July 2020 - TEAM Christian Missions Blog

Maintaining Friendships While Living Abroad

A group of women laugh and talk together.

Maintaining friendships can be a challenge — especially when there are oceans of separation. Keep reading to see some helpful ways to maintain the relationships.

Jul 28 2020

Long distance friendships are hard. In the last year, whether we live far away or not, we’ve all had to find new and creative ways to maintain relationships while being physically distant from each other. For those of us who live a plane ride away from close friends and family, this is nothing new. Here are some of the ideas and truths I’ve learned over years of maintaining friendships while living abroad. Choose What Apps Work for You What a blessing it is to live in an age with such great technology available to us! While Facebook and Instagram are…

TEAM Christian missionaries ministering to a local kid in Mexico

COVID-19 is changing much about missions. But does that mean you should put your plans for cross-cultural ministry on hold?

Jul 21 2020

For years, the missions community has talked about how the world is globalizing. We’ve told you it’s easier than ever to go abroad and live a life of cross-cultural service for God. But these days, travel isn’t so easy. If you had dreams of becoming a missionary before COVID-19, you might be wondering: Should I just wait to pursue missions until COVID-19 is over? What if I raise support and then have to cancel my short-term mission trip? What if the country I want to serve won’t let me in because of COVID-19 safeguards? They’re all reasonable concerns. Yet, God…

Two teen girls ride horses during equine program. This is one way Rancho el Camino does missions in Mexico

Equine classes at Rancho el Camino are a chance to learn discipline, patience and what it means to follow God.

Jul 17 2020

You don’t find Rancho el Camino without a bit of determination. Driving away from the beautiful beaches of La Paz, Mexico, you take the highway to the outskirts of town and turn sharply onto a dusty, bumpy, gravel road. But as you draw closer, you may just sense what has attracted so many people before you. People say they feel something different at the ranch. Some are moved to tears. Others demand to know what causes the strange sensation. Over the years, TEAM missionaries Pete and Emily Johnson have come to see the ranch as a “thin space.” It’s a…

Ask: What is the biblical basis for missions?

Jul 13 2020

Before we jump into the biblical basis for Christian missions, we need to make sure we’re working with the same definitions. First, let’s define the term “Christian missions” as the task of spreading the Good News of Jesus to all people everywhere. Second, we’ll define “biblical basis” as evidence in the Bible that God wants us to do or believe something. It’s not enough for an act to simply be found in the Bible. We need to see that the act has God’s endorsement. With these definitions, God’s call to global evangelism can be found from Genesis to Revelation….

Money and face mask to illustrate raising missionary support during COVID-19

Raising missionary support is intimidating enough under normal circumstances. What do you need to know about doing during COVID-19? Photo by Bermix Studio.

Jul 08 2020

Support raising is one of the most daunting parts of becoming a missionary — especially during an economic downturn. But according to TEAM stewardship coach Jennifer Nickels, it doesn’t have to be. With the right perspective, she says, raising missionary support can actually be a blessing. We sat down with Nickels to find out how to view support raising as a ministry and do it successfully in the midst of a global crisis. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Raising support is often one of the most intimidating parts of becoming a missionary. Why do you think…

Missionaries do so much to serve their communities — and so do their kids! This month will you join us in praying for these kids and the unique challenges they face?

Jul 01 2020

As a missionary kid, Allison got an early education on serving others. So, when the fifth-grader noticed there were a lot of homeless dogs and people in the area, she wanted to help! Allison tried to bring a stray dog home so she could take care of him, but that didn’t work. So then she decided to start her own ministry. She called it “Snow Angel.” Allison’s ministry focused on helping the homeless by collecting donations. She put donated mittens, gloves, hats and socks in gift bags and started passing them out to homeless people on the streets. “[Allison], like…

Archive - July 2020

Maintaining Friendships While Living Abroad

Should You Pursue Missions During COVID-19?

The Ranch Where Heaven Meets Earth

Ask TEAM: What is the Biblical Basis for Christian Missions?

How to Raise Missionary Support During COVID-19

3 Ways to Pray for Missionary Kids [July Prayer Focus]