Paraclete in 2011

Glen continues to serve as President/CEO of Paraclete Mission Group. (He jokes that he’s the OEO—Only Executive Officer!) With Christian organizations folding all around us, he has had to take some pretty drastic measures and work very hard to keep Paraclete healthy. Our associates continue to come alongside and serve the people of God around the world! And we are growing.

Glen and I serve on the Paraclete Personnel Committee with fellow associates Jim and Leta Van Meter. We had many applicants this year and really enjoyed that process. We found that even talking to references can be ministry! After determining a fit, the applicants come here for three days of face-to-face time. In the photo at left, we are with Cliff and Jeannie Peters, who joined Paraclete in the Spring. We invite the associates in town to our home for dinner so that everyone can meet. This year we added three wonderful couples to our team and two extremely capable women. (That was many hours of phone time, multiple nights of hosting guests, and lots of meals prepared and served.) As we go into 2012 we have two more couples and another woman in various stages of pplication to the mission. It is with great excitement that we help these experienced servants expand their ministries to “paraclete” more people on a broader scope.

Glen’s service on the boards of other ministries took him to Florida, Oregon, Paraguay and Israel this year. I was able to join him on all but the Paraguay trip. The Israel trip was (nearly) all expenses paid, in Spanish, with COICOM board members and their wives, courtesy of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. We have known most of the COICOM people for 20 or more years. The Ministry of Tourism wants a higher profile among the evangelical population of Latin America. It was the trip of a life time--deeply spiritual, full of joy and lots of FUN! It will dramatically impact how we teach and touch others.

Glen and I got to minister together more this past year than ever before. We did many of our Paraclete associates’ annual reviews together—a favorite part of the job--hearing their victories and challenges, their goals for the upcoming year, prayer and encouragement needs, etc. We combined that with other ministry in Idaho, Oregon, Northern and Southern California. We, again, had the privilege of working with new Missionary Aviation Fellowship missionaries on cross-cultural training.