Press Release

Update, 11/16/2020:

Ethnos360 continues to be committed to mobilize, equip and send workers out to areas where people groups are without the knowledge of Christ. Working with local health officials, our training centers are in session, and we are thankful to see many students either attending classes in person or online. This semester we have one of our largest classes in recent years at Ethnos360 Training in Missouri. We have been working with our global partners to determine when and how missionaries can return to ministry overseas, and a number of them have already returned. Our members are eager to return, and field leaders are in communication with them regarding criteria for re-entry. We look forward to our folks being able to return to their ministry locations around the world. Please pray for government and health officials as they navigate through the pandemic. While 2020 has been challenging, six new people groups have heard of what Christ has done for them.

Update, 8/24/2020:

Ethnos360 continues to be committed to mobilize, equip and send workers out to areas where people groups are without the knowledge of Christ.  Working with local health officials, we are opening up our training centers and are thankful to see many students either attending classes in person or online.  At our Missionary Training Center this semester, we have one of our larger classes.  We have been working with our global partners to determine when and how missionaries can return to ministry overseas.  Our members are eager to return, and field leaders are in communications with them regarding criteria for re-entry.  We look forward to our folks being able to return to their ministry locations around the world. Please pray for government and health officials as they navigate through the pandemic. 

6/10/2020:

This is an unprecedented time in our nation and in our world. As we monitor COVID-19 as it moves across countries, states and families around the globe, our hearts ache for the growing numbers of those affected by this pandemic. We join with the rest of the world in our desire to continue taking the necessary steps to see this pandemic brought under control. As you know, Ethnos360 has been following and will continue to follow the guidelines set forth by local, state, federal and international authorities.

• At the Home Office in Florida, our offices are open with safe social distancing guidelines in place. However, we have instructed staff to continue to work from home if it is practical, or if they are not comfortable working in the office environment. All scheduled conferences or forums have been cancelled or are being held online. Receptionists will continue to work from home for the month of June. Our goal is to bring back the receptionists in July.
• Both Ethnos360 Bible Institute campuses have finished classes online. FALL 2020 INCOMING AND RETURNING STUDENTS: While the duration of COVID-19 and all its implications are impossible to predict, our expectation is to have a fully functioning Waukesha (Wisconsin) campus by Fall 2020. We will continue to monitor and adhere to all state and federal recommendations as they unfold, and we will maintain our commitment to communicating with incoming freshmen and upperclassmen. As we map out the future, please know that student safety will not be sacrificed. We desire to safeguard student health while maintaining our high caliber of education. As a new or returning student, we want to assure you that we will indeed offer instruction this fall. You may find more detailed information at https://e360bible.org/covid-19/.
• Our overseas members are coordinating with their local leadership teams regarding appropriate measures in responding to COVID-19 in their specific areas.
• Likewise, Ethnos360 Aviation continues to follow the guidelines set forth by local, state, federal and international authorities. More details are available at http://ethnos360aviation.org/covid-19.
• Our International Security Resource Team is monitoring the situation in each country where we work and advising as necessary.

Our policies will be regularly evaluated, updated and communicated as needed to reflect the fluid situation here in the USA as well as in the countries where we have missionaries working.

We appreciate your prayers for the many decisions being made regarding ministry and travel, and, as always, we covet your prayers for the safety of the people with whom we minister and of our members.

Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19 certainly has put a deeper meaning behind “We’re in this together.” COVID-19 has touched each one of us in some way, forcing us to make changes in how we go about life. Our hearts are heavy as we see and hear the reports of the impact this virus is having on many dear families, and we at Ethnos360 express our deepest sympathy for families losing loved ones.

While COVID-19 is unprecedented in its impact on the whole world, serving in unsettling contexts is not new for Ethnos360. Since the inception of our organization, Ethnos360 has trusted God to give grace and courage to minister in areas where many of the unreached people live. We don’t do that haphazardly for ourselves or for them, but we constantly assess the context, depending on God to walk in wisdom and knowledge for sustainable ministry to take place. Below are questions that many of you have asked, and we want to do our best to keep you informed. We have an excellent team who is monitoring this situation and guiding us to make the necessary adjustments day to day.

Questions:

1. How is COVID-19 impacting Ethnos360? Our overseas travel has been put on hold as directed by authorities. Digital technology has allowed us to carry on many of our essential functions. All the students at our Ethnos360 Bible Institute campuses finished their spring semester of classes online. The Missionary Training Center has also terminated classroom teaching and is complying with the local government’s mandates and instruction regarding COVID-19. Those who could leave have done so while others are remaining but practicing social distancing. They are also taking classes through the internet. We’re able to stay connected to all our US centers and carry on with administrative duties such as processing funds for missionaries and payroll. We have an experienced crisis management team constantly monitoring and advising our leadership teams daily. While our usual ministry involves significant interaction with people, we have been encouraged with what we have been able to do to keep things moving forward with the technology available to us.
2. How is COVID-19 impacting missionaries’ ability to serve? All missionaries are complying with governments regarding travel and social distancing. All normal church or teaching gatherings have been reduced to whatever the government is recommending. This has certainly limited consultants’ ability to travel in and out to help. However, with the use of phones and technology, we’ve been encouraged to see what connections can be maintained and what progress can be made in translation and lesson development.
3. Is there training still going on? Any training taking place currently is being done via the internet. We continue to receive applications for the new semester starting in August or September, and we anticipate a great student body returning to both the Bible Institute and the Missionary Training Center in Missouri.
4. Are we still sending missionaries overseas? With many restrictions on international travel, we are encouraging new missionaries to wait until the situation stabilizes and counties open for travel and acceptance of foreigners. All missionaries are encouraged to stay engaged with our personnel department, their sending churches and the fields. The missionaries’ leadership team from the field as well as the US Home Office will work with the missionaries regarding plans to return to their field of service or to go their first time.
5. What is the financial impact that COVID-19 is having on Ethnos360? There is no doubt of the sudden shock of COVID-19 on the economy. Our hearts go out to those who have been sent home without work, concerned about how they are going to make the next rent payment. While there are many predictions on how and when we will recover from the impact of this pandemic, our hope and trust is in the Lord. We have received some calls from donor partners who need time to see how things are going to settle out and need to temporarily suspend support. During the 2008 recession, we routinely assessed the budget and made cuts where we could, and we anticipate having to exercise this discipline again where needed. Our prayers are that this will not have an impact on our missionaries in a way that we begin to see attrition because of lack of finances.
6. Is there anything I can do to help? As believers, we are in the best position to go through this pandemic. The promises of God and His sustaining grace along with the precious body of Christ functioning to care for one another gives us great hope. As we pray for you, please pray for us that God will be magnified during this very difficult time for many people. If you or your church are personally connected with an Ethnos360 missionary, we encourage you to reach out to them to see how they are doing. We believe that connection will be a mutual blessing.