Hospitality plays a major role in Arab and Muslim cultures, and it is deeply related to shame and honor. In Western cultures, we often view hospitality as entertaining guests, but the Arab understanding of hospitality is built on a very different premise. It is important to understand this concept when building relationships in Arab cultures. In the second part of the interview, Gaby Phillips, Adventist Muslim Relations Director for the North American Division, talks to Joni Hajaj, Intercultural Studies and Discipleship Director for Adventist Frontier Missions - AFM.

Show Notes:

• Listen to part 1 of this interview here.
  
  
• Previous webinar mentioned on this episode: Serving Effectively in Shame Honor Cultures.

Hospitality plays a major role in Arab and Muslim cultures, and it is deeply related to shame and honor. In Western cultures, we often view hospitality as entertaining guests, but the Arab understanding of hospitality is built on a very different premise. It is important to understand this concept when building relationships in Arab cultures. In this interview, Gaby Phillips, Adventist Muslim Relations Director for the North American Division, talks to Joni Hajaj, Intercultural Studies and Discipleship Director for Adventist Frontier Missions - AFM.

Show Notes:

• Previous webinar mentioned on this episode: Serving Effectively in Shame Honor Cultures.
  
  
• Quotations from Ellen G. White on hospitality: "The Adventist Home," Chapter 72.

Many cultures in the majority world have a close connection with ancestors through practices that don’t align with the Bible. How can we be better prepared to deal with this issue in the mission field? In this interview with Andrew Tompkins, assistant professor of mission and intercultural theology in the World Mission Department at Andrews University, we will learn more about this issue and an upcoming event at Andrews where this topic will be addressed in more detail.

Show Notes:

• Journal of Adventist Mission Studies: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/jams/
  
  
• Upcoming Mission Conference about Death and Ancestors: September 12-14, 2019, at Andrews University.
  
  
• World Mission Department Website: https://www.andrews.edu/sem/worldmissiondept/
  
  
• To be added to the subscriber’s list, please write to [email protected]
  
  
• For comments, suggestions or questions, please write to [email protected]

Some of the dangers we deal with in the mission field are very visible, such as persecution, violence or human trafficking. Other dangers are more subtle, such as syncretism. In this interview with Oscar Osindo, Institute of World Mission Associate Director, we find out how syncretism is manifested in the mission field and how to deal with it.

Show Notes:

• Recommended books:
  “Syncretism in Religion: A Reader" - Anita Maria Leopold and Jeppe Sinding Jensen
  "Transforming Worldviews: An Anthropological Understanding Of How People Change" - Paul Hiebert
  
  
• Also check out: Episode 2, Faithful Contextualization (With Bruce Bauer)

We know witnessing is an integral part of our identity as Seventh-day Adventists. This doesn’t mean though that we all know how to do it well or even find it enjoyable, and there is no shame in admitting that. In this third and last episode with Wesley Szamko, Southern Asia-Pacific Division Adventist Mission Director, we learn more about how we can be effective witnesses and actually enjoy the experience.

This interview is part two in a series of three. If you would like to listen to parts 1 and 2, enroll in the online course here.

Show Notes:

• Previous episodes with Wesley Szamko: Episode 23 and Episode 28
  
  
• Featured Theme: “Witnessing & Discipling”
  
  
• Leave us a comment here.

This is part 4 in the CELEBRATIONS series. Dr. Katia Reinert discusses the 4th letter—E—in the CELEBRATIONS acronym: Environment.

This conversation about the influence of the environment where we serve and how we impact it is brought to you from the very specific perspective of an Adventist cross-cultural worker. 

Be sure to check out part 1, part 2 and part 3 of the series.

Additionally, visit the Missionary Health page for more information, more episodes, and an opportunity to subscribe to updates on this topic.

Show Notes: 

• Article mentioned: God Overrides Wishes of Missionary Parents
  
  
• Learn more about today’s topic: Celebrations book
  
  
• Upcoming webinar on June 27th: Register here

Why do we witness? What should it accomplish? Unless we understand what God has called us to do, we cannot witness effectively.

In this second episode with Wesley Szamko, Southern-Asia Pacific Division Adventist Mission Director, we continue to learn how we can be effective witnesses and what the ultimate purpose of witnessing is.

This interview is part two in a series of three. If you would like to listen to parts 1 and 3, enroll in the online course here.

Show Notes:

• Upcoming webinar on June 27th: Register here
  
  
• Previous episode with Wesley Szamko: Episode 23
  
  
• Article mentioned: Religious Deep Structures—Understanding and Reaching Secular People
  
  
• Quotations from Ellen G. White: 
  “Education,” page 125
  “The Ministry of Healing,” page 143

In a first of a kind interview today, Millie Castillo (IWM Communications Coordinator) interviews a participant of a teen group in the last Mission Institute in Greece. 

Ava, Millie's counterpart in the interview, shares insights into what it took for her and her family to adjust to a new country, new neighborhood, and a new school.

This episode will be especially helpful to:

• Third Culture Kids
• Teens and their parents and siblings in transition
• Educators who deal with TCKs
• Everyone who talks with children of families in the process of cross-cultural adjustment

Effective Multicultural Adventist teams—both a dream and a dire necessity for the Adventist mission to move forward. 

This episode is a beginning of a large conversation around multicultural teams that we want to develop together with Ronald Kuhn, IWM associate director. 

As you listen, let's engage in a conversation. What should we cover in this series? What makes an effective multicultural Adventist team in a missions setting?

Let's discuss in the comments.

Many or most missionary couples go through certain periods in their cross-cultural ministry when one of the two felt less excited about their current ministry in their host country.

This scenario repeats itself in many shapes, varieties, and forms. Perhaps, you're experiencing a variation of this challenge at this very moment.

In today's episode, we tackle such feelings and reality together with Cheryl Doss (Ph.D., IWM Director).

Show Notes:

• Family & Marriage Featured Theme Page

Previous episodes related to Family & Marriage:

• Episode 12, Is there a place in mission for the accompanying spouse? (With Gwen Astleford)
• Episode 16, A story of God’s faithfulness in the time of transition (With Teressa Wood), 
• Episode 19, Are we as missionaries keeping our extended family relationships strong and healthy? (With Cheryl Doss)

ISE Care Team page with links to Dr. Ann Hamel's and Ken & Ivanette's profiles