Author - Debbie Stephens

1
How to Handle Culture Stress
2
How to Honor Your Parents When You’re Called to Missions

How to Handle Culture Stress

culture stress
Feeling tired, drained or frustrated while living overseas? You might be experiencing culture stress. Here's how to handle it and adapt to your new normal. Graphics by TEAM
Apr 24 2017
Browse archives for April 24, 2017
Debbie Stephens

Debbie Stephens is the Founder and President of Equipped To Go, a non-profit organization, that serves the local church and other non-profit organizations in equipping sent out ones. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband Alan. Debbie also joined the Upstream Collective team in 2010 and coordinates the Jet Set department. She is able to use her skills of training and equipping to prepare Jet Set teams for cross-cultural ministry.

All posts from Debbie Stephens
2
Latest Comment

Bethany

Thank you for this; I’m an American living in Asia (married to a native), and this was helpful. I realize…

Add your comment
Posted in

Missionary Life, Missions Resources

Tagged with ,

In the last 18 years, I have traveled to countries on nearly every continent. Every country I traveled to has taught me about culture and about myself. Through my travels, I have experienced things completely foreign to my definition of normal. I  have bathed and washed my hair in a bucket, slept in a treehouse, eaten with monkeys, been roommates with scorpions, used two boards as a toilet, traveled through the mountains in the back of a pickup truck and eaten foods I can’t pronounce. All of these experiences, while exciting, triggered culture stress in me, which can affect your…

Read More

How to Honor Your Parents When You’re Called to Missions

honor your parents
Following God overseas as a missionary is a decision that affects not only the missionary but also the missionary's parents left behind. It's possible to navigate these difficult conversations while honoring each other and God's calling. Photo by TEAM
Jul 14 2016
Browse archives for July 14, 2016
Debbie Stephens

Debbie Stephens is the Founder and President of Equipped To Go, a non-profit organization, that serves the local church and other non-profit organizations in equipping sent out ones. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband Alan. Debbie also joined the Upstream Collective team in 2010 and coordinates the Jet Set department. She is able to use her skills of training and equipping to prepare Jet Set teams for cross-cultural ministry.

All posts from Debbie Stephens
16
Latest Comment

Bethany DuVal

Karen, I mentioned your question to our member care department, and they had some additional suggestions. This site is designed…

Add your comment
Posted in

Becoming a Missionary

Tagged with , , , ,

I was sitting in a living room with a young man, his parents and another mentoring couple, when I realized the parent-child dynamic is strong and complex, even in adulthood. This young man was feeling called to serve cross-culturally, and there were tears, confusion, and confessions. How do you follow God in your calling and honor your parents, even if they are not on board?  As a missions mobilizer, I was curious and anxious as I thought about the strong emotional pull for potential missionaries to be both true to God and respectful and loving to their parents. I set out to…

Read More