Leading a community movement can be deeply rewarding. It can also be incredibly lonely. When front-line workers dedicate their lives to helping others, they often pour out their energy until they have nothing left to give. Without a strong support system, many face burnout.
This challenge is especially common in the Nordic-Baltic region and other areas where full-time workers and community resources are scarce. To solve this problem, Converge uses a unique approach. Instead of sending new people to take over, they send the Missions Catalyst Team to support the people who are already there.
Jim and Lynn Jarman have spent years working as mission catalysts and are making an incredible impact. By focusing on mentorship, encouragement and deep friendships, the Jarmans are helping local leaders build sustainable movements that impact entire communities.
What is a Missions Catalyst Team?
So, how does a global organization like Converge make a difference in a local neighborhood thousands of miles away? The answer lies in collaboration.
The Missions Catalyst Team operates in areas where Converge does not have full-time workers on the ground, where the need is often greatest among the least-reached and unreached. Rather than starting from scratch, the team seeks out passionate, capable local leaders who are already working to improve their communities. Their mission is clear: help local believers become leaders who will make new disciple-makers, creating a ripple effect across the region.
Collaboration is at the heart of this approach. The Missions Catalyst Team doesn’t come in to take over; instead, they come alongside indigenous leaders, focusing on strengthening, encouraging, training and coaching them. By equipping local leaders to develop others, they help spark long-lasting gospel movements that can reach far beyond the initial communities, often in places where outside support is otherwise unavailable.
The catalyst team then steps in to provide the resources, coaching and emotional support these leaders need to succeed.
Bob Marsh, the Europe/Mediterranean Regional Director and Missions Catalyst Team Leader, shared the heart behind this strategy. He explained that their primary goal is simply to come alongside local movement leaders. They look closely at the positive work already happening on the ground and then help those leaders by offering guidance, encouragement and strength.
It is a model built on respect. The catalyst team does not arrive with all the answers. Instead, they arrive with a willingness to listen, learn and lift up the people who know the local culture best.
The Profound Impact of Showing Up
Building trust takes time. It also takes presence. You cannot mentor someone effectively if you do not know that person personally.
This is why the Jarmans focus so heavily on relationship building. They do not just send emails or host virtual webinars, though online check-ins are a valuable part of their routine. They meet with leaders face-to-face. They share meals, listen to one another’s struggles and celebrate victories together.
In the video featuring their work, we see firsthand how much this personal touch matters.
For many local leaders, simply hearing the words “thank you” is enough to bring them to tears. The hard work of leading a community often goes unnoticed. When the Jarmans show up to acknowledge that effort, it gives exhausted leaders the fuel they need to keep going.
Sometimes, this encouragement prevents leaders from quitting altogether. When front-line workers feel knocked down by challenges, having a mentor step in to offer a fresh perspective can make all the difference.
They also create a safe space for vulnerability. Leaders also need a safe space for vulnerability where they can share their fears without judgment. Missions Catalyst Team leaders provide a listening ear for the problems that others might not understand. They offer a shoulder to cry on and a steady voice of wisdom when things get tough.
Encouraging Innovation
Because catalyst teams focus on empowering locals rather than following a rigid corporate playbook, they naturally build innovation. When you trust local experts to know what their community needs, amazing things happen. The Jarmans have encouraged leaders to think outside the box.
This forward-thinking approach allows local leaders to connect with people across borders and even reach individuals in areas that are otherwise closed off. By supporting these modern strategies, the Missions Catalyst Team helps local movements grow faster and reach further than ever before.
Watch the Story Unfold
The work of Converge’s Mission Catalyst Team is not about being in the spotlight. It is about shining a light on others. Marsh summarized this perfectly when he noted that strategic friendships, like the ones Jim and Lynn have built over decades, are the true driving force behind reaching new communities.
When you invest in a leader, you invest in everyone that leader will eventually help. The ripple effect of this mentorship is impossible to measure, but the results are clear. Stronger leaders create stronger communities.
Learn more about the Europe and Mediterranean Missions Catalyst Team and how you can be a part of what God is doing in the region.