Volunteers Make It Work

General Conference Secretary, Matthew Bediako, is excited with what God is doing in Guam-Micronesia!

VBP: As Secretary of the General Conference (GC), you have oversight of hundreds of missionaries employed all over the world. What is your relationship to the thousands of volunteer missionaries around the world?

MAB: The GC Secretariat is responsible for
coordinating the work of all missionaries, whether employees, volunteers, or tent makers. Before our missionaries leave for their assignments, they are recorded by our GC Appointees Committee, which I chair. Since we assist with recruiting, training, and sending them, I am interested not only in what they do, but also in their welfare.

VBP: You recently visited several islands of the Guam-Micronesia Mission (GMM). Tell us why, and what you discovered there.

MAB: Yes, last November one of my colleagues in the GC Secretariat, plus the Southern Asia-Pacific Division Secretary and the GMM President, joined me in a ten-day visit to the Mission and their schools. Why? This question was asked by the missionaries at every place we visited. I don't think this had been done before. To them we appeared as a high-powered delegation and smelled like a problem brewing! I smiled and simply informed them that we were taking the time to visit and see how they were doing because we loved them and appreciated what they were doing. It is one thing to approve a list of names in a committee, but it is completely different when you see the names are real people doing real work.

You know every Wednesday we approve the names of these volunteers and send them to different places in the Lord's vineyard, and yet we ourselves do not always know where we are sending them. I felt that I was personally obligated to get acquainted with them, the work they do, and their working environment.

While the young people felt it was "cool" and "neat" and expressed appreciation to us for the visit, I was the one who really benefited spiritually. It was an uplifting experience.

We sat and ate, asked questions, sang songs, and prayed together. What an experience! You are never the same when you are with these missionaries. What did I discover? I discovered the spirit of sacrifice and the joy of service in their eyes.

VBP: Do you know how many volunteers serve in GMM each year and where they come from?

MAB: I believe there are about 100 volunteers and they come from the United States, Europe, Asia and the South Pacific. Most of them serve as teachers and administrators in the elementary and high schools, and they often account for 80% of the staff. They are very much involved in witnessing to their students. They also serve as leaders in the local churches, and without them some of the churches would not function.

VBP: Why does GMM rely so heavily on volunteers?

MAB: We do not have enough nationals trained to staff these schools. However, our missionary volunteers suggested that we begin training national teachers who could work side by side with them. You will be happy to hear that as a result of this appeal, the Mission and Division administrations have now provided some funds for training.

VBP: That is good news! How many schools do we have in the Guam Micronesia Mission and how large are they?

MAB: I believe there are about 10 - 12 schools on as many islands. The schools we visited had large enrollments-in the 300 - 500 range. These schools are really mission schools. The majority of the students come from non-Adventist families. But the schools are an evangelistic center and some of the children become Adventists by the time they graduate.

VBP: You met a number of these volunteer
missionaries. What was it about them that made an impression on you?

MAB: I cannot say enough about the sacrificial and dedicated spirit I found among the volunteers. Not one complained to me about the work load or their living conditions. I visited their classrooms and they were full of energy and all kinds of ideas. What really impressed me was how they are able to get the kids to behave!

VBP: I have many more questions to ask you about your trip, and I know you have stories from the volunteers to share with us, but we will have to save them for the next issue! Thank you, Elder Bediako, for your interest and concern for our Adventist volunteers around the world. I look forward to our next visit.