Join Brandi and James as they review the highlights of the podcasts from last year. With 12 episodes, they had many wonderful guests covering a broad range of topics impacting cross-cultural workers. This episode ends with three guest spots sharing stories of their holiday memories living cross-culturally. Meet our Guests below or in the podcast!

Eve Austin lived for 20 years living in Tajikistan and Turkey with my family from 1996-2016. During that time, she was a mom, missionary, educator, and entrepreneur. She transitioned into counseling in 2013 and worked abroad with culturally diverse populations, including refugees and survivors of human trafficking. Her life and work overseas provides her with understanding and empathy to journey with clients from diverse backgrounds through the challenges of transition, relocation, and cultural adjustment. https://eveaustin.com

Lisette Gabre is an extroverted Swede who moved to Asia almost thirty years ago with her husband and at that three very little children. She raised her three TCKs in Asia from baby to 18. The kids are now grown and she is a grandmother of six. Lisette has been involved in member care since she prepared to move to the field. Presently her pillow and husband are in Chiang Mai Thailand, but she serves the world as the TCK and Family Care Specialist for OM International.

Anna Danforth is an author, TCK advocate, and traveling speaker/trainer with TCK Training. Growing up in Cameroon as a third culture kid, she developed a deep passion for helping global families thrive in cross-cultural environments. Anna holds a degree in Secondary French Education and an MAEd in Instruction and Curriculum. Married to her high school sweetheart from DR Congo, Anna and her husband raised their two children in Lesotho and South Africa, where they continue to work in education and job skills training.

Join Brandi and James as they interview Jeff Simons on Sabbaticals. Jeff is a missiologist at core. He works out this passion as a trained leadership coach, and a cross-cultural companion to global leaders in major transition to, within, and from the field. His unique wiring plays out as a Resourcing Developer—of people, tools for global workers, and literature; Imaginative Innovator—of forward-thinking missiological structures and ministry strategy; and as a Restorative Artist—by empowering the journeys of workers forward through redemptive new expression, and in literal ways as an artist. Jeff and Sara Simons run The Way Between, where they equip global leaders to thrive in major life transitions.

Check out these resources from Thewaybetween.org

Engage the eCourse, get access to the Cohort coaching community (monthly with a trained Sabbatical coach) for free! Wherever you are in considering or preparing for a sabbatical season, this course will lead you through a clear structure and process to make the most of your sabbatical! We suggest at engaging the eCourse at least 2 months BEFORE Sabbatical, and for at least 1 month AFTER, for the process to be most effective!

Great new multi-author member care work in the Missio Nexus Improve Series, by Geoff Whiteman (Author) and Heather Pubols (Editor). Sara and Jeff contributed 2 chapters addressing the urgency and vital practice of effective Sabbatical: Reframing Sabbatical Posture in the Post-pandemic Landscape; and Reframing Sabbatical Posture: Embodied and Developmental. This is a must-have work for those in member care, and those leading and caring for people well…

You can purchase directly ON SALE from The Way Between here or on Amazon or digitally from MissioNexus

Join Brandi and James as they interview Dr. Lee Long, discussing chronic depression and the treatment modality of CBASP. This relatively new and foundational approach to treating chronic depression helps clients navigate fear avoidance and perceptual disconnection. This is primarily accomplished through two goals of CBASP of felt didactic safety and perceived functionality. This approach can be helpful for cross-cultural clients struggling with chronic depression. Find out more at http://www.cbasp.org/psy.htm.

Dr. Lee Long, Ed.D., LPC-S, a leading figure in mental health with over two decades of experience, is known for his extensive work ranging from juvenile detention centers, psychiatric hospitals, and outpatient care. Currently at he is the President and CEO of Restoration, a multi-site outpatient practice in North Texas, Dr. Long integrates evidence-based methods to assist those battling depression, addiction, suicidal ideation, and other mental health concerns. Among the evidence-based approaches that are utilized by Dr. Long include DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) a method used for treating under-regulated emotions and CBASP (Cognitive Behavior Analysis System of Psychotherapy) a novel method for the treatment of chronic depression. His academic pursuits led him to a doctorate in Counseling, focusing on Traumatology, preparing him to address the complexities of mental health with individuals and groups alike. Dr. Long is a certified CBASP Professional. He has worked alongside Dr. James P. McCullough, Jr. in beginning the dismantling of the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy. Their work is published in the Journal of Cognitive Therapy and Research. As a seasoned therapist and scholar, Dr. Long is committed to ongoing learning, patient care, and mentoring the next generation in effective mental health practices.

You can get in touch with Dr. Long and his counseling practice here: restorationcec.com and here restorationbeyondthecouch.com

Jim McCoulough, the founder’s books on Amazon.

Join Brandi and James as they share thoughts from Pete Scazzaro’s book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. They discuss the book’s principles and practices and how they apply to cross-cultural workers.

Family Retreat Activities: Here are some activities for families to do together, including a family genogram.

Here is a resource for anyone who would like to do a supervision genogram.

A deeper dive into making your own genogram

Peter Scazzero learned the hard way: you can’t be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. Even though he was the pastor of a growing church, he did what most people do–avoid conflict in the name of Christianity; ignore his anger, sadness, and fear; use God to run from God; and live without boundaries.

Eventually God awakened him to a biblical integration of emotional health and the spiritual practice of slowing down and quieting your life for to experience a firsthand relationship with Jesus. It created nothing short of a spiritual revolution in Scazzero, in his church, and now in thousands of other churches.

In his updated edition, Scazzero shares new stories and principles as he outlines his journey and the signs of emotionally unhealthy spirituality. Then, he provides seven biblical, reality-tested steps to become emotionally mature:

Editor’s note (The sound quality improves after about 15 minutes)

Join Brandi and James as they interview Danielle Wheeler, the founder of Velvet Ashes. They talk about the unique experiences of women serving cross-culturally and the loneliness and isolation that can be a hallmark of the experience.

Danielle Wheeler is a spiritual director and the founder of Velvet Ashes, a community for women serving cross-culturally. She and her family served in China from 2006-2015. She is the director of spiritual formation for Velvet Ashes, leading spiritual retreats and formation practices. She lives near Joplin, Missouri with her husband, their four children, and a cat-sized dog. You can find out more about Velvet Ashes and Daniell’s ministry here

https://velvetashes.com

Retreats- https://grow.velvetashes.com/product-category/retreat/

Membership- https://grow.velvetashes.com/join/#signup

https://www.olivedirection.com

Join Brandi and James as they talk to Stephanie Schwarz. She is a Registered Psychologist working with individuals, families, couples, and children. She enjoys building relationships in communities, connecting with schools, providing supervision, and supporting people negotiating international transitions. Today the conversation is about the challenges with cross-cultural teams. This includes navigating conflict and much more.

These cards were created by Stephanie Schwarz to help have valuable conversations about some of the values that need navigating cross-culturally. These would be a great resource to use in training or developing new staff who are about to be working cross-culturally. This includes traditional expatriate staff and local staff new to working in an international organization. Contact her at [email protected].

Ken Sande presents practical biblical guidance for conflict resolution that takes you beyond resolving conflicts to true, life-changing reconciliation with family, coworkers, and fellow believers.

A peacemaker is someone who is equipped to bring peace to conflict, restoration to damaged relationships, and the hope of Jesus in difficult situations. Peace Wise helps individuals, organisations and communities learn life-changing biblical peacemaking principles and build cultures of peace.

We invite you to join us in this journey.
https://peacewise.org.au/

Join Brandi and James as they interview Dr. Ted Wueste on Attachment Theory and how it impacts our relationship with God. You can find more about Ted at https://desertdirection.com.

“attachment theory, in developmental psychology, the theory that humans are born with a need to form a close emotional bond with a caregiver and that such a bond will develop during the first six months of a child’s life if the caregiver is appropriately responsive.”- John Bowlby

When discussing attachment, we are talking about something that is part of God’s design in how he made us. Jesus, in scripture, has all of the commands summed up into loving God and loving each other. This is attachment and a bond between people. Being made in the image of God, the Trinity, is to have the ability to bond and connect in the same way. Attachment theory can give people a better handle on what God is talking about with the word love. This word is Hesed (חָסַד )in Hebrew and is often translated as Loving Kindness. Attachment theory is incredibly helpful for those seeking to walk with God to understand how. – Ted Wueste

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” –  Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

Krispin Mayfield, in Attached to God, suggests that ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized attachments can be understand as relating to God … 

The movement toward secure attachment to God (grace, safety, freedom) (Mayfield):

Brandi and James welcome Verne Salter to discuss addiction and its impact on cross-cultural workers. One of the bigger factors is that whatever is dealt with in our home context gets intensified when moving cross-culturally. This also may be complicated by the loss of healthy anchors. The result is issues that might only be minor or are well handled in the home context but can be systemically problematic cross-culturally.

Get in touch with Verne https://www.smithandsalter.com/about or check out MTI at https://www.mti.org

Vern has spent over 25 years as a vocational christian worker, both stateside and overseas.

Having received help and care in times of crises, he values the “below the waterline” work of counseling, as well as the “at the waterline” work of adopting soul care practices, relational reconciliation, and healthy rhythms in life.

With an MA in Clinical Counseling from Colorado Christian University, Vern blends professional and soul care in his perspective on providing care.

Trained in EMDR, Gottman Marriage Therapy, and Soul Care, he brings a broad scope to member care work.

He is married to Janell, and they have 3 adult children. Living in Colorado Springs, CO, they marvel at the beauty of God’s creation around them daily.

Brandi and James welcome back Geoff Whiteman, ThM, LMFT, to discuss missional resilience and what he has learned from his most recent study listening to member care professionals. You can learn more and get in touch with Geoff at www.resilientglobalworker.org

“At the end of our grit, missional resilience really flourishes, and we come to the end of ourselves. It’s as if then our hands are open to receive Jesus’ resilience” -Geoff

We made preventing attrition the goal for member care, which misses the mark. Preventable attrition isn’t a way to ‘score a point’ but to ‘lose a point’, then suddenly the field of play is very small and possessive. It becomes a game we cannot win but can only lose. Attrition is the wrong measurement of success and failure, especially for staff care. Taking an internal responsibility for something outside of one’s control results in wounding or pain over which we do not have responsibility. For example, someone we care for leaves. This is a form of moral injury, and that pain is really painful for staff care providers.

Flourishing is a better benchmark for measuring the success of staff care. Navigating the liminal spaces of flourishing and challenge is a far better goal and direction for staff care providers.

Bethany Walker is currently the curriculum director of an online Christian school called Norhtline Academy, which has been serving global workers for over 25 years. She has extensive experience teaching, developing curriculum, and living cross-culturally. You can read more about her here.

Families are going to have unique needs, and those pieces of resourcing are so important. Organizations need to anticipate those needs to the best of their ability. – Bethany Walker

Resource

Visit SHARE.. “We help English-speaking families serving in Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East with their children’s educational needs.”