SIM International Director Malcolm McGregor

It is a pleasure to introduce a special group of people who serve on SIM’s Ministry Development Team in addition to their regular ministries. These folks are known as “champions,” not because of awards they’ve received but because of their passion and commitment in areas that are high priorities for SIM.

In their role as champions, they consult and network in their area of ministry expertise. These men and women make themselves available to help any of our colleagues around the world. As you’ll see in this brief introduction, they have been chosen for their experience, as well as their dedication to involve others in effective ministry.

By the year 2050, it is estimated there will be 12 billion people in the world—8 billion of whom will be children, youth, and young adults (EMQ, April 2005). These are statistics Hannelore Zimmermann knows well. She has been active in children’s ministry since she was 13, and today she trains children’s workers in the highlands of Peru. Hannelore reminds us, “If we reach the children of today, we can change the world of tomorrow.”

In SIM’s “Core Values,” we have committed ourselves to “practice the giving and receiving of discipleship” as an enduring discipline. My wife Liz learned the importance of this when local and expatriate Christians intentionally mentored her years ago when she was working in Nigeria. She explains, “Discipleship is not a grand new idea. My prayer is simply that it will very naturally become a significant part of who we are and of everything we do as a mission.”

SIM and our partner churches are strategically placed around the world to respond to HIV and AIDS. Indeed, most SIM ministry today is done in the context of this devastating disease. Diane Marshall has been instrumental in our multi-country HOPE for AIDS initiative (hopeforaids.org). She hopes to see Christians effectively turning back the tide of HIV and AIDS and making a difference all over the world for God’s kingdom.

Many of the churches God has established through SIM are now mature, and some are already playing a role in mission. Dr. Howard Brant has not only been advocating, preaching, and teaching on “emerging missions” for many years, he has also been putting it into practiceincluding a short-term outreach by 10 Ethiopian church leaders in India, which he helped lead. His goal is to help prepare a highway for people from all nations to become involved in world mission.

Muslim Ministries
Champion: “Franz Nelson” (not pictured)
From Germany | Serving in Senegal

SIM’s historic roots are in Muslim evangelism, and as Islam grows worldwide it is vital that we continue, “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15), to share Christ as the way, the truth, and the life. Our champion has been working in this area for over 10 years as part of Life Challenge Africa (LCA). He has published literature, conducted outreaches, and taught on Islamics and Apologetics. He hopes to focus especially on developing materials for equipping the Church for Muslim evangelism.

Over the past three decades, the number of Americans involved in short-term mission annually has exploded—from 22,000 in 1979 to more than one million today (Christianity Today, July 2006). Marcia Strauss has seen this firsthand, both during her 19 years in Ethiopia where she coordinated Short Term Associates (STAs) and during her service today as International STA Coordinator. Marcia hopes to see men and women placed in mentored short-term assignments alongside ongoing ministries, where they can be nurtured for lifelong Great Commission commitment.

Nearly half of all people in the world today are under the age of 25—the largest youth generation in history (The State of World Population 2003). Sean Marston’s 22 years in youth ministry (part of that time as Short-Term Mission Coordinator for SIM New Zealand) have informed his passion for reaching those growing up in a “post-mission and post-church environment.” He will help SIM develop relevant ways of connecting with youth to help them understand faith and to grow them into the Church.

For the first time in history, the majority of the world’s people live in cities rather than rural areas (United Nations estimates). The major cities in the countries where SIM serves are crowded and growing. Brian Seim has been working in urban ministry among Canadian churches since 1998. He will assist SIM worldwide by publishing information on effective urban initiatives, defining patterns of people migration, and advocating for new urban missionaries and ministries.

Advocates
In addition to champions, SIM is privileged to have specialists serving as “advocates” in the following areas:

• Business Ministries: Graeme Kent
• Literature and Media Ministries Joel Purcell
• Radio Ministries Stan Bruning
• Team Building Larry Fehl
• Theological Education Steve Hardy
• Translation and Literacy Bruce Adams