Dear Faithful Partners of Ambassadors,
On the occasion of our latest Board meeting on Saturday, August 4th, I want to personally inform you of some of the significant decisions and events which will be taking place with Ambassadors over the next several months.
As I hope you are very aware, Ambassadors has operated with a minimum of overhead since Pastor Seefried and Sally were called to found this ministry over five years ago. This has been possible due to several facts. First, Pastor Seefried and Sally receive limited remuneration for their services, essentially enough to cover their very modest lifestyle. Second, all other support, including the crucial functions of administration and financial management, has been performed completely by volunteers. This includes the services of the members of the Board of Directors. Finally, Pastor Seefried and Sally have established and implemented our field operations with an equally frugal approach. Our missionaries have been called to minister, and each of them has that as their heart’s desire. If I may “boast in the Lord” as Paul writes, I would boast in them. Helping Ambassadors in this has been the many teams which have visited South Africa to help with the renovation of the Pines, our first Christian community for AIDS orphans, to make it a safe and suitable home for the precious children we seek to serve. As of now, we have twelve children at the Pines with plans for more over the next few months. I cannot thank these teams enough. In addition, our Community Outreach missionaries are making great strides in schools and churches in Kimberley and Cameroon. In all these things, I praise God!
I share this with you because we now find ourselves in a situation similar to that the apostles faced in Acts 6:1-6. Pastor Seefried and Sally have striven to perform all the responsibilities of Ambassadors with minimal, regular help, and we have come to recognize with the input of the Seefried’s, AIMI Board members and our missionaries, that there are areas which need more immediate development. As the early church experienced growth pangs as it grew, so Ambassadors is facing similar growth pangs. As a result, several decisions were reached by the Board which we will be implementing over the next several months.
The Board approved appointing Michael Seefried as the Director of Operations. Michael is a graduate of Baptist Bible College and, with his parents, grew up on the mission field. He comes to us with a wealth of teaching and administrative experience. His prior administrative experiences in the U.S. and Central Asia involved moving and/or developing new building facilities due to expanding growth. Most recently Michael has returned from Eastern Europe where he supervised organizations in Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. Michael’s administrative, supervisory, and organizational skills are sorely needed and will be a great blessing to Ambassadors. As the Director of Operations, Michael will take the lead in developing and implementing strategic plans, direct internal management systems, manage budgets, and direct financial operations and administrative personnel functions.
The immediate appointment of Michael will relieve Pastor Seefried and Sally of much of the details of Ambassadors daily operations, thereby allowing them to focus on the spiritual direction of Ambassadors as we grow. Their mentorship of our missionaries is a key element in honoring the Lord as we seek to evangelize South Africans by teaching teens and children Godly lifestyles in this AIDS ravaged nation.
In addition to this appointment, the Board has also directed the development of position descriptions for an administrative assistant, treasurer, and accountant so that we may seek qualified professionals to provide these services. While initially these services will be part time, this action will allow Ambassadors to be able to expand our support services as God adds to the ministry in the future. To ensure proper leadership in our Christian communities such as the Pines, the Board also directed the development of a position description for a Field Director. These are all due back to the Board by the end of August with the goal of completing all reviews in time to approve them at the next Board meeting in November. Having these will help immeasurably in planning, identifying, and recruiting the people Ambassadors will require as the ministry grows and these positions are filled.
It is the Board’s desire to eventually provide some compensation to all of these staff personnel. Let me assure you that we will not start such compensation unless funds are available. As always, we will seek to keep our overhead to a minimum so that the substantial majority of the funds our donors so graciously offer are applied directly to the operations in South Africa and wherever else God may lead us.
Finally, the Board voted to change Pastor Seefried’s title from Director to President of Ambassadors International Ministries, Inc. While this may seem cosmetic, there is a very important reason. The appointment Michael as Director of Operations is just that; the Board expects him to direct in this area and to provide the accountability of the office and field staff in the months and years to come. If I may refer again to Acts 6, Pastor Seefried is very much the “Elder” of Ambassadors. The Board has been concerned that expecting him to “wait on the tables” even as he has sought to establish Ambassadors has created an excess of work that, under his oversight, can be better handled by additional staff. Acts 6 was a milestone for the early church, and Ambassadors, with God’s blessing and your help, is going through a similar milestone. Growing pangs are a blessing, and what a blessing to have!
The last item I would like to share with you is the circumstances of Pastor Seefried’s health. As I am sure most of you have known, Pastor has experienced a condition over the last year which has affected his ability to travel as much as he would like. This has impacted his ability to travel to South Africa to meet with the missionaries and work with local officials to the extent appropriate, and it has also impacted his availability to visit our supporting churches. This past week, Pastor started dialysis, and it has helped him considerably. We do not yet know if this has been the cause of his condition all along, but the results are encouraging, and Pastor and his local doctors are in contact with the specialists who have helped him during this time to help reach a proper evaluation. Please rejoice with me in this development and continue your prayers on his behalf.
I hope you are as encouraged by this news as we on the Board were in addressing these needs. Our commitment to Ambassadors only grows, and every member of Ambassadors and the Board is resolved to serve Him and you as faithfully as we can. We take neither His blessings nor your support lightly. I covet your prayers as we move forward, and I invite you to continue to be steadfast and immovable, abounding in the work of the Lord, for our toil is not in vain. We serve not only a risen Savior, but a victorious Savior
Grace and peace be yours in Him,
Mike Schmidt, AIMI Board Chairman
Posted on 7 Aug 2007 at 1:47pm | Filed under News
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