On-Field

Culture shock, conflict, family struggles, burnout…
The list of challenges goes on.

Maybe you feel underprepared and unsure how to continue? Maybe you’re just worn out and need some fresh encouragement or support, or seeking answers on a specific issue?

You’ve come to the right place.

Orientation

Moving to another culture is a massive change, so the orientation season is all about arranging practicalities, adjusting and settling in.

Thriving Across Borders

Adjustment

Culture shock is real – and it’s tricky. Prepare yourself for the messy reality of it.

Crossing Cultures 101

Settled

Now you’ve found the new normal. Enjoy this season in your new home. Keep investing in yourself and stay connected to others like you. Or you might be facing particular challenges

Community

Connection

Don’t become isolated. As well as engaging with team and community on the ground, stay connected with people at home and others on the field.

Community

Returning

Whether returning home for vacation, furlough or a permanent transition, make sure you build a RAFT and prepare well with our Post-field resources

On-Field Support

A Sender’s Role

Any fieldworker needs a great team of friends, family and colleagues supporting them. You have a huge part to play in ensuring their success. Check out what you can do to ensure your fieldworkers thrive!

Orientation

What your fieldworker needs from you now is continued encouragement and moral support.
Often they will experience a honeymoon period of adjustment, which quickly passes as they realise the enormity of the challenge ahead.
Continue the connection, reminding them how much everybody is celebrating but also missing them. Send encouraging words.

Adjustment

It would be excellent if key members of the sending church undertook some basic cross-cultural training so that they can understand what the field worker is experiencing.
They will then be equipped to recognise symptoms of culture shock and be able to encourage your mission partner with the words: ‘this is normal!’
Ensure they know they have permission to be honest about their struggles.

Settled

What a blessing when you start to see your mission partner finding their place in the new culture and functioning more effectively in the language.
It has been such a LONG process for them to get to this point, so be sure and celebrate this as a ‘win’.
Even now the ground may be hard and ‘results’ may take a long while to see. It is the Lord who will produce fruit in His time, so encourage the field worker to remain firm in Him and to persevere.

Connection

Beware of bathtub syndrome – where interest in the missionary from those at home is only high at the beginning or end of their journey.
Though they may be ‘out of sight’ keep them in mind! Stay in regular contact.
The church must be proactive in coming alongside their mission partners, even at a distance

Returning

Whenever a mission partner returns home, make plans to give them a resounding welcome! Be eager to hear reports from them.
Allow them a buffer after the initial welcome to have some decompression time.
Arrange a good debrief with a trained person, even if they don’t think they need one! This is a key to healthy processing of their experiences on the field.
See our post-field resources for more details on what is next.

Resources

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Courses

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Course

The Antioch Factor

Ross Paterson presents a stark choice that no Christian or church can avoid making – whether we become a Jerusalem…

Course

Thriving Across Borders

This course covers the major transitions that someone will make when crossing cultures. We delve into the typical transition points…

Course

The Antioch Factor

Course

Calling – Who? What? Why?

In the church, there exists a widespread misconception that only “exceptional Christians” receive a “proper” calling from God. The truth,…

Course

Caring for Third Culture Kids

Currently in development, this exciting new course is created by our Dean of Studies, Ben Gilbert. British by birth, raised in India, with time living in Sri Lanka and the Middle East – the TCK experience is familiar to Ben, who is excited to share personal experiences, research and helpful insights for both TCKs, and those caring for them to thrive across cultures. Sign up to be notified when the course is released!

Course

Developing Leadership for Cross-Cultural Ministry

Mission thrives on cultivating leaders who embody the life and character of Jesus, the most effective figure in history who…

Course

Growing in Cultural Intelligence

Course

Know Thyself

This course explores the concept of understanding ourselves within the context of our own cultures. Before delving into how we…

Course

Building a Support Ecosystem

In this course, we examine the different dimensions of support that are needed for a successful cross-cultural experience or lifestyle….

Videos

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Video

Where the Holy Spirit is Free to Work

Ross explores the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, posing the question; ‘is there any area of our…

Interview

Global humility – church planting and serving in Istanbul with Andy McCullough

Having grown up in Cyprus, being married to Jessica – who is South African – and with four children who…

Podcast

How Is Your Prayer Life?

Summary: Ross shares from Luke 18 on the battle and the potential of prayer.

Podcast

JO Fraser’s Challenge to us today

Listen to these lessons from the life of one of Ross’ missionary heroes, JO Fraser. An excerpt from Ross’ blog…

Podcast

Joseph #6: Joseph and His Choices

In this 6th talk on the life of Joseph, Ross discusses the relationship between Joseph’s choice to avoid immorality and…

Podcast

Equipping the Church for Explosive Growth!

We are excited to share that FieldPartner co-founder Ross Paterson was recently interviewed on the hit podcast ‘Inspired… with Simon Guillebaud’. Ross…

Interview