Reflections and resources for lifelong learning for missionaries
Over the last year or so, I have been thinking about what it means for missionaries to be both disciples and disciple-makers. I recognized that we can easily make the mistake of assuming that at some point in our Christian life, we graduate from being disciples to become disciple-makers. But through an in-depth study of …
Continue reading Who spurs on the missionary to love and good deeds?
My wife loves to host people. She is a great cook, and will often spend most of the day preparing a meal for our dinner guests. My participation in the preparations is decidedly less. Maybe all the guests are thankful for that. Admittedly, I don't know much about how to prepare a great meal for guests. …
In two previous blog posts, I have been talking about crucible experiences that God often uses to perfect us. But as I have noted, difficult life experiences in themselves do not refine us. Our response to the crucible experiences of life and ministry is what allows the crucible to become transformative. Crucibles are used in …
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” Harry S. Truman. Reading has always been a hobby of mine. One of my most memorable Christmases as a child was the one where my brother and I each were given 12 books by our parents. I believe all of them were used …
One of my key responsibilities as the head of SEND U (SEND International's training department) is to champion lifelong learning within our organization. One of the things we have been promoting, first of all with our team leaders, and now with the entire membership is the importance of every missionary drawing up their own personal …
This past month, I read Duane Elmer's book, Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility. Elmer, a former faculty member at Missionary Internship (now MTI) has written a number of helpful books about the process of transitioning into another culture and working effectively as a cross-cultural missionary. Cross-cultural Servanthood addresses the question of what we …
