Dear Friends and Family,
I wanted to use this opportunity to tell you a little bit more about where I am at in my journey with Word Made Flesh. The next year will go by quickly, and it is hard to think through everything that needs to take place. I need and covet your prayers, your wisdom, and your financial support through this next year.
A few years ago, I began talking with Chris and Phileena (the Executive Director and the Director of Community Care) about leaving my role as Director of Administration with WMF. We reminisced about when I came to WMF back in 1996, as an answer to prayer, and how I wanted to serve the community. And I feel like I have been a good steward in my tenure at WMF.
When I first came to WMF I fulfilled a number of roles that included writing for our quarterly publication, sending and supporting our short-term teams, preparing the budgets and financial reports, and facilitating day-to-day accounting. I also helped to write policies, procedures, and contracts. All of this was invigorating as I was able to learn a lot of skills and had varied responsibilities. As Word Made Flesh has grown, my focus has narrowed to general administration, financial accounting, and legal upkeep.
As I mentioned, my gifting is service and I feel like I have served WMF within their needs for administration. Last year, my talks with Chris and Phileena became more pointed: instead of just waiting with open hands for another person to come into administration, I asked Chris to actively search for another administrator. This process took the better part of a year.
At the beginning of next month, November, we will welcome Liz Ivkovich to the Omaha office as the next Director of Administration. Liz and I will work together through February, sharing various administrative responsibilities. I will attend our leadership forum in Nepal at the end of February, and then I am permitted to take a sabbatical through August.
We are excited for Liz to come; she has a gift for administration, an infectious energy and enthusiasm, a specialty in sustainable business practices, an interest in incubating WMF small businesses overseas, a heart for our community, a desire to be an intercessory pray-er for our community, and a lover of Jesus.
In WMF, staff members are given up to 9 months of sabbatical after 6 years of consecutive service. Since I have been with WMF for 12 years, I am one of the first staff members eligible for sabbatical. I have started talking with Phileena, who facilitates sabbaticals, about what shape my sabbatical might take. Chris and Phileena have shared with me that it is okay to take sabbatical even though my future with WMF is uncertain.
As you may know, Chris and Phileena took a sabbatical for five months last year. They were the test case for sabbatical policy within WMF. In preparation for their sabbatical, we read and reflected on a book together: Clergy Renewal: The Alban Guide to Sabbatical Planning. Interestingly, the author wrote that most ministry staff members who take sabbaticals end up leaving their current ministry. I have been given space in my sabbatical to discern my next step.
As I've talked with Phileena about my sabbatical, we have decided that my sabbatical will have two parts: immersion Spanish at a language school in Bolivia and an organic farming internship. I hope to spend 3 months in Bolivia followed by 2 months in the States.
At this point, I have less clarity than when I began this process. I can see myself in any number of roles both within WMF and outside WMF. I can see myself at another non-profit, in business, in academia, etc. I can see myself returning to WMF, but my best guess at this point is that it will be in a couple of years and probably overseas with WMF. I am leaving this part open as part of my discernment process.
When I was in college, I received a specific calling from God that predated my calling to WMF (which was to minister to pastors). I have felt that I was fulfilling that initial call serving in WMF, but I have always wondered what other form it might take. Please be praying with me as I discern what form this obedience takes.
There is still a lot of time before my service with WMF ends, so I didn't want to tell you about these changes prematurely. I wanted you to hear about my service with WMF ending before it is known to all WMF supporters. In the Winter issue of The Cry, there may be an announcement regarding Liz and also a reflection of my 12 years with WMF that is included.
When next year starts, I will be responsible for raising all of my own support: my full salary for January and February, my trip to Nepal for the leadership forum, language school, and all of my living expenses for my sabbatical. I can envision expenses being around $27,000 for January through August next year. Please consider sending me out in celebration. And then please consider continuing to support the ministry of WMF.
I am looking forward to some amount of exploration regarding vocation. I promise to keep the poor close to my heart and to follow Jesus.
Love,
Brent