by Lisa Felch, SIM International
25 April 2006
Who would expect to find a microcosm of the world's cultural richness in a small town in South Carolina? As you walk the halls of SIM's International Headquarters, you will find an alphabet-soup of languages, backgrounds, and cultures. You will meet people from Scotland, Singapore, or South Africa, who have experience living and working on nearly every continent.
Diversity is more than the latest business buzzword at SIM. It is at the core of our identity, and it reflects the essence of the people of God. Many nationalities working hand in hand point to the end-time picture in Revelation 7:9 - "After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb." Working together, they strive to fulfill the mission of SIM&mdahs;glorifying God while reaching the world.
Jesus' mandate to go to all nations proclaiming the Gospel is not yet complete. However, many have heard and believed. As the church expands across the globe, its face is no longer predominantly western. Missionaries now come from anywhere and go anywhere. In such dynamic and changing times, SIM has made diversity one of its goals. As a result, SIM's core administrative body reflects the wide array of its people and projects as well as the make-up of the worldwide church.
The players on this diverse team include:
- International Director, Malcolm and Liz McGregor are from Scotland—an architect married to a music teacher with experience in Nigeria and Ethiopia in teaching, training and business development.
- Dave and Nikki Bremner are a South African couple with 14 years of service establishing a church in unreached, rural Paraguay.
- Two Nigerian-born missionary doctors, Joshua and Joanna Bogunjoko, have served in their homeland and as director of Galmi Hospital in Niger.
- Andrew and Belinda Ng are of Singaporean-Chinese descent. Andrew first served as a doctor in West Africa and then he and Belinda returned home to motivate their own countrymen to missions.
- Eldon and Becky Porter are an American couple with expertise in leadership development and mentoring. They have 21 years of service in Bolivia where they helped establish a radio station and a crisis pregnancy center.
God has put a rich sampling of people, cultures, and backgrounds together on this team, and around the world in other SIM projects and teams. We are experiencing the beauty of God's people working together to achieve His purposes all around the world. Come and join us!