The Centre for Lifelong Learning

Lifelong Learning in TEAM

Streambed – Each TEAM missionary and staff is encouraged to intentionally seek God’s direction through a regular (at least annual) day (or more) dedicated as a day of prayer and vision, with preparation and follow up, interaction and accountability with a ministry coach and personal accountability partner. The vision that God gives is refined through collaboration with the individual’s ministry coach (and the leadership teams of the Ministry Initiatives and Ministry Areas). Each entity produces an overview of past accomplishment and anticipated future outcomes which becomes the basis for an annual growth plan. The growth plan provides structure for activities and plans for the coming year, and an accountability tool to assess progress at the end of the year. It also helps each person to identify areas where they can learn and grow in order to do their work more effectively. One function of the Centre for Lifelong Learning is to facilitate and provide resources for each one to move forward toward these learning goals.

Because of its high priority, we have developed a tool to help individuals in planning and implementing a Day of Prayer and Vision. The charter group designed and distributed an interactive CD-ROM with over 100 articles and resources, along with a guided path through planning, preparation, implementation and follow-up, individualized for particular situations such as “when the well runs dry,” “I am at a crossroads,” “I don’t have time for a Day of Prayer and Vision,” or just along “the ordinary path of life.”

First stream – Learning for Intercultural Effectiveness takes individuals through five phases of preparation for effective intercultural ministry. phaseone is the sum of their cultural experiences and background prior to joining TEAM, often rich and varied, always foundational to their future ministry. We try to celebrate and build upon that diversity to prepare for future ministry. phasetwo is a week-long face-to-face orientation program at TEAM headquarters that draws appointees into the TEAM family, introducing them to their colleagues, and to the inner workings of the organization that will be helping their churches send them into intercultural ministry. Sessions consider health and wellness issues, accountability structures within the mission, and tools for the next phase of preparation, phasethree, during which they develop their support base of churches and individuals, as well as forge ahead with skill development through courses, seminars or internships that are designed to enhance their ministry effectiveness. phasefour is another weeklong face-to-face session that provides information and connection that appointees need just before leaving for their ministry areas; details on financial arrangements overseas, more inter-cultural tools, and a celebration send-off into phasefive, their time of language and cultural acquisition in their ministry area.

Second stream – the LifeLearner Network is a technology based learning management approach to enable missionaries to enhance their effectiveness in ministry while in the midst of ministry. The LifeLearner Network provides learner-driven opportunities to collaborate with colleagues around the globe whose learning goals are similar, based on interaction with each individual’s ministry coach in response to the Lord’s direction during their Day of Prayer and Vision. The network brings together learners, resources, subject matter experts (SMEs) and veteran intercultural workers for collegial interaction and stimulation around a topic of common interest. In response to their interchange of ideas, the group produces a document or summary product that can be shared with others, as well as added to each individual’s e-portfolio to track their own personal and professional growth. Thus, lifelong learning becomes intentionally built into each missionary’s career path, and can be viewed as more than “random acts of progress” along the way.

Third stream – Leadership development extends from a worker’s initial stages of ministry throughout their service. As each individual’s skills and gifts are identified, we seek to provide new challenges and opportunity to use those gifts. We want everyone to shout and cheer when someone says “I want to lead.” We want to develop mentors and coaches so that every missionary is active in generational discipleship in both directions. We are actively working on understanding the core competencies for leadership roles in order to help leaders develop and utilize their gifts and skills. The leadership development stream will include seminars, study groups, blended delivery systems, culturally transferable content, in multiple formats using technology when appropriate and helpful. A year-long pilot program for Ministry Initiative Leadership development was inaugurated in September of 2006 in Singapore.

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