EDITORIAL: OUR GOD NEVER CHANGES AND HE HELPS US IN CHANGING TIMES

BY TIM ALLAN, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

The pace of change seems to grow ever quicker in SIM so it is very reassuring to know that our unchanging God is always in control.

That was a key takeaway from our Global Assembly meetings earlier this year, and especially from the teaching on Revelation delivered so powerfully by Rene Breuel.

He reminded us constantly that there is a throne in heaven – and that the throne is occupied by the risen and ascended Jesus Christ.

That is profoundly reassuring for Christians across the globe and especially for those of us in SIM, as we move swiftly into another season of change. Our current International Director, Joshua Bogunjoko, is now in his last year in the role he has filled with such distinction since taking over in 2013.

Voting Open

The voting process to affirm the proposed new International Director is now underway and we would encourage every eligible participant to record a vote. The voting closes on June 14 and every eligible voter should have received the voting slip. Do let us know if you think you should have received one but have not.

The new International Director will take over on March 1, 2024, giving plenty of time for a detailed and comprehensive handover. We are all praying that will make the process as seamless and smooth as possible.

There are, of course, many other changes already taking place within SIM. They include the major systems changes which are now being rolled out, affecting everything from personnel to finance, from Synergie to Port.

Global Assembly Themes

Some of the main themes to come out of Global Assembly showed both the desire for, and necessity of, change.

To take just one example, there is no doubt that SIM has become a much more diverse organisation in recent years but we want to be so much more than that.

We want our teams across the globe to truly benefit from that diversity, by including a broad range of voices and cultures in our decision-making structures.

That is how we will go from being a globally diverse organisation to a mutually inclusive organisation.

The GA seminars also reflected the constant nature of change within our global community.

They covered a wide range of topics, from the theology of rest and recreation to how we might encourage more local leaders in SIM; from the challenges of managing cross-cultural teams to how we can lead and minister in times of chaos; from how we can develop women leaders to how we can collaborate and partner well. There is a recognition that change will always be intrinsic to the way we operate, while at the same time we must always keep communicating the eternal, unchanging message of the gospel.

All the changes we are going through are designed to do just one thing – make it easier for us to do the very thing God has called us to do: share his gospel with people who have never heard it.

So it is worth remembering that while change is all around us, the one thing which unites all SIM workers has never changed and will never change.

We will continue to cross barriers to ensure more and more people understand the good news - and we can be completely confident of our calling because we know that our Lord Jesus Christ occupies the throne of heaven for ever.

Keynote Speaker: Rene Breuel