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ADVICE
RECRUITMENT
PREPARATION (see also TRAINING)
SUPPORT RAISING
TRAINING RESOURCES
LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
ADVICE
WEBSITES
ASK JACK
Urbana.org’s own missionary in residence will answer your questions and provides answers to previous questions by category
ASK A MISSIONARY
A unique web site where you can ask a question, share and answer and learn from missionaries
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RECRUITMENT
TOOLS
CROSS-CULTURAL CHURCH PLANTER PROFILE (from the e-book, Send Me!, which you can find under Preparation>>Articles below)
These charts can help a possible missionary candidate discern whether or not they are called to be a missionary. Churches can use them 1) in their role of discerning who is called to be a missionary, 2) as a guide to how well equipped and fit their candidates are for the field, and 3) what steps they need to take to see their candidates are as best equipped and ready for the field as possible.
ARTICLES
THE MISSIONARY CALL by Oswald J. Smith
An article from one of the greatest mission mobilizers of the past century.
FERMENTED YAK BUTTER BREATH by John Willis Zumwalt
Surrounded by the snow-capped Himalayans, I marveled that there were so few who were willing to go as missionaries. “Why wouldn’t everyone want to do this,” I asked my wife. The answer was only a few hours away. As I sat in an overcrowded bus, full of Muslims and Tibetans, the romance had faded. We were treated rudely, crushed into the back of the bus, pushed and shoved. After traveling 12 hours across treacherous mountains, 2000 foot drops barely navigated, ferrying across lakes, near fatal accidents, and breakdowns, the horribly bad breath of the Tibetan Lama that was sitting directly behind me was getting to be too much. He was not really behind me, more like above me… leaning over into our seat, breathing fermented yak butter breath down on us… (Read more)
MISSIONS TO THE 10/40 WINDOW AFTER SEPTEMBER 11TH by Chacko Thomas
As a Missions Mobiliser, I have had to address the subject of "Missions to the 10/40 window after Tuesday, September 11th" in several meetings in the last few weeks. Humanly speaking this attack and the events that followed could not have happened at a worse time for Christian mission. It looked as though they would cause a major setback to the momentous progress of mission in many nations. Great concern has been shown for the safety of the many mission workers and national believers in the window. Many Christians all over the world have been praying. God is answering those prayers and it seems that, once again, what was meant for evil is being turned around for good. (Read more)
MISSIONS: IS IT SAFE TO GO? by Erich Bridges
The question came up over breakfast with a friend. He's dedicated to supporting and participating in international missions. But as war looms, attacks on missionaries increase and threats against Americans multiply, he's concerned. And he's thinking hard about how to express his missions commitment in the immediate future. Is it safe, he asked, for American Christian workers to continue serving overseas? (Read more)
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PREPARATION (see also TRAINING below)
BOOK
I THINK GOD WANTS ME TO BE A MISSIONARY by Neal Pirolo
Prompted by the high attrition rate of missionaries who do not first
“count the cost” of cross-cultural ministry, Neal Pirolo offers this
book to help candidates look closely at scores of issues that should be
clarified long before they say, “Good-bye.”
ARTICLES
CHARTING YOUR JOURNEY TO THE NATIONS by Steve Hoke & Bill Taylor
A four page article version of Hoke & Taylor’s Send Me! (see below) provides concise insights into the steps a missionary candidate should take in the process of getting to the field.
SEND ME! by Steve Hoke & Bill Taylor
This is essentially an e-book version of Hoke & Taylor’s book, chapter by chapter
THE ROAD TO THE FIELD: LOCAL CHURCH BASED MISSIONARY PREPARATION A series of articles from ACMC’s Mobilizer Quarterly Fall 2001
HOW TO PREPARE TO BECOME A MISSIONARY
This article from MissionaryResources.com also contains advice for missionary candidates submitted by additional sources.
FINDING THE RIGHT MISSION AGENCY...HOW TO GET THERE FROM HERE by John H. Orme
Bullet points on what you can expect from the mission and what the mission expects from you.
STAGES OF MISSIONARY DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY IN CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT by Glenn J. Schwartz
This paper is an attempt to bring to light some of the symptoms, causes and cures for the culture shock experienced by cross-cultural workers. The symptoms are many and the stress is real. The effects must not be minimized. Also, of great importance, it must be remembered that culture shock should be viewed as curable, not a terminal illness. (Read more)
LEARNING TO BE A MISSIONARY
The Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition applied to the development of cross-cultural ministry practitioners, by Dan Sheffield and Joyce Bellous
CASE STUDIES OF PROBLEM SOLVING IN A CROSS-CULTURAL CONTEXT
Dr. Culbertson is presently missionary-in-residence at Southern Nazarene University where he teaches missions. He also facilitates an extensive web site on mission-related information for his students, including the above title.
MISSIONS ISSUES ARTICLES/BROCHURES, by Caleb Project
Twenty-three brochure/articles primarily for those seeking guidance on becoming a missionary
PREFIELD TRAINING by Xenos Christian Fellowship
Five phases for missionary preparation.
CAN LOCAL CHURCHES EFFECTIVELY SELECT AND CARE FOR MISSIONARIES? by Gailyn Van Rheenan
It can generally be said that missionary societies exist because missions leaders of local churches are unable to understand and implement world missions. I have often heard the question "Can local church leaders with a limited understanding of missions and the world effectively strategize for world missions?" The answer to this question depends on the equipping of the local church to implement world missions. (Read more)
A LETTER TO PARENTS by Jamie West Zumwalt
Incredible power lies in the hands of parents. As Christian parents in America, we have so much freedom and ability to help steer our children toward the passionate pursuit of Jesus and His Kingdom on earth. We raise our children in the Church, taking them to Sunday School, having them participate in Awana, Bible quizzing and Christian scouting programs, all with the hope that they will grow up to be “good Christians.” (Read more)
STUDENT DEBT AND MISSIONARY SERVICE (Four articles from Mission Frontiers magazine, July/August 2004)
Student Debt: A Hurdle too High for Impact Missionaries by Ben Sells
What are Mission Agencies Saying and Doing about Student Debt? by Darrell Dorr
Release the Indentured Generation! by Linda Dorr
A New Paradigm For Education Without Debt by Rebecca Lewis
IN SPITE OF DANGER . . JOIN GOD, DON'T BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL, RANKIN URGES by Mark Kelly
The four Southern Baptist workers who were killed in Iraq March 15, 2004 -- Larry and Jean Elliott, Karen Watson and David McDonnall -- were willing to go in spite of the risk because of their conviction that Jesus alone is the answer to humanity's spiritual need, he said. "Amazingly, these tragic deaths have inspired others to follow in their steps, and their example calls us all of us to a greater sacrifice and obedience." (Read more)
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SUPPORT RAISING
See: SUPPORT RAISING
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TRAINING RESOURCES
GUIDE TO SCHOOLS
MISSIONS AND EVANGELISM PROGRAMS IN NORTH AMERICA
by Mislinks
Ranging from a certificate in missions to a Ph.D.
MINISTRIES
INTERNATIONAL TRAINING PARTNERS
ITP provides practical, interactive, biblical training for Christians from around the world, equipping Christ's servants to relate effectively in cross cultural contexts with others.
ELIJAH COMPANY
Global partnerships, churches and agencies, hundreds of years of cumulative experience, a multi-racial, interdenominational board make up the personnel resources of Elijah Company, Inc.
MISSIONARY TRAINING SERVICE
The MTS is currently producing a series of missionary training guides especially appropriate for tentmakers.
NEXT STEP
The Next Step: North American Partnership in Mission Training is a working partnership of evangelical North American churches, mission agencies, mission trainers and mission mobilizers who are committed to equipping Christian workers in the areas of character, ministry skills and knowledge for effective cross-cultural ministry.
MISSION TRAINING INTERNATIONAL
Since 1954 more than 14,000 missionaries and their children have received MTI’s specialized, pre-field training. Each year more than 150 evangelical sending agencies are impacted by MTI’s programs, workshops or conferences.
WORKSHOPS
THE JOURNEY DEEPENS
This weekend is about being in passionate pursuit of: 1) developing a closer relationship with God, 2) praying for God's glory to come to all peoples, 3) discovering whether God is calling you to become a missionary or serve as a sender. The retreat includes worship, life-changing speakers, powerpoint presentations, small group discussion and prayer, Q & A with experienced missionaries, bookstore, personal reflection and prayer.
BOOKS
SEND ME! YOUR JOURNAL TO THE NATIONS by Steve Hoke and Bill Taylor
Urbana.org, with the permission of World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), has reprinted portions of Send Me! for easy, online use.
E-BOOKS
TOWARD BEST PRACTICES IN MISSIONARY TRAINING (An e-publication of Next Step: The North American Partnership in Mission Training, Hayward Armstrong and Ben Sells, Editors, National Missionary Training Forum 2004)
ARTICLES
WHY OVERSEAS MISSIONARY TRAINING WORKS: SWIMMING IS BEST LEARNED WET by Roger Charles|
Rice paddies surrounded the seminary where Dirk studied church planting. Friends debated the theory and practice of Muslim evangelism over heaping bowls of rice and chili peppers. The competing melodies of Indonesian church music and the call to prayer at a dozen nearby mosques set the mood for his theological studies. Crowded dorms and buses and the lack of clocks and electricity taught Dirk volumes about the values and realities of ministry in another culture. The farmers in his village church grew to respect the foreigner who was first a learner, then a teacher. (Read more)
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LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
See: LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
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