• Directories
    • Business Directory
    • Church Directory
    • Organization Directory
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Help
  • Log In
MENUMENU
  • Learning
        • Leader’s Edge
          • Author Interviews
          • Book Summaries
        • Book Reviews
          • Book Look
          • EMQ Book Reviews
        • Publications
          • Anthology
          • Evangelical Missions Quarterly (EMQ)
          • Missiographics
        • Podcasts
          • The Mission MattersNew
          • Missio Nexus
          • People First HR
          • Members Only Feed
        • Blogs
          • Global Issues Updates
          • Member Highlights
          • Mission Advisors
        • Topics
          • COVID-19 ResourcesNew
          • Diaspora Missions
          • Mobilization
          • Muslim Missions
          • Support Raising
        • Media Library
          • Conferences
          • Global Issue Updates
          • On Mission
          • Thought Leader Briefings
          • Webinars
          • Workshop
          • View All
  • Programs
    • Accreditation
    • Alliance for Benefits
    • Bible CertificateNew
    • Church Missions Coaching
    • Cohorts
    • Cybersecurity
    • ImproveNew
    • Mission Jobs
    • Publish
    • RightNow Media
    • The Mission App
    • Women’s Development
  • Events
          • Calendar
          • In-Person Events
          • Virtual Events
          • Event Recordings
          • Awards
        • Premier Events
          • Mission Leaders Conference
          • On Mission
        • Upcoming Events

          • Essentials for Fundraising and Development for Missions Agencies
            Thu Apr 22 2021, 01:00pm EDT
          • Webinar: The Blessed Alliance—Men and Women Serving God Together
            Thu Apr 22 2021, 02:00pm EDT
          • Innovation Labs - Session 4
            Tue Apr 27 2021, 10:00am EDT
        • View All Events
  • Research
          • Missiographics
          • Mission Handbook
          • Research Reports
        • Popular Research
          • Compensation Reports
          • COVID-19 ResourcesNew
          • Field Attrition Report
          • View All Reports
        • Contribute
          • Current Research Projects
          • Submit Data for Mission Handbook
          • Volunteer
  • About Us
        • Who We Are
          • Our Contribution
          • Meet the Team
          • Board Members
          • History (1917–present)
        • Our Beliefs
          • Statement of Faith
          • Community Standards
        • Awards
        • Partner with Us
          • Advertise
          • Donate
          • Sponsorships
          • Volunteer
        • Help
          • Contact Us
          • Advertising Specs
          • Branding Guidelines
  • Join
        • Learn
        • Learn what you cannot learn anywhere else.

        • Meet
        • Meet people you otherwise won’t meet.

        • Engage
        • Engage in a community like none other.

          • Benefits
          • Benefits for Churches
          • Pricing

Sponsored Content

Upcoming Events

  • Essentials for Fundraising and Development for Missions Agencies
    Thu Apr 22 2021, 01:00pm EDT
  • Webinar: The Blessed Alliance—Men and Women Serving God Together
    Thu Apr 22 2021, 02:00pm EDT
  • Innovation Labs - Session 4
    Tue Apr 27 2021, 10:00am EDT
  • Renew: CEO & Spouse Retreat
    Tue May 4 2021, 03:00pm EDT
  • Church Mission Leaders Peer 2 Peer: Diaspora Ministry and the Local Church
    Wed May 12 2021, 01:00pm EDT

View all events »

Topics

author interview Canada CEO Church Church Missions Church Mission Team Church Planting Conference Proceedings COVID-19 Cross Cultural Skills Diaspora Discipleship Evangelism Focus Future Globally Engaged Churches Innovation Islam Justin Long Leadership Management Missiology Missionaries Mission Finance and Administration MLC2019 MLC2020 MLC2021 Mobilization muslim Muslim Diaspora Networks Partnership Personal Productivity Podcast Presenter Research Short-Term Missions Spirituality support raising Training Trends Unengaged Unreached Weekly Roundup Women

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Married in Mission: A Handbook for Couples in Cross-Cultural Service

Posted on April 1, 2016 by April 1, 2016

by Alexis Kenny

Paul Bechtold Library Publications, 2015.

—Reviewed by Ken Wiggers, retired from HR Administration and Management Training, Wycliffe Bible Translators.

Some of the best ‘help’ literature grows out of encountering challenges. This is the case of Alexis Kenny’s handbook, Married in Mission. Upon returning to the U.S. from a very ‘intense’ 13-month, cross-cultural orphanage ministry, Ali and her husband were disappointed because they could not find readily available resources to assist them in processing their mission experience as a couple. Where this ‘dead end’ stopped, Ali’s research started.

Ali created, disseminated, and analyzed two multi-organizational surveys: one for married missioners and the second for ministry staff. She also conducted correspondence interviews with still other individuals. Her findings and perspective are assembled into this very useful, broad-based handbook. It is focused on the wide range of issues many couples undergo at various stages within their ministry involvement. 

Kenny has identified seven different phases within an extended, international mission commitment: the pre-departure periods of (1) discernment and (2) preparation; the (3) beginning, (4) middle, and (5) end of the abroad experience itself; and finally, the post-assignment stages of (6) reentry and (7) integration. Each chapter is dedicated to one of these seven phases, and includes three interactive exercises “concerning marriage and service…(as) a means for individuals to purposefully engage with their vocational roles as both spouses and missioners.”

This is not a book you read through and file on your bookshelf. It is truly a workbook to keep at one’s side throughout ministry. While the handbook concentrates on spousal dynamics, concepts presented and exercises offered can be effective for any two or more people serving in close proximity. Gleanings from this material could be utilized in a variety of contexts: team building, marriage seminars, and even personal self-discovery.

While she writes from a Catholic experience and perspective, Ali makes this resource one that is accessible across ministerial theological boundaries. This handbook is about growth in relationships, minimizing the more unpleasant surprises that can occur in ministry, and holistic development (spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually). 

Both Ali and her husband, Patrick, are enrolled in James Madison University’s Doctoral Program of Psychology. Their shared drive to serve with and for others will challenge you when you avail yourself of this valuable resource. 

Check these titles:

Bridges, William. 2003. Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change. Cambridge: Da Capo Press,

Gottman, John M. and Silver, Nan Silver. 1999. The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc.

Kohls, Robert L. 1984. Survival Kit for Overseas Living: For Americans Planning to Live and Work Abroad. Yarmouth: Intercultural Press, Inc.

. . . .

EMQ, Vol. 52, No. 2 pp. 221-222. Copyright  © 2016 Billy Graham Center for Evangelism.  All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from EMQ editors.

GoToOlder PostNewer PostAll PostsBook ReviewsEMQSectionVolume 52 - Issue 2

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to Our Mailing List

Keep up to date with our community.

Menu

  • Home
  • Directories
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Contact Us

Join

  • Join
  • Benefits
  • Learn
  • Meet
  • Engage

Help

  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Cookies Policy

About Us

  • Who We Are
  • Statement of Faith
  • Awards
  • Resources
Missio Nexus Logo

© Missio Nexus. All rights reserved.


PO Box 398
Wheaton, IL 60187-0398

Phone: 770.457.6677
678.392.4577

Annual Sponsors

ECFA Logo Brotherhood Mutual Logo

Membership website powered by MembershipWorks