Teaching and training are come-alongside “classics.” In 2011 Paraclete associates taught in seminaries, schools and seminars. Doug Goins gives a good example. After studying with a small group of bi-vocational pastors in Haiti their elderly host begged him to come back and help them. Resources are scarce. Associate, Carey Childrey, took books with him to India where one student told him, “We so appreciate the books! This is the only course in which we received textbooks!” In September, I (Glen Volkhardt) led a training session in Paraguay on board governance for 90 interested Latin Americans.
Mentoring and coaching are activities almost all associates do. It takes many forms. Cliff Peters mentors eight John Brown University students in their renewable energy practicums. Half way around the world in Uganda, associate, Byron Hurlburt, mentors M., who offers a Bible training program for leaders. Byron has provided M. with local-language hymnals, Bibles and training manuals to distribute among his people. M. told Byron, “I want to serve God until my last breath.” Jim and Leta Van Meter coach missionaries in a ministry they say they didn’t even know existed until a few years ago—coaching weary kingdom workers through times of sabbatical renewal. One Mission CEO they came alongside in sabbatical told them, “the ‘depleted soul’ description resonates as a ‘diagnosis’ when no other has
seemed to fit.”
Professional and lay counseling form important parts of the Paraclete ministry mix. Associate, Dr. Robin Brennan counsels troubled missionary servants on Skype, via email and in person. Last summer she supervised a group of counselors that ministered to a gathering of missionaries from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Consulting with US mission agencies is where Paraclete began. One Paraclete associate designed and implemented five pre-field training programs for a large sending agency. David Bochman led the board of Launch Ministries through sessions to develop a strategic vision.
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