Testimonials about MDP

From Jason and Rebekah Oberholser
The Oberholsers serve in church planting ministry among the Navajo people near Farmington, NM, USA.

When we began the MDP process we didn’t have much ministry training; we were just farm kids from Pennsylvania with a desire to be used by God.  The MDP provided us with valuable tools that have laid a strong foundation for ministry today.  The cross-cultural aspect equipped us with key insights about other cultures that have prepared us to deal with worldviews which are different than our own. The reading list was long, and at times it was difficult to get through certain books.  However, every book provided us with valuable truths; many of those truths have greatly shaped who we are as ministers of the gospel.

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One of the most valuable aspects of the MDP for us was the combination of reading practical books and meeting with mentors.  Each month as we met with our mentors we had opportunities to process with them what we’d been learning; we respected and cherished their words of wisdom because they have “been there, done that”.

We also really enjoyed the required six weeks of local cross-cultural service.  Through that service, we gained valuable ministry experience.

Some parts of the MDP felt tedious, but looking back we see their value and are grateful for all we’ve learned.   Even though it was a lot of work to finish the MDP, we are grateful that BICWM offers such a program to prospective global workers.  To us, it shows that BICWM is serious about equipping its workers so they can have maximum impact for God’s kingdom.  The skills & experiences we received through the program continue to be valuable resources to us as we serve cross-culturally.

From Steve and Chris Newcomer
The Newcomers have served in theological education and compassion ministries in Zimbabwe and will soon be deployed to Mozambique.

An assignment to serve as an ambassador of Jesus Christ is the greatest privilege that any believer can be allowed. As such, it merits our very best effort and preparation. We found ourselves returning to ministry in Zimbabwe after a ten-year hiatus. We were given the opportunity to participate in the MDP to enhance the efficiency of our future ministry. After having already completed 15 years of cross cultural endeavors, we had a few reservations about the need for this, but we willingly agreed.

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What else was there that we still needed to learn? The answer was: plenty. The MDP program affirmed some principles we had already learned the hard way, presented some new concepts for future application, and filled in many gaps in our knowledge. We found the time and effort to be invaluable preparation for our current service.