Wayne Cowpland and his wife, Miriam, are WEC’s International Directors of Research and Prayer. Wayne tells us how he got into research and why WEC needs it.
‘Being inquisitive is part of my nature. This was helpful in my days working in research and development in mechatronic engineering, and it’s really important in my current role with WEC. After returning from serving in Chad, Miriam and I were appointed as International Consultants for Recruitment. Part of that role required gathering ministry opportunities from every WEC entity. We then naturally started gathering other data on the same form. So, in one sense we kind of slipped into a research role – our existing role grew beyond just gathering opportunities.
‘Research matters because it can be a significant tool in discerning God’s guidance and hearing him speak. Through research, we look closely at the state of the world and at what God is doing. We gather data and then prayerfully look for patterns, themes and needs coming to light through it. It’s our job to help WEC’s leaders to see the world as God sees it.
We gather data and then prayerfully look for patterns, themes and needs coming to light through it
‘It really makes a difference. For example, towards the end of 2012, we put out a huge survey on WEC’s organisational design. Despite having 214 questions, we had an incredible response rate. Based on the results, analysis and discussions, we now have greater flexibility in WEC and have implemented a lot of changes. We have just run our first Candidate Orientation in India, as a result of the greater flexibility we have. These new candidates will soon be joining our teams across the globe.
‘We are also privileged to be able to travel and see many of our teams throughout the world. It’s encouraging to see what God is doing and not just read about it. We get to see many answers to prayer, too. Gathering our Faith Goals data from every branch, every 12-24 months, allows us to see their progress and personnel needs, the churches they’ve planted, new people groups they’ve engaged etc. This is a very encouraging part of our work.’
Research, music, nursing, engineering, church planting… Whatever your skills, WEC has a role for you! Find out more here.
Find out more about our Prayer ministry
“We think of prayer as a preparation for work, or a calm after having done work, whereas prayer is the essential work. It is the supreme activity of everything that is noblest in our personality.” Oswald Chambers
Prayer is absolutely vital to WEC’s ministry. You can join us in this essential work by becoming part of a WEC prayer group, starting a WEC Prayer Group in your area, or receiving WEC Pray.
WEC Pray is WEC’s monthly prayer email, full of material to inspire you and enable you to pray for the nations and the work of WEC in an informed way. To subscribe please email us.
WEC UK also has a daily feed on Twitter and on the PrayerMate App. Click here to subscribe to PrayerMate.
For personal study Dynamic Prayer from our Trekking Deeper series is available online here.
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