Training Missionaries: Principles and Possibilities

by Evelyn Hibbert; Richard Hibbert

Publisher:

William Carey Library

, 2016

Overview

Missionaries must know God, be able to relate well to other people, understand and engage with another culture, and be able to use the Bible in a way that informs all aspects of their lives and ministries. Missionary training must address each of these areas if it is to help Christians to be effective in taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. Effective training has been shown to prevent people from prematurely leaving the field. It also reduces the danger of cross-cultural workers uncritically exporting culturally bound forms of Christianity. This book details four key areas that every missionary training program, whatever its context, must focus on developing. It shows how these can be holistically addressed in a learning community where trainers and trainees engage in cross-cultural ministry together.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

1. The Need for and Purpose of Specialized Missionary Training

2. Experiencing God

3. Using the Bible

4. Engaging with Culture

5. Relating to People

6. Building on Past Experience in Missionary Training

7. Applying Biblical Principles to the Process of Missionary Training

8. Steps in Designing Missionary Training

9. Putting the Steps Into Practice: A Case Study

10. Implementing Missionary Training

Afterword

Appendix 1 Units of Competency

Appendix 2 Pre-Field Program—Sample Weekly Timetable

Appendix 3 Ethnographic Questions

Appendix 4 Learning Language and Culture: Performance Criteria and Evidence of Competency

Appendix 5 Seminar Outlines

Bibliography

Product Details

• Title: Training Missionaries: Principles and Possibilities
• Authors: Evelyn Hibbert, Richard Hibbert
• Publisher: William Carey Library
• Print Publication Date: 2016
• Logos Release Date: 2023
• Pages: 372
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9781645081043, 9780878085477, 0878085475, 1645081044
• Resource ID: LLS:9781645081043
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-22T17:14:18Z

About the Authors

Evelyn and Richard Hibbert were pioneer church planters among Turkish speakers in Bulgaria. During that time, they also developed leadership training for a movement of thousands of Muslim-background believers to Christ. They have since taught cross-cultural missions and education and advised missionaries serving across the world. Richard was the Director of the Centre for Cross-Cultural Mission at the Sydney Missionary and Bible College in Australia up until his death from cancer in 2020. Evelyn is the leader of the Angelina Noble Centre, a research center for women involved in cross-cultural mission.