Field Partner

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FieldPartner Founders Ross & Christine Paterson were interviewed at their sending church, Trinity Cheltenham about their story, as part of a series entitled 'But God'. We trust you will find it encouraging and stirring!

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Having grown up in Cyprus, being married to Jessica – who is South African – and with four children who were born in the UK but grew up in the Middle East, Andy is no stranger to crossing cultures! In this insightful interview he shares his experiences and lessons learned from years serving in Istanbul, as well as other nations.

Currently based at Reading Family Church in the UK as their Teaching Pastor and is an avid student of language, culture, mission and the Bible. Andy is involved in planting churches and coaching church planters as the leader of the Unreached Network, facilitating best practice in cross-cultural mission across the wider Newfrontiers family.

We also discuss his book 'Global Humility' which is certainly worth a read. You'll come away from this interview with something to think about!

Dr Mary Ho serves as the International Executive Leader of All Nations International, a global Christian missions organization. In this current role, Dr. Ho provides leadership and direction for All Nations which has grown to four hubs and 400 cross-cultural workers in more than 40 countries.

This is a wonderful interview, that is a little different from our others, reflective of Mary's role with All Nations as she shares her journey and her heart for the unreached people of the world. It's also filled with helpful thoughts for those sending, or considering mission for themselves.

In the early 1990s, God began birthing a heart for the poor and for the nations in Mary and her husband, John, while a young married couple working for World Vision in Taiwan. Later in Hong Kong, they were greatly impacted by being a part of the churches that grew out of Jackie Pullinger’s ministry. Such experience and passion led to a seamless transition into leadership roles years later with the work started by Floyd and Sally McClung in the USA. Mary began her role with All Nations International in 2016. Contact Mary at mho[@]allnations.international

For security reasons, we can't share their real names, but Greg and Lisa have a story that is well worth hearing. After serving unreached people in China, they were interrogated by the Chinese Secret Police, and forced to leave. They have moved to Cape Town in South Africa, where they now serve refugees. These faithful servants of the gospel candidly share their walk, and the struggles it has brought them. We hope it will be an encouragement to you!

Our interview with Reuben Inwe is a fascinating one. His own story of encountering the Lord on a bus in Nigeria, then being led to serve and plant a church in a specific city in the north of England, is both dramatic and impacting. However, it is his challenge to the church in the West to believe more thoroughly in the gospel itself that was the most hard-hitting! Sometimes it is good for us to have a mirror held up to us and to have to see ourselves through the eyes of someone from another culture! Do listen to Reuben’s interview with an open heart and ask yourself what you/we all can learn from his challenge and perspective.

Joann Pittman was born as a 'Third Culture Kid' to missionary parents in Pakistan. But little did she know that during her childhood, seeds were being sown that led her to another nation that captured her heart: China. After many years of experience teaching there, Joann has now returned to the USA, where is the Vice President of Partnerships and China Engagement at ChinaSource, an excellent and reputable website that covers events in the nation from the perspective of the church, also acting as a community and resource to equip people.

After a season of cross-cultural preparation and discernment, David and Vicki worked as missionaries for 20 years in Turkey before their return to the US. They have a strong desire to equip churches to send their missionaries well, with proper preparation and support which led them to create Equipping Servants International, as well as writing David's excellent and practical book: Mission Smart - 15 Critical Questions to Ask Before Launching Overseas.  In this insightful interview, they share their story and some of the wisdom they have acquired over many years on the field. It may be especially helpful for those considering cross-cultural mission for themselves.  

Geoff and Jackie Bishop were missionaries for many years in Burundi, central Africa. In this interview, they share the events that led them both there, how they met and what their ministry looked like.

But eventually, they were no longer able to work in Burundi, so returned to Australia, where Geoff was from originally - what next? They detail the way they have adapted to use their skillset and experiences in a very different environment from Burundi.

Amy Young spent many years as a cross-cultural worker in China, and now works to support cross-cultural workers through various ministries. In this thought-provoking and encouraging interview, Amy shares her experiences of China, her near-death experience, the story of her books and reflections on embracing differences between cultures. 

Rowena and Barry McKnight have been missionaries for many years in Thailand. In this insightful interview into their years of service in various ministries and regions of the country, they share the importance of learning the local language, their experience in church planting and member care for other missionaries. 

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After being baptised at only 5 years old, Katie felt a clear calling to serve in Asia in her late teens and ended up in Taiwan doing her masters. During this time, she put down roots with a local church, starting a prayer room in her house with some friends and seeking God's will for their area, in Danshui, near Taipei. It was laid on Katie's heart that she was to dedicate her life to this area and, after meeting her Taiwanese husband, they planted a church in the area which they now lead. 

During this interview, Katie explains her heart to walk in God's calling, even at the expense of other dreams, she gives insight into seasons of seeking God and she shares her desire to facilitate opportunities to step out in faith, as Jesus sent out His disciples in Luke 10.

Grant and Jean are missionaries from South Africa. In this interview, they share their journey leading to work in China, what it was like to have and raise children in a brand new culture. They tell us about continuing to seek the Lord's will throughout their life in mission.  They challenge us not to leave our callings unpursued, but to seek out the Lord's will with the burdens he lays on our hearts. We love this quote from the interview: "We're really trusting God that...people can see if they are willing as well and put up their hands that God can give them an eternal inheritance that far, far outweighs anything we can get in this world!"

Jennifer Bishop grew up in Burundi and has since lived in various parts of the world. In this interview she shares with Christine about what it is like to be a 'third culture kid' - how it can influence your life and can broaden your world-view. She also tells us about her work with refugees through her church in Australia and the perspective it gave her on the public's perception of these people. 

Christine Paterson Interviews founder of Great lakes Outreach Simon Guillebaud, who has dedicated most of his life to the nation of Burundi, including becoming a citizen! Simon tells the story of his journey to faith and his remarkable early experiences as a young missionary - expecting to die for the gospel (to the extent of warning his new fiancee that she may be a young widow)! He shares some of the principles that GLO is built upon, to identify, equip and empower the best local leaders of passion, integrity, gifting and vision for the transformation of the nation.  

You can discover more about Great Lakes Outreach (GLO) and their weekly Zoom prayer meetings, as well as watch Onesphore's prayer for Europe & the developed world at the links below. Also, check out our interview with Onesphore Manirakiza - Burundian National Director.

A fascinating interview with Brad Thurston, one of the early collaborators with FieldPartner. We get a insight into Brad's remarkable story of faith. From his experiences as a 'missionary kid' in Lebanon during a period of conflict, to his extraordinary journey to faith - spending a year preaching without a personal faith of his own! We hear of his early ministry and the amazing way that God brought Brad and his wife, Jan, together.  

About Globe Mission: "We as a missions agency believe that God has given us the task of assisting individuals with a call to missions both during their time of preparation and once they have reached the field. In doing so we seek to support local sending churches in their worldwide outreach."

Henry and Betsy share their experiences of coming to Christ after their marriage, how they felt called to bring to gospel to unreached people after hearing just how many places the gospel has yet to go to. They share their experiences of mission in Mozambique, how many of their colleagues struggled with lack of training which caused them to set up Didasko.

Peter Askew serves cross-culturally in the north of England! His title is “Operations Manager for the Antioch Network Manchester”, an Anglican initiative, which plants churches in ethnically diverse communities and on housing estates across the Diocese of Manchester."  

Pete is an old friend of the Patersons, Ross and Christine knew him when he was growing up in York, where his parents and they were involved in planting a church together (now known as Gateway Church in Acomb). In this interview Pete speaks of his own experiences as a young person working in different parts of Africa. But the real challenge he gives to the church in the UK is to see that “the world is now on our doorstep” - so many nationalities from across the globe now live within our borders that we can now obey the Great Commission just by crossing the street! However, we might still be well advised to get some cross-cultural training, and Pete kindly recommends FieldPartner’s courses to that end.

Christina Winrich was born in Wisconsin, came to faith as a musician working in France and then rashly offered the Lord a whole year of her life to serve Him in missions! After taking 3 short-term mission trips (one to South America and two to China), she landed up on a a year’s cross-cultural programme run by our Antioch School of Missions in China.  

Her one year ultimately became five in China, largely spent using her skills as a special needs educator, then teaching oral English in a university. After that, she went for specific Bible training in Canada and eventually moved on to serve in Japan with Overseas Missionary Fellowship.  

In this interview Christina shares openly about the challenges and joys of serving God in another culture (or two!). She shares movingly of how the Lord redirected her towards “less than 1% Christian” Japan and about the hard work of mastering a second Asian language with characters (though it does have a kind of alphabet as well!).