missionary (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Faith] >> Ministry Leaders



Message

funny_girl -> missionary (3/23/2008 10:50:36 PM)

I suffered form burnout not too long ago and it took about a year to recuperate. I used to long to have a more fulfilling ministry. I remember Joyce Meyer saying that you may think you want a ministry like hers and she said, "no you don't!" It's an awesome responsibility. We have a small ministry and I just don't know how we could take on more. How some of these that have been entrusted with mega ministries can handle it, I don't know, but Jesus protect them.

Sometimes, I feel so lonely. I'm so tired and can't relax. Do you ever feel that way? What do you do to relax? check out from spiritual responsibilities? What would you do if you were a missionary?

Since I can't get anyone to delete this thread and I messed it up, I'll just prove to myself how humbled I can actually be by picking up my chin and carry on!



armydude -> RE: Lonely, tired missionary (3/23/2008 10:55:17 PM)

If I were a missionary... I don't know. That's a tremendous ministry, but it's not for the faint of heart.


Burnout is a difficult thing to deal with, and IMO it's impossible on your own.



TMeeks -> RE: Lonely, tired missionary (3/24/2008 10:38:41 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: peanut2

I suffered form burnout not too long ago and it took about a year to recuperate. I used to long to have a more fulfilling ministry. I remember Joyce Meyer saying that you may think you want a ministry like hers and she said, "no you don't!" It's an awesome responsibility. We have a small ministry and I just don't know how we could take on more. How some of these that have been entrusted with mega ministries can handle it, I don't know, but Jesus protect them.

Sometimes, I feel so lonely. I'm so tired and can't relax. Do you ever feel that way? What do you do to relax? check out from spiritual responsibilities? What would you do if you were a missionary?

This is interesting to me and I'd like to hear more.

What is it that is the most difficult part of your ministry? Is it the traveling? Or, is it the pressure of having to deliver something special to a new groups of people. Or, is it not having roots to build long-term friendships? Or... other things?



rcjames -> RE: Lonely, tired missionary (3/24/2008 1:19:12 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: peanut2

I don't see enough fruit for the effort and I'm ready to do something else.


What kind of spiritual and other support do you get from the Church that sent you out, or from the denomination?

Thsnks
RC



Ps103 -> RE: Lonely, tired missionary (3/24/2008 1:26:17 PM)

Do you have any friends around you, or is it just you and your husband?



Ps103 -> RE: Lonely, tired missionary (3/24/2008 1:35:48 PM)

{{{{Peanut}}}}

That must be incredibly frustrating. I will pray that God sends you a good friend where you are--one with skin on her so she can give you a real hug and a warm shoulder when you need it.


But you can make lots of cyber-friends here, too.



Ps103 -> RE: Lonely, tired missionary (3/24/2008 1:40:03 PM)

[:D] No--am I supposed to?



rcjames -> RE: Lonely, tired missionary (3/24/2008 1:41:07 PM)

May I suggest that you align yourselves with some Church back home.

That would seem to be where the link of support is broken. Missionaries are at their best when they are sent out from a body of believers who support and pray for them on an on going basis.

I spent over 20 years on the mission field and have an understanding of the trials and struggles that take place.

I will have our Church pray for you and your endeavors.

Thanks
RC



Little_1 -> RE: Lonely, tired missionary (3/24/2008 1:42:27 PM)

The Lord showed me a valuable lesson once when missioning. You must have at least one day off per week to recuperate and be refreshed. Never miss out on your quiet times either because it is there that you gain strength in the Lord.

I was working as a missionary in S Ireland at the time and the person in charge of myself and a couple of other missionary students never gave us time off apart from 1 day in 7 1/2 weeks. We were up from 7am and never got to bed until after midnight much of the time and this just does not work! This is not how God intends things to be and that is why God gave us a day of rest. We were so tired that we were too tired to have proper quiet times and this affected our whole spiritual walk!

It is a true saying that:
quote:

"if you are too busy to have a proper quiet time with the Lord each day then you are busier than God intended you to be" and therefore things need to be seriously evaluated. -- Unknown author.

Because I was burnt-out from these 7 1/2 weeks, I returned to Bible College exhausted and disolusioned and ended up that way for some time. The devil gained a foothold in my life due to the time in Ireland with a lack of quiet times and exhaustion and I ended up becoming depressed and leaving early on in the new term of the second year of my studies.

Nothing is worth losing out on valuable time with the Lord - not even missionary work! Whilst there is a lot of people to spread the Gospel to and we may never reach the multitudes (as does Joyce Meyer) we can make a difference in our own corner (and who knows - there may be a Joyce Meyer in that little crowd you reach). Less may sometimes result in 'mulitiple blessings' in the bigger picture.

Please try and get a break away to spend time in prayer and rest. It really could make a huge difference to the way you are feeling at present. We are never more vulerable that when we are tired to the point of burn-out.



Ps103 -> RE: Lonely, tired missionary (3/24/2008 1:47:17 PM)

It happens to the best of us. And you are doing important work, you just need to be refreshed.

Even Jesus withdrew and refreshed Himself, so we shouldn't be ashamed or apologetic when we have to, too.

Are there other Amerians close by you?



funny_girl -> RE: missionary (3/25/2008 2:26:20 PM)

country preacher,

Could you please tell me your story?



funny_girl -> RE: missionary (3/25/2008 2:44:45 PM)

country preacher,

We do not have the luxury of 'lining' ourselves up with a large ministry.

Times are changing. We are our sending agency.



armydude -> RE: missionary (3/25/2008 2:54:10 PM)

There is always the possibility of getting in touch with a church in the United States that can support you both financially and with workers for your particular field. I could talk with my pastor for you (based on the PM you've already sent) and see what we can do as well as other churches with whom we work.



funny_girl -> RE: missionary (3/25/2008 3:02:20 PM)

armydude,

I'm new to this board and I broke some rules unintentionally. I don't think it'd be right for you to do that. How about I just kinda chat here and I don't know how people would contact me if they were interested because that's not what this site is all about. I'm just happy to have a little company.[;)]



armydude -> RE: missionary (3/25/2008 3:10:37 PM)

Well I can certainly provide that. And the offer for support is open should you change your mind. If I'm wrong, I'm sure one of the mods will point that out to me.[;)]



funny_girl -> RE: missionary (3/25/2008 3:22:04 PM)

I need to clarify that we do have a support base back home, but it's very small. I don't think the people know what to do. They don't understand what a mental trip it is to be on the field learning a new culture. I think it's true across the board, if someone says they'll call you or email you and don't. It's disappointing. Out of sight, out of mind.

We have pastor's that promise to help and don't. If God wants to accomplish something, He knows how to pay His bills!

There's a children's home down here and guess what? They have a hard time getting support so the new agers and unbelievers are helping! Our church is helping and I donate some time there but so do the non believers. The directors are evangelistic like we are and figure they'll love those people to Jesus.



armydude -> RE: missionary (3/25/2008 3:27:14 PM)

It truly is sad that pastors are making promises and not following through. But you're right on one thing. If God's behind this (and I believe He is) He'll handle the bills.



funny_girl -> RE: missionary (3/25/2008 3:58:53 PM)

I think God wants us to be dependent upon Him and not others. Although we are His physical hands and feet we all will answer to Him for our actions. I'm not perfect so I hope that people will forgive me for my shortcomings and I certainly can't afford to withhold forgiveness from others. I just figure when it doesn't work out in a venue, God's got something better.



stimulus -> RE: missionary (3/25/2008 7:34:05 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: funny_girl

I think God wants us to be dependent upon Him and not others. Although we are His physical hands and feet we all will answer to Him for our actions. I'm not perfect so I hope that people will forgive me for my shortcomings and I certainly can't afford to withhold forgiveness from others. I just figure when it doesn't work out in a venue, God's got something better.


Hi Funny_girl,
I didn't read your initial post before you deleted it, but I just wanted to say that I'm sorry you're going through such a tough time. I'm praying for you.

I work for a denomination's missions department, and I second RC's suggestion to hook up with a missions agency. They aren't dead or obsolete. [;)] Without knowing your story, I'm just assuming, but it sounds like you're suffering from a lack of missionary care and relationships with other missionaries. Joining an agency could really help with that.

Where are you a missionary to?



funny_girl -> RE: missionary (3/25/2008 9:55:45 PM)

Well, I reposted my op, hope that helps to straighten out my mess.
I sure appreciate you praying for me! That means a lot!


God didn't open the door for us to be with a large organization although we do work the predominate ones and many of their missionaries attend our church.

I'm sorry that I had a bad day yesterday. I've had insomnia and the enemy just filled my head with loneliness and desperation. I'm much better today!

Someone asked if there were other Americans around us. There is a retirement area for Canadians/Americans in Lake Chapala. My husband is pastoring an international church there so yes, there are other Americans around us as well as people from all over the world.



funny_girl -> RE: missionary (3/25/2008 11:49:24 PM)

Sometimes we think that the only way to be a success is to hook up with a large cooperation. Having had experience with a large cooperation I can tell you that I don't regret not being under the covering of it. In fact, I think our ministry is much much greater because we probably would have been confined to that organization and it's policies. Being independent we are able to work with all the Christian denominations down here including the Catholic church. Ironically, the foreign denomination snatched us up and promoted us. We aren't 'recognized' very much in the US, but our foreign country has embraced and honored us. Just writing about it makes me feel so blessed and overwhelmed. I have to fight my own preconceived ideas. Often times our expectations are unreasonable.



rcjames -> RE: missionary (3/26/2008 11:00:46 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: funny_girl

country preacher,

We do not have the luxury of 'lining' ourselves up with a large ministry.

Times are changing. We are our sending agency.


I wholeheartedly believe that being send out by and being accountable to an extablished Church is not a luxury,, but a necessity. The Book of Acts, which is our best guide for the operations of missios and missionaries, is very plain about this.. There were no "Lone Rangers" in the early Church, not even Paul; even though he started that way he soon lined up and accountable. His excuse for not submitting to the Apostles and the Jeursalem council in the beginning was fear.

The reason for this is not financial support, but to be in order Spiritually.

quote:

Could you please tell me your story?


I was a young minister in a Denomination in the States, the desire to go to the remote mountains in Mexico became very strong with myself and my wife.

Our denominations's mission board wanted us to go on the mission field, but tjeu were not set up for that area of the world. So I took a leave of absence from the denominations minister designation, sought a Church that would like to send a missionary to that part of the world.

I found a Church that had been parying for years for just an opportunity, they ordained me, layed hands on me, and sent me out. As I said it was not financial as the Church gave us $45 a month.

But the constant prayers, letters of encouragment, etc. were a great help in our work. After 20 years in Mexico, Central America, South America, the Filipenes, Cambodia, and a few other places we returned to the States to stay. Through the prayers of the supporting Church and many others we were blessed to have had a hand in founding 24 Churches around the World.

When we returned, I rejoined my Denomination and started to evangelize and Pastor; been doing that in the States for over 24 years.

I do wish you well in your endeavors, and I encourage you to go about it as the examples given in the New Testament.

Thsnks
RC



funny_girl -> RE: missionary (3/26/2008 11:33:21 AM)

country preacher,

I don't want to lead you astray. We are covered in the US and covered in Mexico. My comment was that we do not have a large covering of one of the sending agencies. God did not open that door for us. However, we are covered by the Mexican church. Oh how you would rejoice to know how God has covered us!

Do you know the Bartel's who served in Colombia church planting and a time in Mexico? Do you know the Hines family who also served Mexico and south America? Mike Hines, also pioneered churches, was a great evangelist flying in his plane preaching the gospel till Jesus took him home doing what he loved to do!



funny_girl -> RE: missionary (3/26/2008 1:09:35 PM)

There have been some questions asked from another thread and I'm trying to figure out where to answer the questions.

I'm licensed with the Mexican Assemblies of God.

I sing pop, folk rock, and worship.

We cancelled our webpage as it didn't seem to help and I had a large fan base on my myspace account but it was deleted after a strange letter was sent to me. Here's a new account but there are no video clips, photos or blogs at this time http://www.myspace.com/lamujerdegary

My family and I live in Guadalajara, Mexico and we travel evangelizing in a tri state area of Jalisco, Michoacan, and Colima.

The intent for the op was to ask what some of you in ministry do to relax? I'd especially be interested hearing from another missionary!



funny_girl -> RE: missionary (3/26/2008 2:29:00 PM)

TMeeks wanted to know what was the most stressful.

2 things.

One, is that my brain is constantly going and doesn't shut off.

Second, there is so much work and we have a lot of responsibility and influence here that it is overwhelming. There is not enough help here. Not enough pastors, not enough Christian material. Bibles are so expensive. You cannot even buy a leather Bible here!



Page: [1] 2   next >   >>



Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.5 ANSI