10 Most Popular Blog Posts of 2019

These are the most popular blog posts on the Shepherd’s Staff website in 2019. We are privileged to be learning and sharing more about missions every year. As God continues to expand our relationships into different areas of the missions community, we’re excited to share what we learn here. We look forward to continuing the missions conversation and serving churches as they send missionaries well in the next decade. Thank you for being a part of our effort to make the Name of Jesus known among the Nations.

TEN – Living Out the End Game Purpose of Light

Light is a major subject in the bible. It’s mentioned for the first time in Gen. 1:3 and for the last time in Rev. 22:5. In between those two verses, light is used hundreds of times and in dozens of ways throughout both the Old and the New Testaments. Defining light isn’t easy. Read more here…

NINE – Missionary encouragement: Five Questions that can Help

For most missionaries, staying encouraged in the midst of the unique context they live and serve within doesn’t come easy. Day to day life on the mission field includes encountering a multitude of trip-wires that can cause them to stumble in to a number of momentary disappointments, or lead them in to seasons of discouragement. Read about how to be a source of encouragement here…

EIGHT – Missionary Care Resources

A small team of mature church members should be selected, given at least an introductory level of training for providing pastoral-type missionary care, and then overseen as they provide the ongoing spiritual and emotional nurture that the missionary will need for successful life and ministry. Read more about missionary care here…

SEVEN – To Know God and Make Him Known – but How?

Every follower of Jesus should desire to know God at a deeper level and to make Him known. But is it possible that one more desire needs to be added to those two? And is it possible that this other desire may actually be the most difficult? Learn more here…

SIX – 4 Quadrants of Missionary Debriefing

This article is a response to a number of requests to provide a consolidated piece on the subject of DEBRIEFING. Read more…

FIVE – Why a Furlough?

Coming back to the States on a missionary furlough was always a strange experience. Preparing the ministry for our absence, subletting our home and arranging appointments from the field were only some of the preparation. Living out of suitcases as guests, we tried to meet with as many churches, supporters and family members as possible. Read more about furlough here…

FOUR – Asking for Support

Asking for missionary support has kept more missionaries off the field than any other reason. This article is one of many that will help pre-field and on-field missionaries gain a God glorifying understanding of a simple method for inviting people to financially join in the work. Learn more…

THREE – Missions Resources

“I think God is calling me to be a missionary. Where do I start?” That is one of the questions we hear most at conferences, church gatherings, and over coffee. There isn’t a quick and easy way to answer that question because there are so many factors to consider. We’ve taken those factors and collated them into the categories that follow. We pray you find this helpful. Please share with your missionary curious friends and leaders. Read more…

TWO – 3 Principles for Determining if God is Calling You to be a Missionary

Because God is always a good steward with the people that have surrendered their lives and their life-inventories to Him, the WORK that He calls missionaries to do will always entail doing something that flows from a person’s life experiences and likely their educational, vocational, and ministry background. Read more how you can know God’s call…

ONE – 11 Missionary Blogs We Love

This piece has been popular on on our website for the past couple of years. It seems that there is a demand for articles by and for missionaries and this list provides links to the best missionary blogs online. Read more here and enjoy!