NEWS
events
NEW TASK FORCE FOR MINISTRY ADVANCEMENT AMID COVID-19
International Director Joshua Bogunjoko has appointed a new Ministry Advancement Task Force to help us weather the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Chaired by Global Director of Strategic Development Phil Bauman, the nine-member task force will look at our finances, our people, our ministries, our partner relations and the contexts in which we serve. It will propose ways to lessen the negative impacts of the pandemic and also identify new opportunities. The task force began work last month (April 2020) and is expected to continue until the end of this year. Please direct any questions to Phil at gdsd@sim.org.
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WHATSAPP GROUP: COVID-19 STORIES
Many SIM workers are finding creative ways to carry on ministry among least-reached communities during the pandemic. Global Director of Ministry Outreach Emma Brewster facilitates a WhatsApp group called ‘COVID-19 stories’ where you can share brief details of what you and your teams are continuing to do. Please join and help us see how the Lord is at work, even through this global lockdown. https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ju6cF012P5h8hIJcUx6MHV
WHATSAPP GROUP: COVID-19 PRAYERS
SIM’s COVID-19 WhatsApp prayer group is open for anyone to post prayers of praise and intercession. Please post your own prayers in any language. It has been a source of encouragement to many. https://chat.whatsapp.com/KhAjSZUvO478J0V6m9dHtF
WEEKLY DEVOTIONALS FROM JOSHUA BOGUNJOKO
Joshua’s weekly devotions to the SIM family began on March 25 and are titled, God in the centre. Watch the recordings on Vimeo or access the written versions, available in English, French and Spanish, from the COVID-19 section of Port. international.communication@sim.org www.vimeo.com/siminternational/videos
10 DAYS OF PRAYER
SIM’s annual prayer focus between Ascension and Pentecost runs from May 21-31 this year. Regional Director for Southern Africa Siegfried Ngubane has taken10 biblical ‘one anothers’ for the SIM community to meditate on as a theme for prayer. Prayer requests for SIM’s 10 global regions will accompany each day. Please plan to set aside time individually and corporately to spend time praying during this time. The 10 Days of Prayer document will be available for download on Port. International.communication@sim.org
NEWS
TRAUMA HEALING OFFERS NEW LESSON
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The Trauma Healing Institute has released new resources to help those suffering during the COVID-19 crisis. Lessons for both adults and children are available in English, French and Spanish. Small groups of 12 people or less are ideal to allow participants to share and begin to heal spiritually and emotionally. Groups can complete a whole lesson in under two hours or spread the lesson over shorter meetings. People do not need to be trained facilitators to use the
material. The lessons can be used as an introduction to the series ‘Beyond Disaster: A survivor’s guide for spiritual first aid’, which takes people further into the healing process. These free resources can be downloaded from the Port or by contacting SIM Trauma Healing Coordinator Nancy Writebol. Nancy offers Zoom orientation for both the COVID-19 lessons and Beyond Disaster. Intl.traumahealing@sim.org
PASTORAL CARE DURING COVID-19 SIM Chaplain Lead Mark Conard has assembled a team of more than 20 people who can offer pastoral care and support to SIM workers struggling with the impact of COVID-19. Team members speak multiple languages and can connect through any communication platform. mark.conard@sim.org +1 803 818 0629 WWW.SIM.ORG
