Home assignment is a blend of promoting Nazarene missions, visiting and thanking long-time sponsors and prayer supporters, raising funds for my deputation account, reconnecting with friends, spending time with family, getting regular medical check-ups, buying items to take back to Romania – all while also keeping up with certain responsibilities in Romania. I know from experience that home assignment can be quite exhausting at times, so I’m grateful that this year I was able to achieve a healthier balance than some times in the past. Even so, by the time I returned to Romania, I was looking forward to some rest and down time … yet I know that I’ll be greeted by people here who are ready for me to get “back to work” after 7 weeks of “vacation.”
My deputation message that I shared in church services highlighted how God has been working in and through individuals that I met in 2001 – when I first travelled to Romania as a college student 25 years ago. You can watch my deputation service at my home church here:
One of the objectives of home assignment is to remind local churches about the global aspect of the church’s mission and to share stories of how their missions giving is making an impact around the world. I shared examples of how giving to the World Evangelism Fund, Alabaster, Work & Witness, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, special projects, and missionary deputation have made a difference in Romania.
When I met with smaller groups, I led them through the 4 ministry areas listed as prayer requests on my new prayer cards: making disciples, equipping leaders, developing churches, and serving through compassionate ministries. Click here to check out my updated prayer list.
A seldom-mentioned aspect of home assignment is that as I visit churches, I gain a broader vision, too. Over these past 7 weeks, I’ve visited different types of churches. From an inner-city church that ministers to the urban poor to churches in affluent suburban communities, to churches in small-town or rural settings. I’ve been to small churches that have bi-vocational pastors and large churches with several full-time pastors on staff. I’ve visited churches with young families with active children’s and youth programs and other churches that are mostly retired folks. Some congregations are almost entirely Caucasian, and others are multi-cultural. Some sing hymns from the hymnal accompanied by an organ and piano, while others sing new songs projected on screens with guitarists and drums. Some are long-time enthusiastic supporters of missions, while others are trying to (re-)introduce missions as a priority to their congregations. This is some of the variety that exists within the Church of the Nazarene.
Spending 7 weeks on home assignment is also a lesson in humility. I’m outside of my regular routine and environment. I need to be flexible as I rely on others for meals and housing and transportation for almost 2 months. Sometimes, it's a bit stressful when my plans are changed so many times, with some details not being finalized until nearly the last minute. Throughout this home assignment, I found helpful the advice of a general superintendent who emphasized that while traveling, it is important to keep regular healthy habits (such as eating, sleeping, exercise, reading, prayer, weekly Sabbath, etc.).
Over these past 7 weeks, various conversations have inspired me to write a few new blog posts, which I’ll be posting in the next few days and months. Here’s a glimpse of what’s on the way:
- HA Q&A: Questions that I’m frequently asked on home assignment.
- Serving as a Missionary DS: What do I do as district superintendent … and how is a missionary DS different than a DS in an established district in the US?
- Being a Nazarene Missionary: Some of the ways that the Church of the Nazarene takes care of their missionaries.
- Partnership Opportunities: I’ve already compiled a list of ways you can partner with Nazarene ministries in Romania. Click here to view that list. I’ll be sharing more details in upcoming newsletters.
Only about a third of my financial support comes from speaking at churches on home assignment. My home church provides an additional third. The remaining third comes from monthly or one-time donations. In the past 2 years, a few long-time monthly donors have had to discontinue their support. Click here for more information to make a one-time donation or become a monthly supporter.
Often when I return to Romania after home assignment, I look through the photos on my phone and discover photos of things like what my rental car looked like, where I parked it, and lots of receipts -- and I regret not taking more pictures of the people that I spent time with. So, this year, I was intentional about taking pictures with many of the people with whom I shared meals, as a fun memento of this year’s home assignment. It was so great to (re-)connect with so many of you!
Jonathan Phillips
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