OFW Family Camp 2008, Teachers' Camp, Baguio

How To Set up OFW Desks

This is taken from Philippine Missions Association. One of the primary actions to see OFW's become cross-cultural witnesses is to set up OFW desks in local churches. OFW desks are people in local churches, committed and organized to serve OFWs in the church and the community through various means.

1. Educate yourself on the unique missions mandate of the Filipino Church.
2. Passionately share this vision with your congregation regularly.
3. Establish a Missions Committee or Department (if you don’t have one yet).
4. Educate yourself on the issues and process of deploying an OFW. You may obtain this information at the POEA website (www.poea.gov.ph).
5. Begin establishing a database* on the following:
1. Overseas-based family members of congregation
2. Christian ministries based overseas
3. Members of congregation who have undergone ministry training and /or theological studies.

* Select a database that suits your requirements. The Act! Program and Microsoft Access are highly recommended.

6. Determine who among your members are planning to become OFWs or migrate to another country. Screen them. Put their information in the database.
7. Select and schedule for cross-cultural ministry / tentmaking training.
8. Provide oversight for members going through the application process with recruitment agencies.
9. Coordinate with the Philippine Missions Association to help connect the outgoing members with OFW churches in the areas they will be going.
10. Establish a (secure) communications system between the candidate tentmakers, the receiving church and the local church missions committee.
11. Commission the qualified members as tentmaker-missionaries of the church.
12. For direct family members that will stay behind, provide adequate pastoral attention and ministry.
13. Pray for your tentmakers. Assign intercessors to pray individually for your tentmakers.
14. Communicate regularly with your tentmakers and the receiving church liaison person. Provide encouragement, news about the local church and about the nation; send pictures, greeting cards, as well as spiritual material that will help your tentmakers not just survive but thrive in the field. Encourage them to communicate with you regularly (and securely).
15. Keep your database up to date on significant personal and ministry developments of your tentmakers.
16. Update the local church on the tentmaker’s situation (with the permission of the family members).
17. Come up with a periodic Tentmaker update (like a newsletter) for the Body of Christ. Please ensure that the Philippine Missions Association gets a copy.
18. If possible, church leader(s) make an annual or biennial visit to your tentmakers.
19. Organize events for their homecoming such as speaking before the church leadership and congregation. Welcome them back as heroes!
20. Keep repeating the process.

Critical Areas

Information Management

Personal and Family Information

Occupational and Academic Background

Ministry Experience and Training

Overseas Experience

Screening / Equipping

Doctrinal Foundation

Ministry Skills

Family Issues

Stewardship Issues

Cross Cultural Ministry

Official Recognition

Commissioning in Local Church

Seconding to Receiving Organization

Communication with Missions Committee

Member Care

Communication System with Tentmaker

Visitation and Counseling of Family Members

Professional Advise on Investments / Livelihood / Legal Matters