Eric gives us insight into the changing world of Global Missions; the challenges and blessings that it holds.

ABOUT ERIC:

Eric was born and raised in Damascus, Oregon, and became a Christian while attending Oregon State University. After finishing his university studies, he served as a missionary in Mongolia for a year and then returned to the US to pursue a Th.M. degree at Dallas Theological Seminary. While at seminary, Eric met his wife, Pauline, who was also a student. Upon completing their seminary studies, Eric and Pauline moved to Canada where Eric completed his Ph.D., and along the way they were blessed with two daughters. In 2016, Eric and Pauline joined a missions organization and moved to South Asia to teach at a seminary and train future pastors, evangelists, and church planters. Since 2020, Eric has served as the SE Asia regional director for his missions agency, overseeing 30 missionaries in six countries.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE:

• Missio Nexus

• Lausanne State of the Great Commission Report

Josh & Risa Hobson share about their ministry of hospitality and missionary care located in Portugal.

ABOUT JOSH & RISA HOBSON:

Josh and Risa Hobson are missionaries with TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission) who currently provide member care through Lado a Lado Ministries’ retreat center in Portugal, where they live with their family. Their mission is to walk alongside Christian workers with authenticity and compassion, providing a safe space with opportunities for rest, growth, care in community, and reconnection with God.

Josh worked as a chef for over 20 years, with the last 15 years as a culinary instructor at a cooking school. His passion for learning all sorts of different cuisines and dishes allow him to prepare a variety of food for our guests. He also has extensive experience in working with dietary needs and restrictions. Working for over 18 years in church plants, Josh also has experience leading groups and helping men with accountability. He is gifted in listening and debriefing.

Risa is a licensed professional counselor with over two decades of experience in church ministries, education, and counseling. She has specialized training in utilizing the Seeking Safety trauma recovery model, which includes support groups specifically developed for ministry workers. Risa grew up as a third culture kid and is super passionate both personally and professionally about helping workers and their families thrive in cross-cultural settings.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE:

• Risa Hobson Counseling

• Lado a Lado

• Harry Hoffman “How to Grow a Member Care Department”

• Seeking Safety (trauma care)

• Third Culture Kids 3rd Edition: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds - by Ruth E. Van Reken, David C. Pollock, Michael V. Pollock

Dr. Betty Sue Brewster shares her rich life experience in missions and also her wisdom in the field of language and culture acquisition.

ABOUT DR. BETTY SUE BREWSTER:

Betty Sue grew up in Venezuela in a missionary family where she came to know the Lord at a young age. She discovered an interest in languages as a pre-teen when she visited a couple who were translating the NT into a local language. She and her late husband Tom wrote LAMP (Language Acquisition Made Practical) along with other language and culture articles and helps. Her teaching and writing focus on practical, hands-on learning. She has traveled to about 100 countries, teaching and consulting with people in cross-cultural ministry. She enjoys travel (good thing!), music, being a mother and grandmother, reading, and playing with language sounds. She retired from teaching language and culture learning at the School of Intercultural Studies of Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California, and still travels occasionally to teach and consult in other countries.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE:

For Learners:

• Institute for Cross Cultural Training, Lonna Dickerson – Wheaton - Second Language Acquisition Courses
• Missionary Training International – Compass (Their pre-field training includes a language learning module)
• Growing Participator Approach, Greg Thomson
• Language Acquisition Made Practical (LAMP)

For Trainers:

• International Congress on Language Learning – especially helpful for pre-field and on-field language trainers, teachers, coaches to connect with others in the field