MEET OUR MISSIONARIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA!
LOCATION
Mainland Southeast Asia as well as Eurasia
NAME
J & B
WHERE YOU ARE FROM
The Southern part of the United States
WHAT YEAR YOU ARRIVED IN THIS REGION
2018
IF DIFFERENT, WHAT YEAR YOU BECAME A MISSIONARY
2008
DEMOGRAPHIC OF SERVICE
Local churches
DESCRIPTION OF MINISTRY
We work to support the local church in the use of local artistic forms of communication so that the Gospel can be experienced in clear, meaningful ways by local people. This includes (but is in no way limited to) songwriting workshops, translation workshops for translators translating the Psalms and (other expressive parts of Scripture) into local poetic forms and arts in trauma healing trainings/workshops. The artistic communication of any given people group is strongly linked with their sense of identity. Many people have been told that their art forms, and by extension who they are as a people, is not acceptable to God. We believe the Scriptures make clear that this is profoundly untrue. We work hard to change that perception so that God’s people can experience him in ways that are both clear and meaningful to them.
CAN TEAMS VISIT YOU ON SHORT TERM MISSION TRIPS?
We are quite new to our current location, so probably not for some time.
GET TO KNOW US
We met in college and didn’t think there was a place for arts minded people in the mission world. We have since learned that when foreign workers import their foreign worship songs or foreign ministry products, the message of their work is often misinterpreted or lost. There is no artistic universal language. Learning from local people how to communicate meaningfully, rather than importing outside materials, helps to ensure the Gospel is communicated in clear, meaningful ways.
WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WISH (AMERICAN) PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT MISSIONARY LIFE?
We often feel torn between ministry/building relationships here on the field and raising money/maintaining relationships back home in the US. Sometimes it feels like two full-time jobs.
Living abroad changes you. We often feel like we don’t fit when we go back to the US. We so appreciate it when people are patient with us and are genuinely curious about who we are now and why.
The “m” word can be a very dangerous one for many of us overseas. We cannot put anything about our work or even the fact that we are missionaries on public forums such as social media. People have been kicked out of countries because they are outed by friends on Facebook or by a Church’s website.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR FUN?
We love to explore the natural world around us! It makes us happy to see our kids running wild and free. Getting into nature, watching movies, hanging out with friends and riding bikes are things we love to do.
BESIDES THROUGH BOOTS ON THE GROUND INTERNATIONAL, HOW CAN SOMEONE CONTACT YOU AND/OR KEEP UP WITH YOUR MINISTRY?
For security reasons, Boots on the Ground Int. is best.