Incoming!

We had a busy on boarding season this summer at Paraclete, and everyone is very grateful for the BambooHR software we installed last spring.  In fact, we set a record of three offer letters signed by new associates in one day (four in two days)!  Here are new folks from just June and July:

Dale and Carmen Phillips both grew up in Latin America where they developed a love for missions.  Both worked in the airline industry, and then served with Reach Global in Eastern Europe.  They have four children, two still at home.  Dale has the same master’s degree that I do, (and that previous Paraclete CEO Don Parrott has) in Organizational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University.  As associates, Dale and Carmen will work in a ministry process called Deep Community experience.

Elizabeth Todd has 25 years of experience teaching, learning and volunteering to assist Christian training programs abroad.  Most recently she has been working with Step International, a ministry of her church, inviting friends of Jesus to come alongside Muslims and Christians in the Middle East for friendship, practical help and an exchange of learning.  Her living situation in the West Bank became unstable, and her previous organization made some changes that prompted a transition to Paraclete, where she will live in Oregon and work online, and travel to the Middle East in roles similar to her most recent work.


Margie Grant and her husband Ron had a long missionary career with Mission Aviation Fellowship. They now live in White Salmon, Washington, where she works as an in-home caregiver.  Margie has ministered with  Paraclete associates in a retreat and encouragement ministry.  She envisions this continuing as an associate.  She is also interested in working with Thrive, a ministry to missionary women that is a favorite of other female Paraclete associates. (And of one guy!  Associate Roger Orner is on the Thrive board.)

Ken and Ruth Van Kirk have had a long missionary career in Mexico working among the Tarahumara and Yaqui peoples as well as with Hispanics.  They have been on one team their whole career, but the team has been a part of several missions due to mergers and name changes—with Pioneers International since 2012.  Ken is a medical doctor, and he has worked in that capacity for the Mexican government in a Tarahumara village.  Ken and Ruth have a vision to train Latin American professionals to be a part of missionary teams, and they have set up a program called Consiervo (Bond servant) that will begin this October.


Miguel and Becky Aguirre have been serving on the Pioneers

International team with the Van Kirks.  They have a vision for coming alongside to equip and support the Latin American sending movement through mobilization, training, coaching, pastoral care and resource development.  They will join the Van Kirks in the Consiervo program as a part of that vision.  Miguel is Venezuelan, and Becky grew up in Colombia as an MK, so they are well positioned to use their backgrounds to train and equip Latin Americans to be involved in the Great Commission and Kingdom work.