Missions Vocabulary 101

Suzanne Pearson • Jul 28, 2022

If you’re just beginning to explore what it means to be a missionary, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by words and phrases in the “language” of missions. Some terms are used the same way across various missions agencies and audiences, while others are specific to a given mission organization. So what does it all mean? Here’s a quick and easy guide to “Missions Vocabulary 101” to bring you right up to speed with the latest in missions lingo.


Key Terms in the “World” of Missions

Of course, we can’t speak for every partner in the international missions community, but here is a general glossary of terms and definitions for commonly used terms when discussing international Christian missions…

global Church – the body of believers in Jesus Christ around the world. As it says in Ephesians 4:4-6 , we have unity in Christ – “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” God raises up gifted leaders and organizations around the world who are dedicated to making disciples. TEAM has the privilege of serving and following global leaders with whom we can link arms as we serve Christ together.

global worker/missionary – a believer in Jesus who is called by God to fulfill the Great Commission – to reach others with the Gospel, to share the love of Jesus in a variety of ways, and to help build His Church around the world. TEAM and many others involved in international missions use the term “global worker,” which is synonymous with “missionary” in most contexts.

globalization – the process that is occurring within the world of missions in which local churches around the world are taking the lead in reaching their own cultures and communities with the Gospel of Christ, with global workers assisting and supporting those efforts. “This shift is something God is doing,” says TEAM’s International Director, Dave Hall. “TEAM’s 21st century vision to support and serve the expanding global Church is no less exciting or timely than TEAM founder Fredrik Franson ’s call for faithful witnesses in China over 130 years ago.”

polycentric sending – the mobilization of global workers into missions from all over the globe; not just North America. Traditionally, the majority of global workers originated in the United States or Canada, where they were trained and then “sent” into the rest of the world. Increasingly, the Great Commission is being fulfilled by global workers who are called from many different places!



nationals/national believers – believers who are indigenous to the region and culture where they are living and following Jesus. The terms “nationals” or “national believers” are preferred over the more traditional term “natives” which can have negative connotations.

cross-cultural ministry – ministry that takes place when people who are indigenous to one culture or community serve and minister to people in another culture. Cross-cultural ministry can take place even within localities that are not the original or home country those being served. In fact, if you’re considering cross-cultural missions, it’s a great idea to find ways to interact with and serve people from another culture in your own local area first.

intracultural ministry – ministry that takes place when people who are native to one culture or community serve and minister to others within that same culture. Believers engaging in intracultural ministry have the advantage of understanding the worldview and background of their culture and can more easily avoid being seen as outsiders.

missions organization / missions agency – TEAM and other organizations train and equip global workers to serve, support them each step of the way, and provide an infrastructure that will maximize their effectiveness in missions and their partnership with local, indigenous churches. No single organization is right for everyone. TEAM is pleased to collaborate with several other missions organizations as a part of the Therefore Alliance , working together to share Christ with the world.


TEAM has created “A Guide to Becoming a Missionary” to walk you through questions to consider before stepping into missions. Get yours free !


missiology –
GotQuestions.org defines missiology as “the science of the cross-cultural communication of the Christian faith.” Essentially, it means studying the way we fulfill the Great Commission. Missiology generally involves biblical theology (what does the Bible teach), anthropology (how do humans live) and history.

sending church – TEAM works closely with local churches on both ends of the “equation” – what may be referred to as sending churches and receiving churches. Sending churches are those who support and pray for believers from their congregation who undertake mission work.

receiving church – Receiving churches are those who seek to do or are already doing the work of missions in their own community. They “receive” global workers to come alongside them and assist in the ministry. Both sending and receiving churches need a heart to be a “missional church.”

missional church – churches with a vision and heart for holistic ministries outside their local assemblies. They are marked by the God-given desire to proclaim and embody the Gospel in spiritually dark places. This mandate has been given to His Church, and TEAM seeks to multiply churches with that expansive vision for the nations within their context.

Missionary Kid (MK)/Third-Culture Kid (TCK) – Children growing up primarily on the mission field or as a part of an overseas missionary family are often called missionary kids or “MK’s.” Another term that is increasingly used is “ third-culture kid ” or “TCK.”

Girl pulling a horse in Mexico.

Missionary kids or “MK’s” often serve alongside their parents in ministry.


home assignment –
Temporary furloughs or sabbaticals taken by global workers during which they return “home” to their country of origin for a time of rest and reconnection with family, friends, and sending/supporting churches.

host country – the receiving country where a global worker is living and serving.


Key Terms Used in the “World” of TEAM

That’s not to say that we use these terms exclusively – some are used by other organizations in the same way, while others may be used but have a different meaning.

TEAM – Our name is an acronym standing for The Evangelical Alliance Mission. TEAM has been preparing and deploying global workers for over 130 years. Read our history here .

Mobilization – At TEAM, our Mobilization Department connects with individuals and families interested in missions, answers your questions and helps you see if TEAM is a good fit to help you fulfill your calling! If you’re interested in missions, but aren’t sure what that journey might look like, TEAM’s Mobilization team would love to answer all your questions. You can connect with a missions coach here .

Learning & Development – TEAM’s Department of Learning and Development equips well-prepared workers and life-long learners for ongoing effectiveness, joyfulness, and fulfillment in life and ministry as they carry out TEAM’s mission and values. In other words, “L & D” helps make sure TEAM missionaries are equipped and trained every step of their missions journey!

Member Care – TEAM’s Member Care Department offers a variety of services to our global workers in all seasons and walks of life. Member Care provides support and resources for raising children as well as during times of transition or difficulties. Services through Member Care begin as soon as you begin your missions journey all the way through the exiting/retirement process and beyond.

Advancement – As a Christ-centered nonprofit organization, TEAM is called to the highest standards of biblical stewardship and financial accountability. TEAM’s Advancement Department oversees fundraising and donor relations, ensuring the effective stewardship of God’s provision for the advancement of the Gospel.


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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