It wasn’t the first time someone completed ABT’s training track with Phase II Inhouse Training. But it was the first formal graduation dinner, with most of our board members present!
Phase II Training with the team heading to Indonesia included a number of firsts for us. You might call it our first full-fledged Phase II Training. Other graduating members in recent years had either come as a single family, or had been through the training camp held in 2013, or for various other reasons went through a fast-tracked version of Phase II.
We brought in a board member with mission field experience to lead them through some discussions of team dynamics. A brother from another Anabaptist mission gladly provided some contingency training—how to avoid, or respond to, crisis and hostage situations. Still another gave nearly two days to orient the team in a significant aspect of community development they hope to also use as a teaching opportunity.
We enjoyed working through three excellent books that address three aspects of our teams’ work:
- The Other Side of the Wall, by Gary Miller (community development)
- One Bible, Many Versions, by Dave Brunn (Bible translation)
- The Messenger, the Message, the Community, by Roland Muller (church planting)
Brother Bryant led the way, coordinating, communicating, spearheading team activities, and making sure someone prepared and led the daily devotions time. Brother Joel guided the Missionary Formation class, featuring books and writings that address a number of issues like emotional and spiritual health, child safety, and conflict resolution. Brother Aaron led some thoughtful discussions about ABT's developing Translation Policy, and also helped the team think about security in electronic communication.
We spent many mornings together watching and discussing 17 hours of Mark Zook’s recorded teaching from 2013 about Worldview, Animism, and Chronological Bible Teaching. During Literacy week, Miss Otto gave them good tools to use towards a community able to read Scripture.
Due to the specific context in which this team plans to serve, we also gave special attention to issues like translating names and terms for God, and discussed a video from Biblical Missiology.
The team designed, prepared, and painted their own rock in ABT’s prayer garden. This will stand as a visual reminder to all who pass through to pray for the Sungai* people of Indonesia.
Then, in honor to God who brought this team through years of training, and guided us all through seven intense weeks together, we enjoyed a meal together with all our families and some of our board members’ families as well.
Please pray for these two couples, with their families, as they now set their sights on departure dates for Indonesia.
*Sungai is a code name
