After much prayer, MTW’s field and executive leadership announced December 3, 2020, that we will no longer send MTW-led disaster response teams to our fields, and we are downsizing the department that sends medical mission teams. 
 
This decision was not taken lightly. In October, leadership teams evaluated which ministries have the greatest strategic impact to our mission of making disciples and planting churches, and which have less impact. Disaster response and medical teams have been doing good work that is important, but they have had less impact on the mission in our regions than hoped for, or as they have had in the past.  

Instead of sending disaster response teams, we will partner with well-resourced Christian disaster response organizations when disasters strike where our missionaries are serving. And we will continue the Compassion Fund, so that missionaries have access to financial resources to minister when disasters happen.  

We will continue to send a reduced number of medical mission teams with a priority on fields with MTW missionary teams or national partners.  

In this uncertain environment, MTW must focus its attention and resources on the most significant ways we can achieve our vision and mission. MTW remains very strong financially and as an organization we are blessed with strong reserves, but we also must be good stewards of those resources.  

Because of these changes, a few people will be leaving employment with MTW. It is painful when people lose their jobs, and we want to acknowledge that. These are all good people, diligent workers, and ones we care for deeply. Please pray for them, that the Lord will guide their next steps. And please pray for Mission to the World, that we will be faithful to our calling to the nations.