The Enneagram for Missionaries: Tips for Overseas Life

Heidi Chupp • Oct 26, 2020

I don’t even recognize myself anymore , Christine thought to herself. Have I changed this much?

Christine knew that she was going through an intensely stressful season of life — starting a new business with her new husband, while navigating a new culture and new language in a new country. She’d been preparing for the external upheaval.

But what she didn’t expect was the upheaval she saw in herself.

Some of her actions and thoughts surprised and disturbed her: Anger at her circumstances, and her excessive attempts to control them. Difficulty in expressing her feelings and needs. Frustration at her limited ability to be useful and help others, something that usually came naturally and easily.

“[I] didn’t really feel like me,” Christine says.

And then she discovered a tool that brought clarity to her confusion.

“I had an epiphany moment,” Christine says. “The core of who I am didn’t change; I was in a season of stress and handling it in unhealthy ways.”

A Life-Giving Tool

The tool Christine discovered was the Enneagram , a personality typing system that describes human nature in nine main ways.

At its very essence, the Enneagram is all about motivation, what drives a person to do what they do . Each of the nine personality types has a different core motivation.

In stress, each number takes on the unhealthy characteristics of another number. And in times of security and thriving, each number displays the healthy attributes of a different number. The ultimate goal is for each individual to grow toward integrating the healthy responses of all nine types.

Learning your Enneagram type can help you understand how you handle stress and how to better communicate with teammates.

The Enneagram gave Christine words to communicate to herself and to others what was happening inside her. She not only gained insight about the unhealthy areas of her life, but she learned to process her many transitions in productive ways.

“What I love most about the Enneagram,” she recently wrote, “is that it gives me a language for expressing things I already think and emotions I already feel. It helps me understand myself and gives me the tools to feel understood by others .”

Today, Christine shares the clarity she’s received from the Enneagram with expats just like herself. Now a certified Enneagram coach, she sends out a monthly newsletter and posts on social media under @EnneagramfortheExpat and with the hashtag #EnneagramfortheExpat.

A growing number of her readers are missionaries seeking to understand themselves as they navigate life abroad .

Linda,* a regional coordinator for TEAM member care, sees the Enneagram as both practical and pivotal for missionaries navigating the unique aspects of expat life.

“I think that it has great impact for spiritual growth, to know yourself better and what your motivations are — really — and to be able to take those things to the Lord,” Linda says.

What the Enneagram Means for Missionaries

So what can the Enneagram look like in overseas missionary life?

First, if you’re new to the Enneagram, you might want to check out this beginner’s guide. Christine also recommends this free assessment to explore what your type might be. She warns that no assessment will give a perfect result, but it can give you a strong starting point.

For those already familiar, Christine says the Enneagram can provide key insights for missionaries of all types.

One – The Reformer

Ones are often called “Reformers” and their primary motivation is to be good, to have integrity and to be balanced. In culture stress, these natural rule-followers may feel upheaval while learning the rules of a new society (and probably breaking a few of those rules, to their great distress). As Ones learn a new language , their challenge will be to quiet their inner critics. Asking others for help in understanding new social cues and expectations will go a long way for them. When Ones are in a place of health, they take themselves less seriously and bring stability to their community.

Two – The Helper

The core motivation for Twos, the “Helpers,” is to be loved and appreciated. Their desire to develop connections with people in their host country will energize their language learning. Because their options for being useful in their new surroundings are initially so limited, Twos may feel a low sense of self-worth. But when they learn to communicate their own needs and set healthy boundaries, Twos have the freedom to generously give their time and energy, and they become an indispensable part of the missionary team.

Three – The Achiever

Threes, the “Achievers,” desire more than anything to be admired, valued and respected. Culture stress can expose their inexperience or lack of knowledge, and they will naturally try to numb these triggers or to procrastinate. Their instinctive drive to succeed will help with language learning — until it gets derailed by feelings of incompetence. Threes grow toward health when they remember that they are more than their accomplishments, and when they give themselves time and space in their new culture. Their passion is a gift to their communities.

Four – The Individualist

Fours are also known as “Individualists” and are primarily motivated by finding significance in their unique identity. Learning a new language may at first feel mechanical to Fours as they struggle to find ways to express themselves deeply. They may feel a heightened sense of anxiety in culture stress, worrying that new acquaintances will soon discover their defects. But when Fours feel secure and grounded, they’re able to express their creativity and add great beauty to the world around them.

Five – The Investigator

Fives, the “Investigators,” deeply desire to be capable and competent. When learning a new language, Fives are naturals at soaking up new information, so they work best when they can set their own pace and have the freedom to learn in a style that fits them. The stress of a new culture may cause them to withdraw or close themselves off. But when Fives have the chance to spend some time alone and refuel, they can offer valuable insights and wisdom to their community.

Six – The Loyalist

Sixes, also known as “Loyalists,” are motivated by security, support and guidance. The stress from living in new and still unpredictable surroundings can trigger all kinds of worst-case scenarios for Sixes. The pressure to learn a new language quickly can add even more anxiety. When Sixes are in a healthy place, their grip on control will loosen and they will feel more spontaneous and relaxed. Their natural sense of responsibility is a great gift to those around them.

Seven – The Enthusiast

Sevens, the “Enthusiasts,” are primarily motivated by having their needs met and feeling satisfied. Arriving in a new country may at first be an exciting adventure for Sevens, but at some point, the honeymoon phase ends and they may become more rigid. They may feel frustrated at the uncomfortable emotions that rise during the language learning process. When Sevens are settled in their new surroundings, they find contentment in both the ordinary and the special moments of life. Their ability to bring others together is a meaningful gift to their community.

Eight – The Challenger

The core motivation for Eights, known as “Challengers,” is to protect themselves and to be in control of their life. For an Eight, culture stress means entering into a place of weakness, and they may quickly resort to anger or assertiveness in an attempt to gain back control. Learning a new language is uncomfortable for the same reasons, but if Eights lean into that discomfort, it may drive them to become proficient. When Eights are in a healthy place, they don’t always feel the need to take the lead, and can offer the world both their passion and their vulnerability.

Nine – The Peacemaker

Nines, the “Peacemakers,” are primarily motivated by inner peace of mind and stability. They may feel overwhelmed by the language-learning process and slow down their efforts and progress. Living in a new culture can cause all kinds of tension and conflict to rise up, exactly what Nines try to avoid. But as they learn the value of taking risks, they grow in health and can be a unifying force in group settings.

Looking at the Enneagram with Jesus

Using the Enneagram

Like any tool, the Enneagram needs to be used with a heart pointed toward Christ. Reflect on it with Him and with your mission teammates.

As Christine continued to dig deeper into the Enneagram, she discovered that she was a Two, “the Helper.”

Her anger, her desire to control, her inability to truly know what she needed — these were behaviors and feelings coming from the unhealthy side of an Eight. As she grew to understand herself, she also grew in health , displaying the attitudes and actions of a healthy Four: compassionate, creative, emotionally aware and serving without any strings attached.

This understanding has deepened Christine’s faith, allowing her to contribute to a series of Enneagram-based devotionals.

Linda says that personal spiritual growth is just the beginning of the benefits that missionaries can gain from exploring the Enneagram. She sees the positive impact expanding out to relationships too.

“As we grow individually, that will help us in any relational dynamic,” she explains. “If I’m using [the Enneagram] to grow, I’m going to be a healthier teammate.”

To “look at it with Jesus” through the entire process is key, she says. That’s what brings the Enneagram to a whole new level.

*Name changed for safety reasons

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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