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 that might not fit us very well. 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 Christian 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 Maranatha Theological Seminary, in their Doctor of Ministry program. And I will be teaching a course for a Bible School in Sierra Leone in a few weeks— we will see how that goes.
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.. My ORCID Number is: 0009-0001-5055-3776 (if you are interested).
3. Editing. I serve as the head of the Research and Creative Writing Office (RCWO) at Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary. As such, I am the Editor-in-Chief of two things: (1) Philippine Journal of Religious Studies, (2) PBTS Press.
4. 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 co-found DPDM, a medical mission group here in the Philippines. We were with them from 2005 to 2009.
5. 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.
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
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.
Group Dynamics & Peer Group Bible Studies are more important and much needed in overseas . I don’t mean counseling is not important , but just secondary (= a side dish compared to Bible content teaching with hermeneutics )
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.
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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hi I was finding information about Dale Carnegie and stumbled across your blog. I am saddened that you actually recommend him as a Christian man. He is someone who cloaks his information in mystic new thought.
you might find the book happy lies, how a movement you probably never heard of shaped our self obsessed world more enlightning than his book. It’s by Melissa Dougherty.God tells us we are to warn people and Dale Carnegie is not someone who is a man after Gods heart.
lovingly in Christ, Lora
Lora. Thanks for the comments. To the best of my knowledge, I have talked about Dale Carnegie twice. Neither time I spoke of his religious beliefs, because I don’t know them. From what he has written, I certainly believe his beliefs are probably not Orthodox Christian. I like Melissa Dougherty’s YouTube videos, so I will take your recommendation seriously. Bob
great – you had a link that was on ecclesia.org “how to win friends and influence people” that you recommended that’s all – I figured you were recommending Dale Carnegie as that is what the link was –
I have family in Cebu!
Blessings, Lora no need to reply
Randall Arthur (aka European Missionary Randy Dodd)
—bestselling author of Wisdom Hunter—
releases his autobiography
THE REAL WISDOM HUNTER STORY
My wife and I grew up as teenagers in an extremely legalistic camp of Christianity. Living in Europe as missionaries, though, opened our eyes as to how we had been misled. Using the pen name Randall Arthur, I wrote a novel titled Wisdom Hunter to illustrate in a real-life drama just how destructive legalism is to one’s heart, soul, and mind. The novel was published in 1991 and became an instant bestseller. Because of the content of the story, I was fired from my Independent Baptist mission agency. But God has used the book over the last 35 years to minister to thousands of hearts. You can read reviews on Amazon and GoodReads.
At different times, the novel was even made mandatory reading at Nyack Bible College and Columbia Bible College. On the other hand, it was banned at other Bible colleges and universities.
I’ve now completed my autobiography titled The Real Wisdom Hunter Story. The book tells my and Sherri’s story as a missionary couple throughout the last 50 years. It is open and honest. I believe the story has the potential to encourage and inspire a multitude of pastors, missionaries, and ministry leaders around the world.
The Real Wisdom Hunter Story is now available at Amazon and other online stores both as a paperback and e- book. Autographed and personalized paperback copies can be ordered from Randall’s website.
Here are some early reviews:
“I have laughed and cried and cringed and rejoiced. Thank you, sir, for your candor. Thank you for exposing the utter absurdity of proclaiming salvation by grace alone through faith alone while at the same time placing on people the impossible burden of pleasing God through the keeping of man-made rules.Thank you for leading us in celebrating the deep satisfaction of serving God out of love and gratitude rather than fear.” – R.H.
“This autobiography reads like a novel. I’m enthralled. Stimulates deep reflection. Inspires. Has caused me to laugh and to wince. So so good! Buy 3 copies today and give 2 away.” – J.S.
“I just finished The Real Wisdom Hunter Story. ANOTHER GREAT BOOK! I normally don’t ‘read’ books, I just listen to audio versions. Randall Arthur is the one exception. I’m planning to order several more copies to give to friends. I was sad for the book to end.” – R.R.
“One of the best autobiographies I’ve read.” – K.S.
“I would especially recommend this book to anyone in ministry. My wife and I have served in both international and local church ministry for 32 years now. There are unique challenges that come to families and married couples in ministry—pressures that often feel isolating and difficult to articulate. Randall Arthur vulnerably and candidly reveals his own struggles through the years, and in doing so, I found myself deeply encouraged. We weren’t alone. Others have walked similar roads, wrestled with similar tensions, and asked similar questions.” – P.J.
I hope this new book will offer inspiration and encouragement to many. If you feel so inclined, please share this email with churches, pastors, friends, relatives, missionaries, and colleagues. Word of mouth is the best marketing the book can get!
Blessings,
Randy
Rdhus@aol.com