Book review: 'Looming Transitions' prepares cross-cultural workers to navigate change
By Gary Ridley, Sr., SEND U —
Transitions are common in a missionary’s life. My wife and I have been missionaries for 41 years and are now in the middle of our ninth Home Service.
Saying that transitions are common does not mean they are not difficult or disruptive. Though it can be tough to imagine as you’re going through them, there is light beyond the transition — and resources like Amy Young’s “Looming Transitions: Starting and Finishing Well in Cross-Cultural Service”
can help.
Young writes this easy, conversational book based on her own 20-year experience serving in Asia where she helped hundreds of people adjust to the field and prepare to leave it.
The introduction and first two chapters give a clear and honest picture of what transitions look like. Young points out that the stress of transitions stems from the gap between our expectations and the reality along the way. Transitions affect us socially, physically, and emotionally.
Chapter 3, “Stay Grounded in Christ,” points to the importance of one’s relationship with Christ to provide stability through transitions. Young writes, “Part of finishing well is to stay grounded in something that will outlive this transition. Staying rooted in Christ while being uprooted in this chapter of your story is going to be a daily reorienting point in the story you tell.”
Chapter 4 tackles an unexpected aspect of transition — “Laughter Revives the Soul.” Chapter 5, “Accept That It’s Going to Be Messy,” reminds us that chaos can show up in relationships, housing and possessions, finances, and even the weather.
“Know Yourself,” chapter 6, looks at time management, thoroughness of task completion, grieving style, and identity.
While the book has included a lot of practical advice up to this point, there is a definite shift at the end toward detailed, practical steps. Chapter 7, “Start Early,” advises making a plan that will provide some structure in the midst of the messiness of transitions. “Make a list of everything you need to do and want to see happen in the upcoming months. Next we will transform your list into a plan. Start by dividing your list according to the following four categories: (1) paperwork, (2) personal belongings, (3) people, and (4) places and experiences.”
Our transitions affect many people around us, and we need to reach out to help them process as well — the subject of chapter 8.
“Work Out Your Grief,” chapter 9, gives practical steps for dealing with the sorrow that will be part of every transition.
The final chapter of the book focuses on “Your Unique Path.” Transitions are not resolved with a cookie cutter. This chapter includes discussions for many of the transitions a cross-cultural worker might make over the course of her career:
Each of these discussions concludes with a list of five questions to consider in planning for the transition. There are additionally five questions for high school graduates returning to their passport country to start college as well as five for their parents. All these questions are both practical and insightful.
The book does not discuss about retirement as a transition, probably because that requires a book of its own!
Transitions are an unavoidable part of missionary lives that can be navigated more successfully by making use of “Looming Transitions.” The book doesn’t replace your role as the person who has to navigate the transition, but it gives you the charts, prevailing winds and currents, asking important questions so that you can make wise decisions as you sail through changes. I recommend reading it before your next transition.
If you choose to buy “Looming Transitions,” consider using https://smile.amazon.com
and choosing to donate a portion of the purchase price to SEND International
, at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
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Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
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