Heidi Griepp
OAXACA, MEXICO (December 1, 2000) – No two people are alike, it’s been said, and the same thing goes for mission ministries.
The Evangelical Covenant Church in Mexico has updated how it does mission work in Mexico, having just finished a year of strategic planning and team building. Kristen Carlsgaard (accompanying photo), Covenant missionary in Oaxaca, believes the effort has been worthwhile.
“In order to be more effective, we had to come together to create a strategic plan specific to our vision for Mexico,” Carlsgaard said. It’s been an informative and growing process. We as a mission have always worked towards achieving goals. Presently, we’re trying to move forward as a team, to dream but also to be more intentional in realizing our objectives and our vision to expand and strengthen the Church of Mexico and beyond.”
“In order to be more effective, we had to come together to create a strategic plan specific to our vision for Mexico,” Carlsgaard said. It’s been an informative and growing process. We as a mission have always worked towards achieving goals. Presently, we’re trying to move forward as a team, to dream but also to be more intentional in realizing our objectives and our vision to expand and strengthen the Church of Mexico and beyond.”
The missionaries of Mexico, aided by the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) Department of World Mission, have invited experts to assist in planning. Last summer, Cathy Barsotti, director of development at Centro Hispano de Estudios Teologicos (CHET) in Bell Gardens, California, helped draft a strategic plan. Barsotti returned in November to help finalize the plan.
To assist in team-building efforts, the missionaries worked with the Covenant Member Care Team, which serves missionaries. Member care is a developing area for World Mission, according to Carlsgaard. Cheri Auman, a psychologist working with ECC missionaries in Latin America and Africa, envisioned the concept.
Auman works both with individual missionaries and missionary teams in member care, assisting with personal concerns and team-building efforts. Carlsgaard said Auman also has been helpful with missionary children who are struggling with the challenge of living in a third world country as a bi-cultural child.
Individuals interested in additional information on the strategic mission planning project in Mexico may contact Carlsgaard by email at kcarlsgaard@spersaoaxaca.com.mx.
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