{"id":557,"date":"2018-03-14T02:06:58","date_gmt":"2018-03-14T07:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/paul-swenson\/?p=557"},"modified":"2018-03-14T02:06:58","modified_gmt":"2018-03-14T07:06:58","slug":"special-edition-team-formation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/paul-swenson\/2018\/03\/14\/special-edition-team-formation\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Edition: Team\u00a0Formation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In this edition of our newsletter, we figured we\u2019d take a very practical approach and \u201cschool\u201d you in the process we are now in:\u00a0Team Formation<\/em>.\u00a0 Before we start however, we want to make you aware that we are still not at a point where we can give specifics. \u00a0We are excited about being in team talks and we pray that this is indeed the direction God will keep taking us in, but that could always change and we want to be sensitive to not getting ahead of ourselves.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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So, what is team formation?\u00a0 It is the process of getting to know other singles and married couples\/ families better and praying together to see if it is God\u2019s will for us to work together.\u00a0 What are some important things to learn about each other?\u00a0 Well, first would be how similar are we theologically?\u00a0 After all, we will be church planting and discipling together.\u00a0 Secondly, how similar are our ministry philosophies?\u00a0 Are we similar in how simply we want to live, in how we want to interact with the local people and in the methods in which we will teach and disciple?\u00a0 Although our mission has core beliefs and philosophies, there are some variations between different teams and families within those parameters.\u00a0 Another area to get to know about the other person\/people is personality and strengths.\u00a0 Are we compliments to each other?\u00a0 They cannot all be good Bible translators while no one is a good disciple-maker, variety is required on a church planting team.\u00a0 There are many other things to learn about when getting to know others in a possible team.\u00a0 People say the biggest thing teams fight about are children!\u00a0 So, it is helpful if you have similar parenting styles.\u00a0 During this process, we and two other \u201cunits\u201d to our possible team have been and will continue to meet together and discuss these things and much more.\u00a0 Since our potential ministry location involves a neighboring church that is established and maturing with elders appointed, these men will be involved in our planning and team formation as well.\u00a0 Those elders will be part of the team.\u00a0 We will also seek counsel from mission consultants here who have successfully worked together with others on a team and have years of experience.\u00a0 And last but not least, we will each be seeking counsel and praying with our sending church.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another part of team formation is that the leadership team here in PNG asks that we do a team project to spend time together in a real-life situation\u2026 not just in interviews.\u00a0 Right now, one potential team member is on home assignment in the U.S. so we will be doing this team project in a couple months when we are all together.\u00a0 By the time we finish this project, Lord Willing, we will all be agreed on the direction in which this team is heading.\u00a0 IF we feel God is opening the doors, we will then be in the \u201callocation phase\u201d where we will be planning with the local village all of the logistics of building and moving in.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cutting grass at the church<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

What else needs to happen?<\/strong>\u00a0 We also need to start raising funds for our bush house.\u00a0 We want to be good stewards with our time and get fund raising going now so we will be able to purchase materials in a timely fashion when allocation time starts.\u00a0 Leadership has given us the green light to set up a special account for this.\u00a0 Also, we are thankful that while we have been living on the center, our costs were not as high as they will be in the bush so we have been able to save about $20,000 of the expected $60,000 for the house build\/ air transportation costs associated with a house build in a helicopter location.\u00a0 Would you pray about helping us with this one-time expense?\u00a0 Here is a link to our website about this information:\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0https:\/\/swensontribe.wordpress.com\/house-building\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Got Brains and\/or Braun?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>For those of you who have told us you would be interested in helping us build our house, now would be a good time for you to think through if that would be a possibility.\u00a0 Please e-mail us if you are still interested in helping.\u00a0 Whether you are a woodsman (good with a chainsaw), an electrician or plumber or you just have a little building experience, we might be able to use your help.\u00a0 We will have experienced people here helping, but only a limited number.\u00a0 So as not to inundate the people we are going to minister to, we don\u2019t plan on bringing big build crews but a few folks here and there who are patient and don\u2019t mind working with the local people (even if it means the process goes slower\u2026think discipleship).\u00a0 Once we get closer to the time of building and have a better idea what we might need for help and if you were among those who could come to help, we would prepare you ahead on culture and building differences here.\u00a0 Now is the time to start communicating with us and getting your passport updated so that if it works out when the time comes, you will be ready!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ella and her buddy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Praise:<\/strong><\/p>\n