March 2017 - TEAM Christian Missions Blog

Why We Don’t Send Missionaries

Missions agencies help assess, prepare and place missionaries, but they don't send them. And this distinction is more than just semantics. Photo by TEAM

Mar 29 2017

It’s common vernacular to call missions agencies like TEAM “sending agencies.” But really, this label is a misnomer. While agencies help assess, prepare and place missionaries, they do not send them. And this distinction isn’t just a matter of semantics. Knowing who sends missionaries is a critical distinction that shapes our understanding of the local church’s critical role in global missions. At TEAM, we say that our purpose is to help churches send missionaries. That may sound simple, but those words are intended to convey an idea that is fundamental to everything we do. We believe the church is the…

TEAM missionary Christine Elizabeth put together her top list of blogs, podcasts and online resources for missionaries. Did yours make the list?

Mar 23 2017

Living away from my home country brings its set of challenges — one of which is wanting to find connections with people who also are living outside their home culture. I’ve always been intrigued by the power of connection through social media, but over the last two years of living in Manila, I’ve learned even more about the power posting can have on building relationships. Here is a list of online resources that have helped me connect with other missionaries and their stories from around the world. Blogs for Missionaries 1. A Life Overseas This blog has been a lifeline to…

Beth hasn't been on the mission field long, but she's had a crash course in what it's like to help her children transition and thrive overseas. Here are her lessons learned. Photos courtesy of Beth Barthelemy

Mar 21 2017

I have three kids, all 4 and under. And six months ago, we moved across the globe. To be honest, some of the thoughts I’ve had are: Am I crazy? Am I irresponsible? Definitely not, I’m so equipped to not only raise my own kids but also to write a fantastic blog post about how I do it so well! I’m sure there are many others who’ve been overseas longer, who have golden nuggets of wisdom on parenting overseas. But all this aside, here are some reflections from a fresh-on-the-field, young mama of three on what it’s like to raise my…

For a missional coffee shop in Tokyo, slow business is a good thing. Photos by TEAM

Mar 15 2017

If SonRise Café were more concerned with making a profit, Taijo might not know Jesus today. That’s why the coffee shop’s director, TEAM missionary Steven Taylor, doesn’t even try to keep up with his fast-paced Tokyo competitors. “We’re more like a ministry pretending to be a business. … If we were as busy as Starbucks, we would never be able to get to know our customers and have time to build relationships,” Steven says. Step inside, and you’ll find delicious paninis, chiffon cakes and coffee drinks. But most days, those treats will be accompanied by English classes, a musical performance…

These women won't be recorded in history books, but their lives of gospel service will be remembered in eternity. Photos by TEAM

Mar 13 2017

When you think of women in missions, names like Elisabeth Elliot, Lottie Moon and Amy Carmichael might come to mind. Their well-documented lives continue to inspire both men and women to live lives fully yielded to the Gospel. But the legacy of women on the mission field doesn’t end with them. For hundreds of years, women have been the lifeblood of missions, crossing enemy lines, healing the sick and even risking their lives to spread the Gospel. Today, we want to share just a few of the amazing stories you haven’t heard yet. Stella Cox In 1950, young Stella Sluder…

In 2016, Christine and her husband started a missional coffee shop in Manila, Philippines. Here are her best tips for other people interested in business as mission. Photos courtesy of Narrative Coffee Company

Mar 06 2017

We came to the Philippines wide-eyed and idealistic. Let’s start a coffee shop: make money for missions and make good coffee. How hard can it be? Nineteen months later, what started as a vision for a large coffee shop with meeting rooms has turned into a small pour-over bar in a 10 square meter entryway within a co-working space. What started as a desire to make money for missions turned into a vision to mobilize and equip other entrepreneurs to use their business to serve God and people — here and abroad. What began as a small dream that “might…

In places where evangelizing is difficult, workers are using business to open doors. Here's how to pray for them. Photo courtesy of Narrative Coffee Company

Mar 01 2017

Not every country wants a missionary, but most want economic growth. Not everyone wants to hear the gospel, but many will welcome friendly conversation over a cup of coffee. That’s why missionaries around the world are starting businesses. Whether it’s a coffee shop or a cultural center, businesses let missionaries boldly enter communities where they weren’t welcome before. And they provide a neutral environment where seekers can hear the gospel without the intimidation of entering a church building. This March, will you pray for missional businesses around the world? Click here to get a printable version of these requests, and…

Archive - March 2017

Why We Don’t Send Missionaries

Blogs, Podcasts + Other Online Resources for Missionaries

What It’s Like to Raise My Young Kids Overseas

When Slow Business Brings People to God

5 Women Who Were Trailblazers in Missions

Five Tips For Starting a Business as Mission

6 Ways to Pray for Missional Businesses [March Prayer Focus]