Encountering Missionary Life and Work

by Steffen, Tom A.

• ISBN13: 9780801026591
• ISBN10: 0801026598
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-06-01
• Publisher: Baker Academic

Summary

This new volume in the award-winning Encountering Mission series is for current and future missionaries. It provides practical guidance regarding getting ready for the mission field and the realities of life on the field. The authors are well qualified to write such a manual, each having served as a missionary for more than twenty years and each having taught missions in seminary. The authors begin by examining the contemporary context for missions, including the recognition that the world's mission fields are in constant and often rapid change. They then discuss aspects of preparing oneself for the mission field, beginning with home-front preparations and moving to on-the-field preparations. The final section deals with practical issues and challenges of missionary life.

Author Biography

Tom Steffen (DMiss, Biola University) is professor of intercultural studies at Biola University and director of the doctor of missiology program. He served as a missionary for twenty years in Southeast Asia. Lois McKinney Douglas (PhD, Michigan State University) is professor emerita of mission at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She served as a missionary for twenty-three years with the Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Introduction	p. xiii
The Changing Scene
Remembering the Past	p. 3
Understanding Key Ideas and Terms	p. 30
Home-Front Preparations
Decision Making and the Will of God	p. 47
Spiritual Formation	p. 62
Personal Readiness	p. 85
Ministry Readiness	p. 102
Avenues to Cross-Cultural Ministries	p. 122
Finding Your Niche	p. 139
Getting Going	p. 159
On-Field Preparations
What Is Culture?	p. 181
At Home in the Culture	p. 201
Culture and Language Acquisition	p. 224
Missionaries and Their Lives
Women in Missions	p. 253
Missionary Families	p. 276
Crises in Missions	p. 295
Reentry	p. 320
What's Next?	p. 343
Helpful Web Sites	p. 359
Reference List	p. 365
Scripture Index	p. 379
Subject Index	p. 383
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