Covid-19 Archives - TEAM Christian Missions Blog

COVID is Still Changing Our Ministries — and God is Still Working

Covid-19 has cost many missionaries access to their host countries. New strategies and perseverance are vital for the work to continue.

Sep 23 2021

As I write this from Asia, we are weary from yet another round of strict restrictions on travel and gatherings. The world entered the third wave in June; Asia is facing some of our hardest days yet. Today, six countries in Asia are in the top 10 countries facing the highest new cases per day. Eighteen months ago, one colleague was out of her host country for the New Year’s break when COVID-19 hit. The borders were closed, and she returned to the States. She’s now been stateside for more than a year. Another colleague was in the United States…

With limited internet access, one Peruvian church has had to think differently about how to do church during an ongoing pandemic.

Jun 10 2021

Throughout the pandemic, churches have celebrated the power of online services. People who would never have set foot in a church could casually hop online for a bit of hope. But for people in the community of Ciudad de Dios, going online for church is an impossible luxury. Located on the outskirts of Arequipa, Peru, the neighborhood is made of people working simple jobs with meager wages. Any internet access comes in the form of cell phone data. And with schools online during COVID-19, families have had to use most of their data for their children’s educations. Now, well into…

When Steve and Lois Dresselhaus invite you to kayak, be ready for deep conversations about God and worship at sea.

May 13 2021

TEAM missionary Steve Dresselhaus was in his usual place of worship on Sunday morning. Not in a sanctuary, but in nature. Not with a congregation, but with fellow ocean enthusiasts. Not in a pew, but in the seat of a kayak on the Sea of Cortez. One of his friends paddled up. “Steve, I like this church,” the man told him. A Ministry Born out of Burnout On any given week, Steve and Lois Dresselhaus see church happening around their dinner table, in a kayak, in someone’s yard, on a hike or in their living room. It takes place during…

COVID-19 is keeping missionaries from returning to their countries of service. Here's how you can pray for them.

Dec 01 2020

Some missionaries take years to raise their support. Most take many months. Iona and Perry* raised their full support in just 102 days. And they did it in the middle of global pandemic. Any other year, people might have seen such success as God rushing the couple to the mission field. But it’s been six months since the couple finished raising their support, and they’re still waiting to go. “We were planning on leaving for Southeast Asia in September 2020, but that ship has sailed, and we are still in the U.S.,” Iona says. “The borders will not open for…

Missionary teachers, Durban Bible College

The school year is in full swing, and missionary teachers are trying to build a new normal for their students. Here are three ways you can pray.

Sep 01 2020

With schools back in gear (both online and in-person), now is a great time to pray for cross-cultural teachers and their students. With this new world we’re in, people have been making some tough decisions. Administrators had to decide how to provide good educations while keeping everyone safe — and that doesn’t look the same everywhere. Teachers are working to create quality experiences online and through social distancing. And many students are filled with fear of catching COVID-19. In times like these, the best thing we can do for missionary-teachers and the children they serve is pray. Keep reading to…

TEAM Christian missionaries ministering to a local kid in Mexico

COVID-19 is changing much about missions. But does that mean you should put your plans for cross-cultural ministry on hold?

Jul 21 2020

For years, the missions community has talked about how the world is globalizing. We’ve told you it’s easier than ever to go abroad and live a life of cross-cultural service for God. But these days, travel isn’t so easy. If you had dreams of becoming a missionary before COVID-19, you might be wondering: Should I just wait to pursue missions until COVID-19 is over? What if I raise support and then have to cancel my short-term mission trip? What if the country I want to serve won’t let me in because of COVID-19 safeguards? They’re all reasonable concerns. Yet, God…

Two men sit outside at a table and talk. Feature photo: Preparing for missions during COVID-19

COVID-19 has forced us to adapt and live our lives in ways we never have before — kind of like missionaries. Turns out, preparing for missions during COVID-19 has big advantages.

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…

COVID-19 hasn't stopped God's work! From aid packages to medical evacuations, see how God is using missionaries in Latin America!

May 14 2020

“Leche!” shouts a little boy. He grabs the can of milk out of a bag and starts hugging and kissing it. Missionaries pitch in to buy a coffin so their friend can be buried in the cemetery instead of a mass COVID-19 grave. Churches pool their money and start committees to provide food for the neediest families in their neighborhoods. When the new coronavirus turned into a pandemic, many people wondered, “Will COVID-19 put global missions on hold?” And while missions does look a bit different these days, we’re happy to report that God is still working to transform lives. …

Apr 01 2020

News about COVID-19 is everywhere, bombarding us with frightening and overwhelming reports. As Christians, we know we can bring the scary and overwhelming to God. But where do we start? How do we pray effectively and purposefully when it feels like the whole world has descended into chaos? This month, we’re focusing our prayers on people impacted by COVID-19. Keep reading to see specific ways you can pray for missionaries (and everyone else) who are being impacted by COVID-19 and the precautions taken to stop the spread. 1. Pray against loneliness for people in isolation. God created people to…

Join us today in praying Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Mar 13 2020

Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God”, is a favorite verse for retreats at mountain cabins and lakeside cottages. But the psalm itself assumes a very different setting. In verse 1, God is an ever-present help, and again in verses 4, 5, 7, and 11, His presence brings courage and strength. But have you noticed that in verses 2, 3, and 6, the ‘nations are in uproar”? The invitation to be still and to seek God takes place in the midst of chaos and worldly drama, not in a quiet sanctuary. It reminds us of Habakkuk who…

Tag - Covid-19

COVID is Still Changing Our Ministries — and God is Still Working

When Your Church Still Can’t Meet in Person — or Online

Building House Churches Through Outdoor Adventures

How to Pray for Missionaries in Limbo During COVID-19

How to Pray for Missionary Teachers During COVID-19

Should You Pursue Missions During COVID-19?

How COVID-19 Can Prepare You for Missions

Hope Amid Death: COVID-19 Ministry in Latin America

Praying Through COVID-19 [April Prayer Focus]

Praying Psalm 46 in a Time of Crisis