One of our core values at SIM is to foster our learning, growing mission community. Our workers strive to be life-long learners and dependent on God as they serve in mission, especially as our world changes. At SIM, we believe that discipleship, life-long learning, mutual development and training are important disciplines to have as we share the Gospel. 

Going into new places often means there is no set manual or textbook on how to do things. As SIM workers go into new contexts all around the world, being an adaptable, cross-cultural learner is essential as we seek to serve those we are reaching.  

Anna Powell is the lead for SIM’s Learning and Development globally. Anna collaborates with SIM’s workers across the world, equipping them with mission training and eLearning resources.  

“Their context and culture is their classroom. My role is to equip workers to understand the culture they are in so that they can more effectively explain the gospel in a way that makes sense in that culture”, Anna said.  

We also want our workers to remain consistent in being learners of the Bible. Anna shares, “Being a learner is a key concept found in the Bible. The word we use is ‘disciple’ where we are called to be learners and followers of Jesus. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to share the beauty of the Gospel and the love of Jesus in different places and cultures where we are living. ”  

When SIM’s eLearning started in 2017, there was a growing need to provide security training for all our workers around the globe. Because SIM sends people to sensitive and secure places, it is crucial for workers to be equipped with knowledge, wisdom, and discernment in these contexts.  

“The beauty about our eLearning courses is that you can dip in and out of them and complete it at a time that suits you. The convenience and easy access means you can complete it anywhere around the world as long as you have internet access,” Anna said.  

Online Security Training was the very first eLearning course made available for all our workers. This course helped SIM workers to be more equipped to know what to do in a situation or crisis. It also helps them to be more situationally aware. 

“Our Online Security Training is so clear and biblically focused. This training is caring and is a great practice of good stewardship. ,” said one SIM worker who completed the course. 

SIM also prepares and equips our workers through various learning and training components such as partnership development where our workers learn how to raise partnership support for their ministry, language learning, stress management, transition training where we equip our workers to develop skills to adjust to new life in their context and more. 

As a community of lifelong learners, SIM continues to look at opportunities to equip our people well so that they can be empowered to share about Jesus in least reached communities in our changing world. 

PRAY 

Pray for new courses being created for our workers in health, wellbeing and disability as well as updates for our child safety and security courses. If you would like to partner with and prayer for Anna, visit sim.org.au/powell. 

GO 

Are you interested in local cross-cultural ministry here in Australia? SIM’s Across Ministry involves outreach to ethnic communities from various backgrounds based in our neighbourhoods in Australia. To speak to a Mission Mobiliser today and find out more information about Across visit sim.org.au/across