A PLAN

August 1, 2007
Dear Elders:
As many of you know, Brian and Kelly Jo Kallevig have been pursuing the possibility that God is calling them to serve in a full-time support ministry in Zambia.
We, the Missions Committee, have interviewed the Kallevigs and have determined that they meet the following requirements for missionary service:
• Clear profession and evidence of God’s saving work; spiritual maturity; consistent Christian lifestyle; evidence of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23); continued spiritual growth; modeling the life of Christ (servant spirit, sacrificial spirit, industrious spirit, team spirit, tolerant spirit, prayerful spirit).
• A sacrificial willingness to step out in obedience to God’s calling to ministry.
• Member of EFCW and actively involved in ministry for a minimum of two years.
• Have adequate education and training to carry out the proposed ministry and a desire to obtain any additional Bible training, cross-cultural preparation, ministry experience, or professional training that may be necessary to further improve their potential effectiveness in ministry.
• Desire to maintain strong relationship with EFCW members and leadership, and willingness to abide by any guidelines for correspondence and periodic review of ministry.
• Reflect character qualities of 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9.
• Acceptance by a responsibly operated and doctrinally sound mission agency.
• Physically, emotionally, and mentally fit.
• Strength of marriage and family relationships.
On the basis of these findings, the Missions Committee recommends that the Kallevigs be approved by the Elders as members of the EFCW Transition to Ministry Program so that a structured plan can be developed for helping them obtain any training, mentoring, cross-cultural preparation, or short-term ministry experience necessary to send them spiritually-healthy, fully-equipped and ready to serve into ministry.
Furthermore, the Missions Committee recommends that the Elders prayerfully consider the possibility of becoming the Kallevig’s sending church and be prepared to receive, in May of 2008, the Mission Committee’s recommendation to add/not add the Kallevigs to the list of missionaries that are currently supported as well as a recommendation for how deeply the church, as whole, will involve itself in the work they are considering in Zambia.

Respectfully submitted,
Missions Committee Chair
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So that was the letter our Missions guy, sent to the Elders. The Elders asked for the more detailed plan before they make a decision. So that is what we did on Tuesday which many of you prayed for. It was a good meeting and we have a “plan”. I will try to post it later. Basically the plan helps us become equipped to serve in three main areas: “Zambia”, the whole culture side of it; Ag operations, learning what we can with who we can about farming in Zambia; Equipping pastors, as the purpose of the bible college is to equip national pastors, they would like Brian to feel comfortable in discipling others related to ministry issues.
So we have a plan for the next nine months in that way. We will also start the full tilt of fundraising during this time. We are putting a target date of May 2008 out there. Will we go then? We pray so, but we know God is sovereign, and if we need to push back we will. We will need to start receiving support probably in January so we don’t use all of our personal savings while we transition. There are actually three areas we need to raise support for: this transition time, the outgoing/upfront costs, and our monthly support once the boots are on the ground. Our transition support and monthly support in Zambia won’t actually be that different due to the cost difference between here and there. BUT, as we are learning, just because it is Africa, doesn’t mean things are always cheaper!
Right now we are also putting the finishing touches on getting our work permit stuff together. As Brian has been self-employed for basically the last 16 years, it is a little hard to do a resume! We are collecting letters from others now, and then we send them to Gospelink, who then has to have their rep in Zambia file them. So, I am assuming they have to be mailed (unless we go over and hand deliver them), which could take who knows how long!