What’s So Great About TEAM?

Andy Olsen • May 15, 2014

We usually aim to be more informative than self-promotional on this blog. But occasionally, we do both at once. This follow-up to a recent post about how to choose a missions agency explains a few things that we believe (in our humble opinion) make TEAM a special place to serve. Our mobilization team recently shared this with our U.S. staff.

There are plenty of great missions agencies out there. We believe we’re all on the same side, working toward the same goals and serving the same God.

For more than a century , TEAM has been placing passionate people on the field to serve the kingdom through opportunities that are right for them and right for the global church. We’re not perfect by any means. But we do care about connecting God’s call on your life with the ways God is moving in the world.

Balanced theology and Christian diversity
While TEAM’s statement of faith is the uncompromising core of our identity, we also leave ample room for diverse worship and ministry approaches and differing theological perspectives on many issues. Read our statement of faith.

God dependence
TEAM strives to put in place the best systems and strategies it can, but we know that man-made structures alone do not guarantee success. Only God provides what is necessary to carry out world evangelization. We submit our lives to Scripture and rely on God for wisdom and strength, both in big-picture strategies and daily struggles.

Missionary care at every level
In addition to an experienced team of certified counselors, TEAM’s global member care network and experienced support staff offer personal and ongoing assistance in all of our fields. So whether you need help through marital stress, prayer and logistical support in a crisis, or just a friendly listening ear, we’re there for you.

Trusted stewardship
As a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability , TEAM is audited annually by a certified public accounting firm to ensure we spend money in the ways we say we spend it. You and your ministry supporters should expect such accountability from any reputable agency. In addition, our financial team and field leadership work diligently to ensure that funds are managed in accordance with local laws overseas.

Field-driven decision-making
Our structure aims to allow most decisions about ministry strategy to be made at the field level — that is, our priorities and approaches are driven by input on the ground, where ministry happens.

Accountability and ministry teams
It’s tough to do missions alone. Not only is there strength in numbers, but at TEAM, we also believe it’s more effective to do ministry on teams. When others journey with us, we find support and encouragement, and that somehow our collective efforts accomplish more than we could by ourselves. TEAM’s accountability structure is built to empower missionaries without smothering them.

A deep history
Past performance does not necessarily guarantee future success, but TEAM has been doing missions for more than a century and has learned a few things along the way. Our long history in countries around the world offers a stable platform from which to launch your ministry. We offer a long line of others who have gone to the field before you. So whether you are jump-starting a new ministry venture or are part of a large and established field team, you can tap into a community of expertise and support.

Focused on the local church
We work closely with local churches to honor and equip them to be vested partners in the missionary sending process. TEAM believes in the role of the local church as the primary sender, doing all we can to support them in that role and help their missionaries thrive.

Focused on making disciples
Our overseas ministries are focused on making disciples who become the church, because we believe the church is God’s chosen tool for effecting the most lasting change. Our ministries may range from health to evangelism to education, but all of them aim to create disciples who strengthen the national church wherever they are present.

A diverse set of service opportunities
We offer hundreds of widely varying opportunities to serve in more than 35 countries. We serve among all major world religions and most ethnic groups. No matter your skill set, there is a strong chance we can connect you to the right place to serve.

Competitive health insurance and retirement planning
At TEAM, we believe in setting up our missionaries for long-term success in life. For both our U.S. and Canadian missionaries, we offer group health plans that offer international coverage at competitively low premiums. For our long-term U.S. missionaries, we also offer a 403(b) retirement savings plan with matching employer contributions, which we strongly encourage our missionaries to take advantage of. Long-term missionaries with TEAM Canada participate in a separate retirement pension plan.

Personal debt
TEAM does not require prospective missionaries to be free of personal debt such as a mortgage or education loans before heading to the field. Our staff work closely with missionary candidates to make sure they have a plan in place to address debt in a sustainable way that does not jeopardize their ministry. We highly encourage applicants to eliminate credit card and other consumer debt before becoming missionaries.

Spiritual vitality
TEAM workers, by and large, are grounded in personal spiritual disciplines that fuel their lives and ministry. We help all missionaries to maintain vibrant habits of prayer, Bible study, and stillness that will sustain their spiritual and emotional well-being.

Looking to serve overseas, but not sure whether TEAM is a good fit for you? No pressure. Our missions coaches will gladly help you discern and serve you in any way they can.

By Suzanne Pearson 08 Mar, 2024
Through God-ordained partnerships and creative connections, TEAM worker Keith Moore sees the global Church advancing in amazing ways. In the global missions landscape, a phrase that comes up often is “from everywhere, to everywhere.” God is calling His global Church in literal new directions, as He raises up cross-cultural workers to be sent from places that were once on the receiving end of missions work. We call this movement “polycentric sending.” TEAM workers Dawn and Keith Moore have seen first-hand this transition taking place. Their story involves the unlikely but beautiful intersection of Charlotte, North Carolina; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Memphis, Tennessee...and beyond. The Path to Honduras Keith and Dawn joined TEAM in 1991 and served as church planters for nine years in Bogota, Colombia. After safety concerns precipitated their return to the States in 1999, they knew they wanted to continue serving in Latin America. The Moores felt called to Honduras but wanted to connect with a strong missional church to help send them. The Lord orchestrated a collaboration with Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. “Some people asked, ‘Why Honduras? Missionaries have been there for 100 years. It’s already reached,’” Keith says. “But there’s a whole section of Latin America that had not been reached - the upper crust.” Keith goes on to explain that he and Dawn felt called to reach college-educated professionals in Honduras – a ministry vision that resonated with the missional goals of Bellevue Baptist. Impact and Growth With the support of this new church partnership as well as another sending church in Birmingham, Alabama, the Moores embarked on their next adventure. Keith and Dawn started Impacto Honduras Church from scratch, and in less than 20 years, the church grew into four locations with 1600 total members. The Moores and other TEAM workers also created a “Bible school” type training program to help professionals who feel a call to ministry to make that transition. Throughout this period of explosive growth, church partnerships played an integral role. “It’s such a different vision when you have a church that says, ‘OK, this is our deal, we want to make this happen,’” Keith explains. “They helped us with everything. They took away every single obstacle to growth. Every time we needed something, they were there.” In 2017, the Moores once again found themselves on the verge of another decision. Was it time to leave Honduras? “I had no desire to leave,” Keith recalls. “People were coming to Christ every week! It was just so amazing.” However, back in the U.S., Keith and Dawn’s parents were in their 80s and would soon be in need of more care. “We realized that either we would leave in a crisis, or we would leave strategically,” says Keith. The couple began to implement a careful succession plan. By the time they left, the four churches were established with strong, Honduran leadership ready to carry on the work of the Gospel.
By Suzanne Pearson 23 Feb, 2024
Justin Burkholder, pictured here with his wife Jenny and their daughters Isabella, Olivia, and Zoey, has recently been named as TEAM’s next International Director. On February 19, 2024, with much excitement and gratitude to the Lord, TEAM announced that Justin Burkholder will become our organization’s new International Director, effective July 1, 2024. Justin, who is currently TEAM’s Executive Director of Global Ministry, will assume his new role upon the retirement of the current International Director, Dave Hall. ( Read the full press release here. ) We sat down recently with Justin to learn a little more about his background, his family, and the journey that has led him to TEAM. Q: Tell us a little bit about your “origin story” - Where did you grow up? What was your family like? A: I grew up in Mexico City as a missionary kid. My parents were focused on church planting. We were very close as a family. Both of my parents are still alive, and my dad serves as a pastor in southern Florida. I have one brother who is a pastor in Wisconsin, and the most special individual in my family is my sister, Amber. She was born with a very severe case of cerebral palsy and is entirely dependent on my mother...who is extraordinary! The three most impactful forces that have shaped who I am (outside of God’s grace) are growing up in Mexico, having parents who loved and planted churches, and sharing life with someone with a severe disability. My parents belonged at the time to a church and denomination that came with quite a bit of legalism and performance-oriented Christianity. Grace was a challenging concept to grasp. While I had an awareness of my sin and need for redemption, it wasn’t until I attended Moody Bible Institute that I began to grasp the fullness of God’s grace and His delight in His children. I have continued learning and trusting in the Gospel through formal education, like completing my M.Div., and through spiritual practices in community. Learning the Gospel and believing the Gospel has been a daily exercise. The Gospel is as beautiful and multi-faceted as a diamond! At an individual level, it is simple enough for us to live convinced that “Jesus loves me, this I know.” At a corporate level, it becomes the foundation that forms and informs our life as a spiritual family. At a cosmic level, it is redemption that reaches as far as the curse is found. It is hard to even grasp the multiplicity of goodness found in the Good News. Q: Share a little bit about your family life now. What does a typical day look like in the Burkholder household? A: My wife Jenny is my high-school sweetheart! She brings joy and kindness wherever she goes. She’s the best listener I’ve ever met, and we love spending time together. We have three daughters. Isabella is ten, Olivia is seven, and Zoey is four. Each of the girls is unique and has taught us a lot in our process of following Jesus together. We like to go out on walks and go to the park together. Once a month I try to get some alone time with each of my daughters which usually includes bowling or trampolines. A typical day in the Burkholder house starts around 5:00am. Because of traffic here in Guatemala City, we have to leave early for school. After school, the girls come home to different activities - sometimes swimming class, sometimes piano lessons. Four or five nights a week we have dinner together where we usually talk about our high and low moments of the day. On weekends, we enjoy time together, playing outside, or watching sports together. Go Cubs and Go Buckeyes! Q: What are your interests and hobbies? If you have the day off, what are you likely to be up to? A: I enjoy physical activity, running, strength-training and following sports. I also love music and, truth be told, am a bit snobby about my taste in music! I also am a very curious person and love reading just about anything that passes through my hands. A day off is usually an opportunity for time with family. Jenny and I like to cook something interesting together on our days off. Often there is time for some reading and watching some type of athletic event. Q: How did God lead you to TEAM? A: My wife and I were working in the Chicago suburbs. I was a youth pastor and she was a Spanish teacher. When we got married, we had already sensed God’s direction to serve cross-culturally, but it was a matter of discerning when and where. There was a driving desire in me to see a church deeply love the Scriptures and at the same time, be deeply engaged in loving and serving their city and the most vulnerable among them. As God directed our paths, we visited a variety of places and made some friends in Guatemala who opened up the path for us to serve here. While we were exploring, we knew that the International Director of an organization called TEAM happened to go to our church, so I decided I should probably invite him out for breakfast - his name was Charlie Davis. Charlie was extremely thoughtful, passionate about disciple-making, and very gracious in creating space for us as we stepped into this endeavor. Charlie connected me with Steve Dresselhaus, a fellow TEAM global worker who was at that time serving as the Senior Director for the Americas. I cannot express the debt that I owe Steve. He walked closely with me in the transition, encouraged courageous thinking about the church and her role in society, and blasted open the doors for us to serve in Guatemala. After meeting Steve, we spent some days praying about joining TEAM. One thing I will never forget – one night during the process, I found myself wide awake in the middle of the night. A peace like I have seldom experienced passed over me confirming that we should join TEAM. There is no doubt in my mind that God tied all of these pieces together to bring us into the TEAM family and community. Q: What roles have you held in TEAM? What have been the milestones in those roles? A: The most important role I have held in TEAM is that of a global worker. God in His grace has allowed us to help plant two churches here in Guatemala, serve in leadership development, counseling, and discipleship. Our greatest joy has been found walking with those who are learning to follow Christ more deeply. I served as the Ministry Area Leader in Guatemala from 2016 to 2019. We helped to establish and lead this ministry area as it grew from just four global workers to over 15. I then served as Senior Director for Mexico and Central America from 2019 to 2021, Regional Executive Director for the Americas in 2021 and 2022, and then transitioned to the role of Executive Director of Global Ministry which I’ll continue in until the end of June. Q: What do you love most about being a part of TEAM? Why TEAM rather than other organizations or job opportunities? A: The TEAM community is full of people who have faithfully served God’s mission and have given up a lot to do so. It is a privilege to know many of our global workers and be counted among them. I am also fascinated by the fact that TEAM has existed now for more than 130 years! There is something to be said about the resilience and faithfulness of an organization that has continued to impact the world for so long. The rest of our conversation with Justin will be coming soon on blog! We’ll hear more about how God called Justin to the role of International Director, and what Justin sees for the next chapter in TEAM’s work in the global Church.
Share by: