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In 1966, Howard Schmidt took a year of leave from his managerial job at US Steel, and he and his wife, Marilyn, and their three children went to Nigeria. There he served as a field auditor for the Charlotte, N.C.-based SIM International. In this position he traveled among SIM’s bases of operations reviewing their financial books.

Back then the accepted axiom was that only people who made life commitments to missionary careers would be valuable to mission societies. But their Nigeria short-term experience was so successful that it proved to be a long-term turning point for this Orlando, Fla., family. Schmidt stayed with US Steel long enough to qualify for a minimum pension. This was about the same as SIM’s allowance for a missionary couple. By this time their children had completed their college educations, and the Schmidts were free to rejoin SIM in 1981, providing their own support.

Schmidt’s 21-year second career took him all over the world for SIM. He installed financial systems and trained missionaries in a number of countries. “To have had even a small part in a support role for missionaries and an organization that has brought the gospel to untold numbers of people in many locations has been a unique privilege,” he said.

The Schmidts represent a host of Christians who have chosen missionary work as their second career. Thanks to the six-year efforts of Finishers Project (www.finishers.org), such people are now called “finishers” in missions recruiting lingo. Missions researcher Patrick Johnstone estimates that they comprise one percent of the total US missionary force. Nelson Malwitz, who founded the Finishers Project, says he knows of 600 to 700 persons who have transitioned into second careers in world missions since its first conference in 1998.

Summarizing their time with SIM, Howard Schmidt said, “One of the great rewards in those years was working with the young men the Lord supplied to create and improve the computer systems we were able to install to provide the mission with a fully developed financial system. This not only kept us young, but has given us an ongoing connection with the mission and its fields. We continue to communicate and visit with many of them.”

Meanwhile, the Finishers Project aims to challenge the conventional thinking about retirement among those 40 and older. Finishers Project presses on to link people like the Schmidts with mission agencies. This they do at Finishers Forums across the country. At these sessions older persons considering second careers in world missions get to meet missionaries and find answers to practical questions about opportunities and requirements. It is not a sending agency itself, but sends referrals to agencies.

Of course, much depends on agencies’ interest and commitment to adding finishers. Some confess to being too busy with other things, while others make it a priority, even though it calls for extra work in the application process. One agency reports that four of its 16 newly accepted candidates are finishers. Some will head overseas and some will serve in the home office.

The “extra work” usually means dealing with health concerns, as well as placement into suitable positions for which finishers are especially qualified. The potential pitfalls are many. Finishers sometimes become ill, but their biggest problem is language learning.

Malwitz runs on high enthusiasm because he travels overseas and sees the needs and opportunities. But he recognizes what a huge step it is for people to transition from the American retirement dream to service in world missions. “It’s like picking a college, or getting married,” he said.

Therefore, the prime qualification is what he calls “a mature walk with the Lord.” Realistically, he assesses the pool of such persons as “a small fraction” in US churches. He accepts the challenge cheerfully. “After all,” he said, “the Lord did not say, ‘Go and make disciples if you are under 35.’”

Modeling his work on the Apostle Paul’s declared ambition in Acts 20:24 (“…if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord has given me.”), Malwitz has discovered that in some cases finishers outlast younger workers “who serve one term and crash.” He explained that this is true because “the older ones have been through more bumps” before going to the field.

Regardless of obstacles, older persons “can go far if they are willing to serve.” Their service includes almost any task in missions. While Howard Schmidt used his management, accounting and computer skills, many finishers teach English. Other assignments range from administration to hosting missionary guest houses. Skilled people with hearts for service can find open doors. Finishers Project wants to find more of them and connect them with agencies that need them.

Jim Reapsome is former editor of World Pulse.

Upcoming Finishers Forums: • Oct. 15-16 in Wichita, Kan. • Oct. 23-24 in Lancaster, Pa. • Feb. 4-5, 2005 in Columbus, Ohio • Feb. 25-26 in Seattle, Wash. • May 6-7 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Home office address for Finishers Project: P.O. Box 926 Brookfield, CT 06804 Phone: (203) 740-7278 E-mail: [email protected] www.finishers.org