In three years, Max's career took him through many turns from the Valley of Baca to a place of springs (Psalm 84:6).
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When we align our life with God's will, He will show us the way. Like John likes to put it, “All we do is make ourselves available–just show up.”
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Lacey’s story is a story of learning to say “yes” to God on the unexpected, yet beautiful journey of following His call.
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We address a few common myths people hold about “calling,” particularly when it comes to work and vocation, through what Scripture has to say.
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If work is an integral part of a tentmaker's life and witness, and not just a "passport" to get to the field or a "platform" for ministry, then getting the right job is important. But what constitutes the right job? How do you find that job overseas?
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Cherry longed to return to East Asia with her American husband and children. She was a high-performance salesperson in her company, so her boss agreed to create a position for her in to grow their business. Then the unexpected happened: Cherry's position fell through. Would they still go?
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Bob and Sabrina went to Asia with a heart to serve young people. At the university where Bob teaches, some of his students are from Muslim countries where economic hardships and even civil war are part of life. Quite a few of these bright young people are suffering PTSD symptoms from the violence and loss of loved ones back home. Bob and his wife Sabrina reached out and became their unofficial host family.
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Ramadan, holy month for Muslims, started April 2 and will end on May 1. Pious Ali, a Portland city councilor said, “Some of us can afford to eat three meals a day, but others in the world can’t. By fasting we learn how that feels. By fasting you learn about the privileges God has given you.” Indeed, Muslims devote themselves to practices including fasting, almsgiving, and soul-searching during Ramadan.
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Since February 24, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has created millions of refugees. How will missions look like in a new era of east-west confrontation as Russia is sanctioned by the West and driven closer to China? How will the gospel be relevant in a fractious multipolar world?
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March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate women’s contributions, large and small, to make life better for others. Today, we give thanks for our female tentmakers and associates.
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Declan and Ruby love an adventure. In 30+ years of marriage, they lived in three countries, and traveled to over 80 cities. They became Christians in college, always active in lay ministry and short-term missions. In 2003, they moved to China, a tentmaking family with three young boys, one modest salary, and many unknowns.
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Christ-followers are called to live a purposeful life that honors God (1 Peter 2:9). Sometimes we may feel lost and wish we had a clear invitation from God: a Macedonian call for what to do with our lives.
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Katy is a professional violinist called to serve God in East Asia. When the COVID outbreak closed all doors back to the field since spring break in 2020, Katy looked for other service opportunities, and took up a six-month short-term assignment in Central Asia in January 2021. Loving it there, she is staying on until the Lord redirects her. Little did she know Kazakhstan would hit the headlines a year later in political turmoil.
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Kazakhstan has been in the news lately. It is also the Central Asian Muslim country where one of our associates is serving. She moved there when the pandemic blocked her return to East Asia and has been teaching at a school not far from the center of recent unrest (the unrest started in the western part of the country, not where her school is located).
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Jeremy was a freshman in our 2002 student summer program in China. It opened his eyes to serving overseas. He explored many options for going to China while serving on the missions committee of his home church. But nothing panned out.
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This is the new era of digital missions. We are finally harnessing it to bring the witness of our Lord from our Jerusalems, Judeas, and Samarias to the rest of the world.
Digital missions can’t replace the incarnational presence of Christ in all nations. But this approach should be curated to carry the timeless story of God’s love to our world.
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Joe grew up a typical pastor’s kid. But when he got into a prestigious med school after rejections by all others that he applied to, he knew God had a plan for him.
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We may think of Pentecost as a historical event from long ago and far away—but it didn’t end some 2,000 years ago. Pentecost is still happening in us and among us today.
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Two years in a 10/40 Window country has taught Sabrina how desperately prayer is needed for the field workers and their ministries. The pandemic has brought special hardships. Seeing the struggles of fellow workers in her city, and personally experiencing spiritual warfare on the ground, she asked God what she could do about it.
Read MoreCOVID-19 Mental Health Response
At our Spring Retreat, associates working in the mental health sector shared a grim picture of their host country’s needs. Mental health care is slowly improving, but stigma and politics still get in the way. Many people cannot access help, especially outside first tier cities and in rural areas. Furthermore, the country needs not just more counselors but psychiatrists. There are only 2 psychiatrists per 100,000 people in a country of 1.4 billion, compared with 13 per 100,000 in the US.
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