Missionary Myths
- Aug 1, 2023
- 4 min read
Who ya gonna call? Nah, not the Ghostbusters. How about the myth busters instead? Let's bust some common myths about missionaries. There are a lot of misconceptions on the internet about them. Sometimes those can be hurtful and cause problems (read my Missionary Romance blog to refresh your memory on those problems). So since I am a self-proclaimed geek and nerd, let's bust these myths with empirical data (Note 1). (Picture Source).
Myth 1: Missionaries are saints (Source).
They are called superheroes of the faith and are placed on a pedestals. But really, sent out ones are normal people, who may be a tad bit crazy. I know I am one cat short from crazy cat lady status. Chuck Lawless explains, "They’re regular people answering God’s call to do work across cultures. They struggle with sin. Their families have arguments. Their kids drive them crazy some days. Missionaries don’t want to be heroes (though they often appreciate the affirmation they get)" (Source). From the survey of sent out ones, not one person said they were a saint, super Christian or so amazing that no one would be able to do my job.
Myth 2: Missionaries know everything about the Bible (Source).
According to the data, only 41% have any higher education in a Biblical study. When asked how much are you lacking in Biblical knowledge, 18% said "I still have much to learn" and 82% said they were "life time learners of the Bible."
There is a giant misconception when it comes to where missionaries live. Do they live out in the bush or jungle somewhere roughing it in a tent, hut, or outside in the elements? I have even gotten this question from family. From those interviewed, the majority live in a city or a small town. 96% said they lived in a house or apartment. In current times, there is a push for urban engagement throughout missions organizations, including the International Mission Board (Source).
This myth couldn't possibly be true, if it was when would they have time to eat, spend time with their families, or sleep? 86% of the people said that there is no such thing as a normal day and they try to find a balance between house work, homeschool, their job, building relationships and rest. 14% said they had a normal 9-to-5 type job with regular scheduled hours, but their day-to-day activities vary. Chores are the same, regardless of what culture you find yourself. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends less than 2 hours doing daily household activities, including preparing meals and laundry (Source). Although sometimes it takes a lot longer to finish on our side with no dryers or dishwashers. We also typically do not have stores to buy ready-made items for meals, like grated cheese and tortillas.
Myth 5: Evangelism comes "easy to missionaries" (Source).
Believe it or not, the reality is that evangelism does not come easy to most people. Paul tells us that evangelism is a spiritual gift (Ephesians 4:11-16). Telling people about Jesus is a basic command for all beleivers (Matthew 28:18-20), not just to those gifted in evangelism. It is even harder when someone is an introvert and struggles with approaching people. I am a borderline introvert extrovert. On my more introverted days, I employ tools, like henna Bible stories, to get people to approach me. Evangelism is even harder for missionaries since it is usually completed in another language in most of our serving locations.
Myth 6: Our greatest conflicts come with nationals (Source).
Of those interviewed, 88% said they struggle with conflict on the field. But who do they have conflict with? According to those interviewed, there is conflict from people from the culture they now live, teammates, other expats, and "occasionally people from their home culture too," including their church family (Note 1).
Myth 7: Missionaries are never lonely (Source).
Missionaries sometimes live in very isolated places (Source). In fact, all the easy places have already been reached. My family is the only foreigners in our village of 500,000 people. The closest expat from my passport country is a 3-hour drive away. Our closest teammate is a car ride, 2 1-hour plane rides, and another car ride away. 82% of those interviewed admitted to feeling lonely on the field. Some of us survive the hard days of culture shock because we know people are praying for us back home.
Myth 8: Missionaries don’t struggle with stress.
If people don't think missionaries feel loneliness, then they might also probably think stress is not a problem. Of those interviewed, 88% said they struggle with stress. Only 41% have a plan in place to help manage their stress. 18% were interested in starting some kind of support group. A Free Reign International study concluded that "missionaries are shown to work extreme hours, in extreme environments, and are around constant trauma. 80% of missionaries burn out and don’t finish their term" (Source). There are many stressors when you live cross-culturally and culture shock is real. Burn out does not happen instantaneously, it is the result of many stressors piling up into a mountain overtime.
In Conclusion
Missionaries are normal people who struggle with everyday issues. Sadly, living cross-culturally seems to magnify issues, such as interpersonal conflict (Source). I think Chuck Lawless sums them up best, "They are godly people who serve faithfully around the world. Let’s learn about them, listen to them, pray for them and walk beside them. And maybe even become one of them" (Source). Did you come into this article with misconceptions? Were any of the statistics surprising to you? Do you have any ideas you would like to share about how to support those sent out ones when they struggle with stress and loneliness? Comment below or send a fan letter. Until next time.
Notes:
I have the priveledge of being apart of a social media expat community. This data was collected from a survey from 49 overseas workers in 2023. All names, quotes and information have been used with permission.
Commentaires