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MC2 – February 2014

MC2 – February 2014. Missionary Care During Major Seasonal Transition. A passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another. A movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage or style to another A musical passage leading from one section of a piece to another

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MC2 – February 2014

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  1. MC2 – February 2014 Missionary Care During Major Seasonal Transition

  2. A passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another. • A movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage or style to another • A musical passage leading from one section of a piece to another • In sports, the process of changing from defense to offense or offense to defense Transition

  3. Transitions are the tunnels that connect the castles of life… They are intended to be traveled through not lived in. (Donna Cole)

  4. The Missionary experience

  5. Major Transitions - Expected

  6. Major Transitions – unexpected

  7. Issues related to Missionary Career Transition What are the causes? • Nationalization – Field work is closed down for expat workers • Completion of the work • Lack of spiritual fruit…question their calling • Some type of failure that forces people out of the ministry • Short term missions

  8. Degrees of Difficulty Not the same for everyone Lots of variables impact the level of difficulty So missionaries have said that the severity of culture shock pales in comparison to the shock of cross-cultural reentry (entry vs reentry)

  9. Impact on the missionary Becomes isolated and lonely (potential to walk the journey alone) Fear of failure Feeling of uncertainty Stress on the marriage Impact to the children Financial issues

  10. Providing Pastoral Care Do your best to provide local church support for those in the midst of transition (financial; training; spiritual; emotional; family) Be attentive (Let them tell their story; Listen to their story) Partner with the sending agency by providing what they cannot (local networks) Engage with the missionary family…through the entire process

  11. The role of the missionary during Transition • Seek to minimize the difficulty • Be prepared for a stressful experience • While on the field, continue to nurture professional relationships at home • Pursue continuing education where possible • Seek counsel of those that have gone before them; career counseling • Cooperate with sending churches and agencies (partnership)

  12. What can the church do to help? • Allow for a transitional period (6 months would be minimal) • Recognize the financial stress involved during the transitional period • Pay attention to the unique career challenges for returning missionaries, seek to use your local church network • Emotional and spiritual support through the journey • Mission teams can educate themselves to the challenges of cross-cultural reentry

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