Jeff Turnbough Back in the States
Susan and I are back in the USA on a special assignment for several months (August to December 2010). As you know, even though my current ministry role is Deputy Director for Field Operations (DDFO), we continue to work from Madrid, Spain, where we have lived since 1982. Though we have Spanish (European) citizenship, we are also citizens of the United States, our native country. Extended times back in the USA are good for us, just as it is for our missionaries.
Our ministry role might best be described as a hybrid. We have been church planters in Madrid from June of 1982 until 2006. At that point I became the regional director for Europe, serving in that capacity for two years. In July of 2008 I became the director for international field operations. Thanks to the technology of internet (email and free internet services that offer voice over internet protocol), I am able to carry out my role from Madrid. At the same time, we are able to continue to minister in local roles and continue relationships that we have had in Madrid for years.
Technically we are no longer missionaries, at least in the sense that we were. I form part of the administrative leadership of our mission organization. However, because my role is specifically field operations, the Board of International Missions deemed that it was best for us to remain on the field, or outside the United States. Most Evangelical mission agencies do the same with their field operations leadership. This helps to continue to give me and mission leadership a different perspective -an international perspective from the field. This has already proven to be helpful in many different ways.
At the same time we continue to maintain the same friendships and support groups both in Spain and the United States. We continue to need the prayers and support of our friends in the United States, just as we always have! That is one reason for us to return to the USA, to have the opportunity to visit with family and friends, and to reestablish ties in our native country. (We have lived outside the USA for almost 30 years.)
At the same time, I continue the work of my primary role (DDFO) on a daily basis from wherever I am located. There is much to do as we continue to face new challenges and opportunities around the world on a continual basis. Also, as we visit with individual supporters, groups and local churches, we bring a different perspective than we did as missionaries to Spain. We continue to share about life and ministry in Spain, but we also share about what God is doing through Free Will Baptists around the world. This is something that we want all our missionaries to be able to do more and more -share what God is doing around the world through Free Will Baptists, and share what God is doing where each of us lives and works.
Thank you so much for supporting us. Many of you have supported us since we began our cross-cultural ministry three decades ago! We look forward to visiting with you, sharing what God is doing in our lives and around the world, and to renew friendships and support from our family and friends in the United States.
You can contact us by email (jeff@fwbgo.com) or phone (615 967-8232).
For the advancement of His Kingdom,
Jeff and Susan