Enrichment From Missionary Service
- Broadened World View
Language acquisition; being forced to change views and attitudes; feeling at home in two cultures, seeing the Bible through different cultural glasses; seeing the American culture more objectively,; differentiation between what is biblical and what is cultural; broader education of the children and their ability to relate cross-culturally.
- Deeper Walk With God
Learning to be a pilgrim; seeing God's power in human weakness; trusting Him for little things that were taken for granted back home; broader vision of God's work in the world; learning to grow in Christ from nationals.
- Friendships/Relationships
Deeper levels of friendships with Christian nationals; unity of fellow workers; developing a love for the nationals and missionaries of different groups; having a larger circle of friends among supporters and prayer partners.
- Significance of Role
The privilege of leading people to Christ; training national leadership; being in God's will; being a part of God's worldwide program; deeper world vision; being on the front lines; seeing the grace of God break through in unreached areas; reaching students from many countries in one location.
- Change in Character, Lifestyle and Ministry
More adaptable; more able to serve; more accepting of others; discovering that the American way is not necessarily the best way; freed up to discover new methods of ministry; changes in biblical values and convictions.
- Closer Family Ties
Less competition than in the US; away from evil influences like drugs, materialism, profanity, immorality, crime; a sense of joint mission of parents and children; quality time with parents and grandparents when visiting on furlough; creativity in making toys when not available to buy; creativity in recreation and life in general.
*Most of these also apply to short-term missions like Global Connections!
From a survey by Nate Mirza of Navigator missionaries and Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1987.
