SIM USA missionaries balance call of service, risk in West Africa
By Tim Funk and Karen Garloch, The Charlotte Observer | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
There, an international mission group called SIM
In a city that's home to high-profile megachurches, growing seminaries and the
But two weeks ago, SIM became international news when
Since then, SIM officials have offered daily updates on Writebol's condition and stayed in contact with her husband, David, who is still in
She was the second American with Ebola to be flown from
SIM is new to this media glare. "It's not been a priority to get ourselves known," said
What's not new for this 121-year-old organization is sending its missionaries into dangerous terrain. Many of the more than 65 countries where it operates have been plagued by war, political turmoil, terrorism or disease.
Two of the three founders of SIM -- both in their 20s -- died of malaria a year after the missionary group was launched in 1893. In the 1920s and '30s, some SIM missionaries were murdered in
"This goes to the root of our mission: the calling of sacrifice," said
New SIM missionaries do get training in security protocols. They go through orientation before they leave
"These people, when they go to these places, they have their eyes open," Ely added. "That goes with the territory."
Sometimes things get so serious that SIM will act. When the Ebola crisis reached
But what happens frequently, Ely said, is that the missionaries don't want to leave those they've come to help.
"They say, 'These are our brothers and sisters; we don't want to abandon them,' " Ely said. "Emotionally, it's very difficult."
When the Ebola virus broke out in
"They said: 'No, our place is to be here with the people God has called us to,' " said the Rev.
In an interview with the Observer,
All over the world
What exactly is SIM?
It's a nondenominational Christian group with about 3,000 missionaries and staffers all over the world.
When it was formed in the late 19th century, its founders' aim was to Christianize the heart of
In 1986, SIM
"
Though SIM was not a household acronym to most of
"They have been deeply embedded in Forest Hill for some time," said Chadwick, whose nondenominational church will soon commission its latest SIM missionaries -- two church staffers who are headed, with their children, to
And many of the 91 missionaries commissioned by
"It's big, it's reputable, it's committed to the Gospel, and it's on our doorstep," said Calvary Senior Pastor
And, Munro said, SIM has allowed missionaries, including the Writebols, to do practical tasks, such as working in hospitals, while doing them openly in the name of Jesus.
"Both are demanded by Christ," Munro said. "He told us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to make disciples of all nations."
Ely said SIM's primary goal is to preach the Gospel by starting Christian churches overseas. But "we do a lot of things," he added, ticking off a list that included health care, education, community development and media ministries such as Christian radio. They also teach locals to read and translate Bibles into the native language.
The Writebols went to work at SIM's compound in
In
In
Signing up missionaries
Ely said SIM attracts a lot of second-career people -- "finishers," they're called internally.
Decades ago, more people became missionaries right out of college -- Bible college, in many cases. But today, Ely said, fewer people who've just graduated sign up for long-term stints as missionaries. He attributed that to the growing burden of student loans.
That can be an impediment because SIM missionaries are expected to raise the funds they'll need to live on during their years overseas.
Missionaries commissioned by churches have to apply with SIM. If they're accepted, SIM staffers meet with them to come up with a realistic budget for their time on assignment.
The amount that will be needed "varies fairly dramatically depending on the location and whether it's urban or rural," Ely said. "It can range from
The size of their families is a factor in ascertaining the budget, but the actual work is not. "So a doctor would be paid the same as an agricultural worker, if they are going to the same locale," Ely said.
After budgets are established, the missionaries-to-be go out and raise the money. In 2013, 61 percent of the funds came from donations from individuals and 33 percent from churches. Accounting for the rest: corporations, foundations and bequests.
All of the money is paid to SIM, Ely said, which then sends much of it out to the missionaries each month. SIM keeps an average of 14 percent of the totals to cover overhead.
In the case of the Writebols, Ely said, the monthly total is
SIM accepts a "fairly high percentage" of the would-be missionaries who apply, Ely said. But they have to pass a screening process that includes reference and background checks as well as psychological assessments.
"They are interviewed by psychologists who try to make sure they're stable enough to withstand cross-cultural living," Ely said. "Cross-cultural living puts all kinds of strains on people."
And because they want to be missionaries, applicants have to subscribe to SIM's Christian mission statement and demonstrate a certain level of knowledge of the Bible.
"We also want a reference from their pastor saying that this is a mature believer ready to serve and participate," Ely said. "We really want to look at this as a partnership with churches."
Churches often provide financial backing -- Calvary offers up to 25 percent of the funds its missionaries need to raise -- as well as spiritual and moral support.
Cashwell of
"It was a real time of prayer for them, and we as their church body struggled with them and started an investigation" into options, Cashwell said. "Several doors opened for them. But one just came to the forefront."
That was the SIM assignment in
Finally, Ely said, before the missionaries make their way overseas they are asked by SIM to sign standard waiver forms.
"When they go to other countries," he said, "they understand the risk."
'Highest quality' group
SIM
SIM "is the highest quality organization I can imagine," said
And he called the practice of sending all the money raised by missionaries to SIM to administer and pay out "a legitimate process that's widely recognized."
SIM, which has been a member in good standing with ECFA since 1986, is a tax-exempt religious nonprofit. The
That means that SIM is not required to file 990 tax forms with the
SIM
Crisis draws more people
More people are going to the mission's website ( www.simusa.org). There, they can get updates on Writebol's condition and are invited to pray for her.
All the news reports about Writebol's plight and what could prove to be a multimillion-dollar evacuation have also spurred more people to offer assistance.
"During this situation, we've sent out no appeals," Ely said. "But we've had a lot of people calling to say, 'How can I help?' ...We've got a long history of seeing God provide for our needs through his people."
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