The Gospel in Action: Casey's VPTO with Reflection of Grace

At Good Agency, our team members are dedicated to their professional roles and to giving back to causes close to their hearts. Through our Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO) program, employees can take up to a week of paid time off to serve communities in ways that are particularly meaningful to them.

Casey P., an Associate Graphic Designer at Good Agency, recently took her VPTO day to join her husband in ministering to missionaries overseas through a nonprofit called Reflection of Grace. This experience not only fueled her passion for missions but also deepened her understanding of what it means to support those who are on the front lines of ministry.

Meet Casey

Casey has been a part of the Good Agency team since February 2023, bringing a keen eye for design that seamlessly blends beauty with functionality. "My role is to make things look beautiful and also make them functional," she says. With a background in web and graphic design, Casey is integral to ensuring that every project she touches is not only visually appealing but also strategically effective.

Choosing to Serve with Reflection of Grace: The Heartbeat

Casey Price's VPTO week was spent joining her husband, Jon, who works for Reflection of Grace, a nonprofit that provides on-site care to missionaries around the world. It serves as a vital support system for missionaries who are under immense pressure and struggling under the weight of their ministry.

Reflection of Grace began from a personal place. Casey shared the story of how her husband, Jon, started this journey. Ten years ago, Jon was sending funds to a close friend who was a missionary. Unexpectedly, his friend asked him to stop sending money and instead visit him. Jon went and spent time with this friend, who was in desperate need of companionship and support.

Traditionally, missionaries take furloughs, returning home for rest and rejuvenation. However, these furloughs can often be more stressful than restful, filled with fundraising, speaking engagements, and logistical challenges. Reflection of Grace offers a different approach by meeting missionaries exactly where they are, providing much-needed support directly in their work environments.

As Casey explains, missionaries frequently face a "constant weight of 'am I doing enough?'" This pressure, combined with the isolation and challenges of living in a foreign and sometimes hostile country, can lead to burnout and discouragement. "We as a body need to be intentional about being the body of Christ," Casey says, reflecting on Reflection of Grace's mission.

Ministering in the Middle East and Beyond

Casey's VPTO day was part of a broader trip that took her and her husband to several locations, including the Middle East, Macedonia, Albania, and Hungary. Although her official VPTO was taken during their time in the Middle East, Casey's experiences across these different locations were all centered around the same mission: to support and uplift missionaries and pastors serving in challenging environments.

In the Middle East, Casey and her husband spent time with missionaries who had been displaced from their previous location due to logistical travel issues. "They had just been forcibly moved from one Middle Eastern country to another… they were in a really uncomfortable transition and location and starting to learn the language," Casey recalls.

In some cases, more practical, hands-on assistance is required. For example, in Uganda, Casey and her husband are in the process of helping a local pastor build a house and secure land for his church, as well as supporting the education and medical needs of local children and church members.

In Albania, they provided encouragement and financial assistance to a missionary whose father had been diagnosed with cancer. Each situation presented unique challenges, but the common thread was the importance of offering personal, relational support that went beyond mere financial aid.

Key Takeaways: The Power of the Simple Gospel

Releasing Control

Casey's time spent with missionaries around the world taught her valuable lessons about the nature of service and the importance of humility in ministry. One of the key takeaways was the realization that she didn't need to have all the answers or solutions. "I can't have a messiah complex with them," she reflects.

"It's not my job to be Messiah to you. It's simply my job to be here, and whatever God does with that, I trust him."

This shift in perspective was crucial for Casey, who admits that she often wants to approach situations with a clear plan and sense of control. However, her experiences on this trip taught her that ministry is not about being perfect or having everything figured out. By releasing control, Casey was able to focus more on the relational aspects of ministry.

The Gospel is for Christians Too

One of the most poignant moments of the interview came when Casey simply stated, "There's this saying—the gospel is for Christians too. We all need to be reminded of it, no matter how long we've been a believer or how involved we are in ministry." It was a vital reminder that we, as Christians, never outgrow our need for the gospel and are always in need of grace and support in every season and facet of life.

An Encouragement to the Church

When asked for practical advice on supporting missionaries, Casey emphasizes building genuine relationships. She encourages people to connect with missionaries as individuals, not just as representatives of their work. "Have a conversation with them, take them to lunch, and don't make it an interrogation," she advises.

For those with the means, Casey also suggests visiting missionaries in the field. By sharing in their daily life, this hands-on support can be incredibly encouraging, offering comfort and affirmation through shared meals, assistance in daily tasks, and everyday interactions.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, Casey and her husband are committed to continuing their work with Reflection of Grace, with a vision to see more churches actively involved in the lives of the missionaries they support. Their long-term goal is to equip churches to provide frontline workers with the emotional, spiritual, and practical care they need.

"We as one ministry can't do this with more than a handful of people because after that it becomes mechanical," Casey explains, emphasizing that the goal is not to create a large-scale organization but to inspire others to take up the mantle of missionary care within their own communities.