Casual Friday Missionary Care Resources

I’ve got a slightly shorter list than usual this time around. Partly because I’ve had a very busy week…and partly because next week will be even busier. On Wednesday Irene and I will be leaving to spend two weeks in Central Asia. We’ve been invited to minister to some global workers who serve in a very difficult environment. I’ll be compiling the next two editions of Casual Friday before we leave, so be sure and get your weekly dose of missionary care resources.

Thriving, not just surviving

That’s the philosophy behind the ministry of Thrive retreats for women. If you want to bless the socks off of your favorite female missionary, sponsor a trip to the Thrive retreat nearest them.

Chew on this a while

This article will require some thinking on your part. It is about the ethics of missionary work, but you can apply it to missionary care as well. How might your strategy be affected? (You do have a strategy, don’t you?)

Missionary resiliency

My friend Geoff Whiteman is earning a Th.M. on the subject of missionary resiliency. He recently presented his preliminary thoughts at the Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology, and Religion conference. I highly recommend you listen to this, even though it will cost you half an hour of your time. You don’t need to be a member of the Orthodox Church to benefit from this.

Holidays overseas

Holidays like American Thanksgiving and Christmas can be hard on missionaries who are missing their passport culture. This article will prompt you to reach out to those you know who might be experiencing their first holidays away from home.

Three ways to look at Psalm 139

Kay Bruner shares about how she views this psalm through different lenses to obtain comfort and assurance. I can’t think of a missionary who wouldn’t appreciate this.

Wherever I go on earth, Love is my home.

Wherever my faith journey takes me, Love is my home.

Whatever I feel, darkness or light, Love is my home.

I can never be outside the presence of Love.

Love is always, always, always my home.

Coping with darkness

There are many types of darkness: physical, moral, spiritual, emotional. The mission field is home to all of them. Global workers must learn to function in spite of the darkness they face. Christina offers this review of a book (Learning to Walk in the Dark) that just might be of interest to your friends on the field.

Easy ways to support your missionary friends

Marina Bromley suggests five ways you can be involved right now. 71% of missionary attrition is preventable. These activities would go a long way toward reducing that number.

TCK “bridge”

Michael Pollock, son of author and TCK-care pioneer David Pollock, heads up a ministry called Daraja (Swahili for bridge). It is designed to help Third Culture Kids develop their skills at bridging cultural differences to make a difference in the world. Know any TCKs who would be interested in this?

An excellent reminder

First-time missionaries will benefit from this reminder from Marilyn Gardner. They are much more likely to stay spiritually and emotionally healthy if they practice what she preaches.

Betrayal

No, this isn’t about the recent U.S. election. This is about ministry, unfortunately. Sooner or later most people in ministry will experience betrayal—often from their own co-workers. Amy Young shares some sage advice from her own experiences.

Remember: the best gift a missionary can have is a caring friend. Go…be the gift.

What I’m reading this week:

• You Are What You Love, by James Smith
• Moments With the Master, by Ken Gire
• Called to be Saints, by Gordon Smith

Just finished:

• It’s My Pleasure, by Dee Ann Turner
• Bittersweet, by Shauna Niequist
• Autumn: A spiritual biography of the season, edited by Gary Schmidt & Susan Felch

Up next:

• Seven Days That Divide the World, by John Lennox
• Delighting in the Trinity, by Michael Reeves