Sometimes, it can be hard to understand just why missions need people like us. Why don't all missionaries preach? Shouldn't they all be out on the street corner evangelizing?
So we thought we'd ask some of the people we'll be serving about their perspective. Here's what Colin Lowther, Director of HCJB Global UK, and Lee Sonius, Executive Director HCJB Global's Sub-Saharan Africa Region had to say.
What impact does technical support have on your ministry?
I would guess that 75% of my work is related to email, the internet, and computers. If things are not working properly, we are in TROUBLE. -Lee
Technical support is an intrinsic part of mission and evangelism in the 21st century -especially in media missions. It's the backbone over which the ministry happens. Almost every aspect of our ministry requires reliable IT to keep the basics of our day to day work functioning. The technicians who keep these areas running smoothly are as important as the creative people who make the programs. Without them the message would get no further than the page!
Also, with such reliance on email communications these days, any problems with the email system can result in hours of wasted time for everyone and can slow down a whole project. Most people in our office don't understand how email gets from A to B, they just know that it does!
Having an individual on-site to deal with any maintenance issues regarding technical support is literally a Godsend! To be able to talk through a support issue face to face makes all the difference when time is at a premium. - Colin
Also, with such reliance on email communications these days, any problems with the email system can result in hours of wasted time for everyone and can slow down a whole project. Most people in our office don't understand how email gets from A to B, they just know that it does!
Having an individual on-site to deal with any maintenance issues regarding technical support is literally a Godsend! To be able to talk through a support issue face to face makes all the difference when time is at a premium. - Colin
What’s your perspective on “technical missionaries”?
“It’s like a play. You have the people on stage that are in the spotlight, and then you have dozens of people working as stage hands. You can not put on a good stage production without everyone being involved. ” -Lee
[They] are as much a missionary as any other 'evangelist' or church planter. In God's eyes there is no difference. They are each fulfilling the role that God has given them. Like Paul's illustration of the 'body' (1 Cor. 12), each member is needed and can't exist independently of the others. - ColinWhen it comes to computer support, what is your greatest need?
“We just need someone is available to answer questions and solve problems when they come up. ” -Lee
Apart from having all the computers working as they should, we need technicians who are on top of new developments. We want to be as up to date as any secular organization so that the message of Christ can be communicated into the culture of the day with no time lag. The church is often seen as 'behind the times'; IT specialists can help to ensure that our communications and security systems are glorifying to God. - Colin Josh, What do you actually do?
- Create Over the past seven years, I’ve worked to create multiple software tools to help HCJB Global missionaries minister more effectively.
- Lead For two years I’ve lead a group of college students in creating yet another piece of software to help missionaries .
- Teach During January I trained missionaries from the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Latin America to use this new tool.
- Fight In February, we discovered that a hacker had managed to break in to HCJB Global’s web server. I spent time repairing the damage that was done and helping the mission set up a newer and more secure web server.
