How COVID-19 Can Prepare You for Missions

Bethany DuVal • May 22, 2020

If you’re an aspiring missionary, COVID-19 may seem like a major roadblock to your plans. Short-term trips are being postponed. Carefully planned timelines for departure are now in shambles. And everyone keeps talking about how “the world will never be the same.”

But Beth Fussner, a former missionary and TEAM ’s learning and development project director, sees things with a bit more optimism.

“There’s so many times when God’s people were on delays and detours. … And all of those things, when you look at the Scripture, at the stories, you realize that God either caused them or used them ,” Fussner says.

Like many in the cross-cultural ministry world, she thinks people preparing for missions during COVID-19 have a distinct advantage. But first, aspiring missionaries need to understand what’s being handed to them.

A Sneak Peek at Culture Shock

No matter how many missionary biographies you read, you can’t truly know what missionary life is like until you live it. A large part of this is culture shock — that sense of cultural disorientation you get when immersed in a different society.

If you’ve been on a short-term mission trip , you’ve probably experienced a measure of this. But even then, you could rest in the fact that you were returning to your home culture soon.

Long-term missionaries don’t have that comfort. And now, neither do we.

We’re all walking through culture shock.

Remember the first time you walked into a grocery store in mid-March 2020? Trying to figure out what was actually available? Wondering if you could find it at another store?

Missionaries face something similar when they move abroad. Suddenly, everyday necessities are rare, valuable finds at the grocery store.

A missionary works with and interacts with locals.

In part, culture shock means not knowing society’s rules or what is safe. Sound familiar? Preparing for missions during COVID-19 lets you see how you deal with culture shock right now.

Or consider masks. Did you ever imagine a day when being surrounded by people in masks would make you feel safe ? Or when people might judge you as either fearful or irresponsible based on whether you did or didn’t wear one?

In a new culture, Fussner says, “the societal norms of what makes you feel safe or threatened are completely different. … And you’re not really sure how to read what is appropriate, what is not appropriate.”

It can be frustrating, frightening and depressing all at once. But this season of culture shock can also be much more.

With the right strategies, preparing for missions during COVID-19 can give you knowledge most missionaries never have until they hit the field. And even as things reopen, continual reflection how you dealt with limitations will give you unique insights to yourself.

Learn from Your Anxieties and Outbursts

One of culture shock’s hallmarks is a globalized sense of anxiety. There’s so much to navigate, and it’s so hard to know which threats are real, that you just carry anxiety about everything.

Many of us have found ourselves in that place during COVID-19. But Fussner says now is the time to press into those anxieties.

“Because we’re challenged in different ways, we find out more things about ourselves,” Fussner says . “So, let it be a learning time. … How do I respond when I don’t have control? How do I respond when I can’t do the things I want to do? Or when I’m disappointed?”

As you ask those questions, use this time to create healthy habits . How will you go about finding information that can help you? How will you find joy in the midst of trials? How will you continue seeking God ?

Many missionaries get to the field and discover weaknesses. This is your chance to get a head start on learning how you need to grow. And if you’re reading this post-COVID-19, you can still reflect back on what challenged you and where you thrived.

For more helpful questions to ask during this time, check out TEAM’s Missions Readiness Assessment Guide! This is a great time to look at the sections on spiritual, mental and relational health. Get your free copy here .

Find Joy in the Simple Things

Shortly after Fussner arrived in Indonesia as a missionary, she and her husband went on a vital mission. It felt like ages since they’d had a cold beverage, and they were determined to find one.

“We managed to get to this store, and we bought ourselves a cold Coca-Cola … and felt like champions,” Fussner says.

Perhaps you’ve found yourself in a similar situation recently. You found that package of toilet paper, or made your first loaf of bread, or you connected with your never-at-home neighbor.

Celebrating these simple victories can be the key to joy when everything else is confusing and unfamiliar . Learn to enjoy them now, and you’ll carry that habit with you into the mission field.

A boy in Guatemala smiles for the camera.

Being able to find joy in the midst of unknowns is a key to success as a missionary, and it’s something we’re all learning in the midst of this pandemic.

Trust God to Answer Simple Prayers

If God has called you to anything, He will make the way for you to do it. But in our ordinary lives, we get wrapped up in all the things we can do to help God along. We pray for every possible contingency.

Living in the unknown forces us to pray more simply : “Lord, show me where I can find safe drinking water.” “Who can help me find the information I need?” “God, I just need a friend.”

On the mission field, Fussner was overcome by fear that her house would be broken into. It was her last thought at night and her first thought every morning. Finally, she prayed, “Help me with this fear. I just can’t be having this fear constantly.”

Within days, Fussner received a handwritten letter from an old friend, saying God had asked her to share Psalm 91:10 with her: “… no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.”

God stands ready to give you what you need, so start practicing simple prayer now . Ask God directly for what you need, expect Him to be faithful and celebrate that faithfulness.

Press into Relationships

In the midst of COVID-19 lockdowns, people are marveling over what they’ve learned about their family members and roommates. Living in close quarters has stressed relationships in many new ways .

“We are learning to give one another grace,” Fussner says, “and it becomes an intentional journey of saying, ‘I can’t run away from you, and I’m not going to run away from you, even emotionally.’”

That lesson is critical for missionary life. Expatriate communities have to be tightly knit because they depend on each other — for navigating daily life, for fellowship, for spiritual fulfillment and more . So, if your instinct is to run from relational conflict, you will struggle on the mission field.

But preparing for missions during COVID-19 gives you the chance to build healthy habits of communication and reconciliation. If you’re going to the field as a family, talk about how you’ll handle conflict. Learn each other’s vulnerabilities so you can build each other up. If you commit to growing together, you’ll come out stronger.

Learn to Live with Ambiguity

Pandemic or not, missionary plans change all the time. Maybe you don’t raise your support as fast as you thought you would. Or your visa doesn’t come through. Or you have a thriving ministry, and a new government official brings it to a halt.

Ask any missionary what qualities new missionaries need, and flexibility is bound to be on the list .

So, if COVID-19 has hindered your plans for missionary life, thank God for the lesson. This won’t be the last delay or disappointment you have while serving on the mission field. But it can be the foundation for a habit of taking your troubles to God.

Remember to pray simply. Tell God exactly what you are afraid will happen — or won’t happen . And if that thing happens, what are you afraid will be the result?

Then, ask God to show you what you can do right now .

Fussner suggests, “If you’ve never led a Bible study or discipled someone … that’s a good time to say, ‘Lord, I see these areas where I can grow in. Help me to know which ones of these I can take steps in now.’”

Even when your timeline is unsure, keep moving toward your goal, trusting that God will either bring it to pass or shut that door.

Remember that God is Faithful

Ultimately, if God wants you on the mission field, He will get you there. Even during the worst of COVID-19, aspiring missionaries were raising support and current missionaries were finding new ways to serve.

Life may look uncertain, but God is our sure foundation .

Don’t give up on the calling God has given you. Ask what He wants to teach you, and prepare for a life like nothing you could imagine.

By Suzanne Pearson 08 Mar, 2024
Through God-ordained partnerships and creative connections, TEAM worker Keith Moore sees the global Church advancing in amazing ways. In the global missions landscape, a phrase that comes up often is “from everywhere, to everywhere.” God is calling His global Church in literal new directions, as He raises up cross-cultural workers to be sent from places that were once on the receiving end of missions work. We call this movement “polycentric sending.” TEAM workers Dawn and Keith Moore have seen first-hand this transition taking place. Their story involves the unlikely but beautiful intersection of Charlotte, North Carolina; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Memphis, Tennessee...and beyond. The Path to Honduras Keith and Dawn joined TEAM in 1991 and served as church planters for nine years in Bogota, Colombia. After safety concerns precipitated their return to the States in 1999, they knew they wanted to continue serving in Latin America. The Moores felt called to Honduras but wanted to connect with a strong missional church to help send them. The Lord orchestrated a collaboration with Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. “Some people asked, ‘Why Honduras? Missionaries have been there for 100 years. It’s already reached,’” Keith says. “But there’s a whole section of Latin America that had not been reached - the upper crust.” Keith goes on to explain that he and Dawn felt called to reach college-educated professionals in Honduras – a ministry vision that resonated with the missional goals of Bellevue Baptist. Impact and Growth With the support of this new church partnership as well as another sending church in Birmingham, Alabama, the Moores embarked on their next adventure. Keith and Dawn started Impacto Honduras Church from scratch, and in less than 20 years, the church grew into four locations with 1600 total members. The Moores and other TEAM workers also created a “Bible school” type training program to help professionals who feel a call to ministry to make that transition. Throughout this period of explosive growth, church partnerships played an integral role. “It’s such a different vision when you have a church that says, ‘OK, this is our deal, we want to make this happen,’” Keith explains. “They helped us with everything. They took away every single obstacle to growth. Every time we needed something, they were there.” In 2017, the Moores once again found themselves on the verge of another decision. Was it time to leave Honduras? “I had no desire to leave,” Keith recalls. “People were coming to Christ every week! It was just so amazing.” However, back in the U.S., Keith and Dawn’s parents were in their 80s and would soon be in need of more care. “We realized that either we would leave in a crisis, or we would leave strategically,” says Keith. The couple began to implement a careful succession plan. By the time they left, the four churches were established with strong, Honduran leadership ready to carry on the work of the Gospel.
By Suzanne Pearson 23 Feb, 2024
Justin Burkholder, pictured here with his wife Jenny and their daughters Isabella, Olivia, and Zoey, has recently been named as TEAM’s next International Director. On February 19, 2024, with much excitement and gratitude to the Lord, TEAM announced that Justin Burkholder will become our organization’s new International Director, effective July 1, 2024. Justin, who is currently TEAM’s Executive Director of Global Ministry, will assume his new role upon the retirement of the current International Director, Dave Hall. ( Read the full press release here. ) We sat down recently with Justin to learn a little more about his background, his family, and the journey that has led him to TEAM. Q: Tell us a little bit about your “origin story” - Where did you grow up? What was your family like? A: I grew up in Mexico City as a missionary kid. My parents were focused on church planting. We were very close as a family. Both of my parents are still alive, and my dad serves as a pastor in southern Florida. I have one brother who is a pastor in Wisconsin, and the most special individual in my family is my sister, Amber. She was born with a very severe case of cerebral palsy and is entirely dependent on my mother...who is extraordinary! The three most impactful forces that have shaped who I am (outside of God’s grace) are growing up in Mexico, having parents who loved and planted churches, and sharing life with someone with a severe disability. My parents belonged at the time to a church and denomination that came with quite a bit of legalism and performance-oriented Christianity. Grace was a challenging concept to grasp. While I had an awareness of my sin and need for redemption, it wasn’t until I attended Moody Bible Institute that I began to grasp the fullness of God’s grace and His delight in His children. I have continued learning and trusting in the Gospel through formal education, like completing my M.Div., and through spiritual practices in community. Learning the Gospel and believing the Gospel has been a daily exercise. The Gospel is as beautiful and multi-faceted as a diamond! At an individual level, it is simple enough for us to live convinced that “Jesus loves me, this I know.” At a corporate level, it becomes the foundation that forms and informs our life as a spiritual family. At a cosmic level, it is redemption that reaches as far as the curse is found. It is hard to even grasp the multiplicity of goodness found in the Good News. Q: Share a little bit about your family life now. What does a typical day look like in the Burkholder household? A: My wife Jenny is my high-school sweetheart! She brings joy and kindness wherever she goes. She’s the best listener I’ve ever met, and we love spending time together. We have three daughters. Isabella is ten, Olivia is seven, and Zoey is four. Each of the girls is unique and has taught us a lot in our process of following Jesus together. We like to go out on walks and go to the park together. Once a month I try to get some alone time with each of my daughters which usually includes bowling or trampolines. A typical day in the Burkholder house starts around 5:00am. Because of traffic here in Guatemala City, we have to leave early for school. After school, the girls come home to different activities - sometimes swimming class, sometimes piano lessons. Four or five nights a week we have dinner together where we usually talk about our high and low moments of the day. On weekends, we enjoy time together, playing outside, or watching sports together. Go Cubs and Go Buckeyes! Q: What are your interests and hobbies? If you have the day off, what are you likely to be up to? A: I enjoy physical activity, running, strength-training and following sports. I also love music and, truth be told, am a bit snobby about my taste in music! I also am a very curious person and love reading just about anything that passes through my hands. A day off is usually an opportunity for time with family. Jenny and I like to cook something interesting together on our days off. Often there is time for some reading and watching some type of athletic event. Q: How did God lead you to TEAM? A: My wife and I were working in the Chicago suburbs. I was a youth pastor and she was a Spanish teacher. When we got married, we had already sensed God’s direction to serve cross-culturally, but it was a matter of discerning when and where. There was a driving desire in me to see a church deeply love the Scriptures and at the same time, be deeply engaged in loving and serving their city and the most vulnerable among them. As God directed our paths, we visited a variety of places and made some friends in Guatemala who opened up the path for us to serve here. While we were exploring, we knew that the International Director of an organization called TEAM happened to go to our church, so I decided I should probably invite him out for breakfast - his name was Charlie Davis. Charlie was extremely thoughtful, passionate about disciple-making, and very gracious in creating space for us as we stepped into this endeavor. Charlie connected me with Steve Dresselhaus, a fellow TEAM global worker who was at that time serving as the Senior Director for the Americas. I cannot express the debt that I owe Steve. He walked closely with me in the transition, encouraged courageous thinking about the church and her role in society, and blasted open the doors for us to serve in Guatemala. After meeting Steve, we spent some days praying about joining TEAM. One thing I will never forget – one night during the process, I found myself wide awake in the middle of the night. A peace like I have seldom experienced passed over me confirming that we should join TEAM. There is no doubt in my mind that God tied all of these pieces together to bring us into the TEAM family and community. Q: What roles have you held in TEAM? What have been the milestones in those roles? A: The most important role I have held in TEAM is that of a global worker. God in His grace has allowed us to help plant two churches here in Guatemala, serve in leadership development, counseling, and discipleship. Our greatest joy has been found walking with those who are learning to follow Christ more deeply. I served as the Ministry Area Leader in Guatemala from 2016 to 2019. We helped to establish and lead this ministry area as it grew from just four global workers to over 15. I then served as Senior Director for Mexico and Central America from 2019 to 2021, Regional Executive Director for the Americas in 2021 and 2022, and then transitioned to the role of Executive Director of Global Ministry which I’ll continue in until the end of June. Q: What do you love most about being a part of TEAM? Why TEAM rather than other organizations or job opportunities? A: The TEAM community is full of people who have faithfully served God’s mission and have given up a lot to do so. It is a privilege to know many of our global workers and be counted among them. I am also fascinated by the fact that TEAM has existed now for more than 130 years! There is something to be said about the resilience and faithfulness of an organization that has continued to impact the world for so long. The rest of our conversation with Justin will be coming soon on blog! We’ll hear more about how God called Justin to the role of International Director, and what Justin sees for the next chapter in TEAM’s work in the global Church.
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