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Associate Director of Global Ministries

Donna Hollopeter
Associate Director of Global Ministries

Thanks for the opportunity to report on not only some of the work with which I have been involved, but also some of my long-term goals. It is exciting to be part of Global Ministries and watch as God opens some potential areas of new ministry and opportunity.

An area in which I work very closely involves coordinating short-term mission experiences sponsored by Global Ministries. Over the past four years I have served as both coordinator and team leader. For Global Ministries to continue developing and expanding ministry opportunities through short-term experiences, it will be important to mentor individuals who will assume leadership roles for the yearly trips, thereby freeing me to seek new short-term experiences. I have focused on mentoring leaders for three trips. Three nurses who have participated on every medical trip to Honduras are serving as co-leaders for the 2007 medical trip. I have been meeting with them on a regular basis and working with them on coordinating trip details. This year's medical team will work in areas outside of Tegucigalpa.

Another short-term trip will head out in March to work with Pastor Prudencio Lim in the Philippines. A group of four—three pastors and a layperson—will travel to Manila to assist with evangelism. In February 2007 I had the privilege of meeting with these four to do some pre-trip training and mentoring.

The third trip is "Impact Poland," which will focus this year on doing leadership development of the teens who have signed up. A team training/mentoring time will occur prior to the trip, and all of the devotional times will focus on continuing to work with the teens in developing mission awareness, being available to God for His service, etc. It is intended that follow-up will continue with this group after the trip to develop relationships and to encourage these teens in their walk with the Lord and their future plans. The team leader will be a youth worker from King Street UB church in Chambersburg, Pa. One additional factor with this year's Poland trip will be the opportunity for our US team to work with a team of evangelical young people from Scotland who will join the US team in Kutno, Poland, for the English Language Camp.

As I look to the future, I see great potential for developing other opportunities to first lead some different kinds of vision/ministry trips with the express purpose of developing future team leaders. I believe there are countless areas in which UB people not only can, but will want to make an impact. A couple of areas I would like to see developed are working with endorsed missionaries Anna Geivett in Peru and Ron Anderson in Europe.

In conjunction with expanding short-term trips, it has become increasingly evident that many of our churches need help in coordinating work trips and with pre-field preparation. I look forward to being available to more churches in the coming months to assist with such preparations.

Missionary care has also provided some great challenges this year. In getting medical assistance for one of our missionaries and helping Billy and Mamei Simbo and others with donor development, I have seen an area where much can be done for the future well-being of our missionaries. As Global Ministries looks to expand ministry outreach/impact and as new personnel are assigned, this area will require much more attention. I think it will become more critical to not only evaluate missionary personnel, but have missionaries in turn evaluate the home office so that we can provide the best service/assistance possible. Some areas I would like to pursue in getting their input are:

  • Pre-field preparation: how well have we done in getting missionaries ready for their assignments?
  • How do we measure up with communication? Do we respond to emails/phone calls in a timely fashion?
  • Do our missionaries feel we value their input on changes in philosophy, ministry, etc?
  • How do we do in conflict resolution?
  • What kinds of contingency plans do we have in place for times of crisis? Are they adequate?

These are just a few areas of evaluation and agency improvement that can develop and expand into helping our current and future missionaries feel more connected to one another and to the home office.

Insurance is a third area that is ever-expanding. As missionary families have infants/children and as we have missionaries with pre-existing conditions, how can we provide adequate healthcare for them without making premiums excessive? Gary Dilley and I have discussed looking at some options beyond what we already have available.

Another area in which I have great interest and would like to develop some strategies is that of teaching/training children about missions. Global Ministries could, potentially, help mentor and encourage children to begin thinking at an early age about how God may want to use them cross-culturally. Most children are already exposed to diversity within their schools. I envision Global Ministries perhaps developing some materials which would be beneficial to churches in expanding a Christian global perspective for their children's ministry program.

Due to denominational structural changes, an important area of concentration has been and will continue to be communication and keeping missions—missionaries, projects, ministry opportunities, partnerships, etc.—before the constituency. Global Ministries has sponsored periodic "Day of Missions" events in various locations during which presentations are made covering a variety of topics. This seems to be a good tool. It would be good to continue with these, expanding the frequency, locations, and topics covered. We have not yet been able to reach churches in Illinois, Kansas, and farther west.

I want to close by thanking the local Women's Missionary Fellowship groups throughout the denomination for their continuing support for missions through their prayers, promotion of mission news and events, and their giving. In the year 2006, the WMF gave over $184,000 for missionary support, special projects, and the general operating fund of Global Ministries. While the number of local WMF groups continues to decline, their faithfulness in prayer and financial support continues to be a blessing. For 2007, local WMF groups have been challenged to raise at least $15,000 above and beyond their regular giving. These additional funds will help get Billy and Mamei Simbo set up once they arrive in Sierra Leone.

I am thankful for the opportunity to serve the Lord through missions and am thankful for the staff with whom I have the opportunity to work. To God be the glory for what he has done and continues to do, and for what will be accomplished for his glory in the future!