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The Cru MPD Podcast
We love that “the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” We are driven to equip and inspire Christian workers to be Christ-centered, fully-funded, and financially faithful - so that missionary staff can come alongside all people to help them to know Jesus.
The Cru MPD Podcast
Ep. 24 : I (kind of) Love MPD with Becca Catoe
Let's be real, most of us don't LOVE MPD...Join Michele as she chats with Becca, a full time staff member with Cru, who has had a difficult journey to finding her love for MPD. You will be encouraged to hear from Becca, the fun and hard times of her journey, and how God grew her love not for MPD, but for the process he brought her through in MPD.
Welcome to the Cru MPD podcast with Katie Johnson and Michele Davis. We love that the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. We are driven to equip and inspire Christian workers to be Christ centered, fully funded, and financially faithful, so that missionary staff can come alongside all people to help them to know Jesus. This process is more widely known as ministry partner development or MPD for short.
Michele Davis:Okay, friends, this is week three of February and then also week three of our little mini series that we're calling I Love MPD. The past couple weeks we heard from Logan Frey and Tom fan. If you haven't heard those episodes, I encourage you to just hit pause, go listen to those. So you know, like even like what's prompted our conversation today? Because we want to in the next couple of weeks talk about what happens if MPD isn't lovable at first? Or maybe ever? Or why do we what do we do with that? Is that even a goal we should have? And so I invited my good friend, Becca Catoe, (hey) Becca,
Becca Catoe:Hey,
Michele Davis:I'm here just because well, A) she's my friend, and I like to find time to talk to her. And then B), I think some of her story is pretty relatable when it comes to experiencing NPD in a variety of ways. Would you say that? It's fair to say, a variety of MPD experiences you have had?
Becca Catoe:Yes. I think that is fair. I have had two full time seasons of MPD. And both were drastically different from each other. Yeah.
Michele Davis:So we're just gonna, like tease that out and see, see what what we can connect with and relate with here. But first off, Becca, tell us more about who you are. Where you are, you know, just some of those pegs for people to hang this conversation on to to know more about about your story.
Becca Catoe:Yeah, I am Becca Catoe. I am in Columbus, Ohio on the central Ohio team. And I do campus field staff and I'm going into my fifth year.
Michele Davis:Oh my gosh. I've actually known Becca since she was a student at Capitol because I used to be on the Central Ohio team. And Becca used to babysit my kids. Do you remember how old my kids were when you babysat them?
Becca Catoe:Oh, I think I think Annabelle was only like, two or three.
Michele Davis:Yeah, like little? Yeah, she's eight...
Becca Catoe:That makes me feel old.
Michele Davis:Yeah, I know. That's just like times a thief or something. Yeah, so I remember when like when you were about to graduate, Becca, you? You weren't sure that you want to even join staff. Right. And then you if I, you know, we just talked about a few months ago, but you decided after graduation that you you did with part time field staff with Cru, which means you well just tell us more what that means. And then also how you balanced that with grad school for those couple years.
Becca Catoe:Yeah, I wasn't I definitely was not committed to full time staff with Cru, but had gotten into grad school for social work. And so I was kind of thinking that I needed a part time job while I was in grad school and had heard that you could do that with Cru. And Cru was really impactful in my experience in college. And so I kind of felt like, oh, it could be fun to get to give back for the two years that I'm in grad school and kind of invest a little bit and the ministry that impacted me so much. So yeah, so that was what I decided to do. And juggling a lot in grad school was interesting. I was and I did some online, half online and half in person. And so just kind of like planned my campus days, usually around my class schedule.
Michele Davis:Mm hmm. Yeah. And so were you I would just want to try to remember, I think you are doing grad school at Ohio State. Right. And then doing ministry, which is a little bit across town at Capitol. Yes. Yeah. Did it. Like did that feel weird like being on these two campuses. There. There's different ones, your undergrad and one is your grad school. And
Becca Catoe:yeah, it was interesting because where I was going to school wasn't where I was doing ministry, which was what I was used to undergrad. And then was also weird. Being back at my alma mater, where people are like, oh, did you graduate? And so navigating that, so yeah, there are two very different one is a big state school and the other is a small private liberal arts school. So yeah,
Michele Davis:they are such different campuses for sure. Yeah, totally. So in being part time field staff, you still raise support, for it to cover that salary. Tell us a little bit more about what that experience was like?
Becca Catoe:Yeah, that experience was pretty difficult. I talk about that season, sometimes it's like one of the hardest seasons of my life, I was living by myself, which I wouldn't recommend. And a lot of my friends were just away just doing various things that summer. So I didn't have a lot of community. So it just felt very, like lonely and isolating. And, yeah, a lot of people, including like, my family, I felt like didn't really quite understand what I was actually doing and what MPD was. And so, yeah, a lot of a lot of loneliness, a lot of questioning why I was calling people and sending texts.
Michele Davis:And then you were given pretty much just a summer to raise support for your PTFS because you then started back on campus in August. And we're also starting grad school roughly, like, within a few weeks of that. And so you really had a concentrated time that you're working on this. Do you feel like ever during that season of NPD did it ever, like, hit a groove where you felt like you were like, Okay, I'm figuring this out? Or because what you just described was kind of like, it's slowly it's hard. I'm explaining myself a lot like that seems, you know, kind of, I'm just picturing kind of, like, slows down the flow a little bit, you know, like, like, so helped me know, like, was that, like, just how it was every week? Or what was it like?
Becca Catoe:Yeah, um, I think that's how I felt a lot of times I feel like but I, I also was doing half of my support raising in Columbus and the other half in Maryland. So that felt hard of like, I would get in a groove. And then I'd be like, Okay, well, I'm weak. I'm leaving and going to the other city. So I felt like a lot of like, back and forth. Yeah. Within that. So I never really felt like I was just doing the thing well...
Michele Davis:yeah, yeah. And it's, you know, it's a learning curve, because it's their first time doing it. And then like, just with those extra things, you described that that's true, that makes sense. And is also trying to like, remember, like, back to that time, too, because I knew back then, but I think I was in the middle of, I don't know, we were going through a lot of weird job transitions and things too at the time. So, okay, like, let's like fast forward to, it's the end of that summer, you have finished your MPD and you're about to start your job. What would you say in that moment? Was your, like, attitude towards what you just experienced? Where you like, I guess what I'm wondering is did you maybe have a moment of like, I'm glad that's over. And I never want to do that again, because you really did make like a two year commitment. Right? Like you were just gonna do this for a couple years. And so, you know, like, what was that like when you reported were you like...
Becca Catoe:yeah, I remember I got the phone call and I almost cried because I was so relieved that I was done. And was definitely like a big sigh of relief of like, Wow, I'm so glad that that is over. And I never have to do it again.
Michele Davis:It's always funny because we're now on this side of it. And you have been like raising for full time, you know, which we're getting to that part of the story. But yeah, I think that's actually pretty calm. To feel that way back at that, you know, especially if you've had a hard experience and you're, you know, at that time, you were just making short term commitment. It's like I did that, and I'm not gonna think about it, and it's done, and whatever. So tell me a little bit about what it was like then to be, you know, two years after your PTFS commitment. And then somehow, you ended up in my workshop at new staff orientation, to join staff full time. Like, how did we get there, Becca, like, what happened?
Becca Catoe:Yeah, I that whole few months before that was just spending a lot of time praying and trying to figure out where the Lord was leading me. And just really had seen a lot of fruit in my ministry and even growth in my life through working with Cru, and even began to see that I like, enjoyed my days on campus. More than at that point, I was interning at the hospital and one of my days at the hospital. So I felt like that was pretty telling. And I was making my decision. I remember explicitly being like, saying that I had to take MPD out of the picture, and had to, like, make my decision not thinking about MPD. Because if I think if I had, I don't think I would be on staff right now.
Michele Davis:Okay, that's, that's fair. And honest. I appreciate that. Yeah. So you took him out of the picture. And you evaluated the fruit and how much you are loving ministry in life. And you took a step into it. So tell me...Sorry, I just told you a few minutes ago, like how i i, every episode, I laugh really loud. And anyways, I just did it. But so because you're in my I'm about to ask you like, what was your experience like at NSO, and I also had just told everybody, you were in my workshop. So you know, pressure to be like, it was awesome there. But, but I, I, okay, here's what I remember about your class, Becca. And that workshop, I remember several of you sharing hard experiences from either intern or PTFS. And then also, it seemed like a lot of people in in around those tables. In that room at the El Caribe were really like, clicking with some new thoughts about MPD and feeling more encouraged about MPD and it was, it was a really memorable workshop to me. You know, like, just some really amazing people. I know, you're still friends with people from that room? Yeah. And so fill me in on just your experience of that. And the impact that that that your new staff class maybe or just that new staff experience, what impact has that had on you now and your MPD?
Becca Catoe:Yeah, I think and so was really great for me. I, one I like my previous experience with was like, very lonely and isolating. And so being in a room with a lot of people that I had become friends with, and getting to experience that with them was really life giving for me. And I remember at one point sitting in, like, in that workshop and being like, oh my goodness, how did they let me raise support before I like, knew all these things. Like, I feel like I just learned a lot. And maybe I just didn't pay that much attention previously. But I feel like I was equipped with a lot of like, practical tools, but also, for the first time began to like, understand the vision of MPD. And realize like, Oh, you don't have to be like, the best person at it, to be able to do it and to not hate it.
Michele Davis:Okay, um, Okay, a couple things based on what you just said, one you just talked about, like, the how do they let me do this without knowing all these things. And I will say that's, uh, some people might listen to this podcast and not be on staff with Cru. I feel like I should explain like for the interns and part time field staff, we do like a much quicker version of our onboarding and training over a weekend. And it is, it is like drinking through a firehose. It is a lot of information at once. And then we really depend on coaching past that, to put those pieces together. You know, we do our best. But then when we go to New Staff Orientation, which is what Beth and I are talking about right now, it's you, you're working on MPD for like, five, five and a half days. And we've spent a lot more time doing building, leaning into like the heart of MPD the heart of trusting God with MPD. How to think of ministry partners as important people that were ministry, like all these things, and I think what you described is kind of, I mean, when I interned, we watched these MPD videos now scared on my mind when I joined. When I joined staff later, I was like, okay, yeah, that same experience of like, this is helpful. This is more, more time. So I think that's, you know, part of why you like that. But I want to, I want to hear you talk more about that last thing you just said. Or you talked about how it is possible to not hate this, even if it's not like, not this like thing that naturally comes easier that you naturally like, like, because that's knowing that about your story is why I want to talk to you today in light of what we're talking about this month. And so can you drill down in a little bit more on what you mean by that?
Becca Catoe:Yeah, I think through NSO, and even through my second experience of raising support, I felt really restoritive from the first time, but I feel like during that time, I really began to see some of the benefits of it. Of that in that season. It's one of the few seasons of my life where I, I feel like I so tangibly see the faithfulness of God, on such a daily basis. And that was just really encouraging from my heart of yeah, just getting to see God's provision and his faithfulness. And even in the season of MPD where I, you are, like, there's a lot of things that like, are in my control that I can do, but also a lot of ways that I'm just dependent on the Lord and can't control how people respond. I am forced to really be fully reliant on God, which is something that I'm not naturally good at. And so that has been really helpful for me. And even I've seen that, like, paralleled of the dependence that I have on the Lord in MPD is actually the same dependence that I should have on the Lord when I'm on campus doing ministry. And so even seeing some of the connections of the ways that the Lord encouraged my heart and like helped me to draw closer to Him in ways that are also necessary. When I'm not in seasons of MPD. And I'm in ministry, like on campus?
Michele Davis:Yes. Yeah, I would say, I've seen that too. And I agree, and it really encourages me to just knowing you and knowing your story, and to hear that what God did in your relationship with him, you know, because I hear you right now, like sharing a lot of, you know, just very, like vertical to God sort of things that are impacted, you know, by MPD, and by being on campus, also in that connection. And so that's something I think that when I think about, like, loving MPD, it's, it's, you know, like, I love God. And I love like, I love him, and I want to follow him. And I love that he can make hard things good. And sometimes I felt like, you know, in terms of like, do I love this or not, like, well, that's what I love. And I can find that here. So tell me some of like, if you can think back to some moments in your MPD like, I'm wondering if you have any stories that stand out of people that you've met that have been especially encouraging for you, and encouraging in your ministry, like, you know, who are some of those, those people or some of those stories, maybe?
Becca Catoe:Yeah, I think I think of this older couple that goes to my church, and they joined my support team, and have been my ministry partner for the past several years. And they I like know, without a doubt, as soon as I send out my newsletter, I'm going to get a response from them. And they'll, they'll show like, send me a message saying that she's like praying for those things, or that she's really encouraged by the things that the Lord is doing. And so even like, even getting that every month from her is such a reminder of the way that that my ministry doesn't just affect the students that I'm working with on campus. But it also affects my partners who get to play a role in that. And to get to see the fruit of their giving of the ways that they are also a part of fulfilling the Great Commission through partnering with me and my ministry.
Michele Davis:My gosh, and we do like no, this person, like this person, if it weren't for MPD. Like, like, like, on an ongoing communication basis, not like, hey, wave across church, you
Becca Catoe:know, yeah, I wouldn't have I had, I knew who they were, but I had no, like, personal connection with them beforehand. So even seeing like, that a relationship has been really cool, too.
Michele Davis:Yeah. That's so cool. It's really encouraging. Okay, so this question is a bit of like, a risk, but whatever. So, when you look at the whole of your MPD experience over the past five years, and, and, you know, like we, there's, we've we've kind of talked in generalities about hard things and good things. And and I don't know, I don't know if we need to, like tease out more specifics about those or not, but I'm just thinking about, like those two things, weight and balance, like the hard things and the good things. Like if those were set on, like an old timey scale. Like, what do you think is really like, in your experience right now? Like, what's, what's got more in it for you right now? The hard things are the good things. And do you still do you ever experienced that shifting back and forth, even now, you know, after these years?
Becca Catoe:Yeah, I would say, honestly, the good things, which is kind of crazy, because I would not have said that a few years ago, but yeah, I think I've seen so much of the Lord through it. And the way that he has even like relationships that have been built through it, and ways that I have even seen, like, the body of Christ and the different roles that we each get to play. And bringing God's kingdom here has been so encouraging and, and even the ways that the Lord has, like, helped me to grow and love Him more. I think I have to say the good things. But I think there are moments where, yeah, I get, you know, two back to back emails of like, a partner is leaving or have like, a hard appointment, or things like that, where it can be easy to be like, Oh, my goodness, I don't like MPD. Yeah. But then when I like, take a step back and see the overall picture. Yeah.
Michele Davis:Okay, so for perspective, tell us more about, you know, maybe one of the really hard stories you have from your time and MPD.
Becca Catoe:Yeah, I think what first comes to mind is a story from this past summer. And yeah, I was meeting for an MPD appointment with a referral. So it was a guy who I didn't know. And we met up at Bob Evans, and just at the beginning of the conversation, we're just kind of getting to know each other, and just having some casual conversations. And as the conversation went on, begin to realize that this guy was pretty racist, honestly. And for those who don't know, I'm black. And yeah, I was just saying some things that even made me feel start to feel unsafe and wondering, Okay, should I like stay at this appointment? Is it worth the money if he decides to support me and yeah, kind of finished the finished the appointment by just letting him talk a little bit. But yeah, as we, as we left definitely felt just very uncomfortable and very much like I was trying to figure out comparing like, my safety versus the money that he might give me if he like joined my team, and having to like, then like wrestle with but do I even like want him as like a partner supporting me so that was a hard appointment for sure.
Michele Davis:Oh, my gosh, I just made my stomach drop. I'm so How amazing if I understand so you're in this appointment? And he's saying he's saying things that are making you uncomfortable related, you know, talking about racial issues and things and he can I am I understand correctly that he's just sharing them like, like, like he thinks that you're okay with what he's saying?
Becca Catoe:Yeah. Okay. Yeah, he was just kind of just saying them very, like, casually. And not he was, he didn't seem to be like trying to make me upset or even maybe connecting the dots, right. That's that what he's saying was saying was?
Michele Davis:Yeah. And so in that moment, like, Okay, what I think you're saying is like, you, you, you're probably like, you know, trying to do all this like calculation, right? Like, what do I say? What do I say? And did you? Did you like feel like prompted to press to any of his like, opinions he was sharing that, you know, as a black woman in America and your experience? You know, that what he's sharing is maybe like, not in line with your reality. Right?
Becca Catoe:Yeah. Um, so I thought there were a lot of different scenarios, and also looked around the restaurant to see who else was in there. But I ended up just asking him almost like a clarifying question about one of the things you were saying, just to see like, oh, is this really what he means? Or maybe he's going to like, backtrack something or all of a sudden realize, oh, wait, like, I'm talking to a black woman. And and, yeah, his response to that kind of just solidified things. And so yeah, I think at that point, I was like, since I don't really have any relation with him, and also don't know him at all. I was like, I'm just gonna make it through.
Michele Davis:Yeah. And you work. So you work with Central Ohio campuses, and you also have a specific focus with the Central Ohio Impact Movement here. So you are, you're directly working in contextualized ministry for black students in Columbus. And talking about that, with him, and anyway, so. So at the end of that, did he like, how did he leave it? Like, was it did he like want to support you and your ministry? Like, when you were like, telling him about what you do? And things or?
Becca Catoe:I don't know. Um, he, like, kind of seemed like it. I mean, sometimes he would take over the conversation a little bit, but when we left, he was, like, told me he was like, send me an email later. And, like, wanted to, like, think about supporting me, so I have, I've not heard from him since so. That could have just been him being polite. But
Michele Davis:yeah, and yeah, and like you have you don't know him. All, you know, is like the information person to do that day. And it is like, sometimes people do just say, oh, yeah, I'm into this, I'll get back to you. And they're not and they don't want them that's, that happens common enough that that's not the weirdest thing. But it is like, Becca my stomach actually just hurts thinking about this for you. Like what a awkward situation to be in. And it that's, that really sounds like a nightmare. So I'm just really sorry that you had to face that situation. And I think it sounds to me like you handled this with like, a lot of mercy for him. You know, just or just even for yourself, you know, like it's not your job to correct every thing everywhere, especially somebody you don't relationship with some older guy that you are meeting at a Bob Evans (Yeah.) Yeah. You know, Becca, I think that I wonder too, for like our other BIPOC staff, like, I think the scenario is kind of like a fear. Like to like what do I do if I am in an MPD appointment and somebody share something that seems to you know, not uphold the Imago Dei that I reflect and seems to have like harmful views of reality that that you know, really aren't in line with with who you are and what you represent, and even like where we're going, like in terms of caring for all the people that we're trying to reach out to you, right? And so I'm curious if like, like, what kind of what kind of word or almost was a encouragement that I don't know if that's what comes out, but just like, what, what word might you have for fellow BIPOC Staff...That is like a real fear and is happening, like, what would you want to say to your fellow staff?
Becca Catoe:Yeah, I think one thing that I would say is just like, no amount of money is worth allowing someone to disregard like the image of God in you. And so even as I like, process through that appointment, realizing like, even if he offers me like,$1,000 a month, like I don't, like, want it. And so I think it can be easy when you're in a season of MPD. And you're like, I just need like this much more to maybe like, let things like that slide. Because you just want to like finish. But realizing that that like the Lord is going to like provide for you. And so you don't have to let go of your convictions or allow other people to Yeah, to disregard like, your like dignity and worth in order to be fully funded.
Michele Davis:That's, that's great. Perfect, even. Thanks for sharing that. Yeah. Thanks for sharing that hard story. I think that, again, reflecting back on what you'd said before that, right now you can say the good is outweighing the bad. And knowing that the bad involves something like that, like such, like such an interaction is that I think a really says something about God's work in your life, and your responsiveness to Him and your openness to Him. And I am thankful for you. I'm thankful for you so much. I think we're both tearing up just a little. Yeah. Okay. All right. So let's, you know, wrap up our conversation with a little bit of I would just love to hear from you. In general, do you think even this, like this thing that we're talking about this month about loving MPD? Like, is this even a goal that people should have to like, try to find a place or a way for them to love MPD? Like, is this really realistic? Or is this just or this is not just for some cute Canva art that I put on Instagram?
Becca Catoe:Yeah, I, I think if the con if the concept of loving MPD means like, Oh, my goodness, it's my favorite thing in the world. And I just can't wait to do it. And everything about it is awesome. Then I would say like, No, and I don't think everyone needs that goal. (Yeah, for sure.) But I mean, there's some people who that's true. And that's really awesome. But I think if loving MPD means that I love like the Lord and love the ways that he like provides for us and the ways that he allows other people to enter into this, then I think like, the answer is yes. Like, I would I wouldn't say that MPD is my favorite thing in the world still, but there are so many things that I see about those seasons that I would say that I really love.
Michele Davis:Yeah. I think that's good. I think too, there's like something about love is more...love in general is more than just a certain feeling of elation or ease or bubbles and sparkles or something. But love is like love involves, you know, a choice. Right? And love is is like some commitment, you know? And so I think that You know, MPD is just like a current reality that we experience here in this stage of the church age to like, the avenue by which God is funding, funding you and I today, right? But ultimately, the end of the day, like, we love God, He's eternal. We love people. They are, you know, eternal. And we can like, find both of those things here. So, yeah. Yeah. Okay. I think that's a good a good place to wrap it up. Becca, thank you so much. You know, I love you so much. And I'm just really appreciative of you and I'm, I'm thankful that you hung in, through all all of these things, all of these ups and downs. It's just an honor to work with you. So. Hey, friends. Thanks for listening to the Cru MPD podcast. Please help others find our show by liking, sharing and readiness on Apple, iTunes, and wherever you listen to podcasts. You can find us on social media by searching for The Cru MPD podcast. Check out the show notes for more information, including the various resources we mentioned in this episode. Till next time, we encourage you to be faithful and full of faith in all things, especially in MPD