WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

BUILDING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
J O Sanders gives the following advice: 1
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1. The Sending Agency or Church, in the first instance is responsible for
providing adequate spiritual and emotional support. This may be difficult in
the early stages but as the work develops, pastoral care should be provided.
2. The Field Leader, where there is one, as representative of the agency or
church, will have the responsibility for pastoral care. He should have a shepherd’s
heart, and conform to Hebrews 13:17.
3. Sometimes several mission groups can combine to invite a Gifted Pastoral
Counsellor to visit areas where care is lacking.
4. Paul set the pattern of continuing pastoral care through correspondence.
Phone-calls are relatively cheaper today. Even “conference calls” via internet
are possible. However, a word of caution is necessary for those in sensitive
fields where emails and phone-calls could be monitored.
Sometimes, among a team of workers on the field, there is a member
with a pastoral and discerning heart. Team-mates could turn to him as he would
be able to identify with them in the mutual concerns they share on the field.
WHAT DOES PASTORAL CARE INVOLVE?
Pastoral care involves discerning the needs of each worker and meeting
them. J O Sanders emphasises that the nurture of the spiritual life is of
paramount importance. Help may be needed in this area. He also stresses the
need for regular visitation. Nothing can take the place of supportive face-toface
contact. Workers need encouragement. If visits are not possible, then write
encouraging letters or emails.
Instruction concerning relationships is often a need. Here, a loyal
recognition of constituted leadership is important. Genuine problems should
be submitted to the appropriate person.
In my experience of shepherding workers, I have learned that it
sometimes takes hours of sympathetic listening before a person will share his
heart. Relationships of trust are foundational for openness and vulnerability to
take place. Therefore visits to the field cannot be rushed. Not all workers will
communicate freely with their supervisors unless they know they are being
heard and understood.
The field leader should be careful not to take sides. He should instead be
a peacemaker when dealing with difficult relationships. In Asia, there are discreet
1 Personal outlined notes by J O Sanders were presented at a workshop