Navigating the Path: Overcoming Challenges Faced by New Missionaries

BECOMING A MISSIONARY
February 2024
Embarking on a missionary journey is a noble and fulfilling endeavor, but with it comes a set of challenges that can be daunting and transformational. New missionaries often face cultural, emotional, and logistical hurdles in unfamiliar territory. In this blog post, we will explore common challenges for new missionaries and discuss strategies to overcome them.

Cultural Adjustment

One of the primary challenges for missionaries is adapting to a new culture. Language barriers, unfamiliar customs, and social norms can create a sense of isolation.

Ways to Overcome:

  • Immerse yourself in the local culture by attending community events and building relationships with locals.
  • Learn the language to facilitate effective communication.
  • Seek guidance from experienced missionaries or locals who can provide insights into the cultural nuances.


Loneliness and Isolation

Missionaries often find themselves far from family and friends, even in North America, leading to loneliness and isolation.

Ways to Overcome:

  • Establish a support network by connecting with other missionaries, both new and experienced.
  • Engage in local community activities to build a sense of belonging.

Emotional Stress

Witnessing poverty, suffering, and challenging living conditions can affect missionaries' emotional well-being.

Ways to Overcome:

  • Prioritize self-care through activities such as meditation, exercise, and journaling.
  • Attend counseling or support groups to process emotions and share experiences.
  • Foster a positive mindset by focusing on the impact of your mission work.

Logistical Challenges

Learning to build your own schedule, faithfully ministering when someone isn't always watching, and learning culturally appropriate ways to plan and work can be overwhelming for new missionaries.

Ways to Overcome:

  • Plan and organize effectively by creating daily and weekly schedules.
  • Seek guidance from fellow missionaries for navigating logistical challenges.
  • Stay adaptable and be prepared for unexpected situations.



Spiritual Warfare

Missionary work often involves spiritual challenges, testing one's faith and resolve.

Ways to Overcome:

  • Develop a robust support system through prayer groups and spiritual mentors.
  • Deepen your personal spiritual practices to stay grounded and resilient.
  • Reflect on the positive impact of your work to reinforce your sense of purpose.

A Rewarding Journey

While the journey of a missionary is undoubtedly challenging, it is also a profoundly rewarding and life-changing experience. By acknowledging and proactively addressing the challenges, new missionaries can find strength, resilience, and a deeper connection to their mission.

Remember, you don't have to overcome these obstacles alone. Our faithful God will always be with you and the people He will send to come alongside you. At SEND, we strive to send well, preparing and equipping our missionaries for God's work in the field. We also ensure you are received well with teams and leaders ready to help you as you start your ministry.


You don't have to go very far to reach the unreached.

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March 7, 2025 Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution only to break it in less than a week? On March 1, 1.8 billion Muslims began their annual fasting month called Ramadan. They are supposed to fast completely—no water or food—during daylight hours from March 1–Mar 29. It begins with much fanfare, promises, and declarations, as fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims believe that faithfully keeping the fast ensures one’s place of favor with God. But many Muslims won’t be able to keep the fast through the whole 30 days. The reasons and excuses are myriad. Sometimes they will continue to claim to be fasting, but in reality, they are eating behind closed doors. To gain God’s favor, they must fast through the whole month, not just part of it. So, they live with the guilt and shame of not fulfilling the requirements of Islam. What was supposed to help gain their salvation now stands in condemnation. A Feast Within the Fast To complicate matters even more, Persian New Year’s Day is March 20, right in the middle of the fasting month. Persian New Year is one of the most important cultural holidays for most Iranian and Afghans, as well as many others with a Persian background scattered throughout Central Asia and the Middle East. In fact, many people with Persian heritage don’t just celebrate on one day. Their New Year’s celebrations extend over two weeks! How do they reconcile these two weeks of festivities within Ramadan? For Arab Muslims, it is a non-issue. But for the Persian world, it IS a struggle. The hard-core Taliban will try to push people to keep the fast. However, many will lean more towards keeping their more ancient pre-Islamic traditions of New Year’s. I would encourage you to take time to explore with your Muslim neighbors and colleagues why they fast. Then share why Christians fast. Perhaps read Isaiah 58 with them, summarize it, and ask for their thoughts on this passage. One more thing to note during Ramadan is the Night of Power. Each year, during Ramadan, on or about the 27th day of the month, there is a special time called the Night of Power. This year it will happen on or around March 26. Muslims believe the Night of Power is when Mohammad first received the revelations of the Quran from the Angel Gabriel. Prayers offered up by Muslims during Ramadan—especially prayers in a mosque—are believed to be weightier than prayers at any other time. However, prayers on this special Night of Power, prayed in a mosque, are considered infinitely more valuable than any other prayer. Many Muslims will stay up all night praying on the Night of Power to earn extra points with God. There is a small problem in all of this, though—Muslims can’t agree on which night is actually the Night of Power. It is sometime during the last ten days of Ramadan, with tradition stating that it is on the 26th or 27th night. There are several resources to help Christians and churches pray for the Muslim world through this month of Ramadan. I would encourage you to connect with some or all of them. Please make others in your church aware of these resources. Perhaps you could even host a special prayer time at your church, utilizing these resources. Ramadan 30-Day Prayer Guide Booklet – This can be purchased as a hard copy or PDF. Prayercast – A wonderful website with many videos on the Muslim world. If you sign up, you can receive daily prayer videos that also work great during a Sunday worship service to help raise awareness of the need for prayer for the Muslim world.
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