There are times when PMTs are not able to make site visits due to in-country conflict, wars and security issues. This can be challenging for relationship-building and connectedness. However, it is during these times that the Luke Society ministry directors continue to work and often need prayer and encouragement through other means. This is often time to lean into praying for your ministry director. It could also be possible to consider an off-site visit—meeting in another country or safe location.

It is always unfortunate when the ministry director does not send in his or her monthly reports, or a relationship does not develop as expected. In these situations, the Luke Society works together to assess if the director remains a good ministry with whom to partner. In those cases, more serious conversations take place as the Luke Society may look at phasing out of partnership.

Not all ministries turn out to be good partnerships. There are times when directors decide to move or make large changes in their ministry, or do not follow through on the vision they originally laid out. This can also happen when a ministry director retires and the director chosen as the successor is not a good match for the Luke Society philosophy. When this happens a PMT can feel caught in the middle having developed a good relationship with the ministry director.

The Luke Society works hard to not leave a ministry director struggling or in harm’s way. These rare situations often unfold over the course of many conversations with a mutual agreement that separation is best for both parties. The Luke Society also has a history of being generous through the transition process to make sure the ministry director has solid footing.

We expect ministries to be help people with health care, health education and evangelism. In the rare case when the vision is not being fulfilled, the Luke Society may take action to encourage movement, such as keeping the ministry budget stable. The Luke Society works to keep PMTs informed of these situations and the desire to work together through any issues that may arise.

We work really hard to be on the same page. However, there are times when tough decisions need to be made, or a judgment call is made because funding certain projects border on harming rather than helping. The staff wants to work closely with the PMT through these issues, however, the staff is ultimately responsible for the partnership with the ministry and is accountable for how funds are distributed.

It can take work to not let a language barrier interfere with your ministry director relationship. If you do have a language barrier:

1. Utilize Google Translate for e-mails and WhatsApp messages

2. Work to coordinate visits with your Regional Coordinator as they often act as a translator

3. If the regional coordinator is not available, work to set up a translator ahead of time through the ministry director. Directors often have friends who are willing to be hired as a translator.

4. Work to set up a translator from your church or community to assist with video call.

5. Don’t be discouraged. It will take more time, but a great relationship will still be formed.

The Luke Society desires ministries to be financially self-sustaining, however, there are a few scenarios which we have seen come up related to ministry income generation:

1. The the ministry director desires to begin a side business to assist in income generation. While this has the potential to succeed, we have found that if a medical professional has trouble making a profit with medicine then other business ventures usually do not turn a profit either. If side business ventures are going to be pursued, we encourage them to be ones that support the Luke Society goal of preventive or holistic care, such as selling filters for clean drinking water or acting as a consultant to area businesses or churches.

2. A ministry director begins to attract the attention of other non-profits or churches who desire to give funds beyond what the Luke Society gives. The Luke Society encourages these partnerships, however Ministry Directors are encouraged to only partner with organizations that follow Biblical principles and that still allow the ministry director to follow his or her original vision.

3. Capital Projects. The capital projects that the Luke Society considers will assist in the overall vision of the ministry and typically will help the ministry to generate revenue. For example, providing seed money for a pharmacy where medication can be sold, or help in purchasing lab equipment which can perform more tests at reasonable cost to the patients are examples of great capital projects.