{"id":128,"date":"2012-01-06T11:35:31","date_gmt":"2012-01-06T16:35:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/decastro\/?p=128"},"modified":"2012-01-06T11:35:31","modified_gmt":"2012-01-06T16:35:31","slug":"an-article-regarding-merge-usa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/decastro\/2012\/01\/an-article-regarding-merge-usa\/","title":{"rendered":"An Article regarding MERGE USA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Merge Now Offers Domestic Mission Opportunities<\/h1>\n
\n

By Stan Friedman<\/p>\n

CHICAGO, IL (January 5, 2011) \u2013\u00a0Merge Ministries<\/a>, a ministry of the\u00a0Department of World Mission<\/a> that has helped coordinate mission trips to numerous foreign countries, has added another country to its list of sites \u2013 the United States.<\/p>\n

The addition is in part a reaction to the hesitancy of people to travel to other countries, especially Mexico. \u201cAs the U.S. economy soured and the violence in Mexico increased, we noticed a plateauing of our number of participants on trips with Merge,\u201d says Dale Lusk, executive director. \u201cEver since we plateaued in 2008, the numbers have declined.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2010, Lusk met with his mentor, Dean Hovey, who designed the computer mouse for Steve Jobs at Apple some 30 years ago. \u201cSince I was in high school, Dean has mentored me on many aspects of ministry and leadership. At the time we met, he challenged me to start thinking domestically when considering mission trip locations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are plenty of ministry opportunities here in the States,\u201d he said. \u201cThe world is coming to us. The population is becoming more diverse. You need to think out of your \u2018international trips\u2019-only box and adapt to a new situation,\u201d Lusk recalls.<\/p>\n

That eventually led to the formation of Merge USA, which will provide unique opportunities for Covenant churches to minister alongside others in community changing ministries, says Lusk.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur vision is to partner Covenant churches with Covenant churches,\u201d says Lusk. \u201cThis falls in line with the whole denominational vision of \u2018in it together.\u2019 What could be better than encouraging other Covenant churches in their ongoing ministries than bringing in an enthusiastic group of people to partner with them in ministry for a week!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe plan is to partner with churches, not do ministry for them,\u201d Lusk says. \u201cAs much as possible, the plan is to bring teams to participate in what a local church is already doing, or help a local church be able to start something new they have always wanted to do. Sometimes you just need the numbers to be able to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The combined ministry would be different than what frequently occurs when churches work together. \u201cInstead of helping a church with ministry inside their four walls, the idea is to partner with Covenant churches involved in their communities in outreach and social justice,\u201d says Lusk.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe won\u2019t be building new Sunday school rooms. We will be in the community with Covenant churches doing ministry,\u201d Lusk adds. \u201cWe also are not interested in doing token ministry with the community. We are interested in churches hoping to further the kingdom of God by making a long-term impact on their communities in various ways, including economic, spiritual and psychological.\u201d<\/p>\n

The trips will be organized and run by individuals in the community in which the ministry will take place. The host church will designate a trip facilitator. \u201cMerge will consider these leaders as part of the Merge staff, and all will be included in training and oversight that all Merge staff receive,\u201d says Lusk. They also will receive the support of the Merge USA coordinator, Jen DeCastro, who is currently raising funds to be a short-term Covenant missionary.<\/p>\n

Merge USA will provide trips for more than youth groups, which is what most U.S.-based trip organizations do,\u201d says Lusk. \u201cThis is an opportunity for an entire church to participate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lusk says he hopes the mission trips will bring churches across the country closer together and develop a greater sense of shared ministry. It gives people a lower-cost opportunity to make an impact for the kingdom of God in a location outside of their own community, and gives local ministry the boost and encouragement needed to continue on in their call.<\/p>\n

Several host locations already have been picked. \u201cI have found great enthusiasm for this new venture in the host churches,\u201d says Lusk.<\/p>\n

Following are opportunities currently available:<\/p>\n