June 01, 1991 by Rick Wood

Welcome to the offices of Mission Frontiers Magazine. It is here in this office that each issue is written and edited with some of the best cutting edge mission information available. From its humble beginnings in January 1979, MF has become recognized in the mission community and in the Church as the mission magazine with a clear clarion call to reach the unreached.

Each issue is now sent out to over 75,000 people around the world. Many mission executives read it for recent information on what God is doing to reach the unreached. Many missions committee members depend on it for the information they need to mobilize their church. This magazine that you are now reading is one of the most important avenues of communication that the Center has for spreading the vision of a church for every people to the ends of the earth.

In a day of glossy magazines, this little paper might seem not worth reading. We chose to use newsprint because it costs a lot less. We are unashamedly missionaries and don't want to spend the money the Lord and his faithful servants give us simply trying to make a fancier impression. We truly believe that those who are whole- heartedly mission-minded will not mind the newsprint and lack of color.

Many times people of great influence--mission executives, pastors, seminary professors, etc.--have told us that they read every word in this magazine. That comment humbles and cheers us, especially since this is our only way to keep in touch with most of the 75,000 on our mailing list, all people who have already demonstrated their interest in this place and concern for the unreached.

In every issue we attempt to give you the best in frontier mission news and strategic information that you can use to mobilize your church and community to God's call to reach the unreached. We try to keep our readers informed of the latest in mission thinking. And we make available to them through our Book Club the most valuable mission books at a better discount than you can get anywhere else. We do not try to make a profit on any of this; our work is a ministry, done for the benefit of others and for the cause of the unreached.

But not all is rosy here at MF. As mentioned in the last issue of MF, we have a financial shortfall that staggers the imagination of most people. It costs the Center $23,000 to produce and mail each issue. If you have been receiving MF and enjoy reading it, please consider becoming a local mobilizer in your zip code area who helps contribute to MF and organizes your neighbors in a fellowship of frontier missions (see pages 28-31 of the April-May '91 Mission Frontiers).

The other shortfall we have in this office is personnel. I am the only full time person working in this important ministry. The other helpers are all part-time volunteers. Their help is invaluable, but we must have more full-time people if we are to continue to do what we are doing, especially if we are to get this magazine out on a regular monthly basis. What do we need? We need full-time writers, editors, researchers and people who can correct copy on the computer.

We would like to produce more original articles from writers doing first hand research. We would like to take advantage of all the media outlets available to spread the vision farther than it has gone so far. But we can't do any of this without additional staff to come and help us.

Whether you volunteer or come full time, please know that we need your help and your skills. In case you wondered, the Miracle of Mission Frontiers is that such a great magazine is produced by so few people.

Now let me introduce myself, I am Rick Wood, the Managing Editor since July of last year.

I was born and raised in Seattle along with my twin brother, Tom. While working for Boeing, God began to work on my heart and in 1978 I accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord. A short time later God called me into mission work through attending the Urbana Missions Conventions in 1979 and 1981. During this time I graduated in 1980 from Central Washington University, with a degree in Business.

After receiving my call into ministry at Urbana, I knew I needed to be well prepared for a lifetime of ministry. I attended a Bible School and a Seminary where I graduated in 1986 and felt God's call to work with the U.S. Center for World Mission.

Now let's meet the other people who work with Mission Frontiers. First we have Ron Shaw our Assistant Editor.

Ron Shaw

I came to the U.S. Center hoping to find a useful way to spend retirement and be involved with missions. Perhaps I could stuff envelopes or lick stamps, I thought.

When asked to help with the magazine that had kept me informed for years about Ralph Winter's dream for a "Pentagon for Missions," I felt very inadequate. As a pastor I had always been "missions- minded," but did not feel I could contribute to a periodical of this stature. Then I took Perspectives and it opened up a whole new way of seeing my place in God's plan for all Christians and for all churches.

God has helped me to "learn the ropes," and for two years I have been Assistant Editor (everyone here gets to be some kind of editor; we even have a Receptionist Editor!). I proofread, do some editing and writing, make phone calls, run errands and once in a while have an idea for an article or a future issue. God opened a door and I have not been sorry I took a deep breath and walked through.

Now here is our ever reliable receptionist, Mildred.

Mildred Darrow

I first saw the light of day in Garden Plain, Kansas, the land of sunflowers and wheat. I had 7 sisters and 2 brothers, so with Momma and Papa we were an even dozen. At age 19 I married an aeronautical engineer; we moved to California where we raised 3 boys and 2 girls. I was led by the Lord to the USCWM in Aug., 1983 where I took care of children in the Extended Family Center. In Sept. of 1983 I became a widow. For the last few months I have been helping Rick with letters, visitors and the phone. If I can do it, anyone can!

Rick's Final Comments

As you can see, each life is unique and led by the Lord in special ways. They have different gifts and abilities just like each of you. We need people with many kinds of skills who are willing to apply themselves to the task. If you would like to see your life make a real difference for the Lord Jesus, give us a call.