EMQ Article

Living the Adventure God Intended: Faithfulness, Dependence, and Perseverance in Cross-Cultural Ministry

By Russell Matthews | Most of us enter ministry expecting an adventure. And it is an adventure—just not always the one we imagined. Drawing on Ephesians 2:10, Russell Matthews explores how God often works through the ordinary and unseen moments

October 15, 2026

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EMQ » Oct - Dec 2026 » Volume 62 Issue 4

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Person jumping into the ocean on a sunny day with clear blue sky. — Mediterranean in Monaco. Courtesy of IMB.

Summary: Most of us enter ministry expecting an adventure. And it is an adventure—just not always the one we imagined. Drawing on Ephesians 2:10, Russell Matthews explores how God often works through the ordinary and unseen moments of missions. Through biblical reflection, and personal experience, he shares how faithfulness, dependence on God, and perseverance matter more than visible success. Sometimes the greatest adventure isn't finding a new path, but faithfully walking the one God has already prepared for us.

By Russell Matthews

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