Tornadoes in Iowa. Riots in Haiti. Insurgencies in several African countries. Crackdowns in China. The things you hear about every day in your news feeds affect your friends who are serving cross-culturally. On top of the stresses of living and working in another language and culture, they must deal with the way global news stories impact their host environment. All of that to say—they need you to help them keep their eyes on Christ. Their spiritual, emotional, and physical health is more stable when you care for them with resources like these.

 

LIFE ON THE FIELD

“It’s sometimes easier said than done, but paying attention to H.A.L.T. … can often allow us to redirect our emotional health to the right path.” So…what exactly is H.A.L.T. anyway? Bethany Brummitt explains, and why it’s important for stress management. Sounds like something cross-cultural workers could use, right?

 

This post from Ann Voskamp starts with a little piece about what it takes to take the next step. Who do you know who would be encouraged by this today?

 

Coaching is not frivolous. It is fundamental. It is not coddling, it is crucial.

So says Melissa Chaplin, a relationship coaching specialist with Advance Global Coaching. You can help promote the benefits of coaching for cross-cultural workers. And you can help facilitate it by offering to fund sessions, at least in part.

 

Staying physically healthy on the mission field can be a challenge, especially in the realm of consistent exercise. Joy Smalley has some great suggestions for how to develop a workable plan.

 

Here’s a related post on the connection between body and soul. The health of one affects that of the other. SEND International offers some really practical tips for creating and maintaining an exercise regimen.

 

A hot mess. That’s a descriptive that is employed more and more often these days. It certainly applies to life on the mission field many days. Michele Cushatt has some encouraging words for anyone you know who is feeling the heat.

The presence of pain doesn’t mean the absence of God.

Who do you know that would appreciate reading this?

 

TRANSITION

Know anyone who just went through a transition or is about to? Want to know how you can come alongside of them in helpful ways? You and they both will benefit from this interview between Sarita Hartz and Melissa Chaplin (author of Returning Well).

 

MKs/TCKs

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a meme must be worthy several thousand. At least, this one from Marilyn Gardner is.

 

EVENTS

Coming up in September: Orient, hosted by Train International. “This two-week pre-departure training aims to equip people headed overseas with skills to help them navigate transition, stress, culture shock, and relationships who they can be more prepared and stay effective in whatever surroundings they find themselves.”

 

Know any women working near Uganda or Cyprus who could use a refreshing break? An Azmera retreat may be just the ticket. You can even volunteer to help. Or perhaps you would like to contribute toward a scholarship for someone who might not be able to attend otherwise. Get all the details here.

 

There are a couple annual gatherings of care providers that you may want to consider attending. They are great opportunities to build upon your skill set and develop a network of like-minded people for the enhancement of your ministry to missionaries. The CareGivers Forum is one event. It will be held October 21-24 at the Green Lake Conference Center in Wisconsin. The other event is PTM: Pastoral Training in MemberCare, to be held at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Asheville, NC October 2-5. If you live in the area and cannot attend the whole event, you may want to consider coming to the pre-conference workshop to be led by Neal Pirolo. His topic will be “developing and building a church-based member care plan.”

 

Registration is now open for the Thrive retreat to be held in the Philippines October 29-November 1. Did you know that you could apply to be a volunteer to help facilitate Thrive retreats? You can find more information for attendee and volunteers here.

 

EQUIP YOURSELF

Afton Rorvik realizes that most of us think that hospitality happens mostly at home. She believes it can happen anywhere.

At its core, hospitality says, “I see you, and I care about you.”

How might you practice hospitality with a missionary who lives thousands of miles away?

 

Pioneers is putting together a new resource that you’ll probably want to access. It’s a collection of stories from people who have served overseas and who share their experiences dealing with various challenges. You can check it out here.

 

BUMP IT UP A NOTCH

Beth Barthelemy, over at TEAM, just posted this excellent article on why your church should visit its missionaries. It even talks about common objections. Read it if you dare.

 

Christina Baird continues her series on conversations we need to have in the missionary care community.

For missionary care to express being Holy Spirit led we need to wrestle with what it means to be visionary and prophetic.

What do you think? Where do you see unmet needs in the realm of missionary care? Christina asks some hard questions worth pondering. Be sure and read the other five installments in her series.

 

Want to get an advanced perspective on missionary care issues? Are you looking for a place to network with professional care providers? Mental Health and Missions may be for you. Hosted by Barnabas International and held in northeastern Indiana, registration is now open for this November 15-18 event.

 

I will be traveling next week, so no guarantees as to whether I will get a new edition up on Friday. If not, you’ll find an extra-large batch waiting for you on August 3.

  

New on my bookshelf:

• Receiving Them Well, by Lisa Ennis & Lori Bryan
• Gen Z: The culture, beliefs, and motivations shaping the next generation, by Barna
• Insurgence, by Frank Viola
• Desiring the Kingdom, by James K.A. Smith
• Sojourner’s Workbook: A guide to thriving cross-culturally, by Connie Befus
• Christianity at the Crossroads: How the second century shaped the future of the church, by Michael Kruger
• Innovation in Mission: Insights into practical innovations creating kingdom impact, by Jim Reapsome and Jon Hirst

What I’m reading this week:

• Inspired: Slaying giants, walking on water, and loving the Bible again, by Rachel Evans
• Understanding Gender Dysphoria, by Mark Yarhouse
• Formed for the Glory of God, by Kyle Strobel

• The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, George Long trans.

• How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, by Gordon Fee
• Emotionally Healthy Leaders, by Peter Scazzero

• Winston S. Churchill: World in Torment: 1916-1922, by Martin Gilbert

Just finished reading:

• Finding Home, by Rachel Pieh Jones
• New Seeds of Contemplation, by Thomas Merton
• Home James, by Emile Steele Jackson
• Missionaries are Real People, by Ellen Rosenberger
• Imagination Redeemed: Glorifying God with a neglected part of your mind, by Gene Edward Veith and Matthew Ristuccia
• Scripture and Cosmology, by Dr. Kyle Greenwood

Up next:

• The Bible Tells Me So, by Peter Enns