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The Mission Society conducted Orientation Training for a new group of missionaries and guests July 1-20, 2012 in Huancayo, Peru. This year, the attendees included 21 Mission Society missionaries, 17 missionary children, and 42 guests who audited the training, including 25 Peruvians. Other guests came from India, Germany, Ecuador, and Kenya.

The sessions were taught by Mission Society staff members and missionaries. Dr. Darrell Whiteman, vice president for mobilization and training and resident missiologist, led sessions on cross-cultural challenges. The Rev. Frank Decker, vice president for member care and development, led talks on ministry to Muslims, building trust and making disciples, as well as cell group ministry. Jim Ramsay, vice president for mission ministries, taught on the theology of mission, mission shock, spiritual conflict, and cell group ministry.

Richard Coleman, senior director of mobilization and candidacy, led a session on folk expressions of world religions. He also led experiential activities that reinforce what the missionaries learn in the sessions. Vicki Decker and Shawn Ramsay led the missionary kids’ training. Vicki Decker and Jenny Reyes led several sessions on Inductive Bible study. Mission Society missionaries Billy and Laurie Drum, who serve in Peru, taught the participants about peer coaching. Ben Reyes, missionary to Brazil, led a session on culture shock. Ash McEuen, a missionary to Peru, led a session on storying. Arthur Ivey, missionary to Peru, helped organize the training event with Mission Society staffers.

The attendees also toured the ruins, watched several movies that dealt with cross-cultural communication, and visited communities around Huancayo.

Lauren Helveston, director of pastoral care, also attended the training. Lauren met with attendees and provided counseling during this important transition in their lives.

“Serving the Lord in another culture requires much more than good motives or even a sense of calling. Often the difference in effective and ineffective ministry is directly related to the level of preparation of the missionary. Not only their effectiveness in ministry is affected –the emotional, social, and even physical health of missionaries is highly dependent on their level of preparation. Our training gives missionaries the tools to understand culture so that they are able to live and to minister in a culture that is different from their own. It is always a joy to see the ‘aha’ moments as the trainees reflect on the concepts presented in the light of their own experience,” said Jim Ramsay.

Eight of the missionaries who attended Orientation Training will be departing for sensitive fields, therefore their names cannot be published. The other missionaries who attended training are listed below.

Dave and Ellen Bartlett
Dave and Ellen want to help establish a faith-based recovery program in Ghana. They plan to work with local churches around Ghana with the hope of bringing wholeness and healing to the individuals caught in various types of bondage, as well as to their families. Dave and Ellen also plan to work with local Ghanaians who rescue children from a life of slavery in the fishing and cocoa bean industries. They desire to restore the lives of these children to give them a hope for the future. They also want to partner with Ghanaian evangelists and churches to reach out to and disciple the least reached people of Northern Ghana.

Steve and Suzanne Buchele
Steve and Suzanne spent two years in Ghana, during which Suzanne served as academic dean at Ashesi University College and Steve served in a local church. They are returning to Ghana in 2013 where Suzanne will work at Ashesi University College. Suzanne holds a bachelor’s and master’s in mathematics and a Ph.D. in computer science. Steve earned a bachelor’s in computer science and a master of divinity degree. He has served as a pastor in Texas for many years. Steve plans to serve in Ghana through a pastoral role, short-term mission team coordination, and managing a guest house.

Johannes and Lena Ebner 
Johannes and Lena Ebner are joining The Mission Society team in Namibia to work with Children of Zion Village (COZV). COZV is an orphanage in Katima Mulilo, Namibia. This is a home for children orphaned to AIDS. COZV cares for nearly 60 children, ages infant through 18-years old. The Ebners will serve as house parents for the children.

Originally from Germany, Johannes holds a master’s in engineering. Lena received a degree in elementary education and an English as a Second Language degree with a minor in religion from Southeastern University in Florida.

Nick and Heidi Griffiths
Nick and Heidi have been called to help those in need of clean water and medical attention in Africa. Nick is a civil engineer and plans to provide fresh drinking water via wells and water filtration systems. Heidi has a degree in health sciences and will participate in the ministry by providing wellness training and establishing medical clinics for those sharing water resources. They will work with African ministry partners through clean water and medical ministry to help eliminate waterborne diseases. Their work will create opportunities for sharing the gospel and engaging in discipleship. Nick and Heidi will be joined in ministry by their son, Gilly.

Denny and Cindy Heiberg
Denny and Cindy have been serving in pastoral ministry for the past 22 years within The United Methodist Church in Kentucky and Florida. Denny is a graduate of Columbia International University and Asbury Theological Seminary. During their 18 years at Grace at Fort Clarke United Methodist Church in Gainesville, Florida, they focused upon intentional disciple making. Their mission is to equip and mobilize an intentional movement of disciple making followers of Jesus throughout the global Church.

Grant Nichols
Grant recently graduated from Augusta State University, Augusta, Georgia with a bachelor’s in social work. He will serve as a The Mission Society to intern for six months in Nicaragua.

Johnny and Amy Winkle
After serving for one year with The Mission Society in Kazakhstan, Johnny earned a master’s in world mission and evangelism at Asbury Theological Seminary. He then joined The Mission Society staff as director of advancement activities. Amy earned a bachelor’s in economics, a master of divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a master of theology in biblical studies from Columbia Theological Seminary. She will pursue a degree in Hebrew and Jewish studies at Oxford University this next year and Johnny will work with students and local churches. From Oxford, they will relocate to Eastern Europe where they are excited to serve Christ through ministries of teaching and discipleship. Johnny and Amy will be joined in ministry by their daughter, Emily.