EMQ Article

Nurturing the Spirit: The Essential Role of Spirituality in Global Mission

By Joseph W. Handley, Jr. and Janelle Stoops | Mission flourishes not through greater activity but through deeper communion with Christ. Drawing on biblical foundations, cross-cultural experience, and case studies from A3’s leadership development work, this article argues that spiritual practices such as abiding, sabbath, contemplation, lament, and discernment are essential for sustaining missionaries and developing healthy leaders.

October 15, 2026

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EMQ » Oct - Dec 2026 » Volume 62 Issue 4

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Desert landscape with cactus, rainbow, and cloudy sky in the background. — Northeastern Uganda. Courtesy of IMB.

Summary: Mission flourishes not through greater activity but through deeper communion with Christ. Drawing on biblical foundations, cross-cultural experience, and case studies from A3’s leadership development work, this article argues that spiritual practices such as abiding, sabbath, contemplation, lament, and discernment are essential for sustaining missionaries and developing healthy leaders. Spirituality is not peripheral to mission but its indispensable foundation, enabling resilient leadership.

By Joseph W. Handley, Jr. and Janelle Stoops

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