7 Things No Missions Textbook Will Teach You

Seasoned missionaries share their best lessons from years on the field.

This article was originally published on crossworld.org.

We asked seasoned disciple-makers to share key lessons they’ve learned from years of cross-cultural ministry. With their wise guidance, you can avoid common pitfalls and be more effective among the least-reached.

1. You won’t find textbook beliefs on the street

“I formally studied Islam before I moved to the Balkans, and I quickly learned that I knew more about some formal teachings of Islam than the local people. The average person in my community doesn’t read the Koran or go to the mosque regularly. One of my friends identifies as a Muslim and wears a gold chain with his astrological sign. On paper those elements don’t add up. What I’ve found is that individuals don’t always meet the textbook definition of their religion, and discussing formal teachings can be almost pointless. It’s important to develop real relationships by getting to know the person, not just knowing what he or she is supposed to believe.” –Nolan, Balkans

2. Real people are messy

“We often hear about discipleship as a linear process from budding faith to maturity in Christ. But the reality is that people are non-linear in their walk with Jesus. Some have amazing transformations, while others struggle for years. You’ll experience heartbreak over someone’s life-destroying choices, but you’ll also experience indescribable joy as you watch someone go from walking in darkness to rejoicing in the light. True disciple-making relationships come with an emotional price to pay.” –Dave, Ecuador

3. The stress of crossing cultures will reveal your own sin

“I learned about culture shock before I went to Haiti. But one day early on, I found myself angry over a small thing. I was puzzled – what part of culture shock was this? I didn’t know I had issues with anger. But the stress of learning a new language and culture, and getting along with teammates who were so different than me, squeezed out things deep within my heart that I had not dealt with properly.” –Bruce, Haiti and Senegal

4. You need the local people as much as they need you

“During my intercultural studies internship, I relied on my American supervisors for everything I needed. After I graduated, I returned to Asia but this time, I had to learn to depend on local people when I needed help or had questions. It turns out they were even better helpers than my American friends because this was their home. In school, I learned to trust my training and my team (and God, of course). On the ground, I learned to trust my local friends, which not only benefited me but also grew our relationships deeper.” –Jana, Central Asia

5. When does helping help, and when does it hurt?

“Missions training on themes like creating dependency and economic development goals lose a lot of their practical application when you live among the people. The principles are good, but real-life issues are much less black and white.  There’s so much nuance in learning how to help people in a constructive way that can’t be taught in a classroom; it has to be learned in the context of sincere relationships with the people you’re serving.” –Dave, Ecuador

6. Making disciples means sitting with people

“You can’t build relationships through a book. You have to be present, live among the people, and get involved in their lives. I didn’t always agree with their superstitions and traditions, but I learned to respect them. To earn the people’s respect, you have to respect them first.” –Darlene, Dominican Republic

7. You’ll be at home nowhere and everywhere

“We were at home in Nashville before we moved overseas. When we got to West Asia, we were not at home there. But then when we came back to the United States, we weren’t at home in Nashville anymore either. We had changed. We went from being at home in one place to being at home nowhere. Eventually, though, as we learned to transition cultures and understand people, we came to feel at home everywhere.” –Virgil, West Asia

The people in this story are real, but some names have been changed to protect their privacy.


This article is submitted by Mallory Barks of Crossworld. Crossworld is a Missio Nexus member.  Member organizations can provide content to the Missio Nexus website. See how by clicking here.

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Responses

  1. as I have read this particular version of 7 things no missions textbook will teach you, I found them all good. I want to emphasize #1 comments, “and I quickly learned that I knew more about some formal teachings of Islam than the local people. The average person in my community doesn’t read the Koran or go to the mosque regularly.”
    Even in my Nigerian context this is very true to the particular people that I am working with. (not all the people of this country, but who I am working with) Traditionalism weighs more importance than truth. Being born Islamic, is just as important than you country or tribe of birth. To change your Islamic birth is like being disowned and removed from your family origin. This said they do not read the Koran or (many can’t read)so they only follow what they are told.
    I do not agree with the first comment that it is not important to know what Islamic people believe, just at what level you might meet Islamic people is very much a variable.

    Nigeria

  2. I also want to challenge those who live by the writings of the book, “When helping hurts” as when it comes to people dying because they have nothing to eat, you cant say No!
    when it comes to helping change a concept of the mind, it takes many failures to finally get success. I agree with the comments from #5 as he says, ” but real-life issues are much less black and white.”

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