Episodes

  • The Session: Father's Day, part 1

    The Session: Father's Day, part 1
    May 30 2024
    NOTE: If you would like to send us a question for our “Ask me Anything” episode, please email scott@risefmohio.com or tom.hccm@gmail.com We would love to hear from you! Serious or silly, it doesn’t matter! Father’s Day, Part 1 (We didn’t intend for a 2-parter, but it’s us, so….Luke 15:20So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Father’s Day is:· A day to be thankful for the men who take on the responsibility and obligations of guiding us through life.· Jesus gave thanks to the Father as an example to us. Father’s Day is the time we designate to thank our earthly fathers and our Heavenly Father, just as our Savior did. Stephen Scott & Focus on the Family.· Scripture clearly shows the importance of the relationship between Jesus and God, the Father· John 20:17 is a good example; Jesus said, 'Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'How do fathers want to be celebrated on Father’s Day?· They are more into a family activity. That may mean a hike or a family kickball game. They may enjoy a family bike ride.· If you're wanting to surprise the father of your children this Father's Day, plan a romantic night or weekend getaway. Yes!!God, our Heavenly Father, is the ultimate example of a righteous father. Even amid our shortcomings, His love is complete and endless. He invites us to talk with Him in prayer. He wants us to be happy. Through Jesus Christ, we can know God as our heavenly Father. In a sense, the Creator is the Father of all humanity. However, it's only through trusting in Jesus that a person becomes a child of God (Galatians 3:26).—Jesus calls God “Father” over 165 times! See how important this is to God? And I wish I could say Jesus settled the matter. But, no—to this day God longs to be called "Father." He will forever want His children, seeking those who walk away. But in the New Testament, although God remains holy and majestic in our eyes, Jesus adds a strikingly clear emphasis on God as Father—both his Father and our Father (John 20:17). It is Jesus who calls God “Abba, Father” (Mark 14:36). It is Jesus who teaches us to pray to God as our Father (Matt. 6:9). Ray Ortlund said, “That God the Father has made himself God our Father means that he is personally, emotionally, and even sacrificially involved with us.” Step Dads Let’s celebrate all the dads who, like our Heavenly Father, selflessly infuse their own spirit into the lives of others. Is there someone in your life that fills that father role – thank him today. A special note from a stepdaughter to a stepdad, from LuAnn Prater-“I was thinking about it, and there is a difference between Dad and Step-dad. A Dad just is. It’s Dad. But the word Step is one of those polite substitutes for what it truly is: a LEAP; a PLUNGE; a FREEFALL on to the side of an unknown mountain, knowing no matter where you land on it – you MUST climb and fair the weather along the way if you want to reach the top. A different view for step childrenThe Step – “much like the jagged blender blades which create the blended family – is what it takes to bridge the chasm from your heart to mine. And you took that Step, that Leap, that Plunge. I cannot thank you enough. You stand by me. You listen – really listen. And perhaps what most impresses me is that you opened your arms to me – from the first day we met. You were willing to love me, and hold me. For once I could be held by a man and trust, to feel SAFE. I cannot thank you enough…for being a father to me…my incredible Step-dad. I love you, Tiffany.” What causes a stepchild to resist the relationship with a step parent?· Comparing a parent to your biological parent· Fear of losing a bio parent because there is a step parent in the picture· Lack of trust and not having control in their lives that cost them their bio parentLet’s look at Father’s Day and a familiar Bible story from a different perspective. Let’s look at the story of the Prodigal Son from the Father’s perspective. What can we learn from him, and from God, about a father? An additional resource for another “dad” story and perspective: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/pro-life/what-fathers-day-means-to-me/
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    25 mins
  • The Session: Journaling....is it for everyone, or should Eeyore stay away?

    The Session: Journaling....is it for everyone, or should Eeyore stay away?
    May 23 2024

    If the title of this episode freaked you out a bit, don't worry, we aren't going to the Hundred Acre Wood. One of Scott's nicknames is "Eeyore". He tends to see things through a glass half empty lens. As we discuss journaling today, see if God isn't inviting you to move into this way of expressing yourself and your feelings.

    The Session: Journaling, A Helpful Treatment Strategy

    Psalm 119:27

    Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.

    Journaling Helps

    · It helps me see the ways that God's Spirit in me is producing growth over time.

    · Journaling has become one of the ways that I best connect with God.

    · Journaling helps me to persevere in the journey I'm on with Christ

    · And it also helps me to open up to God. It helps me to be more honest with God and with myself.

    Journal and personalize scripture

    Psalm 86

    1 Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. 4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.

    5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. 6 Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. 7 When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.

    Things to journal

    When you need something to write in your journal, consider finishing one of the following:

    1. This week I was most blessed by . . .

    2. My favorite passage of Scripture is . . .

    3. The area where I need to put more trust in God is . . .

    4. One lesson I learned from Scripture this week is . .

    What to Write

    · All that's needed is your honest, authentic, vulnerable self willing to show up to the page and encounter the Holy Spirit.

    · “Write what you see.”Write your life, your legacy, your prayers, your God-sightings, and everything in between in the pages of that journal.

    Two Way Journaling

    It is a way to write to God and record what you feel the Holy Spirit is saying to you in your quiet time. This journal is best for those who would like to begin the daily habit of spending meditative time with God and His word.

    What would God say to you personally?


    I promised on the episode I would leave this here, so....

    An Eeyore thought from Scott: All I see you saying is God, God, God. What if my life just sucks, and I don’t see any evidence of God anywhere? What’s the point of journaling for me? WHY would I want to write all my junk down to be reminded of it over and over again?
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    25 mins
  • The Session: The Impact of Trauma on the Brain and on Relationships

    The Session: The Impact of Trauma on the Brain and on Relationships
    May 16 2024
    We don't say it enough! Your input on episode topics is VERY welcome! This episode was suggested by Autumn, and we are really grateful!The Session The Impact of Trauma (Suggested by Autumn)Psalm 91:4–6He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. The problem is negative memories become seared in our amygdala by the fear, shock, and trauma we experienced and unless recognized and faced will constantly be triggered, shaping who we are today. The Amygdala:· Is responsible for the perception of emotions such as anger, fear, and sadness, as well as the controlling of aggression.· The amygdala helps to store memories of events and emotions so that an individual may be able to recognize similar events in the future.The national Institute of health:· Shows Studies in humans have confirmed the key role of the amygdala in fear conditioning as well as in various forms of psychopathological behaviorNational Institutes of Health (NIH) (... The amygdala is responsible for· the perception of emotions such as anger, fear, and sadness, as well as the controlling of aggression.· The amygdala helps to store memories of events and emotions so that an individual may be able to recognize similar events in the future.One popular perspective suggests that the amygdala is involved with evaluating things in the environment to determine their importance—whether their value is …The Impact of Trauma on Relationships David Hodel “Traumatized people chronically feel unsafe inside their bodies: The past is alive in the form of gnawing interior discomfort. Their bodies are constantly bombarded by visceral warning signs, and, in an attempt to control these processes, they often become experts at ignoring their gut feelings and in numbing awareness of what is played out inside. They learn to hide from themselves.” · The life-long impacts of trauma are vast.· Trauma can affect the body, the mind, the memory, and the emotions.· It can affect the way someone sees the world and how she views God.· It can also affect her relationships. This perhaps is one of the biggest areas to suffer when someone has traumatic experiences, especially when the trauma is abuse.Helps:Practicing the PresenceBrother Lawrence encouraged us to practice the presence of Christ. After reading his book, I decided to practice thinking Jesus was with me. Basically, I pretended He sat across from me and I spoke as if He really was there. Over time, fresh neuronal pathways grew, creating healthy dendrites and strong leafy trees. As healthy trees grew in my brain, Jesus was no longer a distant figure. My brain recognized He was real and my faith grew. Soon, I believed He listened to me, cared about me, and valuing me, heard my prayers and saw my tears. As healthy neuronal pathways were strengthened, I gained courage to live in the present.It is amazing when we choose to be intentional in our relationship with Jesus. Rather than believing in an imaginary figure who seems too good to be true, as we practice the presence of Christ and choose to enter His presence and acknowledge His value, we will experience a whole new level of relationship with Jesus. We walk with Him and develop intimacy with Him where we are seen, known, and loved.Finding True IdentityUnless we learn to stand in the truth of our true identity in Christ, and look for something to grab hold of and give thanks for, the enemy has power to rob today of its peace, its strength, its opportunities by triggering negative thoughts so we run into our imagination. As slaves, we become passive in the face reality. Fantasy is wonderful within boundaries. But to live there, is to become trapped into the identity of failure or victim. I used to live in my imagination. It felt empowering as I relived horrible experiences and worked out a different ending. But safety was an illusion and left me powerless in the face of real abuse for hiding in my imagination was an act of futility.I want to say, there is a way of escape! You can retrain your brain to live in the present, where the past loses its power to rule you and comes into alignment with the will of the Heavenly Father. The Impact of Trauma on the BrainNegative memories become seared in our amygdala by the fear, shock, and trauma we experienced and unless recognized and faced will constantly be triggered, shaping who we are today. With churning thoughts and instant replay, we encounter the should haves. Regret triggers “I should have…”. Our instant replay may be 10 minutes later or 10 years later as we engage in scenarios in our mind and our imagination dramatizes what our brain tells us we should have done.The thought may begin with “if only I had …”. The replay ...
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    26 mins
  • The Session: More Mother's Day Thoughts

    The Session: More Mother's Day Thoughts
    May 9 2024
    "Mom"...."Stepmom" Such important names, such important people. On this episode, Tom & Scott share thoughts on honoring mom.The Session: Helps For Honoring Your Mother On Mothers DayExodus 20:12, “Honor your father and your mother,” and Leviticus 19:3, “Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father.”By Amy Bost Henegar. She has been a pastor for the Manhattan Church of Christ in New York City since 2001. She has a Doctor of Ministry degree from New York Theological Seminary and is a Board Certified Chaplain.Mothering Can Be PainfulThe relationship between a mother and her child has as much potential to be filled with pain and grief as any other human relationship. In fact, disappointments in the mother-child relationship may be exacerbated by the fact that motherhood is glorified, and mothers are expected to easily love, care and devote themselves to their children in a superhuman way.( Christianity Today)Isaiah 66:13 "As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you." Proverbs 31:25-27 "Strength and honor are her clothing; she is confident about the future. Her mouth is full of wisdom; kindly teaching is on her tongue. She is vigilant over the activities of her household; she doesn't eat the food of laziness."We have the opportunity, on Mother’s Day especially, to be honest with our congregations about the pain and disappointment that is inevitable in the sinful human relationships of a broken world. We can then proclaim the good news about God’s commonwealth of love, where every person is invited to have a second, third and fourth (or seventy times seventh) chance at building healthy, life-giving relationships. Those who have experienced the deepest disappointments in human relationships are invited over and over again to be mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, brothers and sisters, to each other within the body of Christ.Mothers Day / StepmomsLaura Petherbridge serves couples and single adults with topics on spiritual growth, relationships, marriage enhancement and divorce recovery. As someone in a second marriage herself, she is also a stepmother. Several years ago, she released The Smart Stepmom, co-written with step-family expert Ron Deal.“I do want to add that it is perfectly acceptable to honor a stepmother on Mother’s Day if the idea of acknowledgment comes from the child.”She also suggests dads should be the one to make their wives feel special, as the stepmother of his children:“Stepmothers need to know that their husbands see the little things that his kids don’t appreciate her for, and that he wants to honor her for what she does for their family.”Petherbridge knows this from personal experience. After two years of sad Mother’s Days, she took the initiative to communicate to her husband about how this day made her feel.“I had to go to my husband, and let him know that it would make me feel appreciated if he did something special for me,” she said. “There is a misconception that husbands cannot honor their wives on Mother’s Day for what they do, because they are not their mothers. It’s just simply a way of validating his wife in her role.”For Petherbridge and other stepmoms, this can do more than lessen the sting of rejection by the stepchildren: “It strengthens the marriage, which is the primary relationship in any home. Besides, women don’t need a big hoopla. They just want to be appreciated.”From Family Life Blended: Ways to celebrate Mother’s Day as a stepmomA variety of variables play into how a stepchild reacts on Mother’s Day. The length of your marriage, your husband’s support, the age of your stepchildren, the biological mom’s behavior, and the environment in your home are a few things that contribute.If your stepchildren honor you, embrace the offering. But if they don’t, make a conscious effort to not take it personally. Here are a few suggestions to help you celebrate Mother’s Day, regardless of what your stepchildren do. Pick one or two or create one of your own to construct a day that leaves you feeling special for the valuable role you offer your stepfamily.1. Abandon your house and spend the day at a nearby lake, bike path, or hiking trail.Absorb the beauty of nature while you count your blessings. Set goals with your spouse to help you become more connected in your stepfamily, like regular game nights, stepmom-stepdaughter shopping dates, or movie nights as a family. Pray together for each member of your stepfamily.2. Find another stepmom who’s having a difficult time and spend the afternoon with her.Encourage her efforts and talk through her challenges. Laugh together and affirm one another. Commit to offer support on an ongoing basis as you reflect on Scripture to help. Here’s one of my favorites: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).3. Spend the day with your own mother to celebrate Mother’s Day.Tell her ...
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    25 mins
  • The Session: When Mother's Day is Hard

    The Session: When Mother's Day is Hard
    May 2 2024

    In this episode, we see Mother's Day through the eyes of a woman hurting on Mother's Day. It a different perspective that deserves to be looked at.

    The Session: When Mother’s Day isn’t a normal Mother’s Day, or, How to Handle Mother’s Day When It Feels Hard

    Shannon Kaney with Hope Griffin

    Mother’s Day is not an easy one for me.

    I am an unmarried woman with no children. Each year, and each day, I am grieving the death of my own mother. For me, this day reminds me of a lot of hurt.

    Each year, millions of dollars are spent on Mother’s Day cards, flowers, gifts and special meals. As a result, for several weeks leading up to this special day, I’m confronted with Mother’s Day messages in stores, on TV, on social media and even in church.

    I desire to be in church that day because I genuinely want to celebrate my friends who are mothers and be surrounded by my church family, but it’s hard.

    On Mother’s Day, the pastor asks all the mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers to stand. As the rest of the congregation applauds, I notice I’m one of very few women still sitting.

    My heart aches as I fight back tears. I think of my own mom and wonder if I will ever have the chance to be a mother. Being unmarried with no children can leave me feeling like an outcast on Mother’s Day. What’s missing from my life becomes glaringly obvious.

    In the midst of my grief and disappointment, God desires for me to invite Him into my pain. He welcomes my questions, sadness and even anger. In return, He showers me with His love and brings healing to my heart.

    When the pain of living in a broken and fallen world becomes too much to bear, when life turns out differently than you expect, how will you choose to react? How will you invite God into your disappointment and pain? How will you seek the Lord and rest in Him?

    In Matthew 11:28-29 (New International Version), Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

    Despite my unfulfilled desires, I’ve learned that Mother’s Day also presents an opportunity to serve others. God has brought several women into my life who have served as surrogate mothers and mentors to me. Now it’s my turn to pay that gift forward.

    As I take time to think about how I can give to others, I find that the work I’m doing is why God has placed me where and how I am right now. I get to (Emphasize-GET TO:

    • Mentor young women.
    • Babysit for my friends.
    • Make meals for families in need
    • Care deeply for the children in my life.
    • Look for opportunities to speak up for children where I live.

    Though my life looks different than I imagined it would, motherhood and marriage are not necessary for me to have hope and purpose. Every woman’s story looks different and holds value.


    Next Steps

    If Mother’s Day is hard for you, try doing the following:

    1. Be honest with God. Bring your emotions, sadness, frustration and even your anger to Him. Take time to grieve and lament.

    2. Reach out to the women of influence in your life. If your mom has passed away or your relationship is difficult, refocus on the women who have influenced you over the years. Send an encouraging note expressing how they have impacted your life.

    Nurture others. Who has God placed in your life for you to care for? Don’t resist the opportunities to pour into the lives of others. Embrace the chance to be an adopted aunt for a military child, a big sister for a foster kid or a mentor to a younger woman.


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    25 mins
  • The Session: When God Seems Silent

    The Session: When God Seems Silent
    Apr 25 2024

    Feel like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling? Like nobody's listening? You are NOT alone. On this episode of The Session, we talk through what to do, what that feels like. And please listen for a special request we have during the episode too! We are asking for your input on future episodes!

    The Session: When God Appears Silent-Recognize That Silence Can Be Intimate

    Psalm 13:1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”

    Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

    When We Don’t Feel Ready To Listen

    He wants to talk to us about something, but we aren't ready. We have to go through refining trials to make us ready to listen. God is sometimes silent because He knows we aren't willing to obey. He is always ready to show us His will, but He shows His will only to those who really want to do it

    John 7:17-18

    Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth;

    Finally, sometimes God is silent that He might test us--to teach us the importance of silence, the importance of waiting on Him. Waiting helps remind us of God's sovereignty

    5 Things to Do When God Seems Silent, by Jessica Wicks

    1. Examine Your Life

    Begin by asking yourself, Is there any unconfessed sin in my life? Make sure nothing is blocking you from being able to hear God’s voice.

    Psalm 66:18 says, “If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, my Lord would not have listened” (New Living Translation). This requires looking deeply at our lives.

    Ask yourself: Is there anything (or anyone) I love more than God?

    2. Accept God’s Authority

    Recognize that God can be silent. There is no obligation for God to answer you, inform you or let you know anything.

    “Job chose to let God be God. “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” he asked (Job 2:10, NLT).

    3. Listen to What God Is Saying

    Although God may seem silent regarding a specific request or petition, remember that He is in a constant state of communication with us.

    In fact, it is possible that you already have an answer from God. The Bible is full of specific answers about what is right and wrong, as well as information about God’s character and His intention for us as His children and His followers.

    So don’t forget to dig into God’s Word — His written communication to us — to find out what He has to say about the problems you are facing or the questions you are asking. As you read the Bible, ask God to speak to you through the Holy Spirit, who lives inside of you.

    4. Recognize That Silence Can Be Intimate - Silence can also be a sign of God’s trust in you.

    In love, silence can be a sign of intimacy.

    For Job, God’s silence was also a result of the depth of their relationship. When Satan approached God, God said, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” (Job 1:8, ESV). God chose Job because He trusted him.

    5. Keep Talking to God

    Just because God seems silent doesn’t mean you should doubt Him or stop praying.

    God’s silence isn’t a license for us to turn our backs on Him. Instead, it’s an invitation to press forward and seek Him even more diligently.

    The psalmists modeled crying out to God. David said, “Oh my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest” (Psalm 22:2, ESV
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    25 mins
  • The Session: Our Missionaries Need Encouragement! Part 2

    The Session: Our Missionaries Need Encouragement! Part 2
    Apr 18 2024

    Our Missionaries. Serving our Lord all over the world, in places we won't go. They need our continuous love and support. In this episode, we wrap up our talk about some struggles our missionaries have, and how we can support them. And remember, you can always suggest a topic for us to cover on The Session! Just email scott@Risefmohio.com


    The Session: Dynamics of the Missionary Family

    By: alifeoverseas.com

    Acts 13:47

    For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"

    Reactions to Thoughts of Leaving the Mission Field (6/10 families reported 5 or more of these)

    · I was single and I felt that I would find my spouse back in my home country.

    · I wanted to start a family and have children in my home country.

    · I experienced marital issues. Ya

    · My kids were not adjusting well.

    · There was a lack of options for my child/children’s education.

    · I sent my kids to college.

    · I wanted to be close to my adult children.

    · I wanted to be close to my grandchildren.

    · I wanted to be close to my aging/ailing parents.

    · I felt that my extended family needed me.

    These were the most common issues we heard about that produced marital stress:

    · extreme stress, coupled with the isolation, of living overseas

    · a lack of friends to talk to about problems

    · the all-consuming nature of the mission work and the pressures of working closely together in a shared career

    · not taking the necessary time out of the work context to nurture their marriage and spouse or to process things together

    · temptations to neglect those closest to them in order to perform well in the ministry

    · one spouse’s depression, burnout, or anxiety that affected their closest relationships negatively

    · anger at the way a spouse was (or was not perceived to be) coping with life overseas

    · disappointment (usually of the wife) with her lack of a fulfilling role in the ministry

    · the pain of the trailing spouse (again, more frequently the wife) who didn’t want to be on the mission field but had submitted to her husband’s call to life overseas

    Your Children Struggling to Adjust

    · looking different, standing out, and receiving unwanted attention in the form of staring, touching, teasing, or even bullying

    · isolation and the lack of friends or a social group

    · grief as a result of leaving behind friends, family, or adult siblings in their passport country

    · resentment or anger toward parents over their decision to go to the mission field

    · having parents that are distracted by a million other things and find their ability to parent compromised in the chaos

    · depression and anxiety as they struggle to cope with the many transitions in their lives

    Helps

    · Don’t be too proud to ask for help

    Preserve your marriage

    · Does your spouse feel respected, loved, cherished, and important on the mission field?

    Priorities

    · Am I putting the needs of the mission field ahead of my family?

    Here are seven ways to care for missionaries through the many phases of their ministry:

    By: Laura Dougherty

    · Raise a Strong Prayer Base for Them. ...

    · Network with Potential Prayer and Financial Partners. ...

    · Host a Send-Off Party. ...

    · Help Them Move. ...

    · Maintain Regular Contact. ...

    · Visit Them on the Field. ...

    · Support Them During Home Assignment or furlow.
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    25 mins
  • The Session: Our Missionaries Need Encouragement!

    The Session: Our Missionaries Need Encouragement!
    Apr 11 2024

    Our Missionaries. Serving our Lord all over the world, in places we won't go. They need our continuous love and support. Tom and Scott talk about some struggles our missionaries have, and how we can support them. And because it's Tom and Scott, it's going to be a two-parter....


    The Session: Dynamics of the Missionary Family

    By: alifeoverseas.com

    Acts 13:47

    For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"

    Reactions to Thoughts of Leaving the Mission Field (6/10 families reported 5 or more of these)

    · I was single and I felt that I would find my spouse back in my home country.

    · I wanted to start a family and have children in my home country.

    · I experienced marital issues. Ya

    · My kids were not adjusting well.

    · There was a lack of options for my child/children’s education.

    · I sent my kids to college.

    · I wanted to be close to my adult children.

    · I wanted to be close to my grandchildren.

    · I wanted to be close to my aging/ailing parents.

    · I felt that my extended family needed me.

    These were the most common issues we heard about that produced marital stress:

    · extreme stress, coupled with the isolation, of living overseas

    · a lack of friends to talk to about problems

    · the all-consuming nature of the mission work and the pressures of working closely together in a shared career

    · not taking the necessary time out of the work context to nurture their marriage and spouse or to process things together

    · temptations to neglect those closest to them in order to perform well in the ministry

    · one spouse’s depression, burnout, or anxiety that affected their closest relationships negatively

    · anger at the way a spouse was (or was not perceived to be) coping with life overseas

    · disappointment (usually of the wife) with her lack of a fulfilling role in the ministry

    · the pain of the trailing spouse (again, more frequently the wife) who didn’t want to be on the mission field but had submitted to her husband’s call to life overseas

    Your Children Struggling to Adjust

    · looking different, standing out, and receiving unwanted attention in the form of staring, touching, teasing, or even bullying

    · isolation and the lack of friends or a social group

    · grief as a result of leaving behind friends, family, or adult siblings in their passport country

    · resentment or anger toward parents over their decision to go to the mission field

    · having parents that are distracted by a million other things and find their ability to parent compromised in the chaos

    · depression and anxiety as they struggle to cope with the many transitions in their lives

    Helps

    · Don’t be too proud to ask for help

    Preserve your marriage

    · Does your spouse feel respected, loved, cherished, and important on the mission field?

    Priorities

    · Am I putting the needs of the mission field ahead of my family?

    Here are seven ways to care for missionaries through the many phases of their ministry:

    By: Laura Dougherty

    · Raise a Strong Prayer Base for Them. ...

    · Network with Potential Prayer and Financial Partners. ...

    · Host a Send-Off Party. ...

    · Help Them Move. ...

    · Maintain Regular Contact. ...

    · Visit Them on the Field. ...

    · Support Them During Home Assignment or furlow.
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins