Kelly and Michèle O’Donnell are just stellar people. They recently wrote to offer helps for those headed to Haiti or Chili to help with disaster relief. For example, for more on the handling the broad-scaled logistics in Haiti, they suggested we direct readers to…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8466595.stm
They also suggested an even broader perspective from the U.N. Office for [...]
11) The BackPage: Help for Member Care-givers post-Castrophes
February 21st, 2010 · No Comments
Tags: · BackPage, Member Care
3) Wellness Inventory For Cross Cultural Workers
January 31st, 2010 · No Comments
Help Phil, a grad student, develop a wellness inventory which will allow managers and member care staff to assess the well-being of colleagues in the physical, emotional, spiritual, social, occupational and intellectual areas of their lives. Unlike many of the current assessments that attempt to answer the question, “How sick are you?” this inventory is [...]
Tags: · Medical, Member Care
8) Breathe Retreat for Cross-Cultural Workers
January 17th, 2010 · No Comments
Breathe is a 10-day retreat happening June 24-July 4, 2010 in Switzerland designed for the renewal of singles, couples and families who serve in cross-cultural settings. Under the guidance of professionals with years of experience in pastoral and member care counseling, you will have the opportunity to focus on issues affecting you and your family. [...]
Tags: · Member Care, Retreat, TCKs
3) Focus on Free Member Care Media
January 3rd, 2010 · No Comments
On their “Member Caravan” website, Kelly and Michele O’Donnell recently listed 12 organizations (among thousands!) that provide information and perspectives on international events and humanitarian issues. The organizations offer links to their video modules, interviews, photo journals, news reports, etc. on a variety of issues that affect all of us. Have a look and you [...]
Tags: · Member Care
6) Missionary Care Conference Coming to the Pacific Northwest
January 3rd, 2010 · No Comments
A local group of leaders will host Care Connexion 2010 on April 16-17, 2010 at Cedar Mill Bible Church in Portland, OR. Care Connexion will focus on equipping and networking leaders to provide relevant and effective care for missionaries. Those attending will meet partners in the ministry of Missionary Care from churches, missions organizations, schools [...]
Tags: · conference, Member Care
9) O’Donnells Recommend Free 50-page Resource in 6 Languages
January 3rd, 2010 · 3 Comments
The the O’Donnells recently featured, in the Culture and Diversity section of their “Member Caravan” website, several new materials that promote understanding, respect, and competency regarding human diversity and multicultural settings. One resource in particular that they recommended to us this past week is “Mental Health in a Changing World: The Impact of Culture and [...]
Tags: · Member Care, resources
9) Stress and Trauma Handbook a Core Resource for Worldwide Workers
December 20th, 2009 · 2 Comments
The O’Donnells think so anyway (Kelly and Michèle). They wrote recently to recommend it to Brigada participants. Entitled, “Stress and Trauma Handbook: Strategies for Flourishing in Demanding Environments,” it is edited by John Fawcett (2003), and published by World Vision. Kelly and Michele wrote, “This is a core handbook for our libraries and our work. [...]
Tags: · Crisis, Member Care, stress
3) Transparency in Mission: Promoting Health/Safeguarding
November 29th, 2009 · No Comments
We heard this past week from Kelly and Michèle O’Donnell, authors of several industry-defining books on member care. They had updated their site at…
http://www.COREmembercare.blogspot.com
dealing with the tough questions of, “How transparent should we be in our work and lives?” on the international weblog “Reflections and Resources for Good Practice.” The entries include definitions and applications [...]
Tags: · Member Care, Security
3) Take a Member Care ‘how-to’ Course for Free
October 11th, 2009 · No Comments
Study under the people who wrote the book on Member Care (Kelly and Michele O’Donnell). Watch this interactive slide presentation and learn how to further connect and contribute to the member care field. It is oriented towards those with member care responsibilities and interests and especially towards those studying/working in the health care fields. It [...]
Tags: · free, Member Care, online courses
6) You Can Still Take in “When Helping Hurts” Webinar
October 4th, 2009 · No Comments
It’s not too late to jump on board.
http://chalmers.org/when-helping-hurts/webinar/about.php
You’ll recall that the price is *free*, the content is top-notch, and it’s based on the book, When Helping Hurts. They’re working through the book chapter by chapter, like a book club online! Great idea.
Tags: · Member Care, webinars
4) Learn more about Member Care for Free
September 20th, 2009 · 5 Comments
Hats off to Kelly and Michele O’Donnell for making available to Brigada readers (at no charge) the text of their landmark book, “Missionary Care: Counting the Cost.” Access it by going online to
Missioary Care book
The book emphasizes ways to help “count the cost” and to develop healthy and effective personnel in cross-cultural work. The five [...]
Tags: · Member Care
Member Care for Workers in Latin America
July 12th, 2009 · No Comments
Life Impact’s mission is to strengthen missionaries to impact their nations. They now have an Oasis facility in Costa Rica to use for Member Care services of Latin American Missionaries and Christian workers. They need an experienced, mature couple bilingual in Spanish and English to host and minister in this facility. Contact Dave at
or [...]
Tags: · Latin America, Member Care
2) New website considers int’l Member Care and health care
June 21st, 2009 · No Comments
Kelly and Michèle O’Donnell are billing it as “Traveling Together as Learners-Practitioners.” This new Member Care site “helps to fill an important gap in the web world. It is especially oriented towards graduate students. But it is relevant for anyone who is interested/involved in member care and international work in the health care fields. The [...]
Tags: · Member Care
5) Named, Known, and Called
May 17th, 2009 · No Comments
In this presentation, shares her journey as a missionary with mental health training and as a psychologist/professor working in mission/humanitarian assistance. Using the interaction of Jesus and Peter in John 21: 15-19, she encourages us to live in the freedom of who we are and the freedom of who we are called to be. Her [...]
Tags: · Media, Member Care
2) Retreat for Struggling Missionaries
April 26th, 2009 · No Comments
Living Waters International is hosting a special restoration retreat for missionaries and cross cultural workers in Bali, Indonesia. It is designed to really be a time of special ministry to the missionary who may need some time to truly experience the personal love and care of Jesus. Especially if someone is struggling secretly, even with [...]
Tags: · conference, Member Care, Retreat
4) Member Care Resource From The Guys That Wrote The Book
April 26th, 2009 · No Comments
From Fuller School of Psych, here are three new release from Kelly O’Donnell: “The Pearls and the Perils: Practicing Psychology in Mission/Aid Settings,” (2009) Fuller School of Psychology USA, Integration Symposium, 19-20 February 2009. In this resource, Kelly gives three lectures that are relevant for further developing member care practitioners, sending groups, and the member [...]
Tags: · conference, Member Care
6) Returning Missionaries: You’ve Got A Friend
April 26th, 2009 · No Comments
Thanks to a Brigada responder writing on one of those comment links… we learned recently about “Set a New Direction”:
http://www.setanewdirection.com/returning_missionaries.html
It specifically focuses on the Career needs of returning workers. Brad is a former missionary who now helps others to objectively translate / reinterpret their unique skills, overseas experience and International IQ to the best opportunities [...]
Tags: · Member Care, reentry
11) The Backpage: A Missionary Care Resource Toolkit
March 15th, 2009 · 4 Comments
Here is a Missionary Care Resource Toolkit list, as profiled by Ron at…
http://www.ronberrus.abwe.org/
What we would like to know is… what additional resources could be added to this basic library? What, if anything, has Ron neglected to include? If you can think of items that you would add, please click “Comment” at the end of the [...]
Tags: · ...Books, BackPage, Member Care, resources
8) We Get Mail
March 8th, 2009 · No Comments
We’re humbled at the chance to serve guys like Les, who recently wrote to say, “You may not remember me but way back in 2000/2001 you helped to launch our site. Since then we have handled over 33,000,000 hits … with more on the way. Many hundreds of training schools and churches have opened all [...]
Tags: · counseling, Member Care
3) Cost-Free Renewal Retreats For Global Workers
January 18th, 2009 · 1 Comment
Barnabas International and ELIM Retreat Ministries will sponsor 9 six day retreats in the States in 2009. Each retreat is for adults only. The purpose is to provide low key but intentional times of personal encouragement and spiritual care to global workers. The emphasis is on preventative pastoral care, the Word and the Spirit, sweet [...]
Tags: · conference, Member Care
10) Family Fun On The Mission Field
January 18th, 2009 · 5 Comments
A Team Expansion missionary with two little boys (2 and 4-years old) is looking for great ideas for family fun. The country where he serves has some beautiful places but like many 3rd World Countries it doesn’t have many parks, playgrounds, etc. If you have an idea or have found great resources please share. He [...]
Tags: · family, Member Care
2) Tap Into MRC For Missionaries And Their Family Needs
January 4th, 2009 · No Comments
Missionary Recourses Connection is committed to providing care for missionaries and their families. Based in the Columbia, South Carolina area, they also became a “True Fan” of Brigada this past week! (Thank you!) The care they provide extends to the whole person — including spiritual, mental, and physical health, along with community resources, networking, personal [...]
Tags: · Member Care, MKs, reentry, TCKs