I recently had a conversation with Global Trellis Podcast to answer a listener’s question about moms needing sabbaticals on the field or during home assignments, and she wondered how to make that happen in the busy of life with kids. The question reminded me of my days with three little girls at home. I was … Continue reading How to Help Mom Take a Sabbatical (even with kids at home)
by Jillian Sirianni When we hear the word sabbatical, what comes to mind? Is this just a long sought after vacation that never happens, or is this something we can truly integrate into our life in ministry? For many, the thought of sabbatical stirs up deep longings for personal and spiritual refreshment, while simultaneously bringing … Continue reading What Does It Really Mean to ‘Take a Sabbatical’?
My footsteps squished into the pine needles covering the cold, rain-soaked ground. I should be making footprints in the snow, God. Why didn’t you give us snow? We hadn’t visited family during Christmas for seven years, and now, home with my kids who knew nothing colder than a chilly-ish day in Thailand, I felt cheated. … Continue reading Are You Following God for the Wrong Reasons?
Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have gone over me. (Psalm 42:7) A few weeks ago, I found myself sitting on a calico rock nestled alongside a little cascading stream. It was tucked away, a crevice of rushing water concealed by leaves of emerald and mossy … Continue reading Peace in the Rumbling
As we were wrapping up last month’s Sabbatical Journey Course zoom, one of the participants said, “I want to talk about expectations at our next meeting.” I asked him if he’d heard of the book Expectations and Burnout: Women Surviving the Great Commission. He hadn’t. Now, don’t let the “women” lull you into thinking this book doesn’t … Continue reading Expectations and Burnout
by Sara Simons What if you could replace the dread of being gone for multiple months from the place you love, having to put on your most extroverted self, or feeling paralyzed by the thought of packing and re-packing with fond memories of being with people who love you in a context that was life-giving? … Continue reading 14 Ways to Make Furloughs Fun for Everyone
In his book Upstream, Dan Heath explores how to solve problems before they happen. Basically, when you are upstream you have different—better—options than you do downstream. Downstream you are forced to react to situations, whereas upstream you can anticipate and, in some cases, mitigate problems. Many organizations have “home assignment” or “furlough” policies. About a year … Continue reading Which of these 3 barriers are tripping you up?
“Is this the end of the movie,” she whispers leaning towards me but keeping her eyes on the screen. “No, sweetie, this is still the middle,” I whisper back. Satisfied, she doesn’t ask again until near the end. In recent weeks this scenario has repeated itself every time we watch a movie. At first I … Continue reading The question you might be asking
by Arden Howell Exhaustion, Isolation, Loneliness, Burnout… Do these seem like the words defining the season? If so, you’re not alone. This seems to be a frequent topic among the missions community and other ministry workers, but what are we, as a global Christian body, doing to combat the issue? There’s tremendous energy and momentum toward getting global … Continue reading Announcing a New Online Event for Women
I’ve written extensively before about role deprivation when someone moves to the field. You are the newbie and trying to figure out where you fit and what your role will be. Though uncomfortable, this process is not unexpected. But what about when your role changes because of a pandemic, organization shift, illness, or any of … Continue reading When your role changes and you wish it hadn’t
by Rachel K. Zimmerman I got a job. This is a big deal. Is this the step that means I have reintegrated (in some fashion) back into my home culture? I don’t know. But I do know that this job seems like a really good fit for me and my priorities post ‘mission field’ (i.e. … Continue reading I Got a Job
At the age of 24, I started my own nonprofit to help rehabilitate girl child soldiers in a war-torn region of Uganda. I had little to aid me in this process except my passion and a copy of Nonprofits for Dummies I’d picked up in a Barnes and Noble one day which quickly became my … Continue reading 7 Steps to Creating a Thriving Ministry Culture
