Submit an Article to EMQ

EMQ Writer Guidelines

EMQ receives articles from anyone who has a fresh idea relating to world missions. We are not a scholarly journal written for academics, but publish material that is academically sound, reflecting careful thought and practical application to mission professionals, mission pastors, and, especially, working missionaries. 

We are looking for articles that:

• reflect on personal experience in intercultural ministry
• share stories about what God is doing as he extends his kingdom across cultural boundaries
• explore issues related to cross-cultural ministry practice.

Research-based articles are definitely welcome. Theoretical articles are also possible but must consider the practical implications of theory for cross-cultural mission practice.

If you have an idea for an article but are unsure whether to write it, feel free to write to the Editor about your idea first.

Special Interest Group Articles

If you would like to publish a series of articles related to a group’s special interest, you are welcome to write to the Editor to explore the possibility of creating a special issue.

Themed articles

For 2026, we are also inviting submissions on the following themes. If you miss the deadline, still go ahead and submit your article as we will continue to explore these themes into the future.

Holistic ministry (April) – deadline December 31^st 2025

Physical and emotional needs can rarely be separated from spiritual need. Humans are holistic beings. Alongside the words of the good news of Jesus, are the actions that prove the truth of those words. In his declaration in Luke 4:18-23, Jesus highlighted his ministry to the poor, imprisoned, disabled, sick, and oppressed. While some may spiritualize these verses, Jesus did not separate words from deeds. But finding balance between proclamation and action in often complex and needy situations can be difficult. This issue seeks to engage with the complexities and learn from cross-cultural workers’ experience and reflections on holistic ministry.

Discipleship (July) – deadline March 31^st 2026

Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all peoples, teaching them to obey all he commanded. What are discipling fundamentals despite many methods? With particular attention to cross-cultural ministry, what are discipling challenges and joys? How do we ensure reproducibility so disciples multiply? And how do technological and other changes in today’s world affect discipling across cultures? This issue will explore all aspects of cross-cultural discipling, including personal reflections on its process.

Spirituality in missions (October) – deadline June 30^th 2026

Mission is a spiritual process. As Christ’s ambassadors we share his life with a dying world. His spirit lives in and empowers us. He convicts those around us. Especially for Westerners, it is easy to forget the importance of spirituality. Yet, we represent the living Christ to others. A strong relationship with God is the major factor sustaining us in difficulty. This issue explores how missionaries can nurture spiritual life and what this looks like in practical terms. It also looks at how we can nurture it in disciples while also learning from them. How missionaries engage with other spiritual forces is also relevant to this theme.

Bible teaching (January) – deadline September 30^th 2026

The Bible is central to Christian living. We communicate its message in evangelism. Its study is our lifelong task. Through its translation churches are planted across cultures. Because the Bible is a book, literacy has been integral to missionary work. Often, teaching reading has been inseparable from teaching the Bible. But people can also learn biblical content through listening and the creative arts. There are also many methods of teaching the Bible. Whether these methods are designed for illiterate disciples or people studying advanced degrees, the Bible doesn’t change. This issue examines how missionaries teach the Bible so its living text transforms lives.

About the EMQ Audience

• • Missionaries, mission agency executives, mission professors, missionary candidates, students, school/church libraries, mission pastors, mission-minded church leaders, mission supporters, and agency board members.

• • Over half of our readers live and work overseas serving with over a hundred different denominations and sending agencies.

• • They are well educated; two-thirds of them have graduate degrees.

• • They work at hundreds of different missionary ministries, most of them as church planters and teachers.

• • They are most interested in cultural and biblical values, Christianity and culture, church and culture, discipleship processes, evangelism methods, church planting methods, and leadership training methods.

• • They do not see EMQ as a scholarly journal; rather they see it as a very readable, informative, stimulating, and practical professional publication.

• • Five times as many readers describe EMQ as extremely practical compared to extremely theoretical.

Criteria by Which Articles Are Evaluated

1. • Importance of subject to our readers

• • Freshness and creativity

• • Clarity and readability

• • Development and depth

• • Support and resources

• • Convincing arguments

• • Accuracy and validity

• • Overall treatment of a subject

Article Parameters

1. 1. Length: 2,000–3,000 words. If more than 3,000 words, the article may be returned to you or edited by EMQ staff.
   2. When citing sources, use endnotes in Chicago style at the end of the article, not footnotes at the bottom of pages.
   3. The Editor will review your article and send it back to you with feedback. Once you return it, final decisions are at the Editor’s discretion.

How to Submit Your Article

Submit your article using the form below.

The copyright of all published submissions is owned by EMQ. Reprint guidelines are provided upon submission publication or can be requested at the time of submission.