After about 2 years and 3 months in Namibia, next month I'll be returning for my first Home Assignment (HA). Historically, mission organizations used the word "furlough," but such terminology often caused confusion that this is just a long vacation, so now they use the term "home assignment" because it better communicates the purpose and goals of our time in our home country. So to help clarify what this is all about I thought I'd write a post addressing some frequently asked questions concerning Home Assignment.
What is Home Assignment?
This is missions lingo for when missionaries periodically come back to spend time in their home country. Missionaries will typically spend anywhere from 2-4 years on the field in their host country, then spend anywhere from a few months up to a full year on HA. My projected plan is to have a rotation of 2.5 years in Namibia and then a 6-month HA back in the States.
Why do missionaries take a Home Assignment?
There are many reasons why missionaries periodically return to their home countries. Sometimes, beyond initial culture shock, missionaries experience ongoing culture stress from living in a foreign culture with a foreign language, foreign worldview, different foods and cultural expectations. So on HA they can experience much needed emotional rest and recovery from such anxiety. Other purposes for HA can include recruiting new workers for the field, or new ministry partners for their support team, or even continuing education opportunities to be better equipped for their ministry.
But one of the primary purposes is
reconnecting with their ministry partners and sending church. Writing blogposts and monthly newsletters only go so far in helping you stay connected with the ministry in Namibia. Plus, those can only communicate so much. Spending face-to-face time with people can help clarify questions, quell rumors, build mutual trust, renew interest, and it's just a whole lot more
personal! But beyond that, there's nothing like the
mutual encouragement of hearing what God's been doing in your lives! Paul told the Romans that one reason he wanted to visit was "that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith" (Rom. 1:12).
Aren't you just giving ministry reports?
Financially supporting a missionary is not simply a business transaction. It's not like you're investing in a business venture and now I'm reporting on the results of that investment.
Ministry partnership is relational. So Home Assignment is about investing in relationships. It's about helping you stay
personally connected with what God's doing in Namibia, answering your questions, and reinvigorating your passion for the vision of ministry here.
Why six months?
Last year I came home for 3 weeks, primarily for a special family occasion, but secondarily to reconnect with my ministry partners. I did that mostly through large group events where I would share about my ministry and then only get to talk to individual people for 5 minutes or so. But in such a short amount of time it was impossible for me to individually connect with my over 60 ministry partners who are spread throughout the country. So a solid 6 months will give me opportunity to spend quality time with people and to deeply reinvest in my sending church. After all, when Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch after their first missionary journey, "they stayed there a
long time with the disciples" (Acts 14:28)!
Is this just a long vacation?
Absolutely not! SIM gives me a set number of vacation days each year, just like any of you might get from your employer. I will use some of those days while I'm back in the States to get some R&R, but primarily HA is an extension of my work in Namibia. That's why it's called "Home
Assignment," because it's still a ministry assignment, just in my
home country rather than my
host country. So, as one author says, "returning from the field means a change of venue, not a vacation" (Hawley,
Furlough or Home Assignment?).
Is this just a code name for a fund-raising trip?
Sometimes missionaries need to return home because their support levels have dropped below what's needed to fund the ministry, or their support needs have gone up over time, and therefore they do need additional support before returning to the field. But that is not always the case. Home Assignment can be just as much about maintaining existing relationships as well as building new ones.
Do you still need support while on Home Assignment?
Yes, because this is an extension of my work in Namibia, I will still be living on support while on Home Assignment. In other words, this is still part of my job as a missionary, so I will still be receiving my income as a missionary.
Who will teach your courses at NETS while you're gone?
NETS assigns courses to lecturers at the beginning of each semester. So knowing that I would be away, they haven't assigned me any courses for this semester. The course I specialize in, "Ministry to Children & Youth," is only scheduled to be taught again next year.
If you have any other questions, then feel free to drop me an email or leave them in the comments. And hopefully, I'll get to see many of you while I'm back!
