Carrie Mills, Author at TEAM Christian Missions Blog

8 Public Speaking Tips for Missionaries

Missionary, does the thought of public speaking make your palms sweat? To help, here are eight public speaking tips to help you rock your next presentation.

May 15 2017

As a missionary, a big part of your job is building relationships with supporters. Public speaking is a great way to share your story and invite a large number of people into partnership with your ministry at one time. It’s also a great way to make even the most outgoing person break a sweat! Public speaking is one of the biggest fears people face. In fact, 74 percent of people admit to getting nervous before giving a speech. Whether you get a few butterflies or downright freeze in front of people, you’re not alone. But you don’t have to let…

Fundraising for your short-term missions trip can be difficult. Here are seven tips to make fundraising for mission trips a blessing instead of a burden.

Jan 25 2016

So, you’re ready to go on a short-term mission trip. Awesome! You’ve done your research, completed your application and gotten your immunizations. Now comes the best part: fundraising. For many, raising support is the toughest part of going on a mission trip. There are so many myths and falsehoods surrounding support raising, (Fundraising is asking for handouts. It will alienate my friends. It’s another step I have to do before I can start my real ministry.…) that it’s easy to lose sight of the blessing fundraising brings to all who are involved. You’re not just asking people to write a check,…

The Pagaragans work in Japan.

Jul 30 2015

Meet Team Kibou: Jeff, Kelly, Taylor, Bailey, Kendyl, Reagan, and Colson Pagaragan. Originally from Hawaii, they are a fun, bubbly family serving with TEAM in Japan. The Pagaragan’s vision is to “bring hope for the future to the unreached in Japan by spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ everywhere.” In Japanese, “kibou” means hope or a belief grounded on substantial evidence. The Pagaragans are a perfect example of the hope of the gospel and grounded belief that comes from trusting Christ. Jeff and Kelly are in language training and will be working with the Tokyo Metro Ministry Initiative…

Glenn Skala works in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Jun 02 2015

Each month, we will feature a TEAM missionary in our new Photo Journal series. See what it’s like to live and work overseas through the eyes of the missionaries themselves. Don’t forget to check back each month for a new missionary and ministry area! Meet Glenn, a TEAM missionary in Guadalajara, Mexico. Glenn grew up in Illinois, and his missions experience began during high school, when he went on four short-term mission trips with his youth group. During college at Taylor University, Glenn continued going on mission trips, organizing and advocating for missions at his school. “It was through these experiences…

There are multiple ways to use social media to connect with others, and we’re here to answer your most frequently asked questions. Photo by Robert Johnson/TEAM

Nov 21 2014

Welcome to our three-part series on how missionaries can use social media to connect with friends and supporters. Be sure to check out our first post where we shared tips on how to use Facebook for your ministry, and the second post in our series that focused on how to make the most out of your blog. We frequently receive the same questions from missionaries about Facebook, Twitter, blogging and more, and have compiled some general ideas and suggestions based on these conversations. We understand that there are countless resources for learning about and managing social media; our hope is to…

Your supporters want to know what is going on in your life and in your ministry, and blogging is the perfect way to keep them up-to-date. Photo by Robert Johnson/TEAM

Oct 21 2014

Welcome to our second installment of our three-part series on how missionaries can use social media to connect with friends and supporters. Be sure to check out our first post where we shared tips on how to use Facebook for your ministry! We frequently hear the same questions from missionaries about Facebook, Twitter, blogging and more, and have compiled some general ideas and suggestions based on these conversations. We understand that there are countless resources for learning about and managing social media; our hope is to simply invite you to discover new ways of using these tools to connect with…

Tawanda shows off his newest kid with pride. He was given a goat through the goat project a number of years ago and has now grown the number of goats he owns to four. Photo by Robert Johnson/TEAM

Sep 30 2014

Over 1.4 million people living in Zimbabwe, fifteen percent of the population, have been diagnosed with AIDs1. By 2011, there were one million children living in Zimbabwe who had been orphaned as a result of parents dying from AIDs2. In a land plagued by disease, mothers are often unable to nurse due to health concerns. Many children are orphaned at a young age, left alone to find nourishment or die. Zimbabweans are facing the harsh realities of the AIDS epidemic, and countless children and orphans are suffering as a result. Karanda Mission Hospital, located in northern Zimbabwe, provides community healthcare,…

Social media can be an excellent tool for engaging others in your ministry. Photo by Robert Johnson/TEAM

Sep 11 2014

Blogging, tweeting, posting and sharing are fabulous ways to share about your ministry, but navigating the world of social media and online communication can seem confusing and overwhelming. We’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be! Today, you’re reading the first installment of a three-part series on how missionaries can use social media to connect with friends and supporters. We frequently hear the same questions from missionaries about Facebook, Twitter, blogging, and more, and have compiled some general ideas and suggestions based on these conversations. We understand that there are countless resources for learning about and managing…

[VIDEO] Chad: A Final Frontier

Massive. Diverse. Ready. The country of Chad is often called the last frontier of Africa. Landlocked in the northern region of Central Africa, Chad faces many challenges, but the opportunities for outreach and community development are immeasurable. The country encompasses over 130 ethnic groups – each with its own language, culture, and need to hear the gospel in unique way. By building deep, long-term relationships, TEAM missionaries are transforming lives and growing the church in Chad through programs for education, agriculture, clean water, healthcare, social justice and more.

Chad is one of the poorest, most troubled countries on the continent of Africa. This challenging and diverse country also presents one of the greatest opportunities for outreach. You can make a difference right now, right where you are. We encourage you to pray for Chad and the TEAM missionaries who are sharing the love of Jesus to this predominately Muslim nation. Pray also for more “people of peace” – men and women who are open and accepting of the ministry efforts of TEAM missionaries.

Want to know more about Chad? Visit chad.team.org, or download a copy of the latest Horizons magazine which features inspiring stories about what God is doing in Chad!

Aug 04 2014

By The (Text)Book

Partner with TEAM and South America Mission to provide tablet-based textbooks for Bolivian students. / Photo courtesy of SCCLC

Jul 29 2014

Summer is almost over, and within months students across the United States will be heading back to school. Pencils will be sharpened, backpacks will be stuffed, and new textbooks will be purchased. However, for many students in other countries, textbooks will be sparse, outdated or in poor condition. The Santa Cruz Christian Learning Center (SCCLC) is an ACSI accredited Christian school in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. A ministry of South America Mission, the Learning Center develops young leaders to be academically and spiritually grounded with a vision for impacting the world for Christ. The Learning Center relies on donations and tuition…

Author - Carrie Mills

8 Public Speaking Tips for Missionaries

7 Fundraising Tips for Your Short-Term Mission Trip

Photo Journal: Japan

Photo Journal: Guadalajara

Social Media for Missionaries (Part 3: FAQs)

Social Media for Missionaries (Part 2: Blogging)

[VIDEO] Zimbabwe: Life-Giving Goats

Social Media for Missionaries (Part 1: Facebook)

[VIDEO] Chad: A Final Frontier

By The (Text)Book