This section relates to your ongoing spiritual, emotional and physical health. Paying attention to these areas of your life is an important factor in helping you to enjoy wholesome relationships in your family and team life whilst maintaining a fruitful ministry.

Thankfully, God can use our weaknesses to display his power, but that does not negate the importance of resilience. A clear understanding of the state of our health in all these areas can help us to manage and minimise any negative effects on ourselves and on those around us. It will also enable us to work through implications for our ministries.

Our goal is to equip you to sustain your lifelong walk with Jesus, to have healthy relationships and a fruitful ministry.

 

Pre-field requirements:

  • Evidence of being physically, spiritually, psychologically and emotionally fit for missionary service.
  • Understanding and adopting good practices for life-long learning.
  • Awareness of the necessity for spiritual disciplines.
  • Preparation for spiritual warfare.
  • Adopting strategies to grow resilience.
     

     

How to fulfil requirements:

Essential (requirements which must be completed)

  • Undergo physical and psychological health checks.*
  • Attend orientation sessions* and conduct personal reflections:
    • Resilience
    • Spiritual disciplines and spiritual warfare

*Arranged by sending office.
 

Ongoing development (ways of growing further in this area):
 

  • Attend external training events.
  • Subscribe to Seedbed articles (https://www.seedbedjournal.com/).
  • Find a spiritual mentor from your sending church.
  • Keep a journal of your emotional and spiritual journey.
  • Consult with your team leader and Member Care manager about how you will maintain your physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing while in ministry.
  • Receive first aid training suitable for your context.
 

Suggested resources

Start here – suggested foundational resources

  • Spiritual Warfare– Gerry Breshears, Biblicaltraining.org
  • 10 Ways to Be a Better Learner – Jeff Cobb
  • Celebration of Discipline – Richard J. Foster.
  • Spiritual Survival Handbook for Cross-CulturalWorkers – Robert S. Miller.
  • God’s Plan for your Wellbeing: 50-Day Guide – Dave Smith.

 

 

Life-long learning

  • Make the Most of Retirement – Paul Beasley-Murray

 

Spiritual disciplines and spiritual warfare

  • The Bondage Breaker: Overcoming Negative Thoughts, Irrational Feelings and Habitual Sins: With Study Guide – Neil T. Anderson.
  • Liturgies & Laments for the Sojourner – Alicia Boyce et. al. 
  • The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to stay emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world – John Mark Comer
  • Crafting Liturgies for Life Abroad – Heather Fallis
  • The Message of Spiritual Warfare (The Bible Speaks Today series) – Keith Ferdinando
  • How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People – Pete Greig
  • Demonology for the Global Church – Scott D. MacDonald
  • A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World – Paul E. Miller.
  • Love Beyond Reason: Moving God's Love from Your Head to Your Heart – John Ortberg.
  • What's Your God Language?: Connecting with God Through Your Unique Spiritual Temperament – Myra Perrin.
  • Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Updated Edition – Peter L. Scazzero.
  • Spiritual Formation and Devotional Intimacy– Gary Thomas, Biblicaltraining.org
  • One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are – Ann Voskamp.
  • The Prayer Course – 24-7 Prayer

 

Building resilience

  • Expectations and Burnout: Women Surviving the Great Commission – Susan E. Eenigenburg & Robynn Bliss.
  • Honourably Wounded: Stress among Christian Workers – Marjorie Foyle.
  • Resilience in Life and Faith: Finding your strength in God – Tony Horsfall and Debbie Hawker.
  • The Traveller's Good Health Guide – Ted Lankester.
  • Why God Calls Us to Dangerous Places – Kate McCord.
  • Let the Healing Begin – Jeannie Morgan.
  • Praying our Goodbyes: A Spiritual Companion Through Life's Losses and Sorrows – Joyce Rupp.
  • Sorrow and Blood: Christian Mission in Contexts of Suffering, Persecution, and Martyrdom (Globalization of Mission) – William David Taylor et al.
  • Where There is No Doctor: a village health care handbook – David Werner et al.