When belonging hinders belief
Posted on: 9th July 2018
CMS worker T* (serving with J* in South East Asia) has come to a deeper understanding that persuading Buddhists of the truth of the gospel requires long-term commitment and perseverance. T reveals how trusting in a God who rules lends strength to their work and the mission of CMS. During our first term in Buddhist […]
Offering grace in a land of kindness
Posted on: 25th June 2018
In her first term of service, CMS missionary N*, serving in South East Asia, finds herself in a land of kindness where money really does grow on trees. Here N speaks of the challenge that CMS workers face in offering a grace that is greater even than kindness. Sensory overload. That’s one way I’d describe […]
Finding tariki in Japan
Posted on: 28th May 2018
Tariki, meaning ‘outside help’, is an important concept in Japanese Buddhism. Former CMS missionary Phil Miles and CMS missionary Dave McIntyre (serving with his wife, Beck, in Nishinomiya) give two perspectives on bringing gospel tariki to Japan’s unique form of Buddhism. Phil Miles Untangling Japanese culture is like separating cake ingredients after baking the cake! […]
First steps of mission
Posted on: 10th May 2018
Bethany Vaughan is in her first term as a CMS missionary serving in Cambodia. Checkpoint asked her about what approach she takes to sharing the gospel with people in her location. Even though her language and cultural understanding is still in the early stages of learning, Bethany was able to share about the way she […]
Should I go to a Buddhist funeral?
Posted on: 26th April 2018
Dave and Leoni Painter, with Joshua and Grace, have served in Phnom Penh, Cambodia since 2000. In 2018, they are on study leave at Moore Theological College to better equip themselves for continuing their ministry at Phnom Penh Bible School, where they teach and train leaders for the Cambodian Church. Dave is undertaking a research […]
Gospel-focused language learning in Italy
Posted on: 29th October 2017
Simon and Jessica Cowell arrived in Siena, Italy at the beginning of 2017 for their first term as CMS missionaries. While they have focused on learning and improving their Italian in this first year, they have discovered that language learning is also a ministry, providing them with opportunities to share the gospel with their classmates.
Learning a foreign culture: A lifelong process
Posted on: 22nd May 2017
Steven and Sandra Parsons have lived in Japan for 21 years, serving with CMS since 2007, and yet they still find themselves learning new aspects of Japanese culture every day. CMS talked with Steven to find out why learning the culture is a lifelong process and how God is using their status as foreigners to advance his gospel. Story by Amanda Jeavons.
Lessons learnt: Humility and cultural understanding
Posted on: 14th February 2017
Former CMS missionary, Faith Blake, served in Tanzania for seven years, and then as a Mission Personnel Secretary for CMS Australia. Here, she reflects on the lessons she learnt about the need for humility and cultural understanding in mission.
Heart language
Posted on: 11th October 2016
Dave Painter has served in Cambodia for 15 years, teaching theology and developing biblical resources in the Khmer language. Dave argues that the only way to effectively teach the Bible to Cambodians is in their own language, with a deep understanding of local culture.
Radical heart change
Posted on: 11th November 2015
CMS worker Anna* has been serving in the Middle East over the last three years, with a team that is seeking to share the gospel with Muslim people through teaching English. She reflects on the importance of culturally appropriate ministry and trusting in God, by giving us an insight into how the team trains short-term teachers.
