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”