Dear Friends,
With graduation now behind us, we want to take this time to share with you what lies ahead as we begin a new chapter of our lives. As many of you are aware, this past semester has been very difficult for us. Without getting bogged down in the details and sending you a thirty-page letter, we will do our best to summarize all that has transpired these last months.
After a difference in opinion between us and a staff member, he began to misrepresent our character to others on staff and these rumors quickly began to take on a life of their own. On January 27th, we were made aware of what had been circulated and, based upon this misrepresentation and incorrect assumptions blown wildly out of proportion, we were told that we would not be extended membership into New Tribes Mission. Immediately, we contacted our churches and asked them to pray for us as we sought counsel from them as to how we should proceed. After weeks of seeking to resolve this conflict, including a meeting attended by a pastor of one of our home churches, little had been done by the Missionary Training Center and New Tribes Mission to rectify the situation. On the contrary, we felt that our concerns were minimized and swept under the rug rather than seriously addressed.
We initially thought this situation was a test to strengthen our resolve to be missionaries with NTM, however, it became abundantly clear as things unfolded further, that what we were experiencing was similar to Paul’s redirection away from Asia. In the end, we were extended membership, though none of the previous “disqualifying” remarks had been rescinded. While we know that no organization is perfect, we have been left very unsettled by how our situation and others like it have been handled thus we do not feel that we could serve with NTM in good conscious at the present time. Please know, that none of the areas brought to our attention were in regard to sin issues. On the contrary, our biggest struggle with these accusations was the abstract vagueness with no concrete backing. Most had to do with a subjectively perceived lack of spiritual growth which they backed with feeble evidence.
After prayerful consideration, we feel that this is not the time for us to go overseas with NTM. Because of their two-year deadline to arrive overseas after taking membership, as of April 23rd we declined membership with NTM as we seek the Lord’s direction as to where He would have us. We received no acknowledgement of our declination from anyone in NTM nor a message informing us of the procedure to close down our account. We had assumed our account with NTM would be open until June, thus giving us time to remove ourselves from the situation in order to write to you with thoughts uncluttered by emotion. However, we found out through your emails to us, that NTM had shut down our account in May and informed you that we were not going on with NTM at this time. We apologize that many of you found out this way rather than from us.
For this next year, Caitlin and I will be living in Orlando, Florida getting to know her church better, meeting with her pastor to process all that has happened, and developing a deeper relationship with the Lord. Although not the overseas tribe we thought we would be serving, as has been brought into sharp focus this last week, Orlando is a hurting mission field to which we can actively minister. We see the Lord’s provision in providing us a place to live and Caitlin’s previous employer offering her a job again with a raise. Caitlin and I have many dreams and desires of what we would like to do with our lives, one of which is to perhaps one day teach at a Bible college. Therefore, we will be spending this next year working and saving in order to attend Dallas Theological Seminary next fall so I can earn my Master’s Degree.
Because we are taking this year to step out of the mission’s bubble and our account with NTM has been closed, we know that much of our financial support will cease. We completely understand so do not feel that we will be offended. If you do wish to continue supporting us, you can do so by sending us a personal check.
We have learned and grown far more in the last six months than at any other point in our lives. As Caitlin’s pastor told us four days after everything initially happened, “You’re experiencing the best and hardest preparation for ministry you could get.” It feels like every day the Lord is showing us something else concerning people, leadership and Himself. That being said, growing pains are real and we have spent many hours shedding buckets of tears. Through this, we have come to love and appreciate the Body of Christ more and more as you all have surrounded us in prayers, letters, texts and emails. Know that God used and is using you greatly in our lives to encourage our hearts and fix our eyes on Him. Though we felt so very alone and isolated that first day, now we feel surrounded and strengthened by those who love and care for us.
Please pray for us as we enter this new chapter of our lives. It is sometimes a struggle to not have a concrete plan when we have spent the last decade working toward this particular desire that will not unfold as we had anticipated. We’re not sure what the Lord has for us, whether overseas ministry or ministry here in the States. All we know is that we now have completely open hands and hearts to serve Him in ministry. Pray as we transition as students in the mission’s bubble to a married couple in the “real” world. Pray that our marriage will continue to grow strong and that the Lord will be at the focus. Pray for the MTC and NTM staff involved and aware of our situation as we are all broken people serving a perfect God. Pray for the other students in situations similar to ours that the Lord would heal them and bring alongside those who will encourage them. Pray that we would be content and joyful in all things. Pray that the Lord will lead me to the Master’s program that would best equip me in my goal of teaching and that the Lord would grant me a keen mind to learn all He has for me. Pray that we will have teachable, loving and humble hearts as we continue to process and grow.
We will continue to update our blog and share with you how the Lord is working and leading in our lives. If you have any questions about our time at MTC or what lies ahead of us, please contact us. Again, we apologize for the brevity of this letter but hope it conveyed enough that you understand why we are making this change in direction. Know that we have intimately involved our churches throughout this entire ordeal thus they are aware of the details. Attached are letters from Reach Orlando and FBC Villa Ridge giving their support in our decision.
Thank you all for praying.
Together in Christ,
Cameron and Caitlin
cameron.m.neace@gmail.com
