TEAM Christian Missions Blog

Exploring cross-cultural ministry around the globe.
1
God’s Children are Not for Sale: Gaining Perspective on Sound of Freedom
2
Ordinary People Serving an Extraordinary God: Pray for God’s Work in Chad
3
Same Spirit, New Song: Pioneers of the Global Church
4
Ten Takeaways from the Missional Life of Jesus
5
Empowering the Unreached: Education, Literacy, and Access to the Gospel
6
Unwavering Faithfulness in Chad
7
Praying Through Scripture for Global Workers
8
Caring for a Global Community
9
Praying for Workers “From Everywhere, To Everywhere”
10
Diving Deep for the Gospel

God’s Children are Not for Sale: Gaining Perspective on Sound of Freedom

Woman walking in sunlight
The movie Sound of Freedom is a classic story of “good guy defeats bad guy.” In the real world, the story of trafficking is rarely so simple.

In recent weeks, the movie Sound of Freedom has brought awareness of exploitation to audiences around the world. The film has also sparked lively conversations and even controversy, as various voices offer thoughts on the movie’s messages. Regardless of where we land on the movie itself, Sound of Freedom’s widespread exposure opens the door to a greater conversation about the realities of trafficking that are far more complex than can be portrayed in a two-hour film.      TEAM has long been engaged in anti-trafficking initiatives in multiple countries around the world. We reached out to some of TEAM’s global workers and…

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Ordinary People Serving an Extraordinary God: Pray for God’s Work in Chad

Chadian woman carrying water and baby on her back.
God is at work in the nation of Chad. Please join us in praying for these important ministry initiatives.

Ministry for TEAM Chad over the past 30 years has been a spiritual battle. The trials and challenges have been real and numerous. Global workers have faced illness, struggles in marriages, and conflict within teams. Some have been taken hostage, experienced the death of a child, or even lost their own lives. Yet, by God’s grace the work continues. As one TEAM Chad worker says, “We are ordinary people, serving an extraordinary God.”  Over the last couple of months, the TEAM blog has highlighted how God is at work in Chad. For this month’s Prayer Focus, here’s how you can…

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Same Spirit, New Song: Pioneers of the Global Church

Two children walking in a village in Chad.
TEAM Chad stands as an example of a globalized workforce taking the Gospel to the unreached.

‘Pioneer’ is not a term to be used lightly – it’s a term of respect and an acknowledgment of the challenges that must be overcome for those first to settle into new territory. A pioneer must break ground to carve a way forward for others that dare to follow behind.  TEAM’s work in the global Church in 2023 includes an increasingly globalized Kingdom workforce. God is raising up disciples from all over the world to take the Gospel message to the unreached. Asule and Neipe are beautiful examples of this. Born and raised in the Nagaland area of India, they…

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Ten Takeaways from the Missional Life of Jesus

Jesus standing with outstretched hand over the water.
When I think of the first and best missionary, I think of Jesus. We can take much away from his missional example.

Many Christians think of the apostle Paul as the first missionary. They look at his rhetoric, who he ministered to, how he contextualized, and his evangelistic methods. His letters, inspired by the Spirit, are the written word of God. But, when I think of the first and best missionary, I think of Jesus.    As Samuel Escobar says in his book The New Global Mission, “God wants to be known and does not remain hidden…God has revealed himself in and through historical events, and supremely in Jesus Christ, the One he sent as the clearest revelation of his love and saving…

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Empowering the Unreached: Education, Literacy, and Access to the Gospel

Girl writing on a chalkboard in Chad, Africa
Education and Literacy Initiatives go hand-in-hand with making the Good News of Jesus accessible to all.

Hebrews 4:12 states, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”   This powerful description highlights the dynamic and transformative nature of Scripture. It states that the Word of God has an inherent vitality and relevance that transcends time and speaks directly to the heart. As believers engage with the living word, it has the potential to penetrate deeply into their innermost being – revealing truths, convicting of sin, and offering guidance…

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Unwavering Faithfulness in Chad

Women sitting and talking behind a clothes line.
TEAM Chad has a long history of faithful women as an enduring force for Kingdom work.

In 1927, Victor and Florence Veary arrived in southern Chad looking for the Laka tribe. Ninety years later, the fruits of that labor include the largest evangelical denomination in Chad. TEAM Chad has a long history of women being an important part of this enduring work. For this month’s Ministry Update, we highlight four women who have served extraordinarily long and impactful careers in Chad.      Mechthild Roth   Chad is a nation with over 128 languages. This poses a significant challenge for translating and teaching the Bible. After an internship in 1988, Mechthild, a member of SAHEL LIFE Mission…

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Praying Through Scripture for Global Workers

Man reading the Bible and praying.
Cross-cultural ministry brings tough challenges for global workers. We can intercede on their behalf by echoing the prayers we see in Scripture.

This month on the blog, we are focusing on TEAM’s value of “Caring Community.” In the latest Ministry Update, we visited with TEAM’s Director of Member Care, Steve Maybee. Steve shared TEAM’s heart for coming alongside global workers (missionaries) as they navigate the unique pressures of cross-cultural ministry.  For this month’s Prayer Focus, we want to spend time lifting up all laborers in the field as they face tough challenges and tremendous pressures. We can do that than by echoing the prayers we see in God’s Word. We encourage you to join us in interceding on behalf of our brothers…

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Caring for a Global Community

Man being interviewed.
Steve Maybee and his Member Care team support global workers through all the ups and downs of missional life.

This month we finish up our series on TEAM’s Defining Values by focusing on “Caring Community.” TEAM’s Member Care department exists to foster caring community within TEAM by providing emotional and spiritual support to global workers and staff. Caroline Peterson sat down with Director of Member Care, Steve Maybee to discuss the purpose and heart behind Member Care.     Called to Care and Support  Steve Maybee got into Member Care after getting his master’s in clinical psychology. He and his wife served overseas in Eastern Europe, and it was there that he saw the needs of expatriates (people living outside…

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Praying for Workers “From Everywhere, To Everywhere”

Family walking with luggage.
Non-western workers face unique challenges in cross-cultural ministry. Here’s how we can cover them in prayer.

The global Church has grown in size and depth over the last several decades and an exciting shift is taking place in cross-cultural missions. God is raising up workers “from everywhere, to everywhere” to go and make disciples to the far corners of the globe. And while many still heed the call from traditional sending countries like the U.S. and Canada, there is also a growing missionary workforce emerging from what is often called the “majority world” or the “Global South” (areas like Latin America, Asia, and Africa). Clearly, God is instilling a heart for “Passionate Service” in His children…

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Diving Deep for the Gospel

Man walking in the water.
Despite opposition and personal sacrifice, global workers exemplify “Passionate Service” that goes well beyond surface level.

Author’s Note: Here on the blog for the past few months, we’ve been featuring stories that exemplify each of TEAM’s Defining Values. As we came to the value of “Passionate Service,” I knew I wanted to share a story about a TEAM missionary with a passion for cross-cultural service. Here’s what God showed me in the meantime.    A New Adventure  I held my breath and kicked hard for the surface. Snorkeling in the teal blue waters off the coast of the Philippines was a new adventure for me. For the first few minutes, I had stayed close to the…

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