"Mission Guatemala: A Model for the Future of Mission Partnerships"

by Bishop Michael Coyner, Indiana Area

It is hard to believe that Mission Guatemala is already 5 years old! What an amazing record of successful mission partnership has been developed in such a short time! I will remember my first reactions to hearing Tom Heaton's vision for this new ministry, and I must confess that I was one who did not see clearly the potential. As Tom's bishop I was more concerned for him and his kids and for "details" like how he would have medical insurance, financial support, salary, etc. Tom saw a bigger vision, and I am so grateful that he insisted on pursuing it. I am glad for the ways his District Superintendent at the time (Glenn Howell) and our Conference staff (especially our Treasurer Jennifer Gallagher) and many other supporters helped Tom to put together what has become Mission Guatemala.

I remember well an early report to me from Tom (he reports at least annually in person about his work), when he said that he was not sure where to start in addressing all of the needs he encountered in Guatemala. At that point he said he remembered John Wesley's three simple rules and he started with the Wesley rule, which says, "Do all the good you can." He determined that was his motto, and that has indeed been his strategy. Mission Guatemala seeks to do good, and that includes finding what Tom calls "win/win/win" solutions through partnerships with communities, other mission groups, governmental agencies, and literally any persons of good will. These partnerships include fund-raising back home, and the growth of Mission Guatemala is a testimony to how well these "win/win/win" solutions have worked.

Bishop Robert Schnase has written a strong critique of our old, outdated mission models of what he calls "up and over" funding and control. Those efforts asked churches to donate funds "up" in our church structure to some larger entity, which then sends the money "over" to the areas of need - along with a whole list of regulations and controls which permeate such a colonial attitude. By contract, Mission Guatemala models what Schnase calls a "straight-line" connection between people in different cultures and communities where ownership is a shared partnership of persons seeking to "do good."

Having visited and worked at Mission Guatemala this past January with our Conference Extended Cabinet members, I have seen first-hand the results of this new model of mission partnerships. Mission Guatemala does not come into any village or community with a pre-packaged plan for fixing their problems. Rather, the entire effort is built around conversations, mutual empowerment, shared decision-making, and authentic respect. Meanwhile Mission Guatemala brings dozens of teams each year from places in the US to come and experience first-hand the beauty and the needs of Guatemala, literally working side by side. Such teams go home, share the story, and the ministry expands through the natural and powerful networks of human relationships. It is just as I imagine the early Christian movement growing - and it is a model for the future of mission partnerships. Will we always need a global entity like the General Board of Global MInistries helping to put together people of good will to accomplish such partnerships? Yes, and that is in fact the new direction of GBGM through their motto

of "mission from everywhere to everywhere." Ministries like Mission Guatemala have led the way in creating this new model and this new culture of mission partnership.

A lot has happened in five years. I can't wait to see what is next. God bless you, Mission Guatemala. Keep on doing all the good you can, to all the people you can, in all the ways you can, for long as ever you can.