December 2020 - TEAM Christian Missions Blog

Silent Night: A Guatemalan Christmas Story

TEAM missionary Joe Dorris learned that the familiar story of Christ’s birth isn’t so familiar in Guatemala — even for those raised in church.

Dec 22 2020

It was a cozy December night in 2017. Outside the apartment window, a resounding chorus of stray dogs and feral cats raised their voices in inharmonious unity. Inside, the cheerful sounds of laughter and hearty conversation combined with the warm smell of Guatemalan tamales and sweet ponche drink to bring about the cozy feeling that is known as Christmastime. “Ok everyone,” I announced. “To the living room. Study time.” The roughly ten guys rose sloth-like from the dinner table and migrated their full stomachs towards living room, where the sofa and chairs hungrily awaited, ready to swallow them whole. I…

No matter how far they go, missionaries are always part of their local church — and their local church should always be part of their lives.

Dec 16 2020

There are a few different ways to approach this question. We often think of the missionary’s role in the global Church, but the missionary also plays a critical role in their local church. We can also turn this question around and ask what the church’s role is in the life of a missionary. What is the missionary’s role in the global Church? Like all believers, missionaries are part of a much bigger story than what they see in their local context. For one, missionaries prevent the Church from getting stagnant. One missionary described it as cross-pollination. When missionaries interact with…

What do you do when your Bible study books arrive in the wrong language? You could send them back — or you could see how God planned to use them.

Dec 10 2020

Heidi’s plan was simple: Teach her favorite Kay Arthur Bible study at church. Watch women grow in Christ. She ordered a dozen copies of the book in English, a common language in the Middle Eastern country where she served. But when the shipment arrived, something was horribly wrong. “There they were, 12 beautiful books, but … they were all in the Russian language!” Heidi says. Heidi’s co-worker said to send the books back. But Heidi realized God must have a plan. “OK, God, … You have brought these books in,” Heidi prayed, “and so we will keep them and give…

COVID-19 is keeping missionaries from returning to their countries of service. Here's how you can pray for them.

Dec 01 2020

Some missionaries take years to raise their support. Most take many months. Iona and Perry* raised their full support in just 102 days. And they did it in the middle of global pandemic. Any other year, people might have seen such success as God rushing the couple to the mission field. But it’s been six months since the couple finished raising their support, and they’re still waiting to go. “We were planning on leaving for Southeast Asia in September 2020, but that ship has sailed, and we are still in the U.S.,” Iona says. “The borders will not open for…

Archive - December 2020

Silent Night: A Guatemalan Christmas Story

What is the Role of a Missionary in the Church?

What God Can Do with 12 Books in the Wrong Language

How to Pray for Missionaries in Limbo During COVID-19