Enhancing Missionary Vitality: Mental Health Professions Serving

by John R. Powell and Joyce M. Bowers, editors

Thirty years ago “mental health” and “missions” in the same sentence may have seemed an uncomfortable fit. Today most believers value what Christian mental health professionals contribute to the cause of missions.

Mission Training International, P.O. Box 1220, Palmer Lake, CO 80133, 2002, 499 pages, $24.95.

—Reviewed by Steve Edlin, director of the pastoral counseling office, TEAM.

Thirty years ago “mental health” and “missions” in the same sentence may have seemed an uncomfortable fit. Today most believers value what Christian mental health professionals contribute to the cause of missions.

Enhancing Missionary Vitality is a compilation of twenty-five years of wisdom from the annual Mental Health and Missions Conference. Begun as a forum for a few mental health colleagues to discuss their missions work, it has grown to an annual meeting of more than two hundred attendees. The writers of the updated articles (chapters) have been presenters through the years. The book is full of information from people who have shaped the field of member care—helping missionaries have the “vitality” to effectively take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Those expecting the book to be heavy on psychology and light on spirituality will be pleasantly surprised to discover articles such as “A Theological Perspective on Missionary Care” (Chapter 7), “Spiritual Dimensions in Mental Health” (Chapter 9) or “Maintaining Spiritual Vitality” (Chapter 10). Not all writers are mental health professionals (some are academics and mission leaders), but in addition to their professional or academic credentials many are also seasoned missionaries, adult MKs or mental health professionals with years of experience in missions.

The book’s nine sections cover a broad landscape touching on practical resources, theological discussion, clinical treatment, viable models and research. Parts one and two provide a philosophical and historical backdrop, looking briefly at the Mental Health and Missions Conferences from which the book arises. Several articles address the broader philosophical underpinnings of the member care movement.

Part three looks at the “Complexities of Cross-cultural Service” from various angles: theological, life cycle, spiritual, married, single, re-entry, etc. The brief but significant part four, entitled “Interfaces with Sending Agencies,” would be helpful for groups considering how to utilize mental health workers.
Part six is the largest section (twenty percent of the book) and addresses “Clinical Interventions.” This section is most distinctively by and for mental health professionals, covering disorders, moods, crisis interventions and restorative care.

Two parts (five and seven) have the word “models” in their title, illustrating the book’s practical intent. The reader will find a variety of practical and innovative models for member care.

The book’s format is user-friendly with accurate summaries prefacing each article and understandable topical headings included throughout each article. This helps readers easily unlock the most relevant information for them.

In his introductory article, John Powell makes it clear that mental health workers are most importantly God’s servants as they serve missionaries and the mission community in taking the gospel cross-culturally. The book is a resource in the cause of world evangelization.

This book is not just for mental health professionals, but those seeking to strengthen their contribution to the cause of missions will also find it helpful. It is also a resource for churches and agencies that want to understand both the issues of member care and how to utilize mental health personnel.

Check these titles:
O’Donnell, Kelly, ed. 2002. Doing Member Care Well: Perspectives and Practices from Around the World. Pasadena: William Carey Library.

O’Donnell, Kelly, ed. 1992. Missionary Care: Counting the Cost for World Evangelization. Pasadena: William Carey Library.

Copyright © 2004 Evangelism and Missions Information Service (EMIS). All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from EMIS.

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