Articles
Competency: What Kind of Qualifications Do I Need to Become a Missionary?
The 4 C’s: Calling, Character, Chemistry, Competency
Article by Daniel Topf, PhD
In a way, none of us is qualified to do God’s work, be it at home or overseas. Serving the Lord, especially in a fulltime capacity, is a tremendous privilege and a sacred responsibility, something that we are only able to do by God’s grace. Writing as an apostle, Paul affirmed in 2 Cor. 3:5 that “our competence comes from God” (NIV). At the same time, there are certain qualities that will help you to become a better cross-cultural worker, as we will highlight in the following.
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Stories From Miss Ginny • God’s Wisdom Needed Daily
Caring for victims of a vicious attack
In every area of our ministry, we depended on the Lord’s wisdom day by day, whether it was caring for patients, teaching children, helping in the churches, or all the other activities in which we were involved. A vivid reminder of this is an incident that happened in May of 1978.
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Why Is Paraguay a Mission Field?
The Significance of Diaspora Ministry in an Age of Global Migration
Article by Daniel Topf, PhD
World Team is in the process of expanding its missionary work into Ciudad del Este in Paraguay and, at first glance, it may not be that obvious why this Latin American country is such a priority when it comes to fulfilling the Great Commission. After all, one could argue, Latin America is a continent with a strong Roman Catholic identity and a growing number of evangelical churches. Operation World, for instance, reports that 6.3% of Paraguay’s population is evangelical, while Joshua Project counts 8.01% in this category.1
(more…)Stories From Miss Ginny • Waterfalls
Waterfalls, Helicopters, Australians and a Cup of Coffee
If you listened carefully after a good rainfall, you could stand in our yard and hear the distinct noise of a waterfall. This was surprising because the waterfall was located over two hours’ walk away, near the village of Sungai Durien.
(more…)Stories From Miss Ginny • Ghost Night
“Ghost Night” and the Roadside Delivery
One afternoon, a patient was brought into our clinic on a stretcher. Lasa was having difficulty delivering her baby. Since my co-worker Clara was on home assignment in Wisconsin, Aneswaty, our national nurse, and I were the ones caring for patients.
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Chemistry: Will I Be a Good Fit on the Mission Field?
The 4 C’s: Calling, Character, Chemistry, Competency
Article by Daniel Topf, PhD
Besides Calling and Character, we at World Team emphasize another key concept that starts with the letter “C” when it comes to describing the kind of candidates we are looking for. That word is Chemistry, which can be helpful in determining what kind of missions agency may be right for you and how you would fit into a specific team on a particular mission field. In the following, we will highlight a few points that you may want to consider.
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Why Translating the Bible Continues to Be Important
Article by Dave Hare, Bible Translator in Cameroon
Current surveys indicate that there are over 7,300 living languages in the world today. Of these languages, only about 700 languages (less than 10%) have a full translation of the Bible.1 Although this statistic is staggering, you might wonder if there is a need for the Bible to be translated into all the world’s languages. The answer is: No, not every language needs a Bible translation. In fact, as some languages are dying out, it is not the best use of resources to pursue translating the Bible for all of these groups.
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Character: Why Is Having a Godly Character so Foundational for Missionaries?
The 4 C’s: Calling, Character, Chemistry, Competency
Article by Daniel Topf, PhD
Growing in godly character is part of God’s salvific purposes for us as followers of Christ. As born-again believers, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, empowering us for service and leading us on a path toward sanctification, with the goal of becoming more like Jesus. Having fellowship with God and growing in godly character is an expression of God’s grace in our lives, which is of foundational importance when doing any kind of ministry. Growing in sanctification is therefore one of the most valuable things you can do as you are thinking about becoming a missionary, and it is something you can begin to do right now! Here are some questions and suggestions regarding important areas in which we all need to continue to grow.
(more…)Stories From Miss Ginny • Witness
The Boy Who Became a Witness
It was not unusual for sick people to walk great distances or be carried on stretchers to our clinic. Along with giving medical help, we often shared verses from the Bible and prayed with our patients. We also took opportunities to teach basic principles of good health. The reputation of the “Rumah Obat” or “House of Medicine” went to many other villages, even some where they had not yet heard the gospel.
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Called to Obedience
Pat and Jeannie Hartsfield are ordinary people. Long-time members of Davisville Church, they were used by God in many ways at church and in their local community. Pat earned a degree in Sports Medicine, became a manager of medical offices, and grew into the role of elder at Davisville. Jeannie received a Masters degree in family counseling, enjoyed homeschooling their three children, and led the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPs) ministry at church. Whether through work or church, they loved telling others about Jesus.
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