2019 - TEAM Christian Missions Blog

Ruined by Gambling, Redeemed by Christ

Gerald's gambling addiction ruined his life, but thanks to friends like you, Gerald was plugged into a church that showed him a new way.

Dec 25 2019

How do you know when your gambling habit’s gotten out of hand? Probably when you stop coming home . . . for three months straight. Gerald had a mind for greatness. He started his business at a young age and quickly earned millions in pesos, the Philippines’ currency. He had more than enough to support a wife and two sons. It’s no wonder Gerald thought a little gambling at the casino would be harmless. However, his great mind didn’t prepare him for how gambling sucks people in and takes over their lives. Gerald stopped coming home for three months. He…

A TEAM missionary laughs with her neighbors

Serving as a minority comes with a unique perspective and set of challenges. Missionaries share their experiences and their tips for how to keep going.

Dec 18 2019

¡Lea esta publicación en español aquí! Recently, I was at a missions conference where I joined a seminar on Latina women in leadership. One of the participants, a first-generation American with Hispanic background made a comment that struck me. She said, “I feel called to go serve in Japan, but if I don’t fit in here in America where I was born because I’m a minority, how much harder will it be to fit in, in a different country?” As a missions coach, I have a list of different reasons why people choose not to go overseas: fear of the…

Finished cookies surrounded by Christmas decor

Check out this recipe for traditional Czech cookies! Then, take some time to pray for the Czech people.

Dec 10 2019

Today’s recipe was originally published by The Hungry Bluebird. Merry Christmas! These cookies come all the way from the Czech Republic and they are delicious! These light and sweet cookies are easy to make and will add some cultural diversity to your upcoming Christmas parties and family dinners. Even though there isn’t sugar in the cookie dough itself, the cookies get just the right amount of sweetness from the jam or cream cheese filling in the middle. In that way, these buttery, flaky cookies are similar to American pastries Try them out for yourself because they are super yummy and…

Pregnancy is uniquely challenging when you live abroad. See how one missionary navigated this challenge, and what she learned in the process. (Stock photo)

Dec 09 2019

Pregnancy — it can be a beautiful thing, but it can also be a stressful experience. Finding a doctor, learning new things, growing a human. But for missionaries, the stress is often multiplied. They have to navigate all of the challenges and logistics of being pregnant while living in a foreign country! Some families decide to stay on the field to have their baby, and some decide it’s best to go back home. How do you know what’s best? One TEAM missionary shared her story and the valuable lessons she learned. Finding Out You’re Pregnant Claire and her husband were…

Two women hand a Christmas wreath on a door.

Christmas is coming up and for missionaries, that means outreach opportunities. Keep reading to see how you can pray for outreaches this month!

Dec 01 2019

The Christmas season is here — and that means great outreach opportunities for missionaries. In many cultures, Christmas opens people up to the idea of faith in God. The decorations, the music and the events are all constant reminders that something important is going on. It makes people curious. With this in mind, missionaries around the world will host Christmas parties at their churches and homes. They’ll hold choir concerts where unsaved neighbors can hear the Gospel. They may even invite friends to celebrate the actual holiday together. Even if Christmas isn’t celebrated in a culture, missionaries can share about…

Aşure (or Noah's ark pudding) is a Middle Eastern dessert with a bit of everything in it! Check out the recipe our missionaries shared with us.

Nov 22 2019

This month our recipe is the Turkish dish Aşure (Noah’s ark pudding)! Our version is based off Elizabeth Taviloglu’s recipe at the Spruce Eats. Our missionaries in Turkey love gathering with their friends and neighbors for potlucks. “Having everyone bring something different makes it fun to learn about other people and try new foods,” one missionary says. “Also, miraculously, we always have the right types of food that we need!” Turkish neighbors often bring this dish over in their own bowls. When the missionaries finish eating it, they often make a new dish in the same bowl and return it…

As a refugee himself, Ebi knew the challenges other refugees faced. Sharing from God's provision was a natural outflow of his faith. TEAM Stock Photo

Nov 14 2019

In 2016, Ebi lost his country. In 2017, he lost his family — and hope for his future. Alone in a foreign country, Ebi felt devastated, angry and directionless. But God had a plan no one could have predicted. This lonely refugee was about to become a force for the Gospel among Muslim refugees. A Broken Life Leads to Christ Ebi and his family illegally immigrated from Iran to Greece in 2016. By the next year, Ebi’s life was in such disarray that his wife decided she couldn’t remain with him. She took the kids and left. But through the…

Anne Ingram became a missionary to plant churches. But in the height of the refugee crisis, she discovered in a new ministry.

Nov 05 2019

When TEAM missionary Anne Ingram went looking for a way to connect with her German community, she didn’t expect to find it among a group of refugees. Anne and her husband, Jeff, moved to Dresden in late 2013 to plant a church. She would walk the streets near their home, asking God how she could reach out to their new neighbors. Right around the same time, the German government decided to open the nation’s borders to people displaced by war, poverty and violence in their own countries. The refugees poured in by the tens of thousands, from places like Eritrea,…

Several refugee children stand in the middle of a refugee camp

This month, we are praying for refugees — people who have been forced to leave their homes because of dangerous situations.

Nov 01 2019

Serena knew her family was different, but she didn’t know why. Her family celebrated Christmas, even though no one else did. And they seemed to live by a different set of rules than everyone else. As Serena grew up, she realized her parents were different because they were Christians in a Muslim society. She accepted Christ when she was 15 years old and started attending her parents’ underground church. But then the unthinkable happened — their church was discovered. Serena’s parents were able to escape to Austria, but Serena had to stay behind. For nine months she was in hiding,…

Life as a missionary is a constant learning experience, but there are some things that would be good to know before you head to the field. Keep reading to find out what they are!

Oct 18 2019

Missionary life can be both a wild adventure and, at times, a struggle. But there is one thing for sure — being a missionary is a learning experience. Whether you’re getting ready to head to the field, or you have years of missionary experience, there is always more to learn. I talked with some of our missionaries about things they wish someone had told them before they went to the mission field. Find the right fit Just like with anything else, no missionary work will be all fun all the time. There is no such thing as a perfect fit….

Archive - 2019

Ruined by Gambling, Redeemed by Christ

Minorities in Missions: When You’ve Never Fit in Anywhere

TEAM Eats: Kolachkes

How to Navigate Pregnancy on the Mission Field

What’s Happening at Christmas (December Prayer Focus)

TEAM Eats: Aşure (Noah’s Ark Pudding)

The Refugee Who Built a Gospel Shelter for Refugees

When God Calls a Church Planter to Reach Refugees

Fleeing Home, Finding Hope [November Prayer Focus]

What You Need to Know Before Becoming a Missionary