Missionary pioneers are often go-getters with a big heart full of charity. They constantly look for opportunities and create possibilities to mean something to people who do not (yet) know Jesus. A rewarding, but also demanding task. This is precisely why missionary consultants guide these pioneers and initiators through intervision groups. Two pioneers explain how this intervision works and why it is so important.
Gertjan Zwart, a quiet, somewhat thoughtful middle-aged man, is the initiator of De Pion in Alblasserdam. This missionary community centre grew out of the dissolution of the church in Alblasserdam. As chairman of the then church council, Gertjan thought it was more or less logical for him to take responsibility for De Pion. "I have an interdenominational team around me. We have turned the church building into a cosy community centre. Different working groups each do a bit of the work, so the pressure on the volunteers is not too great. There are a lot of activities done by a lot of different people and it does run. It is just too small and it is difficult to find people who can guide the volunteers or people who can carry initiatives. So it's still pulling the cart. That's why the discussions in the peer review group are very good."
Down-to-earth and resolute Hillie van Dijk is one of the driving forces behind the neighbourhood initiative FlowerPower in Ede. Together with another couple, she and her husband started doing small things for the neighbours, out of a desire to mean something to the neighbourhood. It started with small things, like bringing a plate of food now and then. They organised a Christmas party for the neighbourhood and asked people what they would like for the neighbourhood. "Something for children, something against loneliness, nicer community gardens. All kinds of wishes were there and we took that up." FlowerPower grew into a diverse neighbourhood initiative without a preconceived plan. The core team consists of two couples, who do the pioneering work alongside their families and paid work. "It's quite an organisation and that can sometimes feel like a burden. The beauty of the peer review group is that you don't have to explain that. These people understand what you're doing."
Pictured above: a meeting of the peer review group, with Hillie in the yellow vest on the right and Gertjan with the grey scarf on the left.
Thinking along
Intervision group participants help each other with experience and ideas, based on a case study. This can be about very practical things, such as recruiting and retaining volunteers, the points to consider when appointing a paid worker or funding. But also issues that require a bit more reflection. Hillie mentions one such example: "Someone who was in hospital asked us to come and celebrate Holy Communion together. You can bring that into the intervision group: have you ever run into that and how do you do it?" Bringing in a case study is difficult, Gertjan modestly thinks. "Often I think: I don't actually have anything. Everything is running well, I just need more people." Petra de Jong-Heins hears this more often. As a missionary counsellor, she supervises the intervision groups. "Many pioneers are doers. They need to pause to reflect on their own work and put into words what they are up against." And an intervision group can help with that too. "Sometimes you can very much go round in your own little circle and get completely crazy with all the things you have to do," Hillie knows from experience. "Then when someone asks you what you actually need, sometimes you just can't think of anything. It's super nice when another person helps you by looking at your problem or your question from a distance."
Recognition
The support from the church they are members of is different from the contact in the intervision group. For missionary consultant Petra, this is almost logical: "You often have to deal with a church council and there are people in it with administrative qualities. Pioneers are more entrepreneurs. Those two types of people just don't always understand each other."
As a former church council chairman, Gertjan knows exactly what Petra means. "Your time is completely consumed by your own club, your own work in the church. It's important that things in the church go well, that the clubs run well, that the church council does its job well. When your responsibility lies there, you are less focused on thinking of how you could reach other people in alternative ways." For her own children, Hillie is glad that there is youth work in the congregation. Work within the congregation is important, "but it is very often the same people who are active. Evangelism work sometimes also expects people to come to church. We just want people to get to know Jesus. In the intervision group, you don't have to explain all that."
Prayer and encouragement
Knowing from each other what is going on also gives room for pastoral care within the peer group. It is reassuring to hear that you are not the only one struggling with something. It gives courage to know that you are working together in the big picture of God's kingdom. "And for that you really need each other for a while."
Pioneering comes with a lot of responsibilities. Gerjan and Hillie are both hard-working and have both experienced that things can sometimes get out of hand. Especially then, mutual care and encouragement are important to keep going. Because quitting is not an option for pioneers. Hillie: "People in the peer review group understand that and so they won't say: well, then stop! They will ask you if there is someone who can take over a few tasks, if you have someone you can talk to, if there are people praying for you."
Full of enthusiasm, Hillie and Gertjan talk about the people they meet in their work, the volunteers they accompany and the beautiful things they experience. The passion in their eyes and voices do make it very clear that, as a pioneer, you don't just stop. Not even when it really gets too much, as happened to Hillie. "All those branches and all those people who want something from you and come and ask something... That in the morning you think: I'll just pull the covers over my head for a bit, I'm not here."
Gertjan feels that pressure does not ease over time. Supporting each other like this and praying together in the peer review group is thenan important moment to refuel. "When we say to each other here that we don't talk about stopping, but just keep going, it gives new energy. And do you know what is so funny? When you get back there, you love it too. This is such beautiful work. It's so beautiful."
