That last week that missionaries are on home assignment is one of the most difficult weeks of the year. They make those final purchases and fill suitcases praying that nothing is taken in the many airport stops along the way. There is usually one last Walmart run in order to grab some of those last minute items that can’t be found in the host country.

Packing is usually the easy part. The hard part is saying all of the he good byes. These only get harder year after year. This time is extremely difficult on parents and grandparents. Kids are resilient and quickly recover... Most of the time. For the past few months my little kids have made new friends at school and church. We took a risk on this home assignment and found a house close to family. The gamble really paid off, except I didn’t expect saying goodbye to my parents to be this difficult. This is not our first time mind you. We have done this several times over the past eight years of living overseas. When I was in seminary we had a guest missionary come in a teach a class for us while she was on home assignment. She told us that it never gets easier. Each time it only gets harder to say goodbye at the airport.

This last week also causes missionaries to get into a new mode of thinking. For those living in hostile environments for mission personnel, they start turning on switches preparing for re-entry. For me I have started preparing to spiritually pour into myself. Gosh Ty, thats a little selfish don’t you think. Not really, let me explain. Where we serve, we do not attend a local church. We have house church. We do not hear sermons or anything like that. We do walk through scripture together as a group and usually one or two people study the text more than others as they are gifted to do so. For me I study and prepare to invest in my team and the people I lead. So as I prepare to hit the ground running I have started my normal routine of studying and pouring into myself because if missionaries don’t do that on the field they will eventual burn out. And here is a little secret for any missionaries that might be reading this… A lot of missionaries do burn out. So if you are feeling like you are getting close to burnout do two things. First, understand that what you are going through is normal and Second, please tell someone. I would not be on the field today if I would not have made that phone call to a friend.

So to my fellow missionaries preparing to head back to the field, do so with your heads high. Know that people are praying for you. They are praying for your specific people groups by name. They are praying for you to walk in continual obedience. And know that I am praying that for you too.

Tags: Home Assignment, Missionary, Family

As believers in Christ we are typically thankful for what Christ did on the cross for us. We really do not have the ability to fully understand all that he went through during the passion event. However, with Thanksgiving right around the corner this week I thought I would share like so many other what I am thankful for as a missionary. Of course this list is not in order and I have condensed it down due to the number of these people will read this week.

As a missionary I am thankful for technology that makes it easier to be away from family and friends. We can still see and interact with one another on a regular basis and the cost is relatively small. I am thankful that we can turn around and use some of this same technology to encourage others to share the gospel from America to the nations.

I am also thankful for supportive family. If you know a missionary that has any relative that says something along the lines of, “Are you done with that yet?” or “Well don’t you think its about time for you to come home” Statements like those cause missionaries to pull away from family members. Don’t get me wrong my family would love to have us back in the states. Like I have said before, its not easy. But they want us to be Obedient first.

I am also thankful for coworkers. Other missionaries that partner together to be family in times of need. I cannot remember the number of times that we have called on a coworker for help just like we would a family member close by in the states. I am also thankful for church partners that send out missionaries to the harvest. I am thankful for their partnership, purpose, and passion in fulfilling the great commission.

May the Lord give you peace and comfort this Thanksgiving.

Tags: Missionary, Churches

Over the past couple of months Syria is gaining more and more attention in media outlets. This is not the only problem or difficult situation in the Arab world. Its just the main one in the media right now. I am asked on a regular basis about how Americans are received in the Middle East. Believe it or not, its a pretty simple answer. Arabs usually love American people but hate American Government. I know what your thinking, how can that be? But, Arab people see things are a little different than those of us from the West.

Generally Arab people desire relationships with what we call "Westerners" usually referring to people from the UK and the US. They want people in the West to know that not all Arabs are terrorists, or extremists. Yes, some people are Muslim and they do attend the Mosque for prayers. But most want to live in peace if at all possible. When I am asked about the situation in Syria from my Arab friends I usually respond with, "It is a terrible situation in which the only winner is war. I want peace if at all possible." This gives me the chance to talk to them about peace and eternal life. It is much easier to start a spiritual conversation with someone from the Arab world than those in the West because Arabs still use spiritual language in the everyday conversation. For Example: I would say, “Good Morning" or "How are you" to an Arab and he would say back, "Good Morning, Praise the Lord" or he might say, "I am good, thanks to God". This allows you to go one step further and share a reason or two why you are praising God today. Or it allows you to ask them why they are thanking God. Keep the conversation going, keep the focus back on the gospel. I recognize that you can do this in the West it just usually takes a little longer to get there.

For those "Westerners" that live in the Arab world it is your responsibility to be Light among these wonderful people. It is your responsibility to share with them what you believe and how it continues to change your life. It is also your responsibility to show the Arab world that not all Westerners are lost sinners that only care about themselves.

Be Light... Wherever you are.

Tags: Missionary, Churches

In my mission career there is one thing that I think we do a bad job of when we send single missionaries to serve abroad. We send young people out alone, by themselves. Yes they might go and join an existing team, but single missionaries that join a team can still be very alone on the field. Unfortunately the Mormons figured out long ago that if you send out singles you should always send them out with a partner so they are never alone.

Missionaries that live and minister by themselves have one of the hardest times adjusting and growing on the field. There are a couple (two or three) that I have seen that can make it work. But most young missionaries that leave the West right after college and travel abroad alone to minister, crave being with people. They need someone constantly investing in them. They also need accountability. Someone walking with them on a regular basis in order to be the most effective missionaries for God's Kingdom.

This past week I was able to spend some time with some single missionaries who served overseas for two or more years. As we were encouraging college students to go and spread the gospel among the nations I mentioned the importance of not going to the mission field alone. I encouraged one college freshman to start praying right now for a partner to go and serve with her in another culture. I went as far as to recommend that she not go to the field alone. I told her that I know it sounds harsh, but I am trying to set her up to thrive and not just survive. She walked away truly feeling as though I had her best interest at heart and I wanted to see her have a great experience on the field.

When she left I looked up and could see the Journeyman who served for two years had spent some time alone on the field. She quickly said, I have never heard anyone go as far as recommending that a single not go to the field alone but you are 100% right. It was just too hard. No one should have to go through that. This is one way we can help single missionaries thrive on the field by requiring them to serve with partners. Please join me this week as we pray for churches and mission sending agencies to send out single missionaries two by two.

Tags: Sending, Singles, Missionary

About a year ago David Platt challenged his church to dedicate 2% of their time to missions every year. As a missionary I got excited about the potential of new short and long term personnel headed to the field. I have had the privilege to work with some of these short and midterm members from Brookhills and am excited about their passion for the nations.

But recently it got me thinking. How much time do missionaries give their sending churches. Is it 2%? Do missionaries spend the right amount of time communicating and interacting with their sending churches? This is a great question for mission personnel to consider as we serve abroad. I understand that the relationship between sending church and missionary can be anywhere from great… to no relationship at all. In my first three year term I had five main sending churches. Only two communicated with us in those three years. It's sad I know. But it made me think of what missionaries can do to have better communication with sending churches.

So I am challenging all of those I lead and… anyone who happens to read this Blog, to spend two or more percent of their time communicating with their sending church. Dedicating two or more percent to interact, build relationships and community among the ones that pray for you and send you out to minister in the world. In my opinion it's a win, win and mission personnel need to take up this challenge with open arms.

Tags: Missionary, Churches, Platt, Brookhills