Keith and Christi Jones are veteran missionaries with AGWM having served more than 32 years in the Middle East. They raised 3 daughters in Jordan and buried a one-year old there in 2000. Having experienced such a great grief, they came to realize that missionaries all around them were grieving both big and smaller losses in their missionary service that were accumulating and taking a toll on their personal lives, families and ministries. They began to provide missionary care at a local level and gained knowledge and tools to offer help to those in need. In August of 2017 they were asked to begin the respite house ministry. Keith and Christi are missionary care providers and directors of the respite house, “The Garden”.

Why Respite Care: 

"I believe that healthy, vibrant ministry comes out of healthy vibrant missionaries. I have watched over the years far too many situations where solid, competent missionaries burn out as a result of not feeling they can trust others and share their emotional pain and challenges. By the time help is asked for or available it has become a full-blown crisis. It is to the benefit of the mission to provide multiple layers of member care throughout the missionary career so as to create a culture of health and resources that preempt crisis. “The Garden” Respite House is an important piece toward providing that preemptive member care. Europe and Eurasia have partnered together to provide such a place of refuge and healing that we consider an opportunity and gift from God. Having Keith and Christi Jones to lead this effort and establish the essential foundation is an added blessing from the Lord!” — Paul Trementozzi, former Regional Director of Europe, AGWM and visionary founder of “The Garden” Respite House 

In addition, having care closer to the missionary’s field of service: • Provides a greater chance the missionary will seek help or seek it earlier as care is available nearer to where they live and therefore, it is less disruptive to their lives • Allows the missionary to seek help while keeping personal lives private • Is more economical • Expedites care, healing and return to the ministry

Caring for missionaries is vital to the Great Commission. Giving a safe place for missionaries to process their experiences and losses, and teaching self-care tools can help lower attrition rates and increase missionary longevity and health while building resilience. “Self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to true self and give it the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.” - Parker Palmer as quoted by Peter Scazzero, “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality”

Prayer needs:

·       Pray for finances, safety, health

·       Pray that we will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as we work with missionaries to hear their hearts and have wisdom to serve them well.