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“Expat Communities All Over the World are a Forgotten Harvest Field.” A Corporate Missionary to Asia—the ninetyandnine interview November 5, 2007 Interviewed By Kent d Curry
Do you know about my sister? said the email. She’s a Corporate Missionary; every time her family’s company reassigns her to a new country to work, they take it as a call from God to minister to the professionals there. You should interview her.
Naturally, I was intrigued. What was a Corporate Missionary and how do you get ordained? Soon enough I was interviewing her.
Due to possible security issues in her latest country, she’s asked that her family name go unmentioned. Naturally, to get the scoop on this unique calling, we agreed. (No worries, the facts have been confirmed and the source verified.) We even interviewed her husband, as he didn’t grow up in Pentecost, and has a different take on their adventures.
We interviewed her in early September 2007. ---------
90&9: You and your family are self-described Corporate Missionaries? Can you define that term for us? CM: Actually, one of our many pastors (we have moved 14 times in 20 years) gave us the title because we had lived overseas as expatriates (expats) with our companies three times in two different countries.
The title is two-pronged. The first prong refers to the fact that when we find ourselves overseas we minister just as we would in our home church in the states, but our net of unbelievers is usually much larger than at home because of the people we have access to in expat circles. The corporate portion comes because we don’t have to go on furlough to raise money to minister in these countries—the company pays all of our living expenses and puts us in a position to minister without being financially encumbered.
The second prong refers to the people we minister to. Because of our education and experience, God has placed us in places of influence where we regularly interact with the movers and shakers of major companies who need God just like those who work in any service industry establishment. There seems to be a very lopsided demographic within our churches, and God is trying to change that. He loves the people with the money and power, too.
I would add, however, that I believe that it is scriptural since God is using men (multinational companies really) to both bless us and His kingdom—by sending us to people that need to know about Jesus in other parts of the world. In a sense, the expat communities all over the world are a forgotten harvest field.
90&9: What does it take to become a Corporate Missionary? CM: If I were to give you a formula, it would have to start with having a job with an international company. The “Corporate” in the title is there because a company is paying for the international posting that allows us to do the missionary work.
But working for this type of company is not enough by itself. To get a work visa in many countries, your company must prove that you provide a service that cannot be provided by employing someone from their country. Generally this will be due to education, specific qualification, or company knowledge/experience that cannot be replicated easily. To be chosen to go involves a lot of other factors, many of which are in your control, and many of which are not. Start with being the best that you can be for God so that when He needs to send somebody, you’re already qualified and in position to be sent.
90&9: What is the advantage someone in a corporation can offer that missionaries cannot? CM: The most obvious advantage is that financial backing is not an issue, so there is no need to go home to raise funds or to even worry about some of the issues that trouble our conventional missionaries, such as health insurance, home leaves, and medical or emergency situations. When dealing with expats, companies attempt to make you “no better off” than if you had chosen to stay in your home country. As a result, any of the things that we consider normal living in the United States, such as free education for our children, access to safe health care facilities, and access to our families, the company will do their best to provide in our host country.
Another advantage that I see is that I am able to use less conventional methods of ministry because I am not officially sent by the organization. In my current situation, I am a legal resident of a country that no missionary is legally allowed to enter, whether UPC (United Pentecostal Church) or from other denominations.
Finally, our tithes and offerings on the salary paid by the corporation can go to fund missions in the country where we work. So not only do we get to work for God where we are, but we also get to fund special projects or missions efforts in our region—all paid for courtesy of our company.
90&9: Tell us about your career moves around the world. What states and countries have you lived in while working for various companies? CM: I think I stated before that we have moved 14 times in 20 years of marriage. Please note that this is not a requirement for being a corporate missionary; it just happens to be part of our journey.
Our first international posting came because I was going to study at the University of Madrid in Spain and when my husband went to resign so that he could join me, his company, an automotive leasing multinational, suggested he continue his career in London, England rather than resign. It was an interesting year for both of us and my first experience being in a situation where there were no Apostolic churches. I suppose that is where my ministry really began, among the students where I studied and with my host family.
After my year in Spain, I took a one-year sabbatical from school and we stayed in London so my husband could finish up his assignment there. By the way, the Church in Battersea, London was a haven when I would visit during my time in Madrid. Little did we know when we left London that first time to return stateside that God would take us back there again with a different company in later years.
We left the Bay Area of California for Spain/England, returned to California to finish my undergraduate, went to Philadelphia for my husband to do his MBA, moved to Barcelona, Spain after his graduation; returned stateside to Panama City, FL until it was time for me to do my MBA; moved to West Orange, NJ (16 miles due west of NYC); next stop West Bloomfield, MI (near Detroit) due to my husband’s change of companies; moved to Windermere (Orlando), FL when (the) auto industry declined; and were sent back to London, England after just nine months in Orlando; after 2.5 years, we were “Shanghaied” and have been in China now over six months.
90&9: What’s the biggest upside to these moves? CM: I supposed it would depend on whom in the family you asked, but since you’re asking me, I’ll give you my perspective.
I have always been a traveler and adventurer at heart. These moves allow me to see the world, meet wonderful people, and experience, rather than just live, life. From a spiritual sense, if I were to provide you with a list of the pastors we have had at our various destinations, you would see how very blessed we are to have had so many wonderful men and women of God pouring into our lives. I am also thrilled to be able to teach my children in such a real way that the world is so much bigger than “our town.”
90&9: What’s the biggest downside to these moves? Without controversy I think we would all agree that the process of uprooting again and again is painful for us and for those we have to leave. Also, none of my children know how to answer the seemingly simple question, “Where are you from?”
90&9: Based on your stops around the world, how do you see God moving today? We’ve been doing this for a while, and what I notice most is that things have changed dramatically from when I first went to Spain in 1990 to today. It seems that God has really picked up the pace and people are hungrier and more accepting of Him today than they were then. It is not just overseas that this is happening, either. When I was first in Spain, there were no churches in the major cities of that country after years of missionary work by great missionary families. It was a difficult and dark country spiritually. Today there is revival and we have success stories coming from the missionaries in that country. The end-time Spirit is moving and stirring up hearts and drawing them to Jesus!
MEETING OF THE MINDS 90&9: Where did you and your husband attend college? CM: My husband graduated with an undergraduate degree in Finance from University of Washington and later attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania for his MBA.
I graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in International Relations and later did my MBA at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
I started my University studies after being married at 25, since it wasn’t greatly encouraged that we attend secular universities.
90&9: Were you already married or is that where you met? CM: Three of the four degrees we hold between us were earned after we had been married. In fact my husband was so supportive of my desire to get a university degree that he delayed his MBA so that I could do my undergraduate work.
90&9: Tell us about your being raised in an Apostolic household. CM: I am a PK (Preacher’s Kid). Dad and Mom are incredibly godly people and have always been focused on the souls more than on traditions. If I told you who my father was, you would understand what I am saying. He’s definitely a radical and by way of association, I probably am a bit, too.
My parents kept us so busy working for the Lord that there wasn’t a lot of time to get in trouble. I remember when I was quite young being asked to teach a Sunday school class because the teacher was ill. Dad would tell us we needed to be “instant in season, out of season.” I attribute most of my corporate successes to my ability to respond flexibly to the demands put on me—and all of this I learned at church.
The other thing really cool about growing up the way I did is that God was part of who we were. It never dawned on me to compartmentalize my life between things spiritual and things secular—everything was pretty well blended together. We were taught to be real and that real included being a Christian. We all went to public schools because “that is where the sinners were and how else were we going to reach them?”
90&9: I understand your husband was not raised in church. How did he come to the Lord? CM: I met my husband when I transferred from my hometown to California with my company. We both worked for the same director, although in different capacities. He had been raised in a home where they sometimes went to church, but it wasn’t part of their psyche. However, he will tell you that he accepted the Lord as his personal savior several times through high school and college. When I met him, I did not much like him because he represented everything that I did not like in a person—ego, promiscuity, and reckless living.
As we began working together, I came to know that what he presented to the world was a façade and that he was searching for someone to show him the real God. He would tell you that I was the first one that he had ever met who did not have to tell him that they were Christian—thanks, Mom and Dad, for making sure we were real!
The story about my husband’s conversion and all that transpired in his life and mine that culminated in our marriage is for another article I would title “How to Win Your Spouse to the Lord.” And just to settle your nerves, the formula does not include dating or entanglements—in fact, it is well known that those do not work.
Just so you know, it was my pastor at the time who came to me and told me that if I was interested in Timothy I needed to stake my claim because there were some others who wanted to invite him to the Valentine banquet.
LIVING IN CHINA 90&9: Where are you located now? CM: We currently live in one of the larger cities in mainland China. We live in a compound that we would call a gated community in the States, but think gated community on steroids with swarms of security guards who are really working for the Communist government there. If I ever lose one of my children I would only have to ask one of the guards—if we are in the compound, they know where we are.
90&9: Can you tell us a little bit about your church participation there? CM: First, let me say that we are not able to worship with like believers in China because there is no way to physically integrate in their communities without bringing harm. We participate with prayers and financially, and I cannot even tell you the details of that, because for our security we are not told. But we know that God is doing great things and that many will be blessed because of those funds.
Second, the government in China is trying to woo international companies into starting businesses in their cities. One of the major stumbling blocks to their success is that quality of life that the employees of these multination companies would have in China. Very few families want to take their children to a place where they cannot attend a church. As a result, there are now government-sanctioned churches for foreign passport holders only: one Catholic and one Protestant in each of the major cities. You will find us on Sundays attending the Protestant church in our city, along with 500-700 other English-speakers from many countries.
The church is led by a board of elders rather than a pastor (another fingerprint of the Communist government), and they range from very liturgical to evangelical, which affects the services from one week to another, depending on who is leading.
We have practiced the “get involved and build bridges” philosophy, and God has begun to open incredible doors for us to minister. The testimonies are too numerous to recount here, but it is so incredible to see that God is at work here and He has asked us to join him. I sing with the worship teams, participate in some Bible studies for women, weekly prayer meetings with the leadership of Ladies Ministries and, along with my girls, have introduced some Kids Praise to the children’s church. My husband participates in a men’s Bible study, is part of a foursome starting a men’s ministry, and has been asked to join the speaking team that is generally made up for lay ministers who, like him, are in China because of their jobs.
90&9: What are the services like? CM: The simple answer is that they are not anything we are accustomed to. The difficult answer goes back to the previous comment regarding the board of elders. Unless you know who is leading and have previous experience, it would be virtually impossible to know what a specific Sunday would be like. Having said that, the format of the services is the same from Sunday to Sunday:
This all occurs from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Approved Chinese Church facility. Only those holding foreign passports can attend, and there are spies to ensure that you don’t bring your driver or housekeeper to the services with you.
The more liturgical services are particularly difficult for us because we leave feeling as if we haven’t even been to church. However, it has become very clear to us here that church is not about us, but about God, and we go to minister rather than to be ministered to. As a result you will see both of us participating in the singing, lifting our hands, and worshiping with all we have in a way that is not disruptive to the rest of those sitting around us. Although I am sure that it is quite curious to the average Lutheran.
90&9: Are you doing anything else to minister while there? CM: Actually, we were supposed to open our own cell group, but have been invited to join two different ones by people who have seen our worship in the church and desire a more active worship experience. We are not exactly sure how this will all play out yet since they are just starting but will be hosting on a rotating basis.
Three more Apostolic families moved in over the summer, and we are trying to get together with them at least monthly to have fellowship, teaching, and prayer. It can be pretty difficult logistically because so many people travel for their jobs and are not available to meet.
I will be teaching an Adult Sunday school class beginning in the spring semester, and we are excited about that since I provide the content.
I am also doing some exciting non-traditional ministry involving non-English speakers that is incredible—God can run circles around restrictions.
90&9: How do you invite participants? CM: I presume you mean to the cell group? The interesting thing is that you don’t have to invite participants; they invite themselves. I was part of two Bible studies last spring, and some of the other women have asked me if they could they join one of our cell groups. A couple of women in particular have told me they want to be a part of any Bible study, cell group, Sunday school that I teach. This is not about me, but about their seeing something in my husband and me that they want to know more about.
90&9: Have you done this in the past? CM: We have never run a cell group out of our home, but have taught many Bible studies with small groups, families, and individuals.
90&9: What have been the results in the past? CM: For the most part, our ministry has been with individuals. Keep in mind that we would be working in an international church setting so we did function in groups, but most of the leading others into more truth has resulted from those connections, but has been done when an individual or couple was seeking for more—think Acts 10 with Peter and Cornelius.
90&9: How has God blessed your current ministry? CM: We see God’s hand at work around us in so many ways and know that we are where we are supposed to be. We started out making relationships, and God cleverly put the spotlight on both of us last Sunday when I was asked to sing at the last minute and my husband was interviewed by the speaker. The music coordinator and I knew nothing about my husband’s participation until that Sunday, and the leader of the service knew nothing about my singing, either. At the end of the service, every one of those attending knew us, and we began to get comments and interest from many sources. We won’t be looking for those to teach—God is sending them our way.
THE CORPORATE FUTURE 90&9: What do you see in your future? Is this your calling? CM: We are not looking to go home any time. In fact, my husband and I could do this for the rest of our career. However, we do have children and we have to consider them in our plans. They have been keen to explore the world with us, and God has always provided spiritual sustenance as well as quality education, so we consider ourselves blessed.
I do believe that our calling will always be to minister within the corporate setting. Why else would God have directed us to get our MBAs from a top-ranked school and then put us both in positions of influence within our companies? Whether it happens internationally or stateside, the results are the same. In our current scenario, 95 percent of all those with whom we interact are executives of multinational corporations. This is not the traditional make-up of our churches and someone who did not have a similar education and career background would not be as effective as we can be because it is a level playing field.
90&9: How can others accept this unique calling? CM: Get your education and let God place you in the middle of Corporate America. But once you get there, keep your focus on Him and not on what you get for what you do. Don’t be afraid to venture outside of your comfort zone. If you are asked to take an international assignment, ask God earnestly before responding—many have closed doors God has opened because it meant change.
If you do find yourself overseas in a situation like ours, don’t isolate yourselves because you cannot worship with others of like faith—God called us to be separated but not isolated. Get involved, build bridges, and watch God work.
90&9: What can Apostolics do to support Corporate Missionary efforts? CM: We need to open our eyes to the fact that this is happening in our world and that God uses unconventional methods to get His message out to hungry people. Pray for anyone you know who is working overseas. Get in contact with them to find out how you can help in their particular situation. If you are a minister and are traveling to a country where you know individuals in our circumstances, meet with them and encourage them in the Lord. Who knows, there may also be open pulpits here and God may be sending you with a message for these people in this hour.
90&9: What’s the biggest dream your family can dream for the work of God? CM: Wow! What a question. My family is not with me at the moment so I cannot ask them. Hopefully, my dreams will work in this scenario; otherwise, I’ll have to get back to you. I can dream that there is an unprecedented revival of the Name of Jesus. Many believers are already filled with the Holy Ghost and the Spirit will lead them into all truth. Included in this, I would like the Apostolics who already love this doctrine to tear down the walls that keep us inside our comfort zones and start doing what Bro. Todd Gaddy so aptly preached the last night of Youth Congress 2007—Go and make disciples.
Can you imagine what would happen if we stopped weighing someone else for what they did not have and started focusing on what they had as a starting point for “expounding the word of God more perfectly”?
Perhaps if we started on the point of relationship and not superior knowledge, the door would be opened for us to be the ones to be there to answer those questions when God reveals Himself to them. If it is not we who are there, it will be someone else. I always said that if I hadn’t been willing to get over myself to reach my husband, then God would have sent someone else and we would not be a family today!
ninetyandnine.com
© 2007, Kent d Curry
---------- Kent d Curry is an executive editor of ninetyandnine.com, a college and career speaker, and now, a part-time literary blogger.
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