Ministry Updates Archives - TEAM Christian Missions Blog

Same Spirit, New Song: Pioneers of the Global Church

Two children walking in a village in Chad.

TEAM Chad stands as an example of a globalized workforce taking the Gospel to the unreached.

Sep 04 2023

‘Pioneer’ is not a term to be used lightly – it’s a term of respect and an acknowledgment of the challenges that must be overcome for those first to settle into new territory. A pioneer must break ground to carve a way forward for others that dare to follow behind. TEAM’s work in the global Church in 2023 includes an increasingly globalized Kingdom workforce. God is raising up disciples from all over the world to take the Gospel message to the unreached. Asule and Neipe are beautiful examples of this. Born and raised in the Nagaland area of India, they…

Women sitting and talking behind a clothes line.

TEAM Chad has a long history of faithful women as an enduring force for Kingdom work.

Aug 01 2023

In 1927, Victor and Florence Veary arrived in southern Chad looking for the Laka tribe. Ninety years later, the fruits of that labor include the largest evangelical denomination in Chad. TEAM Chad has a long history of women being an important part of this enduring work. For this month’s Ministry Update, we highlight four women who have served extraordinarily long and impactful careers in Chad. Mechthild Roth Chad is a nation with over 128 languages. This poses a significant challenge for translating and teaching the Bible. After an internship in 1988, Mechthild, a member of SAHEL LIFE Mission…

Steve Maybee and his Member Care team support global workers through all the ups and downs of missional life.

Jul 03 2023

This month we finish up our series on TEAM’s Defining Values by focusing on “Caring Community.” TEAM’s Member Care department exists to foster caring community within TEAM by providing emotional and spiritual support to global workers and staff. Caroline Peterson sat down with Director of Member Care, Steve Maybee to discuss the purpose and heart behind Member Care. Called to Care and Support Steve Maybee got into Member Care after getting his master’s in clinical psychology. He and his wife served overseas in Eastern Europe, and it was there that he saw the needs of expatriates (people living outside…

Despite opposition and personal sacrifice, global workers exemplify “Passionate Service” that goes well beyond surface level.

Jun 01 2023

Author’s Note: Here on the blog for the past few months, we’ve been featuring stories that exemplify each of TEAM’s Defining Values. As we came to the value of “Passionate Service,” I knew I wanted to share a story about a TEAM missionary with a passion for cross-cultural service. Here’s what God showed me in the meantime. A New Adventure I held my breath and kicked hard for the surface. Snorkeling in the teal blue waters off the coast of the Philippines was a new adventure for me. For the first few minutes, I had stayed close to the…

For TEAM workers Barry and Dawn, a posture of lifelong learning comes from reflecting on all that God has done.

May 01 2023

In this series of TEAM Ministry Updates, we’re sharing stories that highlight each of TEAM’s defining values. The following narrative is shared by Barry Winchell, a second-generation TEAM global worker who served in the U.S. and Italy and now acts as one of TEAM’s Regional Executive Directors. Barry shares this story as a beautiful iteration of “Lifelong Learning.” When I reflect on TEAM’s value of Lifelong Learning my thoughts tend to consider the future and how we need to keep learning and growing as we move into the days to come. Imagine my amazement when I recently encountered this…

In ministry partnerships around the corner or across the globe, creativity and flexibility are key in our ever-changing world.

Apr 04 2023

In this series of TEAM Ministry Updates, we’re sharing stories that highlight each of TEAM’s defining values. The following narrative is shared by “Samantha” (name changed), a TEAM Ukraine global worker, as an example of the value of “Creative Vision.” A common saying among overseas workers is the adage, “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be easily broken.” Although not technically numbered among The Beatitudes, this truth is one that all who minister cross-culturally should keep in the back of their minds. Maybe we should even cross-stitch it on a pillow and place it somewhere we have to…

Deep generosity prompted local believers to invite TEAM into a partnership to provide better access to a Gospel training center.

Mar 01 2023

In this series of TEAM Ministry Updates, we’re sharing stories that highlight each of TEAM’s defining values. The following narrative is shared by a TEAM Asia global worker as an example of the value of “Church Focus.” As the motorbike bumped and slid over a rough and muddy track, I was doing my best to contain my emotions. On one hand, I was partially terrified of falling off and being injured in a very remote part of southeast Asia with medical help at least a half day away. Simultaneously, I was excited. This trip was the culmination of several years…

Sunshine through the city buildings in Italy.

“Alba” in Italian means “Sunrise.” And that’s just what the Alba Safe House and Recovery Program in Italy is all about…the sun rising on a brighter day for women in need of a new start.

Jan 17 2023

For many of us, when we think of Italy, we envision the breathtaking architecture, stunning landscapes, and incredible food. But what we may not know is that Italy is also home to a subculture that can be cruel to the weak and vulnerable. Prostitution is legal in Italy, and the infrastructure for social services is sparse, even for its own citizens. For these reasons among others, Italy is an epicenter for sex trafficking. The result is a sea of women, many of them foreigners in a country far from their own. They are trapped in the sex industry but…

Dec 15 2022

As 2022 draws to a close, all of us here at TEAM are so grateful for the many things God has done in our midst throughout the world. We wish that we could share EVERY story from TEAM’s 500+ global workers and their ministries! But even though we can’t (think how tired my typing fingers would be!), it is our joy and blessing to feature one story each month in our Ministry Updates. For December, we thought you might enjoy hearing some Ministry Update….updates! Here are some new reports from the folks you “met” here on the blog throughout the…

River running through Am Timan in Africa.

God has uniquely positioned TEAM Chad to help build a literal bridge of hope over troubled waters.

Nov 17 2022

Life in the sub-Saharan country of Chad is not easy. In this landlocked African nation twice the size of Texas, there is only one major airport and few paved roads. With problems such as water-borne illness and poor sanitation, Chad has one of the lowest life expectancies of any nation in the world. And yet Chad is a harvest field that is desperate for the Light. For TEAM global workers Scott and Eric, as well as their wives and families, Chad is home. Here among nomadic Muslim people groups in southeastern Chad, God uses TEAM’s holistic approach to ministry to…

Category - Ministry Updates

Same Spirit, New Song: Pioneers of the Global Church

Unwavering Faithfulness in Chad

Caring for a Global Community

Diving Deep for the Gospel

A Legacy of Lifelong Learning

Blessed are the Flexible

Walking the Path Together

Sunrise on a New Beginning

Looking Back on Stories from 2022: God’s Work Continues

Building a Bridge of Hope