Editorial – Spirituality in Missions

EMQ » Oct – Dec 2026 » Volume 62 Issue 4

Summary: Although cross-cultural missions has many challenges, we are not alone. Its source and power is God. He is the one who is calling the nations to him. Walking in step with God should open a well of joy that carries us day by day. Drawing on that well uncovers our vulnerability. Then, we free God’s power to work in and through us.

By Evelyn Hibbert

Thinking about the theme of this issue took me back to King Solomon’s reflections in Ecclesiastes 3. He ended, “I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot.” (Ecclesiastes 3:22). This made me wonder how often we evaluate our work by our enjoyment of it and sense our Father’s pleasure in who we are and what we do.

We hear much of the cost and challenges of missionary work. Occasionally, we hear about the joy of people coming to the Lord. But I am struggling to remember recent instances when I have heard cross-cultural workers talk about how much they love what they’re doing. I cannot recall a single daily-life instance when a missionary shared about being absorbed in enjoying God.

Surely, if we immerse ourselves in our relationship with our heavenly Father, walk closely with our dearest friend and brother, Jesus, and resonate with the Holy Spirit in us, even if the work is hard, a deep, unquenchable joy should bubble out of us. As Solomon noted, times change, seasons pass, but God makes everything beautiful in his time. What greater joy can there be than this? Whatever we experience, whatever we do, wherever we go, this truth is thrilling.

Immersing ourselves in this deep well of relational joy brings reproducing peace and perseverance regardless of what we face (Satman). It strips us of personal pride and encourages vulnerability, reminding us that it is God, through us, who is working to fulfill his purposes. It is his power, not ours (Strider and Choi). Our doing depends on his. We become ready to act by watching, listening, and waiting (Franklin; Daniels; Handley and Stoops). When we struggle to ground ourselves in this joy, we should take time out to rediscover it (Burch). Then we will be able to persevere on the path God has placed before us (Wu and Matthews).

Just as relationship with God is critical to being a missionary, so relationship with partners is critical to partnership. Mirroring the need to immerse ourselves in understanding God to work with him, we need to engage deeply with local culture to come alongside local people as partners (Gerick).

When we release control and appreciate one another’s strengths, we build trust and mutuality (Choi-Lee). However, sometimes when partnerships are created, missionaries find themselves caught between donors and recipients. Harries offers advice for how missionaries can mediate these relationships.

Read this issue of EMQ →

---

EMQ, Volume 62, Issue 4. Copyright © 2026 by Missio Nexus. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from Missio Nexus. Email: [email protected].