Last month, I wrote about the natural process of individual growth. Our individual problems surface over time throughout our lives, and when they surface, it’s not a cause for alarm or self-shaming. When our problems surface, we are simply facing an opportunity for growth. We might even come to be grateful for those chances to … Continue reading Ask a Counselor: How do we invite growth as a community around racism?
Anyone working in missions will come face to face with the reality of racism at some point. Historically it has been an issue of skin color. In most nations black was wrong and white was right. I live and work in South Africa. Perhaps there has never been a nation where racism was more evident … Continue reading A New Racism
“Are you better?” After two months of being in pain, thinking I had a tear in my left biceps, it was a relief for the doctor to say that I had not torn anything and would not need surgery. My doctor also said that I had probably been doing all of the things I needed … Continue reading A new answer to an old question
This is the time of year when everyone who has an Instagram account or a website (like me) pulls out their “what you must buy” lists. From books to fair trade products, things you never knew you wanted but now you must buy because if you do you will feel good about yourself and be saving the world and … Continue reading Merry Gentle Christmas
by Rebecca Hopkins Editor’s Note: In Part 1, we looked at the findings from Barna’s latest research on the Future of Missions. Part 2 discussed deconstruction of missions’ past. Today we talk about the movement within the African American community to join missions—and call for reform. Less than 1 percent of American missionaries are black, … Continue reading African Americans to Missions: “I Want to Join. But First, Change.” (a look at Barna’s latest research, Part 3)
In October of 2001, my wife and I boarded a flight and moved our family from the US to our new home in Asia. Nearly ten years later, in June of 2011, we moved back to our old home in Joplin, Missouri. Those dates may not jump out at you, but the first was one … Continue reading Coming or Going during Turbulent Times
Why missionaries, humanitarians, and anyone working cross culturally needs to care about racial justice. I posted this at Do Good Better on June 1. So this is a partial repost. In that post, there is a YouTube video and several other links to really important articles. The last link shared there talks about why it … Continue reading Justice, Race, George Floyd, and Cross Cultural Service
I’m sitting at my desk in our guest bedroom when the bells from the church across the street begin to ring. They began at eight in the morning and they end at ten at night, giving us a full ten hours without being reminded of the time. This is new for me. While hearing the … Continue reading Amazing Grace & a Prayer for the Human Family
So this happens. A lot. I get into a taxi and say “ni hao” (“hello” in Chinese). The taxi driver’s eyes get wide and he says, “Waaahhh, your Chinese is SO good!” My daughter, on the other hand, could get in the exact same car, with the exact same driver and say the exact same … Continue reading White Expat Privilege
The sword hangs by a thread, suspended above the throne, pointing down. Threatening. One strand of horsehair, fastened to the pommel, is strong enough. Barely. One breeze, one bit of weakening fiber, and death is certain. And so, no matter how powerful the king becomes, no matter how many successes he has, the sword remains … Continue reading What C.S. Lewis, Paul, and the Sword of Damocles can Teach us About Living in Terrible Times
I first learned the term “moral injury” in a Plough magazine article by Michael Yandell, Hope in the Void. He quoted authors Rita Nakashima Brock and Gabriella Lettini who say moral injury, “comes from having transgressed one’s basic moral identity and violated core moral beliefs…Moral injury destroys meaning and forsakes noble causes. It sinks warriors … Continue reading Moral Injury
by Hannah Edington Marriage of any type comes with difficulties, but intercultural marriage has its own set of unexpected challenges. For single missionaries serving abroad, the possibility of marrying from within their host culture should involve deep considerations. Like Moses and Zipporah coming face to face with his family’s racism, to my experiences with my … Continue reading Marrying Across Cultures
