Volunteer Helpers
Volunteer helpers make a valued and significant contribution to our work, in all sorts of ways. Without their tireless and dedicated input, it would be very much more difficult for the Board of Mission Overseas (BMO) and its fulltime staff to deal with some very important needs.
Assisting with Pastoral Care
Our team of pastoral advisors play a key role in helping to look after the pastoral needs of individuals, couples and families under the care of the Board, most particularly when they return home after a period of service overseas.
The role of pastoral advisor is a voluntary one and normally involves an initial five-year commitment. Those appointed to this role have had experience serving in mission overseas, enabling them to more readily empathise with and understand the issues and difficulties that are unique to those who have to cope with life in two cultures.
Everyone returning home from overseas will be contacted by one of our pastoral advisors, usually within two to three weeks of their arrival home. Following this initial meeting, it's normal to arrange to 'keep in touch' and, very often, a commitment is made to meet up at regular intervals.
Our pastoral advisors play an active role in the spiritual retreats we run for our mission personnel, which are usually held in January and September each year.
Additionally, pastoral advisors liaise closely with the families and home ministers of our mission personnel, to reinforce pastoral support; and particularly if they have experienced a significant event, for example, an accident or illness. They also attend funerals, commissioning services and other formal gatherings in a pastoral capacity.
The work our pastoral advisors do is usually unseen and therefore not apparent to the majority. It is nevertheless a vital ministry, which we in BMO greatly appreciate. We thank them for their quiet, yet effective service and commend them to the wider Church for prayerful support.
Current Members of our Pastoral Advisor Team are:
Rev Brian Hughes
Pastoral Advisor
Brian spent his early childhood in India, was ordained as a PCI minister in 1985, served with the United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (1986-95), and is currently Chaplain in Belfast City Hospital.
Miss Dibbie McCaughan
Pastoral Advisor
Dibbie, a retired teacher, has taught in a number of schools in N Ireland; served twice in Church schools in Malawi (1972-79 and 2000-04); was Overseas, then General Secretary of PWA; and before retiring, worked with Scripture Union NI.
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Mrs Sandra Campbell
TCK Advisor
Sandra, a primary school teacher, who served in France for over 17 years, assists with the pastoral care of children under BMO’s care and represents us at ‘Third Culture Kids’ (TCK) conferences, workshops and other related training events.
Keeping an eye on our Properties
Mr Mervyn Whittle
Mervyn served as Finance Officer (Overseas) for eight years (2002-10), bringing to this role much wisdom, along with many years of experience from both the business world and his involvement in various voluntary roles. Having stepped down from this role in 2010 on health grounds, Mervyn continues to keep an eye on our properties.
BMO owns three properties in Belfast and one in London; each provides accommodation for mission personnel. Needless to say, these properties require ongoing repairs and general maintenance to ensure they are kept in good order, and we are greatly indebted to Mervyn for managing this work in close cooperation with staff in the Mission Overseas Office.
Other Helpers
Various other individuals, as well as some congregational groups, provide us with valuable assistance from time to time, all of which is warmly received and greatly appreciated.
Members of the Board, its various Committees and their working groups, all contribute to our work in a significant way.
We thank everyone who in any way gives freely of their time, energy and gifts to join with us in serving our God in the work of building His Kingdom throughout the world.
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