About Coordinator Roles
General Information about the RHP-Europe Country Coordinator and Mission Coordinator roles
- Why is the country coordinator role relevant to the church in my country?
- Why is the mission coordinator role relevant to my mission organisation?
- What are some experiences I should know about that will help me understand this role better?
- What if I am interested and want to help, but cannot fully commit to this role?
- What is the result that we are looking for?
- What will a Country Coordinator need to do?
- What will a Missions Coordinator need to do?
- What are some questions to ask myself in order to understand this role and to evaluate how I could fit in?
1) Why is the Country Coordinator role relevant to the church in my country?
If the Church has a concern for missions and for the poor, ministry to refugees is an extremely effective and fruitful ministry to the unreached as well as to the poor.
If the church does not yet have a vision for missions - or if it is trying to grow in its understanding and confidence in leadership, discipleship, evangelism and loving our neighbor - then refugee ministry is a field in which to practice all of these ministries.
If the church has no means to send out missionaries, then refugee ministry is a great way to be involved in global missions on their own doorstep.
Refugee ministry allows the church to be missional and relevant in its own community.
God commands us to love the foreigner in our land.
2) Why is the Mission Coordinator role relevant to my mission organisation?
Ministry to refugees is an extremely effective and fruitful ministry to the unreached as well as to the poor.
If the mission organisation wants to be involved locally in missions and at the same time connect with local mission-minded believers, then refugee ministry is a practical way to achieve this goal.
If the mission organisation wants to network with other Christian organisations and churches throughout Europe, share best practices with them, and also learn from them, then refugee ministry is an ideal means to build up working partnerships and long-term relationships for great and more effective ministry.
Refugee ministry provides an excellent way to train (new) missionaries in practical Christian mission and effective ministry among people from other cultures.
Refugee ministry allows the mission organisation to be relevant in its own local community.
Refugee ministry can also provide a viable role and identity for missionaries to facilitate their entrance into a particular country, region, or local community.
3) What are some experiences I should know about that will help me understand this role better?
Ideally, the Country Coordinator should be a national citizen or committed to living long-term in the country, fluent in the language, and connect to local churches and leaders.
Ideally, the Mission Coordinator should be a leader or member in good standing within their own mission organisation and have the ability and freedom to champion the cause of refugee ministry both within and outside of their own organisation.
He or she should be able to speak and understand English well enough in order to attend larger Europe-wide meetings.
They should be able to access the Internet and e-mail (or have someone who can do this for them) in order to facilitate their involvement with others in the Refugee Highway Partnership (RHP-Europe).
They should ideally be involved with or have contact with refugees in some way, or at least have a concern for this involvement by Christians.
They should be willing and able to embrace and support the activities and concerns represented by the RHP-Europe.
This person does not necessary need to oversee the different local works and leaders, but he/she will be knowledgeable of them.
If the coordinator is a missionary or para-church worker and leader, they are free to use their existing role to fulfil the RHP vision. They are free to apply their mission / ministry resources while representing the RHP-Europe to address the needs to refugees in a strategic way.
4) What if I am interested and want to help, but cannot fully commit to this role?
If we find people who are willing to help with the Country Coordinator or Mission Coordinator role but who cannot fully commit to involvment within the RHP-Europe, it is okay for them to do what they can. Those in leadership of the RHP-Europe will represent them at the meetings.
We would welcome your contact with us as long as you are able, and would especially like you to help us find the right person to take on this role.
5) What is the result that we are looking for?
To initiate and facilitate organisations, groups, individuals and churches in your country or mission organisation to enable effective refugee ministry.
6) What will a Country Coordinator need to do?
Identify, encourage and network with leaders of refugee ministries.
Initiate, coordinate, and stimulate activities in your country that put local churches at the heart of refugee ministry.
Encourage the involvement and networking of local ministries with Europe-wide activities (for example posting or linking local ministry activites to the RHP website, and encouraging people to attend regional consultations).
Attend the RHP-Europe meeting in January/February of each year.
Take part in two conference calls each year for the European group of country coordinators.
Attend the RHP world conference for one week, when it is held (excluding the preparation for the Europe region track).
7) What will a Missions Coordinator need to do?
Identify, encourage, and network with leaders of refugee ministries.
Champion refugee ministry within your mission organisation.
Reallocate (as possible) mission personnel and resources for effective ministry into the most needy refugee locations - according to your mission organisation’s policies.
Initiate, coordinate and stimulate activites within your sphere of influence (other missionaries, organisations, local churches) to facilitate involvement in refugee ministry.
Encourage the involvement and networking of local ministries with Europe-wide activities (for example posting or linking local ministry activities to the RHP website, and encouraging people to attend regional consultations).
Attend the RHP-Europe meeting in January/February of each year.
Take part in two conference calls each year for the European group of country coordinators.
Attend the RHP world conference for one week, when it is held (excluding the preparations for the Europe region track).
8) What are some questions to ask myself in order to understand this role and to evaluate how I could fit in?
- What role do I believe the global Refugee Highway Partnership could have in the world?
- What is the most significant contribution that my network or organisation could make to the Refugee Highway Partnership?
- How would I envision the Refugee Highway Partnership could help the Local church in my region?