Board of Mission Overseas
In this News Update ...
Debriefing for Senders Workshop
Hospitality Coordinator required
NEW TRAINING EVENT - ‘Debriefing for Senders’ Workshop
Saturday, 20 June 2009 (9.00 am - 5.30 pm)Muckamore Presbyterian Church Halls (near Antrim)
Going overseas, even for a short period, can have a significant impact on an individual, not just physically but also emotionally and spiritually. On returning home, most will bring back memories they will not easily forget and, for some, long-held attitudes and opinions may have been significantly challenged, even changed!
Debriefing is an important tool that aims to help such people work through the impact of their feelings and emotions, helping them to benefit from their overseas experiences as they settle back into the routines of ‘normal life’ at home.
‘Debriefing for Senders’ is a one-day practical, interactive workshop with time for questions and discussion. Congregations or presbyteries involved in sending short-term mission teams (or individuals) overseas should aim to send two or three representatives to this important training day, where they will learn:
- Why it is important to debrief those returning from overseas.
- What debriefing involves.
- How to carry out an effective debrief.
Those who should attend will be key people (elders, mission committee members, etc.) who have responsibility at the home base for ensuring that the team (or individual) going overseas is well prepared and will be appropriately cared for pastorally by their ‘senders’ before, during and after their return. This training is also very appropriate for team leaders who will need to know how to debrief their team at the end of their time together.
The workshop facilitator will be Dr Debbie Hawker, a clinical psychologist who works full time with missionaries and their children. She is coming over to Belfast especially to lead this training day. Debbie is considered to be a leading expert in caring effectively for and the debriefing of those who engage in mission service overseas. She is also a member of the staff team at InterHealth, a Christian travel clinic in London.
To book places, please contact the Mission Overseas Office (see below).
A fee of £5.00 is payable by each participant, which will help meet some of the costs of organising the day. Tea and coffee will be provided free, and served on arrival, mid-morning, at lunch time and mid-afternoon. Participants will need to bring their own packed lunch.
CLOSING DATE for booking — Friday, 12 June 2009
Hospitality Coordinator required
The Board of Mission Overseas (BMO) is looking for an enthusiastic and adaptable volunteer to be its Hospitality Coordinator, which will involve helping to organise and coordinate the welcome extended to all BMO-invited overseas guests. The person suited to this important role will be a good organiser, who is hospitable by nature, enjoys meeting people from different cultural backgrounds, is flexible and able to deal with last minute changes to plans, and has a good sense of humour. Anyone interested in taking up this role, should contact the Overseas Secretary, Rev Uel Marrs, in the Mission Overseas Office, Church House.
For further details on any of these news items, please contact:
Mission Overseas Office
Church House
Belfast BT1 6DW
Tel: +44 (0)28 9032 2284
Fax: +44 (0)28 9041 7306
Email: overseas@presbyterianireland.org
This page was last updated on 29 April 2009
© Presbyterian Church in Ireland. info@presbyterianireland.org Information correct at time of upload.