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More informationThis section has information and resources on the theme of Pastoral Support with relation to missionaries and overseas Christian workers. This may include practical support in the way of advice and guidance as well as support through prayer and encouragement.
Related Articles
As a development worker and missionary, you NEED your free time, but alas… Going back home is not always the answer. Before you know it, you are hard at work in your home country and again… you don’t have time to focus on your goals for the near future, haven’t...
Practice of taking a Sabbath?
In my life prior to being a full -time missionary I had not ever considered the principle of taking a Sabbath , but quickly became aware of what it can be like to be a full -time Christian worker. The demands are great, we set our...
I’m so tired and I cannot sleep,
As my fears all surface and drag me in deep.
The darkness and anguish hit me between the eyes.
All those memories I desperately try to deny.
The dark shadows follow me around every day.
Those thoughts of despair I can’t shake away.
(One verse from a poem...
Building resilience is the ability to bounce back after difficult events. How do we increase our ability to remain resilient when facing adversity. Mission workers are often under great pressure, there is little time to switch off, and maintaining healthy boundaries can become challenging. The nature of working within mission...
If we are any kind of leader someone is going to be unhappy with something we have or haven’t done, something we’ve said or a decision we’ve made. It can leave us feeling discouraged and angry. How do we handle it?
WHAT TO DO
The first thing to do is consider whether...
"I was a week into my placement when the Accounts Officer quit, the Country Director was on leave, my Programme Manager was swamped with taking on the CD's tasks, and I was asked to complete a household nutritional survey with over 100 respondents by the end of the week, with...
Moving from one culture to another does strange things to the mind and body! If you're not aware of these things before they happen, it can at best be disorientating and at worst, end in disaster.
Having transitioned to and from five different countries, and having led training courses on this...
In mobilizing folks to the field, I run across people from all walks of life. From the teenager to the young married to the family of five and the retiree. I love that God is calling people of all generations to the nations with his name.
Inevitably, I will meet with...
In a recent article, I explored the "Six Permissions Most MKs Need." This is a companion piece, one that recognizes the different needs of adults in ministry.
Extending these permissions might reduce the pressure that becomes toxic to missionaries. Sometimes that pressure is self-inflicted - derived from the unachievable standards they...
"So, given your experience with missions in India, what advice would you give me that's different than what most people would say?"
There I was with what seemed like the million dollar question. My best friend was sitting across from me at our favorite restaurant, asking me for hope. This would...
Have you ever had a sabbatical? If not, why not? Who and what are sabbaticals for anyway? Just before last summer, I had my first real sabbatical. Here are some of my tips and advice for anyone thinking about taking one, trying to avoid taking one or never having the...
Valuing prophecy in the normal life of a missionary
Biblical Mission has often been initiated by prophetic statements and events. For example, the announcement of Jesus' mission in Luke 4: 16 - 21; the gospel going to the Gentiles in Acts 10: and Paul's Macedonian call (Acts 16: 6 - 10)....
A couple of years ago I went through burnout. After 17 years as a pastor and 5 years as a missionary it all caught up with me. Burnout is a very unpleasant experience which can seriously impact your ministry and life. I had to have a year off to recover....
When someone you love dies you feel the loss of them. Everyone responds in their own way. There is no right or wrong way to respond. Your loss is like other people's losses, just as your fingers are like others' fingers; but your loss is your own unique experience just...
In reality, a missionary is simply a normal Christian coming from a normal church to do an extraordinary task. A friend once said, "I'm just a nobody excited about telling anybody about somebody who can save everybody."
When God does something awesome, He does it simply. You don't need an...
'Do you know of any Bible study materials for teams on short-term mission trips?'
This was a question e-mailed to me a few months ago by a member of the Short Term Missions Forum in the UK. Apparently several members of the group had searched in vain for resources to help...
It has been a difficult time in the last year or so, navigating the noise of the world all while feeling alone and disconnected from each other. This is the opposite of our nature as human beings, to be connected, social and together which has driven us into feelings of...
We all have some level of support network, whether we recognise it or not. Here’s an opportunity to look at your support network and consider ways to strengthen it. This may be especially relevant for those whose situation is changing or has recently changed.
Admit it or not we all...
I was sat at my desk when I received the email last week. “I am overwhelmed with your kindness… Thank you!”. Then a little later from someone else, “Thank you for your prayers, I really appreciate that especially as I have had a hospital procedure this week - very timely!”....
The past 9 months have ramped up the stress levels for many of us. Caring for ourselves can seem selfish but if we don’t then we can’t sustainably serve those around us and we’re at serious risk of burnout. I learned the value of the following resolutions the hard way...
Christine Paterson from Field Partner International gives us her personal takeaways on a survey they conducted earlier this year amongst cross-cultural Christian workers.
At FieldPartner International, we believe that anybody who serves in the field cross-culturally should be properly trained, well-resourced, and wholeheartedly supported by their sending church. We did a...
A level of stress that gets adrenaline and cortisol going and brings out our best performance is healthy. However in our 21st century world many of us experience undue levels of stress and pressure that make us feel overwhelmed and which need alleviating. It can be unhealthy and unhelpful if...
