The Alliance eCommunity: The Alliance eCommunity -> Deliverable #6: Supervision

A big challenge when a local church sends out its missionaries is supervising them. A Chinese proverb says, "Beijing is very far away, and the mountains between here and there are very high." In other words, it's difficult for leaders in Beijing to supervise what's going on out in the provinces. In a similar way, it's very difficult for a local church to supervise its missionary personnel half way around the world.

A key deliverable provided through the C&MA's sending structure is supervision. Through regional and field directors, and field leadership teams, personnel are held accountable to fulfill their assignment. If performance problems are discerned, those in leadership are responsible to work them out. The preferred result of good supervision is healthy resolution of the problems. When after significant effort it becomes clear this cannot be attained, transition from the field is arranged.

Holding workers accountable through good supervision is critically important. To do this well is good stewardship of very valuable personnel.