Doing Member Care Well : Perspectives and Practices from Around the World

Perspectives and Practices from Around the World

This book serves as a vital resource for those involved in missionary care, offering practical insights and strategies to support the well-being and effectiveness of missionaries. Through its collection of essays and articles, the book addresses the multifaceted challenges faced by missionaries, emphasizing the importance of holistic care that includes emotional, psychological, and spiritual support.

Aimed at mission organizations, church leaders, and caregivers, Doing Member Care Well provides a thorough examination of member care practices, highlighting successful models and sharing valuable lessons learned from the field. The contributions from various experts make it a rich source of knowledge and an essential tool for enhancing the support systems for missionaries worldwide.

Doing Member Care Well is a comprehensive guide focusing on the supervision and care of missionaries. Published by William Carey Library in collaboration with the World Evangelical Alliance Missions Commission, this book compiles diverse perspectives and practices on member care from various global contexts.

Dr. Kelly O'Donnell is a consulting psychologist, based in Geneva, living/working internationally for 35 years. He is the CEO of Member Care Associates, Inc. (MCA), an NGO focusing on the wellbeing and effectiveness of staff and their organizations. Kelly's international and multi-sectoral emphases for consultation, training, and writing include: staff wellbeing, global mental health, integrity/anti-corruption, and faith-based contributions for good practice and sustainable development. He holds graduate degrees in clinical/community psychology including a doctorate from Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University, USA. Publications include 90+ articles and five books in the member care/mental health fields (see lists of publications and presentations). He has been a representative to the United Nations for the World Federation for Mental Health and currently is on the Executive Team for the Global Integrity Network of the Lausanne Movement-World Evangelical Alliance as well as a co-coordinator for the annual Global Integrity Day-9 June. Kelly enjoys providing a steady stream of reflections and resources via the MCA-related websites such as GMH-Map and Global Integrity Day, GMH orientation articles, and the monthly Member Care Updates and Global Integration Updates. Married to Michèle for 38 years, also a psychologist, they have two wonderful adult daughters. His life and work are influenced by the Ignatian values of learning, virtue, and duty; the Global Integration Framework (linking values, skills, relationships, and integrity for the wellbeing of all people and the planet); and the Missio Dei Model of Global Member Care. Email: MCAresources@gmail.com