Crisis Conference in Turkey

Seventeen of our staff from the Middle East, Africa, East & Southeast Asia, and Western & Eastern Europe, (and a few from the U.S) spent 4 days together in Izmir, Turkey last month.  We serve Cru as Crisis Managers for different parts of the world. 

Quite the global group.

We discussed the crises that have impacted our ministry around the world over the last 18 months.  About 60% of the crises were politically related, but also included religious persecution, natural disasters and unexpected deaths.  We learned from how these crises were handled, but one of the key focuses of our time together was on taking care of ourselves as people who enter into other’s traumatic experiences.  

For example, our crisis manager for Francophone Africa shared how difficult it was for her when our staff in South Sudan were displaced and unable to receive adequate food for months, with no safe place to go to.  She was moved to tears as she recounted how difficult it was to be unable to help.  But as they were able, they helped our staff get back on their feet and able to continue to serve.

I’ve served as our global and U.S. Crisis Manager since 2003, and I know being able to turn off emotions to be able to handle challenging emergencies is crucial, but it I has impacted me longer term and in other areas of my life.  We talked about how important it is for us to debrief and deal with  the vicarious trauma that can impact us over time.

Thank you for the investment you make in our lives, our ministry, and in our worldwide staff with your partnership.  Please pray for us.