Question about mission boards

I have seen no problems with it, if the mission boards are like minded. My son (BWM) is working in Northern Ireland with a BIMI missionary. Of course BWM and BIMI are very like-minded.

One of our missionaries here worked with a BBFI missionary for years until the BBFI missionary retired.

Of course I would check with both mission agencies and both home church pastors before proceeding.

 

Oh yeah - its a good idea to pray about it together as well .

 

Along with what has been mentioned:

One, you might want to check with all supporting churches or let them know that is what will be going on. Some or a little funny about the "other guys."

Secondly, be sure the ground rules are very clear as to the relationship so that both sides understand fully how the thing is going to work.

Thirdly, maybe this is a way for the Lord to lead your husband to realize that God wants HIM to be the main guy in the ministry - working alone planting a church or whatever.

Pray cuz it would seem the Lord is leading somewhere but that you might not know where yet :thumbs: as to situation.

Be sure to begin by checking with your own mission, that may be the closed door you need.

 

I think we all should work together for the cause of Christ. Even more so overseas. Life is difficult enough as it is.

 

Good advice has been given already.
Personally I don´t see a problem with working with a person from another board. As long as you have enough in common.

Interpersonal relationships on the field can be a source of stress. Even if you are working with some with the same agency, there can be conflict. My advice is know the person you are planning on working with real well before you leave for Japan. I mean real well. I can´t stress that enough.

 

Are you serious? No way! :laugh:

You mean two men of God with a common goal and purpose can have problems getting along?

Excellent advice, BTW.

 

Actually I have several missionary friends that serve with the IMB (SBC). I am not speaking for them by any means, but I know them and I know their spirits, and having served in short term missions overseas with other missionaries with IMB, I know that there has to be a lot of teamwork between missionaries. In my opinion it goes back to the concept of the fields being white with harvest but there are no workers.....

In fact, I look now to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, and see things beginning to pull together between various missionary type organizations to evangelize before, during and after these games. You pool your resources and work together.

Sometimes it is a foreign concept to those whose minds remain in the states.

 

Good answers so far, but as always I have two yen to add. :smilewinkgrin:

First of all, our most difficult times on the mission field have been working in the same church--not with people from different boards but the same board (two different times)!!

In both cases these were good people, good missionaries, still our friends, but there were areas where we differed in our approaches, and that caused friction. So the important thing to me is not are you with the same board, but do your methods and approaches agree? (This is assuming of course that your doctrines agree.)

So, I see no problem with working with someone with another board. Now some advice, no matter whether you work with someone of the same or a different board. Some of this advice was given us by a veteran missionary before we worked with someone the second time. If you work in the same church:

(1) Before you ever work together, the husbands should meet to discuss methodology, then the couples should meet to discuss lifestyle (personal separation standards, etc.).

(2) Don't live within sight of each other. You'll always be looking to see what the other family is doing!

(3) Never mess with how the other person raises their kids! (This is one of the biggest problems when two families work together, believe it or not.) The exception to this is when the senior pastor feels the kids of the other family are out of control in church.

(4) The assistant pastor/family should decide ahead of time that they will follow the senior pastor as long as they work with him. All a work needs to fail is two heads on one body.

I hope this helps!

 

One thing a very wise man told me years ago that made way too much sense was that there is a very good reason why missionaries do not always get along on the field together.

If their colleges/seminaries have taught them well they all have been taught to be leaders - chiefs if you will and with all chiefs and no indians you are going to have trouble :laugh:

Not that it can't work but that if doesn't automatically figure that it will.

 

Alternatively, to make it through the deputation process you have to learn to be strong and independent. Two to four years of constantly travelling and presenting your ministry to different churches in different states, staying in different homes, will truly shape your personality. Quitters or people incompetent in finances or scheduling simply won't make it.

 

I think about everything that can be said about this subject has been said- and all said well, at that.

While on the mission field we worked closely (although not in a local church situation) with missionaries from three or four different boards to do camps and fellowships. The main thing required was a lot of grace and humility. We all became great friends and still are.