On the mission field, we were just doing what we loved to do—June as a homemaker and I as an engineer. We missed our families. But because my company was headquartered in the US, we could visit family on my business trips whenever June could come along. We have so much to be thankful for.

Rosalie might not look like a missionary, but she knew she had a clear calling and God was her boss. Before she left, one of her mentees said, “Thank you for coming to our country to show us how to be an engineer.” The man was not yet a believer, but he saw how she lived and worked among them. Rosalie modeled a different way.

Professionals and business people, who look nothing like traditional missionaries but live cross-culturally to make disciples through their work, are missionaries. We call them bivocational missionaries or tentmakers after Paul, who used his day job stitching tents as a way to share the good news about God.

In three years, Max's career took him through many turns from the Valley of Baca to a place of springs (Psalm 84:6).

When we align our life with God's will, He will show us the way. Like John likes to put it, “All we do is make ourselves available–just show up.”

Lacey’s story is a story of learning to say “yes” to God on the unexpected, yet beautiful journey of following His call.

We address a few common myths people hold about “calling,” particularly when it comes to work and vocation, through what Scripture has to say.

If work is an integral part of a tentmaker's life and witness, and not just a "passport" to get to the field or a "platform" for ministry, then getting the right job is important. But what constitutes the right job? How do you find that job overseas?

Cherry longed to return to East Asia with her American husband and children. She was a high-performance salesperson in her company, so her boss agreed to create a position for her in to grow their business. Then the unexpected happened: Cherry's position fell through. Would they still go?

Bob and Sabrina went to Asia with a heart to serve young people. At the university where Bob teaches, some of his students are from Muslim countries where economic hardships and even civil war are part of life. Quite a few of these bright young people are suffering PTSD symptoms from the violence and loss of loved ones back home. Bob and his wife Sabrina reached out and became their unofficial host family.

Ramadan, holy month for Muslims, started April 2 and will end on May 1. Pious Ali, a Portland city councilor said, “Some of us can afford to eat three meals a day, but others in the world can’t. By fasting we learn how that feels. By fasting you learn about the privileges God has given you.” Indeed, Muslims devote themselves to practices including fasting, almsgiving, and soul-searching during Ramadan.

Since February 24, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has created millions of refugees. How will missions look like in a new era of east-west confrontation as Russia is sanctioned by the West and driven closer to China? How will the gospel be relevant in a fractious multipolar world?

March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate women’s contributions, large and small, to make life better for others. Today, we give thanks for our female tentmakers and associates.

Declan and Ruby love an adventure. In 30+ years of marriage, they lived in three countries, and traveled to over 80 cities. They became Christians in college, always active in lay ministry and short-term missions. In 2003, they moved to China, a tentmaking family with three young boys, one modest salary, and many unknowns.

Christ-followers are called to live a purposeful life that honors God (1 Peter 2:9). Sometimes we may feel lost and wish we had a clear invitation from God: a Macedonian call for what to do with our lives.

Katy is a professional violinist called to serve God in East Asia. When the COVID outbreak closed all doors back to the field since spring break in 2020, Katy looked for other service opportunities, and took up a six-month short-term assignment in Central Asia in January 2021. Loving it there, she is staying on until the Lord redirects her. Little did she know Kazakhstan would hit the headlines a year later in political turmoil.

Kazakhstan has been in the news lately. It is also the Central Asian Muslim country where one of our associates is serving. She moved there when the pandemic blocked her return to East Asia and has been teaching at a school not far from the center of recent unrest (the unrest started in the western part of the country, not where her school is located).

Jeremy was a freshman in our 2002 student summer program in China. It opened his eyes to serving overseas. He explored many options for going to China while serving on the missions committee of his home church. But nothing panned out.

This is the new era of digital missions. We are finally harnessing it to bring the witness of our Lord from our Jerusalems, Judeas, and Samarias to the rest of the world.

Digital missions can’t replace the incarnational presence of Christ in all nations. But this approach should be curated to carry the timeless story of God’s love to our world.