Tag - Missionary

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Ten Takeaways from the Missional Life of Jesus
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Minorities in Missions: When You’ve Never Fit in Anywhere
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What It’s Like to be Raised by Missionaries
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Experience, Wisdom and Language Learning [May Prayer Focus]

Ten Takeaways from the Missional Life of Jesus

Jesus standing with outstretched hand over the water.
When I think of the first and best missionary, I think of Jesus. We can take much away from his missional example.

Many Christians think of the apostle Paul as the first missionary. They look at his rhetoric, who he ministered to, how he contextualized, and his evangelistic methods. His letters, inspired by the Spirit, are the written word of God. But, when I think of the first and best missionary, I think of Jesus.    As Samuel Escobar says in his book The New Global Mission, “God wants to be known and does not remain hidden…God has revealed himself in and through historical events, and supremely in Jesus Christ, the One he sent as the clearest revelation of his love and saving…

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Minorities in Missions: When You’ve Never Fit in Anywhere

A TEAM missionary laughs with her neighbors
Serving as a minority comes with a unique perspective and set of challenges. Missionaries share their experiences and their tips for how to keep going.

¡Lea esta publicación en español aquí! Recently, I was at a missions conference where I joined a seminar on Latina women in leadership. One of the participants, a first-generation American with Hispanic background made a comment that struck me. She said, “I feel called to go serve in Japan, but if I don’t fit in here in America where I was born because I’m a minority, how much harder will it be to fit in, in a different country?” As a missions coach, I have a list of different reasons why people choose not to go overseas: fear of the…

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What It’s Like to be Raised by Missionaries

A girl plays with a soccer ball on the beach at sunset
Growing up on the mission field presents kids with experiences and challenges that give them a unique perspective on the world.

For most kids, getting grape jam instead of strawberry jam on their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches isn’t a big deal. It might even just be a matter of personal preference. But when Marti Williams got grape jam as a kid, she knew it meant something else entirely. Marti grew up as a missionary kid in South Africa. And at a young age, she knew when her parents had extra financial support — because she and her siblings would get treated to strawberry jam. During leaner months, they got by just fine with grape. But looking back, Marti sees the…

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Experience, Wisdom and Language Learning [May Prayer Focus]

A woman in her golden years runs errands
For missionaries serving in their golden years, mission work presents some unique challenges. Join us this month in praying for missionaries over the age of 50 working all around the world.

“Why can’t you stay with us?” The question came from TEAM missionary Georgia Landis’ 6-year-old granddaughter, sitting in the backseat of the car. Georgia was on her way to the airport to return to the mission field. Her daughter drove, with her two kids in the backseat.   After a lovely visit in the States, the heart-wrenching moment that no one was ever ready for had rolled around: It was time to say goodbye. Again. The coming separation had Georgia and her daughter in tears. So when her granddaughter innocently asked her to stay, it was nearly impossible to say…

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