The Role Of Self-Care

Within the mission field, families have many needs, especially when it comes to psychological and spiritual needs. Children specifically have needs for education, growth, and development. And families as a whole for unity, resilience, satisfaction, healthy communication, as well as a sense of inclusion and interaction. This interaction includes those within the mission field they are serving and their mission organization as a whole, as well as those supporting them financially and through prayer back home. These families in this context are surrounded by stress and strain stemming from the cross cultural settings. They have different levels of roles and responsibilities, on top of work, school, communication, transitions/separations, finances,

Self-care has been an oncoming emphasis in the recent years. Through emphasizing self-care as a prerequisite to minister towards others, agencies have noted the limitations and needs that is associated with serving others in cultural contexts. In taking part in self-care, the missionaries invest in the longevity of their ministry in other cultures. One missionary stated it as “if we maintain, as best we can, a level of health-whatever kind, especially emotionally and spiritually-we’ll last longer.” As time goes on, more and more missionaries agree with this concept. Applying a self-care mindset involves ones personal physical health, boundaries of time and energy, and attending to emotional needs. Each of these are noted to intersect with the necessary responsibilities and commitments that a missionary family involves themselves in as a whole. Furthermore, within the family, emotional growth and healing both are crucial to dealing with any conflicts that arise inside and outside the home. It is oftentimes said that ministers who cannot take care of their personal family, struggle more greatly to take care of those in others. Carter further makes the point that self-care plays an essential role in missionaries’ personal adjustment and ministry effectiveness

5:21-33) and a foundation from which children grow. It is a place where they witness love and commitment in relationships, and the joy in knowing Christ personally. Mark 6 further exemplifies the example of Jesus getting away from the chaos and resting with his disciples. He noted the importance of solidarity in this passage and making time to eat. Yet in the same passage, Jesus shows how he was able to have compassion on others and demonstrate to his disciples how important their mission was. Over and over again in the Bible God continues to show that He will never ask us to handle too much. If it ever seems that we are, then we need to take a step back and test where our motives really are. There are instances where rest is certainly needed. One needs to find how they are rejuvenated the best. In many cases, Jesus will do that for you; in Matthew it says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”