Kansas | Wellness Shepherds for Novo Workers

There is a common misconception that global workers are superheroes, able to single-handedly learn languages, cross cultures, raise families, and spread the gospel in a single bound. As much as we wish that might be true, it just isn’t (they are human, after all)! They struggle with parenting and having healthy marriages as much as the next person. Global workers can face burnout, need counseling, or experience a crisis. In fact, 50% of all global workers leave their ministry location within the first five years, and of those who leave, 71% leave for preventable reasons. Trauma can touch us all.

At Novo, our goal is to ensure everyone on our gospel movement teams has all of the resources and support they need to holistically thrive. From counseling, coaching, cross-cultural mentorship, or spiritual direction to resources for restorative sabbaticals and parenting, we want our workers to have all they need to be healthy Kingdom builders.

All of our Novo gospel movement teams have a wellness shepherd who is willing to encourage, support, and sometimes even ask the hard questions to make sure these teams are at their best. Wellness shepherds have specialized training in various fields of care such as inner healing prayer, crisis debriefing, coaching, and some are even therapists. And all have ongoing training to better resource staff.

Each shepherd meets regularly online with the team leader they support and is willing to make in-person visits when the situation warrants it. Novo wellness shepherds say it is an honor and privilege to journey with teams as they exercise their pastoral and care giftings for the benefit of the global Body of Christ.

If you would like to know more about wellness shepherds, contact Annie Erickson at annie.erickson@novo.org