Missionary Care provides an excellent follow-up to Helping Missionaries Grow, which gave a broader sweep of mental health issues as they relate to missionary families. Missionaries remain part of the body of their sending church. Regardless of whether they are physically present for worship every week or are working on the other side of the globe, they are members “back home” unless something breaks the relationship. Their church, therefore, is responsible to provide care for them just like they do for other members of the community—but missionaries need it even. .
One of the key leading scholars in the field of Missionary Care is Kelly O’ Donnell. He is the editor of the book Missionary Care: Counting the Cost for World Evangelization. With close to thirty contributors to this book, the work is divided into five areas of discussion, each consisting of five articles: (I) "Missionary Care Overview," a good basic review and defense of the needs and history of psychological and emotional care provision to missionaries in Africa; (2) "Counseling and Clinical Care," focusing on changes in the psychological makeup of today's missionary pool and the assessment and counseling tools being used to address those changes; (3) "Team Development," speaking both to special needs arising in team ministries and the concept of developing teams of holistic-health specialists to minister to field staff; (4) "Missions Agencies"; (5) "Future Directions," two very practical models, specific suggestions, and updates on current advances in the field of missionary care-giving
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- ABSTRACT
- INTRODUCTION
- WHAT IS MISSIONARY CARE?
- OUTLINE
- TYPES AND LEVELS OF MISSIONARY CARE
- LEVEL 1: GOD CARING FOR MISSIONARIES THROUGH FELLOWSHIP
- LEVEL 2: SELF/MUTUAL CARE: MISSIONARIES CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER
- SENDER CARE: CHURCHES AND INDIVIDUALS CARING FOR THE MISSIONARIES THEY SUPPORT
- A. Faithfulness to truth
- B. Sending in a Manner Worthy of God...
- SPECIALIST CARE: PASTORS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, COUNSELORS, FINANCIAL ADVISORS, ETC. CARING FOR MISSIONARIES.
- A. Pastors, Missionary Care .....
- B. Psychological Care Of Missionaries.
- C. The Role of Church Advisors in Missionary's Financial needs...
- NETWORK CARE: INTERAGENCY MEMBER CARE AFFILIATIONS..
- MISSIONARY CARE AND POWER ENCOUNTER
- CONCLUSION
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper explores the critical need for missionary care within the African church in the 21st century. It examines the different types and levels of care required for missionaries, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach that addresses their spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being.
- The importance of a theological framework for missionary care.
- The various levels of care, from God's care to self-care, sender care, specialist care, and network care.
- The unique challenges and stressors faced by missionaries in the international context.
- The role of the African church in providing comprehensive and effective missionary care.
- The need for a collaborative approach involving churches, mission agencies, and individuals.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins by defining missionary care and outlining its significance in light of the Great Commission. It emphasizes the need for care due to the unique challenges and spiritual warfare that missionaries face. The paper then explores the different types and levels of missionary care, including God's care, self/mutual care, sender care, specialist care, and network care.
A key chapter focuses on the role of the sending church in providing care for missionaries, highlighting the importance of faithfulness to truth and sending in a manner worthy of God. The paper also examines the role of specialist care providers, such as pastors, psychologists, and financial advisors, in addressing the specific needs of missionaries.
The paper concludes by highlighting the critical role of missionary care in empowering missionaries and ensuring their long-term effectiveness in their ministries.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Missionary care, African church, holistic care, spiritual warfare, theological framework, sending church, specialist care, network care, missionary support, empowerment.
- Quote paper
- Eric S. Mbuh (Author), 2022, Missionary Care. Engaging the African Church for Holistic Care of the Missionaries in the 21st Century, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1247620