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Simulation Offers Taste of World Mission Life

SACRAMENTO, CA (February 19, 2001) -

The Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) has taken mission work seriously for more than a hundred years. A group of California churches has found a unique way to maintain that emphasis in their local congregations.

First Covenant Church in Sacramento recently hosted more than 200 people for a one-day interactive event called The Journey, bringing in speakers to lead nearly six hours of sessions focusing on the mission experience. Gretchen Jones, mission coordinator for First Covenant, organized the event with the help of Valley Hi (Sacramento), Bayside (Granite Bay), University (Davis), Redeemer (Orangevale) and Rocklin Covenant churches.

Wycliffe Bible Translators first organized the Journey experience nearly two decades ago. International coordinator Gary Peterson has orchestrated some 80 events like the one at First Covenant Church. The ECC has used it extensively in recent years to raise awareness for mission work, said David Stockamp, coordinator of church relations for the Department of World Mission.

Stockamp traveled 125,000 miles a year ago and was on the road 140 days as a liaison to Covenant churches. Much of that time was spent educating local congregations about the latest paradigm of mission ministries. He enjoys events like The Journey and is excited about other new educational options offered by his department.

"We want to have events that are dynamic, interactive and fun," Stockamp said. "I want to shatter the old stereotype about mission work. And this can be a resource for churches that want to take the next step in commitment (to mission work). Gone are the days where you can just give a stagnant workshop or lecture. We need to have interaction with these groups on a level that is fulfilling for them." For a pictorial look at the event, visit The Journey

The Journey created interactive experiences to help participants understand how to prepare for mission work. They were called into the mission experience to start the day and then received education about how the local church can support mission work. They were given a stipend of play money to finance their journey through the day, which included a passport and visa, Bible college tuition, finances for language and cultural studies courses and travel fees.

Attendees heard Stockamp tell how mission agencies aid missionaries. They also received advice on what cultural norms are taboo in various countries and completed a Bible knowledge test. Some also endured some of the normal delays in receiving visas and going through customs and immigration in various lands.

Once they reached their mission destinations, they encountered groups of people simulating the native cultures, including people with no English language skills. ECC short-term mission and Covenant Mission Connection coordinator Barbara Johnson ended the day with a challenge to consider mission ministry as a career.

Some churches use The Journey as prerequisite training for mission trips. For J. Browning of First Covenant, a similar experience in Fresno served as a catalyst for him to consider mission work as a full-time endeavor. Others brought their mission committees to experience the interactive event, hoping to create a similar model. Hal Linebarger of University Covenant Church in Davis saw The Journey as a way to educate his children about World Mission, along with learning some of the ins and outs of readying for a mission trip.

"I'm finishing a PhD in clinical psychology and I'm going out with a mission team for a week in Africa to work with pastors who have been traumatized," said Linebarger, a licensed marriage and family therapist. "We've been talking about working with missionaries in the field," he said, "and I would like to do my dissertation on that (topic) and help them better screen people before they go to the mission field. If there's conflict on the field, I can be of assistance to help them work better as a team or use better communication skills."

A host of Covenant churches are enhancing their mission experiences through youth and adult events all over the world. This event was one more way to affirm the efforts of local congregations and for congregations to learn how they can affirm what full-time missionaries have been doing for years.

"We're celebrating what many churches are doing," Stockamp said. "We want to applaud those efforts and we want to develop partnerships along the way with churches. We're trying to derive common themes that another church might be able to take. But we need local churches to come alongside our mission teams. And we want to tailor plans to help local churches become educated in various areas."

"Even if some people don't think they will go on a mission trip, it helps them support missionaries and helps them realize they need support and prayer," said Browning.

Stockamp recommends a new publication put out by the Department of World Mission entitled, Breathing New Life Into Your Mission Committee, which is available through Covenant Resource Center. The guide helps churches focus on various mission work and is tailored for local congregations.

For more information on this guide, call the Covenant Resource Center at 1-800-338-IDEA. For more information about Covenant mission experiences, contact Johnson by telephone at 773-784-3000 or by email at barbarawm@covoffice.org.

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