Self-Care Checklist
Thriving in Cross-Cultural Ministry
Installment 25: Self – Care (3 of 3)
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
– Luke 10:41-42
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ, my righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
– “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less,” Lyrics by Edward Mote
Please help me select a title for the book these articles will become: forms.gle/hiqWxPkcW5bh4e8e6
Based on the checklist published by Reliant Mission (reliant.org) for those they support.
For the “How connecting questions” ensure you have an email contact, messaging phone number and/or number for messaging platform (e.g., WhatsApp, Signal, etc.) and that all the contacts you have work. If the person does not respond in a timely manner (less than twenty-four hours at the outside), find a new contact.
Sending Fellowship
- Who is my primary contact?
- How often will we connect?
- How will we connect?
- To whom will I communicate prayer requests?
- How will we connect?
Field Team
- Who is my supervisor?
- How will we connect? (in person/virtual)
- How often will we meet?
- Who are my other teammates?
- Who will I trust with my location information?
- Who will trust me with theirs?
- How often will we meet?
- What is the focus of those meetings?
- With whom will I primarily communicate day-to-day challenges?
Personal Network
- What one or two relationships are most important to me to maintain?
- How often will we connect?
- How will we connect?
- Who leads my Advocacy team?
- How often will we connect?
- How will we connect?
- For married couples: Who are our marriage mentors?
- For married couples: How will we connect?
- For married couples: How often will we connect?
- For parents: Who are our parenting mentors?
- For parents: How will we connect?
- For parents: How often will we connect?
Extended Personal Support
- Who are important mentor relationship(s) in my life?
- How will that relationship look when I am overseas?
- Who is my primary mental health professional?
- How often will we meet?
- Who is my primary doctor?
- Will I have access to them overseas (i.e. does your insurance provide online or phone access to doctors or nurses)?
- How will I access any current prescriptions once overseas?
- What are signs for myself that I may need more specialized care?
- To whom have I communicated those signs?
- Who are the trusted doctors in my country? (Check with your team and your embassy.)
Local Support
- Who is a local friend to whom I can openly ask cultural questions?
- Who is someone with whom I could hang out on a day off?
- Who is an expat in my city with whom I might develop a friendship?
- What is a “third space” where I can meet new people?
- Is there a theologically sound church that is safe to attend? When do they meet?
You
- What are activities you can do on the field that reduce stress or give you energy?
- In a normal ministry season, what is your day off?
- How will you spend it?
- What are non-negotiable rhythms for you, even in a transitional season?
Sending Organization Contacts
- I need help finding member care resources
- I need help raising support
- My budget is insufficient for my needs.
- I have questions about my paycheck or reimbursements.
- I need to travel outside my country of ministry.
- My supervisor changed.
- I am returning to my passport country (or other country) for home leave/furlough.
- I would like to take a sabbatical.
- I experience a significant crisis.
- I am considering a change in my ministry partnership.
- I am unable to resolve conflict with my team or supervisor.
- I need to report misconduct.
- I am planning to exit the field.
- For any topics not listed.
Reminder: Your fellowship, sending organization, or team may not align with my advice. Trust your leaders as you respectfully share what you learn.
If you would like to see more in this series, visit bit.ly/4aXWTjQ.
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Reliant or any other entity with which he is affiliated.
Please share your thoughts on this topic in the full document: bit.ly/4doFRgZ .
This article is part of a series. For prior articles, resources, and the author’s biography, visit bit.ly/4aXWTjQ
Books by this author: www.dharakalauthor.org
This article is submitted by Reliant. Reliant is a Missio Nexus member. Member organizations can provide content to the Missio Nexus website. See how by clicking here.
Responses