“They started to learn the language 3 weeks ago and have already decided it is too hard, so will now use a translator for their ministry instead.“ “That poor girl has already done 6 months of language learning but now can’t get a visa to stay in the country, she Read more…
If you decide to go overseas as an independent missionary, here are some of the things you need to consider putting into place. Finances How will you be accountable with the money you receive for ministry, track it for tax purposes, and ensure you obey all financial laws in your Read more…
Sitting in my car I felt the butterflies in my stomach madly beating their wings. “Why does Steve have to work today so that I am here on my own? God, please let there be other young people at this meeting!” This was my experience of attending my first OMF Read more…
When someone wants a job, they do all they can to learn what’s required. Whether you are a plumber or a doctor, the people you work with want you to know what you are doing! When you put time into learning the Bible, you value the skill involved in understanding Read more…
I was involved in pastoral ministry at our church for about 6 months. I was on the church council for 2 years. I taught Sunday School for 4 years and led a Bible study for 5 years. I was involved in the Overseas Christian Fellowship at uni for 3 years Read more…
Listening to the voice on the phone, I felt the tears well up in my eyes as the other person wept. A missionary was telling me about something they had done to satisfy their own desires, and now it was tearing their family apart. Their family, their ministry, their team Read more…
The immigration officer looked at our passports and said, “Follow me.” We went over to the door where a guard stood, gun in hand and large dog by his side. When our 2-year-old son tried to pat the dog everyone started laughing. It turned out that our 2-year-old had a Read more…
My hands were shaking and my heart was thumping. I felt unable to walk far and my head was spinning. The doctor took one look at the form I filled out and told me that I was suffering from acute stress, sometimes called burnout. Two days before I had been Read more…
Serving a mission agency “at home” gives quite a different perspective to mission than being “on the field.” Because I get to see what is happening for people preparing for missions, as well as caring for missionaries serving overseas, it gives me a chance to consider how we might be Read more…
“I think the best way to keep developing my language skills is to start writing a dictionary.” I looked over at the older missionary in shock. Here I was, struggling to fully grasp what people were saying to me, yet reluctant to keep learning. But this missionary who had been Read more…