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.
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: 
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