How Technology Shapes Missionary Effectiveness

This year, it has been a great privilege to assist IBMGlobal in thinking about how technology can serve the Great Commission and the missionaries God has called to carry it forward. We often take the blessings of technology for granted, but building systems that serve people requires intentional thought. Our aim is to make technology serve the work of ministry rather than making people serve their technology.

That work also requires a personal touch. Each missionary serves in a unique context, with particular needs and a ministry God has entrusted to them. Good technology should account for those differences, simplify daily responsibilities, and strengthen the relationships that sustain faithful service. That work also requires a personal touch.

Technology touches every area of missionary operations and the support IBMGlobal provides, from finance and logistics to mobilization, member care, and human resources. When these systems work well together, they can ease administrative burdens, improve communication, and help us steward the time and resources God has given us.

With that in mind, IBMGlobal is embarking on an ambitious project to implement new technology systems that will equip our team to better support our missionaries and enable our missionaries to spend more time on the work God has called them to. Through the thoughtful use of automation, data, and collaboration tools, we intend to make the work at IBMGlobal and in the field as seamless as possible.

Our measure of success will be the people these systems serve: our team better equipped to care for missionaries, missionaries better supported in their calling, and more time and attention devoted to making disciples. Technology has an important supporting role in this work, and we want to use it faithfully in service of the Great Commission.