We Hear YouE-mail from a district NMI secretary:

I just finished the request from the Global NMI Office to send to you and the district NMI president the name and e-mail address for each local NMI president.
 
I understand why you request this. We do live in the age of technology, and it is changing daily. However, many of our local presidents don't own a computer, let alone know how to begin to open e-mail or how to use a computer.
 
We just compiled our list of 76 churches. Only 29 of my local NMI presidents have e-mail. The remainder will have to rely on their pastor or church secretary for information coming from the Global Ministry Center.
 
Our global leaders should come to the grass roots and see for themselves that, while this is a good idea, it is setting NMI up for failure.
 
I am also a zone coordinator, and I know that, on my zone, the presidents who don't have e-mail will not receive the information. The pastor will not print it off. I am sorry to say this, but it is true at least on my zone.
 
I think that the Global NMI Office should reconsider this and check with other districts to see the percentage of local presidents who have e-mail addresses. I will send the form you requested, but wanted you to realize that I believe our district cannot be the only district with this scenario.

Response from a member of the Global NMI team:

Thanks for the list of local NMI presidents’ contact info and for the district NMI council list. This information is used more often than you might ever guess.
 
Thanks for your committed and faithful service in the mission of the church. We appreciate you more than our NMI team can express and value your input highly. The issue you raise is an issue often discussed in office meetings. We can work together to be excellent stewards of resources.
 
The NMI team shares your concern about the limited number of local leaders with computer access. So many are leading missions with excellence. We want to excel in communicating and connecting with these leaders.
 
We consider a number of dynamics as we work together “to make Christlike disciples in the nations.” Global economy, constraints on budget and personnel at the Global Ministry Center, and the increased cost of postage, printing, supplies, etc., require that we utilize new and innovative methods to serve as better stewards of resources. This includes use of technology in communicating. Digital communication is faster, enabling us to complete otherwise complex processes in a much shorter time frame.
 
We understand that numerous leaders might not have computers or comprehend technology well enough to access everything offered for ministry. In these cases, would it be possible to find a younger person in a local church who would agree to be the tech representative on the council? This person could receive and send e-mail for the president, as well as access other ministry tools available.
 
This would involve younger leaders and assist them in learning about the processes of NMI and Global Mission. Perhaps they would be inspired and challenged to become more involved in mission. We really do need these younger leaders if the mission of the church is to remain alive and passionate about mission and to link the present generation to future generations.

We welcome your response also. How do you feel about this request for e-mail addresses for each local church? Will it help your district NMI president and district NMI budget to be able to communicate more rapidly and frequently with each church on your district? Can you envision long-term benefits for our global NMI team to communicate directly with local leaders, including sending Mission Connection to each local NMI president?
 
 
 
 

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