The Associates’ Perspective by Glen Volkhardt

As the CEO of Paraclete, my favorite part of the job is doing annual reviews with Paraclete associates. That might sound like a “power trip” on my part, but that’s not it at all. Review times are an opportunity for me to spend time with dear people that I don’t get to see very often, since Paraclete associates live across the country, and in some cases beyond. After meeting the qualifications to join Paraclete (side bar) associates manage their own plans, budgets and ministries with a relative independence merited by their years of experience. Reviews are a part of Paraclete’s accountability structure, and in them I always learn of exciting ministry that has taken place and of unique opportunities for the future. A round of reviews last spring in southern California was typical in this regard:

• Rob and Robin Brennan were preparing to minister for a conference in Europe that gathered weary missionaries for a time of refreshment.
• Jerry Hogshead was making plans for a summer trip to India and Bangladesh to mentor church leaders in the use of oral learning techniques for pastoral training.
• Dick and Pat Worden were finishing a visit to the US and looking forward to returning to Austria, where they anticipated a host of opportunities to come alongside believers across Eastern Europe.
• Another associate told of an upcoming opportunity to do cross-cultural training for a team headed to a Central Asian country in a “business as mission” endeavor.

In this edition of Perspective we showcase the perspective of our associates. We asked them to tell us what it is like to serve in Paraclete. Their answers paint a picture of our mission that it would be hard for you to get without accompanying me for a round of annual reviews. We believe that the coming alongside that they do is one of the most important strategies for ministry in the rapidly growing church of today’s Majority World. It is the heart and soul of Paraclete. We take our name from the Greek word for that very concept—coming alongside. It is the only thing we do; taking many forms and using many skill sets, but always with the same heart for helping others achieve their God-given vision for ministry.

Welcome New Paraclete Associates

We are pleased to have two new associate couples joining our team. Both are word-of-mouth referrals. If you know of someone who is looking for a ministry home like Paraclete, send them our way!

Jim and Arline Parris served in South Africa for twenty years in the pastorate and with Cape Evangelical Bible Institute. Jim has served in associate pastoral roles in three stateside churches since returning home from Cape Town. He has done premarital counseling with over 1,500 couples! Arline is a nurse and currently works as a counselor with an agency that reaches “at risk” families in Tulsa, Oklahoma where they reside. As Paraclete associates, Jim and Arline plan to be active in member care and pastoral care with the many contacts they formed with the Bible institute in Cape Town.


Cliff and Jeannie Peters will serve as Paraclete associates in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Cliff is a specialist in appropriate technology, a field that seeks to apply simple solutions to important problems in the Majority World. Cliff comes to us from the Institute for Biblical Community Development, an appropriate technology organization related to John Brown University. Cliff looks forward to ministering broadly via Paraclete, while continuing to collaborate at IBCD part time. Jeannie is an educator. Last year she earned her MS in Educational Psychology from Oklahoma State University. The Peters served as missionaries in Bolivia with United World Mission and with a missionary training institute in Alabama.

What it’s Like to Serve as a Paraclete Associate...

“My first Paraclete retreat was a unique experience because I felt instantly accepted.” – Stuart Rowell

“I find it very easy to work within Paraclete. It provides me the right amount of organizational support and encouragement without excessive constraints. Paraclete is unique as an organization because it is built around a posture of service (coming alongside) rather than a particular ministry strategy or vision.”
– David Bochman

“I have feelings of fulfillment when a project is completed and others are equipped to carry on their ministry.” – Larry Rus

“With Paraclete, you are able, under the mission, to develop your own mission ministry that comes out of your own calling, giftedness and the leading of the Holy Spirit, confirmed by the prayers and financial support of God’s own people.” – Carey Childrey

“In Paraclete, you work with a group of people who love God deeply and have expertise in a wide variety of specialty areas.” – Robin Brennan

“I am able to respond to invitations quickly, as well as initiate opportunities within the mission of Paraclete, because I am responsible for managing my own calendar.” – Jim Van Meter

“We have found freedom to follow the Lord in our own areas of giftedness and calling as part of a supportive community of like-minded servants of Jesus Christ.” – Doug and Candy Goins

“What I most enjoy about Paraclete is the freedom to serve the cause of world evangelization from a pivotal point in middle Europe.” – Dick Worden

“I like the goal-setting process that each associate must make for the coming year, and the way they are held accountable for the goals they set.” – Keith Butler

“Wow! Paraclete gives real freedom in the context of real accountability. You can’t go wrong with that!”
– Bill and Marty Sturdivant

“We all have multiple years of ministry experience, walk deeply with God and enjoy one another. Every time I sit with a Paraclete associate, I learn more about God and their area of expertise.” – Shelly Volkhardt

New Associates Resonate with Paraclete's Vision, By Tom Kopp

A recent message from Global Mapping indicated that “Evangelical Christianity is growing faster than any world religion. While world population is growing 1.2% per year, evangelicals are growing at a rate of 2.6%.” Evangelical growth is particularly explosive in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia. Discipleship and leadership development, therefore, are critical needs worldwide!

We truly resonate with Paraclete’s vision of sending seasoned and committed workers to address such needs worldwide. To transition from teaching and mentoring potential American cross-cultural workers to “coming alongside” international workers already in the field was a unique opportunity we could not resist! We are firmly convinced that this is the Lord’s leading for us.

Tom and Bonnie Kopp are raising support to join Paraclete in January 2012 as they finish their last semester of teaching at Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon.

Why Other Associates Joined Paraclete...

“After many years, I was beginning to outgrow my mission. I had gained experience and education that was preparing me for a broader platform of ministry within the missions community.”

“When we joined Paraclete, it was as if someone opened the door of my cage and gently said, “Fly! Fly!” I’ve been affirmed and freed to work in my areas of strength, and through Paraclete I am able to serve God the way I’ve always dreamed!”

“I was looking for an organization that would welcome me past the sixty five year old cut-off that was traditionally the case.”

Soaring Like an Eagle: A Veteran’s Perspective on Paraclete by Leta Van Meter

Paraclete is an ideal fit for me! After 30 years with another (wonderful!) mission agency, Paraclete is a place and platform where my experience and gifting can be maximized for the sake of global missions. Coming along side is not new for me. This is who God created me to be and what He created me to do. As I minister with Paraclete, I feel like an eagle out of a cage; while there is definite accountability, there is also freedom to catch the thermals and soar. There is great freedom to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit. There is great joy in being able to serve many different mission agencies globally. There is great privilege in coming alongside other Paraclete associates in their ministries. There is great encouragement in being able to call upon other Paraclete associates to come alongside me in ministries into which I am invited. There is great oneness as I am blessed and encouraged to participate in ministry with my beloved spouse of 44 years. I agree with the writer of Ecclesiastes (4:9), “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up!”

With reoccurring predictability these days, I find myself saying things like, “Oh, this is what God created me for! All of my life and gifting came into play! Yes, I prepared for this ministry, but in reality God has been preparing me all of my life for this!” Paraclete is a place where this depth and breadth of meaningful ministry is possible. I am indeed grateful! After 11 years with Paraclete I can heartily say that it is a place where I not only survive, but truly thrive!

Prayer Focus: Fall 2011 - Winter 2012

Your prayers for “traveling mercies” are always appreciated, and never more than in these turbulent times in the Middle East. Please also pray for the preparation and logistical details involved with each ministry opportunity below. As Paraclete associates minister around the world, thank you for your consistent and faithful support!

All of Paraclete

• Oct. -- Associates prepare their 2012 budgets.
• On-going -- We need listening, discerning hearts as we come alongside the global missions community.
• On-going -- Ask the Lord for prayer and financial partners for Paraclete, especially for the minsitries of associates that joined us this year: Kopps, Peters and Parrises.

Dave & Debbie Bochman

• On-going -- Work with Aphesis, Paraclete, and church using admin. skills (Debbie)
• Oct. 13-31 -- MN/WI Ministry Trip
• Dec. -- Graduate from U of Idaho, Ph.D. Adult/Organizational Learning and Leadership (Dave)

Robin Brennan

• Nov. 17-20 -- Mental Health in Missions Conference

Carey Childrey

• Oct. 5-24 -- The Evangelical Theological Seminary of ACA, India - Teaching “Church Planting, Missions and Evangelism”
• Nov. 7 -- Giving the message for National Christian Foundation (NCF) – Atlanta, GA
• Nov./Dec. -- NATIONQUEST™ course grading and evaluation
• Nov. 17-21 -- Northern CA Ministry Trip
• Dec. 15-19 -- Southern TX Ministry Trip
• Feb. CO -- Ministry Trip
• Mar. CA -- Ministry Trip

Les & Priscilla Hirst

• Oct. -- Global Leadership Forum of Compassion International

Jerry & Marilyn Hogshead

• Oct. 9 - Nov. 17 --Living in a squatter community in Manila, Philippines, teaching for Servant Partner’s field training program
• Late Jan. -- India and Bangladesh to consult with national partners to March on Barnabas Ventures partnership projects

Mike & Carolyn Garner

• Fall -- Training lay counselors in San Quentin prison
• On-going -- Counsel and pray with Middle Eastern leaders

Tom & Bonnie Kopp

• Fall -- Teaching at Multnomah University until Jan 2012

Jim & Arline Parris

• Sep.-Dec. -- Building prayer and support team
• Jan.-Feb. -- Ministry trip - Southern Africa

Gordon & Judy Rohn

• Oct. 19-22 -- North American Central Asia Forum, Michigan
• Oct. 28-30 -- Arizona American Legion meetings
• Feb. -- Go Ye Fellowship Committee and Trustee meetings
• Mar. 2-6 -- Central Asia Consultation, Turkey
• June 24-29 -- Go Ye Fellowship Family Reunion

Jean & Larry Rus

• Fall -- Restore and refocus after ten months serving in Turkey
• On-going -- Larry: Needs a replacement to do the finances for the St. Paul Cultural Center and a related church in Turkey

Bill & Marty Sturdivant

• On-going -- Development of ministry to Iranians overseas, teaching leadership evangelism and discipleship

Jim & Leta Van Meter

• Oct. 28-30 -- Women's Retreat, Dillon, CO (Leta)
• Nov. 5-10 -- Germany - WEA Mission Commission associates
• TBD -- Gap Training for team going to Middle East, S. CA
• TBD -- Training for team going to Middle East, S. CA
• Feb. 24-25 -- Minnesota Renewal Center: Leading three workshops“Caregiver’s Guide to the Missionary Heart”
• On-going -- Personal retreats to focus on our own spiritual nurture –our soul’s condition is what we give to others.

Glen & Shelly Volkhardt

• Oct. 18-25 -- COICOM board and Christian broadcasters’ convention, Asunción, Paraguay (Glen)
• Oct. 21-23-- Women’s Retreat, Hope Chapel, Colorado Springs, CO(Shelly)
• Nov. -- Finishing up associate annual reviews (Glen)
• Dec. 15 -- Paraclete Board Meeting (Glen)
• Every other Friday -- Mentoring a group of young moms (Shelly)
• Jan. 28 -- Palm Ministries board meeting (Glen)
• Feb. 17-19 -- Women’s Conference, Northview Bible Church, Spokane, WA (Shelly)
• Mar. 2-4 & 9-11 -- Women’s Conference, Pine Valley Bible Conference, near San Diego, CA (Shelly)

Richard & Pat Worden

• Fall -- Working on new seminar, “The Other Side of the Cross”

Looking Back on 2010

By Glen Volkhardt, CEO

A “perfect storm” of converging factors was brewing in 2010.

• The Church around the world continued expanding. In fact, Christianity’s “center of gravity” has now shifted to the Majority World – developing, non-Western countries. While only an estimated 17% of the world’s Christians lived in Africa, Asia and Latin America in 1900, the 2010 estimate is now 63%.* All of this growth in terms of new churches, fellowships and Christian institutions means lots of organizational “growing pains.”
• The Gospel continues to take root among some of the world’s least reached people groups. “In many cases, peoples with no known believers ten or twenty years ago now have churches within them...”** These new churches need nurturing.
• The Baby-Boomers reached a milestone: On January 1, 2011 Kathleen Casey-Kirschling turned 65 years old. She was born one second after midnight on January 1, 1946 – and represents 78 million Americans who will follow her “into retirement” over the next 19 years at a rate of 10,000 per day.*** Among the millions are many experienced missionaries and mature believers ready to come alongside the growing global Church.
• An alarming number of American missionaries are returning home from their career assignments overseas. One pastor to missionaries believes as many as 3,000 will leave the mission field and come home in the next three to five years.**** This experience base need not be lost to industry and retirement.

This is the world in which we minister and the world in which we mobilize. Our calling is to glorify God by coming alongside the global missions community to enhance Kingdom effectiveness. Our heart is to serve the growing global Church. We are convinced that a generation of mission experience can be focused on that goal.

As you read this issue of Perspective, you will see the numbers, stories and photos we use to paint a picture. The statistics give a quick view of the scope and breadth of who we are, where we serve and what we do. The stories give clues about the power of what God is doing. Glorify God with us for how He has provided and where He is leading!


* Jason Mandyrk, Operation World, (Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing, 2010), 5
** ibid. Mandyrk, 6
*** The Baltimore Sun, Nation’s First Baby Boomer Turns 65, http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011- 01-08/business/, January 8, 2011
**** Jim Feiker, Barnabas International, meeting with author, August 16, 2010

What are you doing the rest of your life?

The needs are great – and so are the opportunities!

Perhaps someone like YOU will be the answer to the prayers of a mission agency, church, counseling center, non-profit humanitarian group or Christian school somewhere in the world. They are looking for experienced and spiritually-mature individuals to “come alongside” and help them with all manner of projects and challenges. From accounting to website development, from coaching and mentoring to staff relationship-building and conflict-resolution, from strategic planning to church planting – the list of needs is long and varied.

Are you a Baby-Boomer at the beginning of a new chapter in your life? Would you like to explore joining our team as a Paraclete associate? Do you know a retired business executive, a school administrator, a consultant or a returning missionary who may be interested? For more information and to schedule a telephone interview, please contact Glen Volkhardt by email at glen@paraclete.net or by phone: (719) 302-2500 ext. 20

2010 Ministry Portrait

Paraclete associates average over 20 years of missions experience each, having served with OC International, HCJB, TEAM, Frontiers, and Mission Aviation Fellowship to name a few. Some have held executive and director-level positions in major mission agencies, while others have worked as evangelists, pastors, counselors and managers. Expertise in media, local church leadership, medicine, music and technology allows Paraclete to offer a great diversity of service. But one thing unites our team: Each Paraclete associate is sold-out to Jesus Christ!

The Associates...
 
30 -- Number of Paraclete associates
38 -- Specialty Areas
10 -- Languages Spoken
61 -- University and Advanced Degrees
645 -- Combined Years of Experience in Mission Work


Their Work...
 
36 -- Countries of Service
123 -- Organizations Served
23 -- Mission Board Service Positions
553 -- Missionaries and other Christian Workers Counseled, Coached or Discipled
2364 -- Missionaries and other Christian Workers Taught or Trained
1449 -- Other Individuals Counseled, Coached or Discipled
7414 -- Other Individuals Taught or Trained

Reports from the Field

Although Paraclete associates sometimes take long-term assignments, they frequently find the Lord leading them to be part of a more pressing concern that requires immediate attention. Many times they hear, “The Lord has brought you here ‘for such a time as this!’”

Larry & Jean Rus: Their 15-month assignment in Southeast Asia was filled with the unexpected. The ministry director wrote, “They provided much-needed administrative help at many levels. From their expertise with finances, accounting, and organizational policies, to standardizing office procedures and taking care of a myriad of details, we were blessed beyond our expectations. We would never have been able to achieve this level of organization without their help. They came after a period of growth in our ministry which led to our need for a greater level of struc¬ture.”

Shelly Volkhardt: “At a women’s retreat last autumn, two single moth¬ers accepted Christ and others found release to lay their burdens down at Jesus’ feet. During the testimony time, one woman declared that she had pre-decided to divorce her husband after the retreat – but that God got hold of her heart and she was now going home to ‘make my marriage work!’”

Bill & Marty Sturdivant: “Along with two other pastors from the United States, I taught and encouraged persecuted pastors in India for ten days. One evening, we felt led to wash the feet of the Indian men. As we knelt at the feet of each Indian pastor, tears of joy and grace streamed down in appreciation for this act of service. From that moment on, God seemed to break into their lives in very powerful ways – bringing forgiveness for all they had suffered.”

Carey Childrey: “Moments before a I climbed the stairs to the stage to preach in Austria, a missionary told me, ‘Brother, I just want you to know that there are Muslim refugees here today from Afghanistan.’ I later found out there were also Iranians in the service. The next Sunday, at least one received Christ when another Paraclete associate brought the morning message.”


David Bochman: “After coaching an African church association (104 churches, primarily in poor rural areas) through the design of a micro-credit ‘savings and loan’ entity, what a joy to see it of¬ficially launched in the fall of 2010!”

Jim & Leta Van Meter: “A missionary couple serving in Central Asia wrote, ‘After nine years in missions, and the majority of that living in a war-torn country, we both were in need of healing and renewal. You came alongside and gave us the necessary direction, coaching and sensitive care to help us during this much-needed sabbatical.’”

Doug Goins: “Our Bible-teaching team traveled to Colombia for a prison ministry’s national leadership training conference, where we taught from the Gospels on Ministering in the Authority of Jesus. The host ministry’s national director said publicly, ‘We invite you back year after year because you are our plumb line of truth. We trust you teach to us biblical theology.’”

Robin Brennan: “What a privilege it was to teach 150 children’s ministry workers at a conference in the Middle East – in the areas of Discipline, Setting Limits, How to Deal with Hyperactivity, and Listening Skills. Many were counseled individually on behavioral and psychological issues seen in the children they serve.”

Welcome New Paraclete Associates

Tom and Bonnie Kopp
Tom was born and raised in Africa to missionary parents. He and his wife, Bonnie, served for 27 years in Africa, before returning to work in the US office of Africa Evangelical Fellowship. They both currently teach at Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon. In 2011, Tom and Bonnie will begin ministry as Paraclete associ¬ates in the areas of member care, coaching, consulting and missions training.

Byron Hurlburt
J. Byron Hurlburt was born in Belgian Congo, now Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where his parents were missionaries – as were his grandparents. At the age of twelve, he prayed to trust in Jesus Christ as his Savior. Two years later he began doing evange¬lism, which he has continued to this day. He began his education at Wheaton College in 1951, where he met his wife, Carol. Together they were involved in mission work in Chicago for nearly fifteen years. Since 1979 they have been serving primarily in Africa, coaching and mentoring Christian workers in the DRC and Uganda.

New Chairman of Paraclete

Gary Ginter re-joined the Board of Directors as Chairman, effective January 1, 2011. As one of the founders of Paraclete, Gary has faithfully served several terms as a board member. He is Chairman and Interim CEO of VAST Power Systems, Inc., and a Principal/Member in three other commercial companies.

Thanks and appreciation go to Keith Butler and Claudia Sinclair, who completed their terms of board service at the end of 2010. Please pray for the “behind-the-scenes” work done by the members of the Paraclete board. Currently there are seven board members; their names and affiliations are listed inside this edition of Perspective.

Paraclete Associates: Prayer Focus

Your prayers for “traveling mercies” are always appreciated, and never more than in these turbulent times in the Middle East. Please also pray for the preparation times and logistical details involved with each ministry opportunity below. As Paraclete associates minister around the world, thank you for your consistent and faithful support!

Gordon Rohn
May 16-20 Go Ye Fellowship committee
meetings – Pasadena, California
Sep. 12-16 Go Ye Fellowship committee
meetings – Pasadena, California
Oct. 20-23 Planning & Strategy conference
for a Muslim region – Michigan

Jim and Leta Van Meter
April 29- Latin America Training Network
May 7 retreat – Costa Rica
Oct. 4 - 7 Pastors-to-Missionaries conference
– Glorieta, New Mexico

Larry and Jean Rus
April-Aug St. Paul Cultural Center – Turkey

Dick and Pat Worden
April Leading “God’s Global Glory”
seminar – Illinois and Wisconsin
June 6 Return to Austria from furlough
July Training “God’s Global Glory”
seminar leaders – Varna, Bulgaria

Bill and Marty Sturdivant
May Ministry trip to Middle East

Robin Brennan
June 22-July 5 Breathe Conference – Switzerland

Carey Childrey
May/ Hosting India leadership
June/July New Leadership curriculum team – SE United States
August development for promoting
church-planting movements

Mike Garner
April 28-May 9 Teaching/training lay counselors – Moedling, Austria
July 9-26 Leading trainers – China

Doug and Candy Goins
May 11-18 Doug: Teaching pastors of Rural
Fellowship of Churches – Haiti
June 19-26 Doug: Pastor in Residence – Mount Hermon, California