A new relationship that will provide ministerial care for missionaries and their families outside the United States has been established by Church of God World Missions and the Care Division.
According to a mutual announcement by World Missions Director Tim Hill and Care Division Executive Administrator Donnie Smith, the partnership will extend to international missionaries the same ministerial care services that have been available to United States and Canadian ministers. Counselors from the Care Division have long furnished direction and support for ministerial families dealing with crises, major decisions, restoration, realignment of ministry, grief, and other issues.
Details of the arrangements were discussed in a joint meeting with Hill and Smith, World Missions Assistant Director John Childers, and Bill Leonard, director of Ministerial Care. World Missions is helping to facilitate the Care Ministries services by making an initial financial pledge, according to a missions spokesman.
“We already cooperate with aspects of World Missions ministries, but I am thrilled that Dr. Hill has invited us to participate in this way, adding another layer to our partnership,” said Dr. Smith.
Dr. Esdras Betancourt, who has provided counseling for Latino ministerial families in the United States looks forward to offering similar ministry in the broader Latin American setting.
“As a state administrative bishop and Executive Committee member, I have recognized how valuable Ministerial Care has been to our stateside men and women, and I am pleased that we can now make it available to our missionary personnel,” Hill stated. Ministerial Care invites missionaries to contact their offices and make an appointment for an interview. They may be reached at 423-478-7162 in Cleveland, Tennessee, or by Internet at www.cogcmc.org [1].
(Source: Church of God World Missions)