July 2019 - TEAM Christian Missions Blog

4 Ways Busy Pastors Can Engage in Missions

A busy pastor checks his phone to keep up with his work.

Sometimes the busyness of pastor life makes it difficult to engage in missions. Keep reading to see ways you can help give your church a global perspective.

Jul 25 2019

Yes, you want your church to engage in missions. But you also want to get home before 9 p.m. at least one day this week, right? As a pastor, you likely have a long to-do list and are an expert at balancing priorities. As one mentor told me when I first became a children’s pastor, “It’s all about spinning plates, and most weeks, you are deciding which plate is OK to fall and break.” While most pastors would agree they want their church to engage in missions, it’s easy for missions to become an afterthought or goal for after things…

This month we made an asian green bean dish from Taiwan.

Check out this delicious recipe for sz ji dou, which one of our missionaries in Taiwan affectionately calls "funny beans."

Jul 22 2019

My husband and I both grew up as missionary kids in Taiwan. This meant growing up eating Chinese food. My mother would often bring home unusual-looking beans from the market. They were dark green and very long. We grew up calling these beans “funny beans”. As adults, we have come to love eating what we now know to be called sz ji dou ( 四季豆 ) at local restaurants. This dish is those same familiar funny beans fried up with a delicious sauce. Although this recipe does not quite match the texture of the restaurant dish, the flavors are terrific….

Sibo attended Bible college under TEAM missionaries

Thanks to supporters like you, Sibo got to to pursue God's call on her life at Swaziland Evangelical Bible College.

Jul 19 2019

Growing up in the southern African nation of eSwatini, Sibonginkhosi (Sibo) had two kinds of dreams. She had goals and aspirations for what she would do and become as she prepared to launch into her future. But the dreams she experienced during sleep were quite different. Sometimes she saw herself teaching God’s Word, or singing in a church, or praying for the sick. In other dreams, a spiritual mentor urged her, “Choose the calling!” And during her waking hours, Sibo kept hearing the same message from trusted friends and leaders. A Childhood of Scarcity The middle child of seven children,…

What does it really take to be a missionary? Keep reading to see some of the qualifications for being successful on the field!

Jul 08 2019

As a missions coach, one of the questions I receive is, “What do I need to do to be qualified for missions?” Many people nail down the “who” and the “where” before they address the “what” in their missionary call. But as one missionary in the Middle East, Neena*, explains, “Our ‘call’ to another country does not exempt us from any further duties.” When it comes to being effective cross-cultural witnesses, being strategically equipped is just as important has having a personal calling. For some, that equipping means attending seminary to be the best church leader you can be. For…

Archive - July 2019

4 Ways Busy Pastors Can Engage in Missions

TEAM Eats: Sz Ji Dou (Funny Beans)

When Crazy Dreams Become Reality

How Do I Become Qualified for Missions?