Are the Kids Alright? An Introduction to Missionary Kids and the Sending Church
This is Part One of a three-part series. One question growing up caused me more existential dread and conversational anxiety than any other: “Where are you from?” How do I answer that question? Do I tell them the country that…
Fellow Missionaries, Don’t Be Afraid of Raising Support
I’m sure you’ve read these words: “We’re moving our family overseas to advance the gospel and equip church leaders for a lifetime of faithful ministry. Would you be willing to . . .” You can probably finish the sentence. A…
The Necessity of Prayer in Missions
My family and I are in the long process of moving to Kenya as missionaries with Reaching and Teaching. As you can imagine, we face a seemingly endless to-do list: purging our possessions, completing our medical visits, preparing to learn…
Great Commission Promises for Missionary Kids
My husband and I have the wonderful opportunity of raising five kids on the mission field. We love it, and our kids love their life here. But our kids aren’t missionaries like we are. They didn’t choose to come here….
Woven: A Look at God’s Provision in Raising Children Overseas
Our Choice This was our choice, right? As we respond to God guidance into cross cultural ministry, sometimes even long before we have children, the questions about our kids hound our every step. Will the sacrifices and stresses of ministry…
Good News for Weak Missionaries
I’m writing this from a place of weakness, and you should know that right up front. My experience is inadequate, my knowledge is insufficient, and my competence is laughable. I don’t have what it takes to be a missionary. Last…
How to Attend Your National Church Well
One of the hardest challenges when moving to the mission field is leaving behind our home church and integrating into a new church in our country of service. When we go to the field, we can’t take our church or…
Pilgrims in a Pandemic
Sometimes it takes a worldwide pandemic to remind us who we truly are. Was it really just last month that we could shop without worrying about empty shelves? Was it really only a few weeks ago that our retirement seemed…
So You Want to Be a Missionary? How to Move Forward While You’re Waiting
I hit “send” on the application to RTIM. I was excited, and a little nervous. Months of praying, researching, and planning had led to this moment. My wife and I had worked hard on the application for RTIM, and finally…
The Cost of Discipleship
“The Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’” (Matthew 16:24) Jesus spoke about how much it would cost a person to follow Him on several…