Volume 8.3
As missionaries persevere through their emotional and other struggles, the Church and their sending communities of friends need to be there for them. They need persons of peace with whom they can share their hearts and struggles without fear or judgement. Unfortunately, too many pioneers do not receive this care, and they grow ineffective in their calling because of the flood of internal turmoil they carry. But they need not fight these battles alone. This issue shares stories and help for missionaries and for the Church who sends them.
Burdened beyond measure
I just finished a long phone call with a brother who serves in a pioneering mission context. He was utterly traumatized by what his leader was doing to him. He felt rejected, abandoned, stigmatized, completely lost, and worst of all – alone. He ...
Called: Grief, scorpions and healing
I was struggling. Like frying popcorn in an open pot, my unexpressed emotions flew everywhere. I seethed silently in resentment and stewed in my depressive thoughts.
My relationship with fellow missionaries teetered on irreparable dama...
Instruments of care
All Christians, even missionaries, are not super-human. We’re broken people who experience hardships. Political unrests, trembling economies, and the global pandemic paint a picture of losses, and often traumatic experiences. Our God is immeasur...
Behind the walls of crushing trauma
After Mule* hung up the phone, he felt like someone had turned him upside down. He knew intimately what was at stake. He felt betrayed, maligned, and crushed, but the impact was only beginning. “I was preparing for an exam that week. Everyt...
Caring for missionaries: a holistic and practical approach
Thomas* had been serving as a missionary for over 10 years. Due to some conflict and misunderstanding, he was confronted and dismissed without a hearing. Shortly afterwards, he became hypertensive. His wife also began having sleepless nights. Thr...
Barriers to and benefits of seeking counselling
The life of a cross-cultural missionary is fraught with stressors and challenges not typically experienced by those who reside in their own countries or cultures. The traumas of African Christian workers and missionaries can range from unexpected...
Trauma Healing Network
The Trauma Healing Network (THN) launched in September 2012 as a Bible-engagement project of the Bible Society of Namibia. People in Namibia often do not receive effective trauma help because support services are not readily available or affordab...
Book Review: New Funding Models for Global Mission
New Funding Models for Global Mission: Learning from the Majority World, by Tim Welch
Three phrases made me want to read Tim Welch’s book: “funding models”, “global mission” and “Majority World.” As someone f...
Phase ministry: a refuge for missionaries
For someone with a sheltered profession in the field of finance, Ricky Kalu’s transition was drastic and unexpected. It started with a strong conviction that the Lord wanted him on precarious frontlines with missionaries and pastors serving...
People Group: Fulani
The Fulani, who call themselves the Fulƃe, are also known as the Fula, Fulani or Fulƃe. They are a diverse people group spread across about 20 countries of West and Central Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia. Up to 47 clans and sub-clans are cons...
