For the first 7 years of my life I could not swim. That wasn't really a problem because I was never really at a place where swimming was needed. One time, however, when I was six years old, I was with my family visiting their friends in Connecticut. We went to a lake to go …
Category: Missions as Vocation
Missions Service and Retirement
Years ago my mom had a friend who had been a missionary with a major missions agency; but back then retirement was not deemed a big concern. She went into missions as a single person. She eventually met a guy who was also a missionary, and they got married but too late to have children. …
Should “Fallen” Missionaries be Restored?
Mike Winger put a video on Youtube that addresses the question on whether Pastors who have fallen morally should be restored to ministry. It is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPlmF6pLZJE. He brings up numerous issues (13 in all) that should be addressed when it comes to this issue. I found it interesting and relevant. His answer of …
Affirm and Inspire— and One of the Most Important Letters I Don’t Remember Writings
The other day, yesterday in fact, my wife and I were leading a seminar at a church in Baguio City, Philippines. There were between 30 and 40 people there--- perhaps 1/3 of them were people we knew. One we definitely know is Roland (I am using a pseudonym here, meaning that the one thing you …
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Should “Missionary Wife” Be a Thing?
The above question may sound strange and can be open to a few interpretations. One Interpretation (Minor Question): Historically, it might sound like the question, "Should missionaries be married... or single?" Paul made it clear that many of the apostles not only had wives, but they traveled with their husband's in their missionary ventures. Paul …
You know… NONE Go into Missions Because They Love to Listen.
Earlier this week, my wife and I were doing training with a group of volunteers who serve as "Welcomers" or Missionary Member Care volunteers for Filipinos who serve as cross-cultural missionaries. Many of them were pastors or pastors' wives. We were promoting the "Active Listening" and the "Ministry of Silence." My wife was sharing how …
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Should Missionaries Get Involved With Local Politics?
For those want a TLDR--- my answer is "I Don't Know." But here is a longer discussion. A few days ago, I was part of an online prayer gathering utilizing Facebook Live. When I joined, I put up the Emoji of Praying Hands to let people know I have joined the group. However, soon after …
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Three Phases of Christian Missions (from one perspective at least)
I was listening to Darrell Whiteman (missiologist/anthropologist) on the Missiology Podcast. He was talking about how the average time a missionary (he prefers the term "cross-cultural witness") is 7 years... and yet he believes that it takes around 10 years to truly be effective. That can be a problem. For me and my wife, I …
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Some Ambivalent Issues Regarding Independent Versus Agency Missionaries (Part 2)
This is the second part on this topic. If you want to read the first part first, please CLICK HERE. Let's continue with a couple of more ambivalent issues as it pertains to independent versus agency missionaries. Ambivalent Issue #2. Support. I have already talked about support a fair bit and don’t want to repeat …
Continue reading Some Ambivalent Issues Regarding Independent Versus Agency Missionaries (Part 2)
Some Ambivalent Issues Regarding Independent Versus Agency Missionaries (Part 1)
As I have mentioned before, my wife and I had looked to go into missions under a regular mission agency. We were going through the process. We got slowed down because I was chubby. (Considering how much thinner I looked back then, I do wonder how realistic their “chubby designation” was.) I was told, by …
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