What Are the Major Areas Covered in Missionary Member Care?
Short & Simple Summary
Missionaries are people, so they deal with the same issues that all other people face. However, in addition to those issues, missionaries face issues serving cross-culturally. There is no generally accepted list of which are the most important topics, so different individuals may choose different issues. I found five areas that seem to be primary. Three of those issues relate to serving cross-culturally: the problem of missionaries leaving their work in such great numbers, the issues related to their children growing up between cultures, and issues related to changing cultures themselves. In addition, family and mental health issues are important. Here are the topics covered in the chapter.
Attrition
Third Culture Kids
Reentry
Mental Health
Family
If you want more detail and links to other sources, read on.
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Missionaries are people, so they need help in facing all the issues that other people do, plus the additional issues faced by individuals who live and work in a culture different from the one in which they grew up. To decide which were the major areas I looked at the member care books on my shelves to discover what authors were writing about and what editors had chosen to place in their books, journals, and magazines. I found five major areas, three pertaining primarily to those who work cross-culturally and two found in the general population who do live and work in their passport culture. Following is a brief description of each of these five areas, each with the following parts.
· A list of books dealing with the area, with links to those posted on the internet
· A list of edited books with sections of several chapters dealing with the area with links.
· Links to brochures available on www.missionarycare.com dealing with the area
· Links to a database that will produce an annotated bibliography of printed sources about that area.
Attrition
In Chapter 2, the Global Member Care Network defines Member Care as the ongoing preparation, equipping and empowering of missionaries for effective and sustainable life, ministry and work. Near the end of the 20th century, about the time missionary member care began to develop, it was clear that the “sustainable” part was not a reality. After years of preparation, a year of raising funds, and a year of language school, far too many missionaries either quit serving and came home before their first term of service was completed or completed that first term and never returned to the field as they had originally planned. They became “attrition statistics.”
After hearing at a 1993 conference in Brazil that 75% of Brazil’s cross-cultural missionaries either quit during their first term of service or did not return for a second term, the Mission Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), http://www.worldea.org launched a study of attrition. They called it the “Reducing Missionary Attrition Project” (ReMap I) to find out whether or not attrition was really that high, why missionaries quit, and whether the rate was different in the older sending countries (OSC in North America, Europe, and Australia) from that in the new sending countries (NSC in Latin America, Africa, and Asia).
The results of ReMAP I also suggested changes that might lengthen the time missionaries served, so another major study, ReMap II, was conducted to follow up and find out if the changes really did make a difference. The changes did make a difference. These two studies are the core of knowledge about missionary attrition about the turn of the 21st century.
Books. Two books, one covering each of the major research projects, are available in print, both new and used.
· Too Valuable to Lose: Exploring the Causes and Cures of Missionary Attrition (1997) Edited by William D. Taylor and published by William Carey Library in Pasadena, CA, is a 380-page report of the ReMAP I Project.
· Worth Keeping: Global Perspectives on Best Practice in Missionary Retention (2007) by Rob Hay, Valerie Lim, Detlef Blocher, Jaap Ketelaar, and Sarah Hay and published by William Carey Library, Pasadena, CA, is a 422-page report of the ReMAP II Project.
A 12-page summary of the two ReMAP projects is at http://www.dmgint.de/fileadmin/user_upload/PDFs1/ReMAPI_summary.pdf
Sections in Books. Helping Missionaries Grow: Readings in Mental Health and Missions edited by Kelly and Michele O’Donnell contains a section on “attrition” which is available as Chapters 40 and 41 available at https://sites.google.com/site/membercaravan/test/helping-ms-grow-book .
Brochures. Two brochures related to attrition are available
· Premature departure is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_premature_departure.htm .
· Burnout is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_burnout.htm.
Printed sources. A list of published printed articles, books, and chapters in books is available at http://www.missionarycare.com/dbListArticles.asp?TOPICID=10.
Third Culture Kids
Missionary kids (MKs) and others who lived in other cultures were viewed as no different from other children who grew up in their own countries until the last half of the 20th century. Observing her own children overseas and back “home” Ruth Useem, a professor at Michigan State University, discovered that people spending a significant part of their developmental years outside their parents’ culture build relationships to all the cultures but do not have a full ownership with any. She called these Third Culture Kids (TCKs).
TCKs have a much broader world view, think differently, and relate to others differently. Though they do not identify fully with any of the cultures they have lived in, they do identify with other TCKs who may have grown up in entirely different cultures. These TCKS can identify someone who is not a TCK. For example, I heard one TCK talking to another about a third one say, “She may have lived overseas for a couple years, but she isn’t a TCK. She doesn’t think like one.”
TCKs include not only missionary kids, but also military kids, children of diplomats, children of people in international business, etc. Of course, TCKs are part of missionary families, but they are different from their parents who did not grow up between cultures. TCKs have been studied widely and many books written about them. The education of children living overseas has been of great concern to their parents.
During the 1980s three major international conferences on MKs were held in Manila, Quito, and Nairobi. In 1987 the MK-CART/CORE was formed by 12 sending agencies. MK-CART/CORE means Missionary Kid—Consultation And Research Team/Committee On Research and Endowment. This group did three major research studies over the next 15 years. The most complete report of this research is in Leslie Andrews’ book The Family in Mission listed below.
A good review of research on MKs and families is at http://www.mrnet.org/system/files/library/critical_review_on_mks_families.pdf .
Books. Here are some books most relevant to TCKs of missionary parents. Printed ones are available used and new.
· Don’t Pig Out on Junk Food: The MK’s Guide to Survival in the U. S. (1993) by Alma Daugherty Gordon published by Evangelical Missions Information Service in Wheaton, IL, is not about diet issues, but it is filled with suggestions for teenage TCKs coping with all aspects of life back “home.”
· Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds (2001, 2009) by David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken published by Nicholas Brealey Publishing, is valuable for parents, teenagers, and adult TCKs.
· Raising Resilient MKs: Resources for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers (1998) edited by Joyce M. Bowers published by Association of Christian Schools International in Colorado Springs, CO, is posted on-line and is available free of charge at http://www.missionarycare.com/ebook.htm#resilient_mks.
· Fitted Pieces: A Guide for Parents Educating Children Overseas (2001) Edited by Janet R. Blomberg and David F Brooks published by Share Education Services is valuable for such parents.
· Third Culture Kids and Adolescence: Cultural Creations (2005) by Ronald L. Koteskey posted on-line is available free of charge at http://www.missionarycare.com/ebook.htm#cultural_creations. It is written for TCKs, but it also is of interest to parents of TCKs who want to understand their children.
Sections in Books. Two edited books have multiple articles on TCKs or MKs.
· Helping Missionaries Grow: Readings in Mental Health and Missions (1988) edited by Kelly and Michele O’Donnell contains a section on “missionary children” with three chapters and a section on “educating missionary children” with three chapters. These are available as Chapters 24-29 available at https://sites.google.com/site/membercaravan/test/helping-ms-grow-book .
· The Family in Mission: Understanding and Caring for Those Who Serve (2004) edited by Leslie A. Andrews published by Missionary Training International in Palmer Lake, CO, contains a section on “educational context,” a section on “adult missionary kids,” an appendix on “the boarding school study,” and an appendix on “the adult missionary kid study,” with a total of 15 chapters and appendices about MKs.
Brochures. Two brochures related to TCKs are available.
· Children’s adjustment is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_children_adjustment.htm.
· Adolescence and youth is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_adolescence.htm.
Printed sources. Lists of published printed articles, books, and chapters in books is available at http://www.missionarycare.com/dbTopics.asp. Click on “MK care” and “Adult MKs.
Reentry
Missionaries and other people who have spent years living in another culture have long known about the “culture shock” that often occurs after the “vacation” phase of moving to a new culture. People were warned about it so they would not be surprised if and when it happened. However, many people did not realize a kind of “reverse culture shock” occurred when people returned to their passport countries after living in a host culture for an extended period of time.
In The Odyssey, written thousands of years ago, Homer described Odysseus reaction when he woke up in his home country 20 years after leaving it. “He did not recognize the pathways stretching into the distance, the quiet bays, the crags and precipices. He rose to his feet and stood staring at what was his own land, crying mournfully: ‘Alas: And now where on earth am I? What do I here myself?’” Missionaries looked forward to coming home, expecting to be eagerly welcomed, join their friends, and pick up life where they had left off. However, they had changed, their culture had changed, their friends had changed, and they felt lonely and abandoned. Since the latter part of the 20th century, missionaries have been warned about what to expect upon reentering their passport country, but it is still difficult—even when expected. Much has been written about reentry, and here are some of the sources written for missionaries.
Books. Here are some books most relevant for returning missionaries. Printed ones are available used and new.
· Re-Entry: Making the Transition from Missions to Life at Home (1992) by Peter Jordan and published by YWAM Publishing has been the classic for two decades.
· Burn-Up or Splash Down: Surviving the Culture Shock of Re-entry (2006) written by Marion Knell is more detailed and includes a section on TCKs.
· Five books for reentry for different people: (1) Before You Get “Home”: Preparing for Reentry for those still on the field getting ready for reentry, (2) Coming “Home”: The Reentry Transition for those who have recently arrived “home” (3) Reentry after Short-Term Missionary Service for those coming back from short-term service, (4) We’re Going Home: Reentry for Elementary Children for elementary age children, and (5) I Don’t Want to Go Home: Parent’s Guide for Reentry for Elementary Children for parents of elementary age children. All are available free at http://www.missionarycare.com/ebook.htm.
Sections in Books. Two edited books have multiple chapters on reentry.
· Helping Missionaries Grow: Readings in Mental Health and Missions (1988) edited by Kelly and Michele O’Donnell contains chapters on “reentry stress: The pain of coming home” and “Welcome home! Easing the pain of MK reentry.” These are available as Chapters 48-49 available at https://sites.google.com/site/membercaravan/test/helping-ms-grow-book .
· Enhancing Missionary Vitality: Mental Health Professions Serving Global Mission (2002) edited by John R. Powell and Joyce M. Bowers published by Mission Training International contains chapters on “Re-entry: An introduction” and “The reacculturation of missionary families: A dynamic theory.”
Brochures. Three brochures relative to reentry are available.
· Re-Entry is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_reentry.htm.
· Retirement is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_retirement.htm.
· Debriefing is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_debriefing.htm.
Printed sources. Lists of published printed articles, books, and chapters in books is available at
· Re-entry: http://www.missionarycare.com/dbListArticles.asp?TOPICID=84.
Mental Health
Although mental health professionals have been involved in the selection of missionaries for nearly a century, the relationship between them and the missions community was a tense one for many years. Many agencies and their missionaries were suspicious of psychology because some of the influences of behaviorism, psychoanalysis, and humanism were viewed as secular, even evil, forces.
However, toward the end of the 20th century Christian approaches to both counseling and psychology developed; professional associations of both were begun; and they grew rapidly. Psychologists formed the Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) http://caps.net/ and counselors formed the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) http://www.aacc.net/ . The annual Conference on Mental Health and Missions (MHM) began in 1980, and has met annually ever since http://www.mti.org/programs/MHM. By the beginning of the 20th century, missionaries and mission agencies were becoming much more accepting of mental health professionals. Excellent accounts of what happened are available in Chapters 1-7 of Enhancing Missionary Vitality below.
Books. Three books are primarily about mental health.
· Enhancing Missionary Vitality: Mental Health Professions Serving Global Mission (2002) edited by John R. Powell and Joyce M. Bowers published by Mission Training International.
· Psychology for Missionaries (2011) by Ronald Koteskey is available free of charge at http://www.missionarycare.com/ebook.htm#psych.
· Honourably Wounded: Stress among Christian Workers (2001) by Marjory F. Foyle published by Monarch Books is centered around stress. However, Marjory is a psychiatrist with many years of experience with missionaries in Asia, and this book has mental health material throughout. (An earlier edition of this book was published in the USA under the title Overcoming Missionary Stress (1987).
Sections in Books. Four edited books have multiple chapters on mental health.
· Helping Missionaries Grow: Readings in Mental Health and Missions (1988) edited by Kelly and Michele O’Donnell contains a section on “psychological assessment” with three chapters and a section on “mission agencies and mental health” with three chapters. These are available as Chapters 6-8 and 42-44 available free of charge at https://sites.google.com/site/membercaravan/test/helping-ms-grow-book .
· Missionary Care: Counting the Cost for World Evangelization (1992) edited by Kelly O’Donnell published by William Carey Library contains a section on “counseling and clinical care” with five chapters. These are available at https://sites.google.com/site/membercaravan/test/mc-counting-the-cost-book-.
· Doing Member Care Well: Perspectives and Practices from Around the World (2002) edited by Kelly O’Donnell and published by William Carey Library contains a section on “counseling/psychological” containing two chapters.
Brochures. Seven brochures relative to mental health are available at
· Maintaining mental and physical health is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_mentalhealth.htm .
· Counseling is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_counseling.htm .
· Psychological testing is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_psychtesting.htm .
· Anxiety is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_anxiety.htm
· Depression is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_depression.htm .
· Panic attacks is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_panic-attacks.htm .
· Passive-Aggressive Behavior is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_passiveaggressive.htm .
Printed sources. Seven lists of published printed articles, books, and chapters in books are available at http://www.missionarycare.com/dbTopics.asp . Click on “Peer counseling,” “Anxiety,” “Depression,” “Personality disorders,” and “Psychopathology.”
Family
During the 20th century, as the divorce rate rose rapidly, more and more missionary candidates came from broken homes and struggled with the resulting hurts those homes produced. Likewise, as the percent of babies born to unmarried women rose rapidly, more and more candidates came from homes where they had no experience in watching a married couple function as husband and wife. These people had little knowledge about how to relate to each other as a couple and little knowledge about how to rear their own children because they had come from dysfunctional families themselves.
Developing a well-functioning family is difficult under “normal’ circumstances in a couple’s passport country, and it is far more difficult when parents try to do so immersed in a different culture. In their host country, they may have little support from anyone who knows their own culture. They may be confused by what people in their host culture do—and have no idea about why those people do it. As a result, family issues have become a major area of concern.
Books. Here are some books about family issues faced by missionaries.
· The Family in Mission: Understanding and Caring for Those Who Serve (2004) edited by Leslie A. Andrews published by Missionary Training International in Palmer Lake, CO.
· Families on the Move: Growing Up Overseas—and Loving it (2001) by Marion Knell published by Monarch Books in London, UK and Grand Rapids, MI.
· Missionary Marriage Issues is available free at http://www.missionarycare.com/ebook.htm#marriage.
· Missionary Singles Issues is available free at http://www.missionarycare.com/ebook.htm#singles.
· By Ones & By Twos: Building Successful Relationships between Marrieds and Singles in Ministry (2008) by Jeannie Lockerbie Stephenson published by ABWE Publishing.
· Parents of Missionaries: How to Thrive and Stay Connected When Your Children and Grandchildren serve Cross-Culturally (2008) by Cheryl Savageau and Diane Stortz published by Authentic Publishing Colorado Springs, CO.
Sections in Books. Two edited books have sections on families.
· Helping Missionaries Grow: Readings in Mental Health and Missions (1988) edited by Kelly and Michele O’Donnell contains a section on “family life” with five chapters and a section on “missionary couples” with three chapters. These are available as Chapters 16-20 and 21-43 available free of charge at https://sites.google.com/site/membercaravan/test/helping-ms-grow-book .
· Doing Member Care Well: Perspectives and Practices from Around the World (2002) edited by Kelly O’Donnell and published by William Carey Library contains a section on “family/MKs” which contains two chapters.
Of course, all of the material about TCKs and MKs earlier in the chapter is a part of the family issues here.
Brochures. More than two dozen brochures about family issues are available.
· 17 brochures about marriage issues at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures.htm.
· 14 brochures about singles issues at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures.htm.
· Aging parents is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_agingparents.htm.
· Ministry separation is at http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_separation.htm.
Printed sources. Four lists of published printed articles, books, and chapters in books are available at http://www.missionarycare.com/dbTopics.asp. Click on “Family,” “Dysfunctional families,” “Marital problems,” “Marital status,” and “Women’s roles.”
Of course, missionary member care also has information about many other issues, but these five areas are certainly major ones.
Note to the reader: If you have suggestions about other things that would better answer this chapter’s question, please email those to me at ron@missionarycare.com. In that email please tell me three things: (1) what you believe needs to be included, (2) links to relevant websites if available, and (3) how it better answers the question “What are the major areas covered in missionary member care?” I plan to periodically update and expand the book with these suggestions.