."
My thoughts then went to Every Nation.
What about Every Nation? I can't abandon the amazing work that God is
doing through Every Nation? Again, John had a response. He said
something like, "Don't. I'm not asking you to. We love what God is
doing through Every Nation. Let's figure out a way for you to do
both. Oh, you're going to have to continue raising your own support
because that's the way we do it too."
So that began a two-month journey of
prayer, fasting and seeking God's guidance and leadership. I argued
with God and told Him why this was not a good idea and how impossible
it was and how unqualified I was. I felt like Moses must have felt
when he was talking to that bush. No matter what excuse I made all I
heard God say was "Trust Me." And so that is what I finally decided to
do. I am trusting God to do the impossible, which seems to be what He
loves to do.
Please be praying for us as I take on
this additional leadership role. Between Every Nation and HGM I am now
providing strategic leadership for 67 missionaries who are living and
serving in 9 different countries. In addition, I am helping to
facilitate our training and sending ministry in India. God is already
doing the impossible though us. We are grateful and honored to be used
in this way.
Your prayer and support is and has been a huge part of our journey. Now, more than ever, we need your partnership.
I know you must have many questions
about this new position. To help answer some of them I have decided to
do a Frequently Asked Questions section. If you have a question that I
didn't include, send me an email. Otherwise, thanks for reading this
long email and for your continued prayers and support.
Until ALL Have Heard,
Eric
Frequently Asked Questions
What will happen to Every Nation?
Every Nation will stay just like it is.
I will be hiring an assistant to take over the administrative
workload. Please be praying that I find the right person for this job
and that God provides the money Every Nation will need to fund this
position.
Is HGM going to pay you?
HGM, just like Every Nation, is a
faith-based ministry, meaning most employees must raise their own
support. I will continue raising support for our family and for my
travel expenses through Every Nation. I will be an employee of both
organizations but will only be paid by one. This is just the way it is
in this line of work.
Will you have to move to Oklahoma?
No, but I will drive over from time to
time. What I will be doing can be done via email, skype and field
visits. It is a good time to be alive as modern technology makes this
kind of working arrangement possible.
What does this new role mean for your seminary degree?
I will continue to work toward the
Master of Arts in Global Leadership degree from Fuller Theological
Seminary. I have about two years to go and HGM is supportive of this
work.
What does this mean for the Every Nation missionaries?
They will continue to work through Every
Nation and I will continue to provide leadership. I have talked with
all of the Every Nation missionaries and they are all very supportive
suggesting that they would actually benefit from the experience I would
be getting through the new work with HGM.
Are Every Nation and HGM merging?
There is a significant amount of synergy
between the two organizations, however, for now we feel that it is best
that we keep them separate.
How can you work for both Every Nation and HGM?
The key is my staff. HGM has an
incredible staff. Once I hire an assistant for Every Nation the
workload will be manageable. Please be praying for the right person for
the assistant job.
What does this mean for the work in India?
We will continue to provide training and
support for the Indian house church leaders. In fact, I am hoping to
send a team in March and probably two others next year. Want to go?
Will you still have to travel?
I prefer the word "get" to "have" but
yes, I will still travel. I will be providing leadership in mission
strategy as well as overseeing missionary care. This will require
frequent trips to the field. I won't be traveling any more than I do
now.
Will you still lead short-term teams?
Only one or two per year to India for
training. The rest of my travel will need to be reserved for field
visits. I will miss leading the short-term teams but I sense that that
season of work for me is over, at least for now.
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