by Dave | Oct 28, 2016 | Casual Friday, Suffering, Transition
In two weeks Irene and I will be on our way to a central Asian country to minister to non-traditional missionaries. In fact, you may not consider them to be missionaries at all…but they are. Dorette Skinner’s article below explains why. They have personal, spiritual,... 
by Dave | Mar 23, 2016 | Missionary Care, New Wine: The future, Suffering, The Way I See Things, Thriving
We have been using Zach Bradley’s penetrating book, The Sending Church Defined, as a catalyst for discussing what sending should look like. We cannot have adequate missionary care without first having a proper concept of sending to undergird it. Here are some... 
by Dave | Feb 16, 2016 | Missionary Care, Personal Issues, Suffering, Thriving
Burnout |noun|: The condition of someone who has become physically and emotionally exhausted after doing a difficult job for a long time or as a result of prolonged stress or frustration. Burnout is a subject that has long been discussed in missionary circles. The... 
by Dave | Jul 28, 2015 | Missionary Care, Relational Issues, Suffering, Thriving
The only time most people have ever been around a missionary is when one spoke at their church. They see missionaries in public settings and draw conclusions based on short presentations. Perhaps they sign up to receive prayer letters. Their understanding of... 
by Dave | Jul 15, 2015 | Missionary Care, Personal Issues, Suffering, Thriving
“’Caring’ is a fire that burns, and burning fires require fuel.” So says Brad Hambrick in his helpful booklet Burnout: Resting in God’s Fairness. Burnout is more than fatigue, more than an overload of stress, Hambrick says. It is similar to depression, but it... 
by Dave | Mar 25, 2015 | Suffering, The Way I See Things, Thriving
This year more than 7000 missionaries will quit. Nearly half of those will have managed only one term on the field. But that’s not the worst part. At least twenty missionaries will pull the plug today. Every fifteen minutes one decides to throw in the towel. But...