Missionary families rooted in Christ
We need strong missionary families to endure the challenges of spreading the gospel in a foreign culture
Missionaries are surrounded by a variety of challenges. We may have to deal with cultural differences, language barriers, adapting to new routines and lifestyle, and isolation. Most probably, we deal with more than one of those things simultaneously, and all this adjusting requires time.
Missionary families need to be strong in Christ to endure the challenges of spreading the gospel in a foreign culture. This happens as each member reflects the faithfulness and power of God in their lives, even in the midst of challenges. This can be an opportunity to reflect God’s grace as he gives us the capacity to recover from difficult situations. Therefore, our faith in God needs to be part of the daily routine of the family because he is the one who sustains us and gives the mission meaning. God is also the one who gives us purpose, something that helps families adapt to the mission field.
Here are some ideas to build strong missionary families:
Teamwork and mutual understanding
As a family, we are a team. The Bible says in Romans 12:5: “In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (NIV). A missionary family is a united body moving forward towards a mission. All members are connected; if one falls, the entire body feels the impact. Also, each member is going through their own internal process, facing their own challenges. Adapting to a new culture is not easy.
When I came to Japan, my husband and I were basically newlyweds. He already had significant experience in Japan. On the other hand, the missionary context was new to me. He had to guide me through aspects of culture and daily life, letting me adjust in my own time. This partnership was essential for me to navigate the mission field. He was adapting to married life as well; however, he was mindful that I was adjusting both to the marriage and to the culture around me. Patience was the key.
Supporting environment
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:10 that two are better than one, because, if either falls, one can help the other. An encouraging family is a family in which all members know they are not alone; we can pray for and support each other. This principle is crucial when tensions rise.
Time with family
Do not be so caught up with serving that you forget to enjoy your family. Enjoying time together can fill us up emotionally and psychologically, strengthening us. Through those moments together, we can reinforce our identity in Christ and encourage each other. We are a family in the mission field and part of that mission, maybe even the primary mission, is maintaining the strength of our family.
Rooted in Christ
Our purpose comes from Christ. In fact, our mission as Christians is to make Christ known. Our identity does not come from our nationalities but from the fact that we belong to God (John 1:12). During our time on the field, the devil may try to make us doubt our identity. Identity is not about what you do but about who you are in Christ. This is what gives meaning to our lives.
This is also important for the sake of missionary children. Missionaries with children are parents first and so should be modeling a life that shows that their identity is in Christ. Psalm 127 says “children are a heritage from the Lord”; therefore, we must make God visible to them as missionary parents. This is even more urgent in places where the gospel is still mainly unknown, such as Japan.
Identity formation starts from the first moments of a baby with the parents, meaning that the parents’ behavior when facing adversity and change help shape the child’s identity. Our children cannot be neglected. A central part of God’s work is for missionaries to love their children, and for children to feel that love.
Attitude to the local culture
Lastly, it is important for the family to be positive about the new culture, especially if they are here long term and if there are young children. We are not aiming to change a culture but to make Christ known. As missionaries, we need to resist negative feelings towards the locals and should try to avoid communicating any such negativity to our children. If there are aspects of the new culture that are against the principles we follow, we should teach our children why we do not follow them. However, a culture mainly represents the history and the essence of a people, and this should be respected.
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