My name is Bob Munson, and my wife Celia and I serve in Baguio City, Philippines. We have been here since 2004.
We sometimes call ourselves missionaries. However, some people have very specific definitions for what missionaries do. Also, some have very negative images in their minds when they think of missionaries. Perhaps a better term would be “Cross-Cultural Ministers.” Frankly, we don’t spend that much time thinking about it. What do I do?
1. Teach. I am on the faculty and teach various missions topics and occasional pastoral care topics at Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary (PBTS) and Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary (ABGTS) in Baguio City, Philippines. Recently, I have started teaching at Faith Bible College (FBC) in Norfolk, VA.
2. Write. I blog here and elsewhere. I have written 9 books (I think). Five of them I would consider to be on Christian Missions or Missions Theology. Two are on pastoral counseling (co-written with my wife). One defies regular categories… being on theology, culture and storying. You can check the MY BOOKS page on this blogsite..
3. Organizational Work. Celia and I co-founded Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center back in 2009. We are focused on training in areas of pastoral care, crisis care, CPE, and chaplaincy training. Celia is a Diplomate in Pastoral Supervision with CPSP/CPSP-Philippines. We cofounded CPSP-Philippines, a certification/accreditation board for pastoral counseling, clinical chaplaincy, and CPE, that works in partnership with CPSP (in the US). That was in 2011 and it has been slowly growing.. We also helped cofound DPDM, a medical mission group here in the Philippines. We were with them from 2005 to 2009.
4. Counseling. Celia is a pastoral counselor… but I do assist at times, and especially do work with counseling as part of missionary member care, and pastoral recovery.
We have three children, all three are grown up and living in the United States. Our email is munsonsbaguio@gmail.com.
MMM -- Mission Musings 
Hey Bob, I was encouraged to find your blog. I have spent many hours thinking and processing with friends about the role of counseling and missions and how the two go together. A friend and myself have been wrestling with whether to pursue a Masters in Counseling before seeking to work in that area overseas. I am about 10 credits shy of a Masters in Pastoral Studies and have been hesitant to start another Masters program before going overseas. Any thoughts on the matter would be appreciated. Blessings. Brett Baker
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I would love to sound like an expert, but I can’t because I am not. I would say that it would be good to get as much training as you can in cross-cultural counseling (and x-cultural communication). Some axioms in “Western” psychology don’t apply in other cultures. Western counseling disapproves of triangulation, but it is simply an unavoidable reality in others. Direct language is considered best in the West, but comfort in indirect communication is necessary in many parts of the world. Additionally, the Individual is assumed to be the most important social unit (with corresponding importance for individuality and individual freedom) in the West. Yet in many parts of the world this basic premise is challenged. The goal of cross-cultural counseling is NOT to get other cultures to think as Americans. I wish you well in your studies and calling.
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I had the opportunity to spend the summer working with IMB in the Philippines this last summer and I fell in love with the people there. Keep letting God use you! and keep posting. Blogs like this are such an encouragement. Reading about advancements in the Kingdom of God always makes my day brighter.
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Thanks. And I am glad you enjoyed your time here. It is a beautiful place with beautiful people. Looking at your blog, it sounds like you were involved in Nehemiah Teams. That is a great organization and I am very happy that the IMB has kept that program alive here in the PI.
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