Ministry Rhythm
Overview: The missionary will learn to flex with life, seasonal, and cultural cycles of the north, while developing intentional ministry practices and maintaining rhythms of rest. The missionary will recognize the supreme importance of maintaining personal and family emotional health. Time will be managed in ways that provide opportunity for meaningful relationships and interruptions, while still being productive with required life tasks. Adequate communication maintained and responsibilities fulfilled with donors, sending churches, and SEND North personnel. Bi-vocational missionaries (ie. teachers, health care workers, etc) will recognize their limits and need for seasons of rest; likewise, they will also realize the need for maintaining a presence in the community even when “off duty” (ie. not leaving for entire summer or during all school breaks).
| Potential Topics/Skills | Suggested Training Options |
| Coping with isolation | |
| Preventing burnout | |
| Recognizing and dealing with depression | |
| Children and family safety | Plan to Protect A program for child safety and protection |
| Raising MKs | “Raising Ministry Kids” NMT Track 2/3 |
| Cultivating personal emotional health and spirituality | Spiritual retreat guides found in “A Guide to Prayer…” books “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” by Scazzero “Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry” by Paul David Tripp The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath by Mark Buchanan |
| Cycles of Ministry | “Normal Cycles of Ministry” NMT Track 2/3 |
Go back to the Northern Ministry Preparation Guide main page.