EMQ Volume 61 Issue 4

By Evelyn Hibbert | Spiritual resilience is a fruit of vibrant spiritual life. Resilience enables missionaries to persevere through hardship, learning to find joy in its midst. It enables them to navigate the unfamiliar, overcome spiritual blocks, and learn together with friends. Its essence is willingness to give up all for Christ.

By Ed Grudier | Rejoice always, even in the midst of hardship. We can learn from Paul through the letter he wrote to the church in Philippi during his time of suffering. Paul instructs us to find joy in ministry – in the partners he provides for us, the proclamation of the gospel, the unity we possess with believers, the privilege to serve others, friendships that are formed, and fruitfulness of lives impacted. Ultimately, we can find joy in the Lord Himself regardless of our situations.

By Tom Gerick | Mahmud and his family faced a suanggi (shapeshifting sorcerer) terrorizing their community. We conversed deeply about culture and the specifics of suanggi. We studied how to understand spiritual beings from a biblical perspective, and how to overcome fear, examining scriptures to learn how to act biblically. Mahmud and his family discovered new ways to share their faith within their community. The Holy Spirit helped us all grow in our faith.

By Jasmine Lee | Hudson Taylor and Ignatius of Loyola both emphasized the role of emotions and a strong relationship with God in discerning God’s will. Taylor relied on prayer and waiting for God's guidance, while Ignatius developed the structured approach taught through his Spiritual Exercises. Their methods, which bridge thinking and feeling, remain relevant for today's missionaries seeking to discern God's will.

By Neil Miller | Blocks in spiritual growth can be due to traumatic experiences, disappointments and challenging life events. This article describes a way of praying and reflecting that helps to identify the source of the block, deal with it and move on. This can apply equally to ourselves as well as those we disciple.

By Evelyn Hibbert, Lance Williamson, and Barbara Williamson | Spiritual resilience enables missionaries to persevere in the face of difficulties. It is developed through nurturing spiritual disciplines and relationship with God and others. It increases with experience of hardship. This article reports the views of workers among nomads. Speaking from experience, these missionaries provide insights which help us in our own lives and as we select and train new missionaries.

By Corinne Kelley and Anthony Casey | This article presents the findings of research focused on the processes and emotions utilized to cope with goodbyes for Third Culture Kids. TCKs move an average of 4.3 times during their formative years. The article presents a brief overview of the research method, then outlines findings of how TCKs cope with leaving and loss. Finally, recommendations are given for mission agencies and families to better care for TCKs.

By Chris McMillan | Prayer is central to the life and mission of the church. As Christians increasingly pray, they become convicted about sin in their midst, and the need for conversion of sinners at home and beyond. This creates a sense of urgency that propels people into missions. If prayer is central to church life, mission will also move to the center.

By Jim Harries | Sometimes, as missionaries, we are not aware of the ways our generosity unintentionally causes problems. Often, providing material resources is associated with power. This disrupts local relationships, even when nothing is said. Sacred power is an alternative to the power associated with material generosity. Giving that focuses on emptying oneself rather than the gain of another reflects Jesus’ generosity. This sacrificial generosity equalizes missionary and local. Its cost is far greater than money and material resources.

By C. S. Barefoot | No one lives without a narrative. Rather, everyone lives in accordance with some story that forms and shapes their worldview. Christian ministers and missionaries – – particularly those laboring to make disciples among all peoples – – must account for this reality. True transformation requires the biblical narrative to displace alternate narratives as the integrating center of one's faith and practice. Without such narrative displacement, our evangelism and discipleship efforts are compromised.

By Jake Hines | Eschatology has influenced the way that Christians understand the mission of the church and the trajectory of the world. Within the Student Volunteer Movement, assumptions of Christ’s return urged thousands to pursue “the evangelization of the world in this generation.” A. T. Pierson, an early SVM pioneer, demonstrated an “eschatological evangelism” based on his millennial views. Reviewing Pierson’s perspective and actions shows us how end-times beliefs can influence missions practice.