Tom and Wanda Morrison Just another weblog You’ve often heard us speak of Imogene Connerly (Mom to Tom). Mom went home to be with the Lord July 7th. She was a vital part of our team. Mom was a cheer leader for the bean bag baseball team in her apartment complex and she was our cheer leader, too. Mom was a very big part of our prayer and support team and was instrumental in our lives spiritually – for Tom, all of his life and for Wanda since she was 15 years old. Caring for Mom has been a privilege and a very large part of our lives for the past 5 years and was the main reason for us moving to the area where we now live. During Mom’s memorial service we were blessed by the numerous stories from those who knew her as they shared how she had touched their lives over the years. Mom was quick to ask a person if they knew Christ as Savior and missionaries were very dear to her heart. Mom’s encouragement and support is dearly missed.
Although many affirmations were given regarding “A Missionary’s Rest” and many missionaries conferred that they would enjoy such a place to rest and recharge, the funding for the project that was needed by July 31st did not materialize. A number of individuals participated in giving, still the total was far short of what was needed to proceed. This coupled with Mom’s home going causes us to ask, “Lord, what now?” Everyone agrees that caring for missionaries is a great idea, but whether or not it means us purchasing a place here for that purpose is another question. Please be praying with us as we seek the Lord’s direction for our future, especially regarding finances and location.
Summertime is the time when many missionaries begin home assignment while those who’ve been home awhile return to their fields of service. It is also a time to become acquainted with new missionaries who’ve recently completed training and are beginning their partnership development phase. Please pray that we can be an encouragement and help to those who the Lord brings our way. Again, thank you. Your love and encouragement means so very much to us.
Mom’s Homegoing
A Missionary’s Rest
“…contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.” Romans 12:13
Imagine if you will…
After living the past four years in a remote village in a tropical climate on the other side of the world, you have returned to the States for a year of home assignment. Over the past four months you’ve traveled with your four kids in a borrowed mini-van from California to Pennsylvania, visiting family, friends and supporters along the way. A night or two here and there, speaking in churches, giving updates to everyone along the way. It’s been great fun, but tiring as well. You’ve just finished a week at a missions conference in The Dalles, Oregon. Next stop is Kalispell, Montana, but you are not due there for another 10 days. You’re a long way from home and resources are tight. You’ve already done a fair share of camping and it’s getting cold now. Funds are tight, so a motel is out of the question. You remember hearing about a guesthouse back in Georgia where missionaries can stay for up to a month, free of charge. The only expectation is that they take advantage of the peaceful atmosphere, get some rest and be encouraged. The host and hostess are also missionaries, so they understand what your family is going through. The kids can be kids – they can run and play without Mom worrying that they might disturb someone. Does such a place as this exist in the Pacific Northwest?
The Vision…
…is for such a place in the Pacific Northwest.
Over the years, we’ve often thought about, prayed about and discussed having a piece of property dedicated to the Lord’s work as a missionary guest house ministry. Although we’ve found similar ministries around the country, we’ve not located any in our region.
Our desire in providing this guesthouse ministry is to expand upon our current missionary care ministry. By caring for missionaries we partner in reaching the lost with the Gospel of Christ. The addition of a guesthouse will aid in providing for their need of rest and refreshment so they are physically, spiritually, and emotionally better able to minister to the needs of others.
A guest cottage situated on a few acres in a rural and tranquil setting would provide an environment where our guests may stay for a few nights or even up to one month, providing them a quiet place to rest in the midst of a busy and many times stressful home assignment. Kids may run and play enjoying a variety of activities. There would be no cost to visiting families other than meals that they prepare for themselves in the fully stocked cottage kitchen.
A place called….. “A Missionary’s Rest”
Scripture commands Christians to be given to hospitality. Biblical hospitality is literally caring for the whole person in such a way that will give glory to God. As each person is a unique and special image bearer of God, each needs care and encouragement in a special way.
Vision Becoming Reality
Phase One: Currently, we have an accepted offer on a property for $170,000 that has one modest house on it and plenty of room for development for the rest of the project. We are seeking the Lord’s guidance and provision. This would be a huge leap of faith as we personally do not have the means to make this purchase. Funds would need to come from private sources as the Lord leads. In order to purchase this particular property, the funds will need to be available by July 31, 2010. Due to the unusual nature of our financing, the property will continue to be marketed. We have the first right of refusal if another acceptable offer is received which would then give us 3 days to come up with the purchase price.
The first phase of development will involve the purchase of the property and approximately $10,000 of renovation work to the existing house prior to moving in. The existing house would provide living quarters for the host and hostess and a couple of guest rooms. Then planning and preparation for phase two will begin in earnest. Both phases will provide service opportunities.
Phase Two: Phase two will involve the building and furnishing of a small cottage that would have a combination living/ kitchen/ dining room, a full bath, one bedroom and a sleeping loft. A large front porch would provide a comfortable place to enjoy spectacular views of the Blue Mountains, the Horse Heaven Hills and the McNary Game Reserve, which borders the property.
Partnering Together:
- Pray –for the Lord’s direction, provision and open doors.
- Give – tax deductible donations may be sent to New Tribes Mission. Designate the donation “for the ministry of Tom & Wanda Morrison special project”, or non-tax deductible gifts may be sent directly to Tom & Wanda.
- Help – as there will be much to do once the property is purchased, “many hands make light work.”
Tom & Wanda Morrison
703 W Humorist RD
Burbank, WA 99323
(509) 547-3553
Email:tom_morrison@ntm.org
June Prayer Letter
Prayer Partner Press
Tom & Wanda Morrison
June 2010
New Tribes Mission Regional Member Care
The year thus far…
…has been incredibly full of ministry and other activities:Regional Member Care team meetings in Sanford, FL
Facilitating Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills workshop (also in Sanford)
Care Connexion in Portland, OR
Face-to-face visits with missionary families
Lots of e-mail correspondence
Hours on the telephone
…And then there are the local ministry activities and family activities that together are far to much to mention in one short update. Suffice it to say that we have had plenty going on.
Along the way we’ve enjoyed hearing the stories of our fellow workers as they share the work going on around the world. With all the missionary activity going on there are still about 2500 people groups that have no access to the Gospel message. As we minister to the needs of our fellow missionaries the goal is to help them however we can to see them encouraged in their work so that when they return to their fields of service they will be refreshed and ready for another four years of taking the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth.
On the home front we continue to be a help to Tom’s mom who turned 93 years old this April. Leading Bible studies and other responsibilities in our home church, working in the garden and vehicle maintenance help to keep us out of mischief. And a paper route and babysitting help to fill the gap when finances are tight.
Did you know?
Unreached people groups have no concept of the God of the Bible. So Bible teaching begins at the same place God began with His chosen people: at the beginning. Chronological Bible teaching presents a foundation for understanding Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Following the pattern seen in Acts as God’s people carried out the Great Commission, missionaries seek to establish mature churches that can take their rightful place as agents of change in their own communities and partners in the Great Commission.
In Transition
At any given time there are missionaries “in transition.” This means that they are in between ministry assignments. Sometimes they know what they are going to, but other times they have no clue and their ministry with NTM may be coming to an end. As you may well imagine, “in transition” may be a time of high stress due to the uncertainty. As we spend time communicating with missionaries in transition we try to help them find ways to seek out possible options for continued service. With the investment in training and years of service, one of our goals is to see attrition rates reduced. Pray that we will be an encouragement to missionaries who find themselves “in transition” that they may find God’s will in their lives.
Partnership Development
After a new missionary completes his or her training, the next step before leaving home for the mission field is Partnership Development. This is the period of time dedicated to sharing with churches and individuals the opportunity to join with them in prayer and financial support as partners in reaching unreached people groups with the Gospel of Christ. At any given time there are 8 to 10 missionary families in P.D. in our region. During this time, we get to know them by phone, email and personal visits and serve to encourage them however we can.
Back when we set out to go overseas there were no requirements set regarding how much support needed to be attained prior to going. Today’s missionaries may be required to have up to 80% of recommended support prior to going to their new host country. In 2000 when we went to South America our support level was at just 33% of the recommended amount. There were times when we had only a few dollars to get by on for a month, but the Lord provided and by the time we returned to the States our support was up to 60%. Shortly after taking on a stateside assignment, support dropped dramatically.
Today our support average is 39% of the recommended $6178. This figure covers all our self-employment and income taxes, health insurance, retirement savings and giving. As well, all our ministry expenses for travel, phone, internet, office and continued training are calculated into this. What is left over is what we live on.
As we never formally engaged in Partnership Development ourselves after training and there is a serious deficit between where our support is and where it should be, we have decided that for the next 12 months we will make a concerted effort to work on sharing the work we do with churches and individuals with the goal of adding more prayer and financial partners to our team and seeing financial support rise from the average 39% or $2463 per month to at least 80% or $4942 per month. That is a difference of $2479.
In order to reach this goal it will take an additional:
• 100 churches or individuals at $25 per month, or
• 50 churches or individuals at $50 per month, or
• 25 churches or individuals at $100 per month, or
• 10 churches or individuals at $250 per month
Should you know of a church or individual that would like to hear about caring for missionaries and the work that New Tribes Mission is involved in around the world, we’d be glad to schedule a date.
If you are personally interested in becoming a financial partner, give us a call or drop us an e-mail and we’ll get you more information.
Together in His service,
Tom & Wanda Morrison
Please Pray
• That we will be effective in ministry
• For safety as we travel
• For good health
• That our support team will grow
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God.” Phil. 4:6
Tom & Wanda Morrison
703 W. Humorist RD
Burbank, WA 99323
(509) 547-3553
E-mail: tom_morrison@ntm.org