Cheryl Savageau - Parents of Missionaries: How to Thrive and Stay Connected When Your Children and Grandchildren Serve Cross-Culturally

We do not often think about the families missionaries leave behind, yet parents of missionaries often miss their children and grandchildren and experience a variety of emotions: fear, anger, pride, loneliness, and perhaps even bitterness toward God. Authors Cheryl Savageau and Diane Stortz are uniquely qualified to address these important but often neglected topics, providing tangible steps toward acceptance and adjustment.

Doug Priest
executive director, CMF International

This book speaks to the greatest unseen cost of missionary workthe ache of parents separated from their children and grandchildren who serve Christ overseas.

Dick Alexander
senior minister, LifeSpring Christian Church, Cincinnati, Ohio

Just enough gripping stories and quotes from parents of missionaries and their missionary offspring humanize this handbook that deals with Gods call to be loving parents of missionaries who build healthy family relationships. I recommend it also for church leaders who want to better understand the dynamics of sending out missionary families from their church.

Dr. Wayne Shaw
dean emeritus and professor of preaching, Lincoln Christian College and Seminary, Lincoln, Illinois; president of the board, Asian Pacific Christian Mission International; and a POM

Parents of Missionaries lets parents know they arent alone in their thoughts and feelings and provides practical suggestions for dealing with them. A wonderful gift for missionaries to give to their parents, especially those [missionaries] leaving for the first time. Agencies may also want to give it to parents of new missionaries.

Dr. Ronald L. Koteskey
member care consultant, New Hope International Ministries

As the missions minister at our church, I plan to buy a copy for each of the families whose children are called to be missionaries.

Wade Landers
missions minister, College Heights Christian Church, Joplin, Missouri

This is a must-read. I know of no other book that so expertly addresses the needs of parents of missionaries at so many levels.

Sherrie Johnson
ENHANCE Dept., coordinator of Family Ministries, EFCA ReachGlobal

The authors of this book have written from personal experience and given a gift to everyone involved in supporting a missionary. The comprehensive treatment of the challenges that must be faced and the practical helps they have provided will both comfort and equip families who are sending someone they love to the uttermost parts of the earth in the name of Christ.

Cam Huxford
senior pastor, Savannah Christian Church, Savannah, Georgia

This comprehensive tool will help parents become missionaries most enthusiastic cheerleaders. Parents of Missionaries is packed full of insights about our God-given emotions that make it difficult to release our children to live in a distant land. But by being a supportive parent, we can encourage them to persevere in the role God has called them. We, too, will share in the joy of the harvest!

Lorrie Lindgren
CEO and president of Women of the Harvest

Most of us find it a lot easier to write a check than to face prolonged separation from our loved ones. This book will help all of us with loved ones involved in cross-cultural ministry to make sure our relationships survive and thrive. Thanks to Cheryl and Diane for showing how we can support our children when they follow Gods calleven when fulfilling the Great Commission takes them to the other side of the world.

Dr. David Faust
president, Cincinnati Christian University

Real stories and honest emotions from POMs and their missionary children give us insight into the struggles of both parties. Diane and Cheryl give practical, positive advice. POMs cannot help but be encouraged after reading this book. We cant wait to share this book with every one of our POMs.

Steve and Becky Overlin
Pioneer Bible Translators Missionary Care Dept., Ministering to POMs, their missionary children, and grandchildren

A book for parents of missionaries... what a needed resource! Cheryl Savageau and Diane Stortz do an outstanding job of helping POMs honestly deal with all the complex emotions involved in this journey of change, pain, and fulfillment.

Dave Stone
senior minister, Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky

What is the hidden cost in the lives of those who release their children and grandchildren to the Lords service? And, just as important, how can family members transform themselves from reluctant observers into powerful participants? Parents of Missionaries will help every missionary-sending family navigate this challenging and potential packed journey.

Steve Richardson
president, Pioneers-USA, Orlando, Florida

I wish this book had been around as my husband and I headed to the mission field with our young children! I plan to adopt it as required reading for a class I teach. This beautiful, much needed book will help its readers stay connected with their children and grandchildren in a meaningful way for life.

Dr. Linda F. Whitmer
professor of inter-cultural studies, Pacific Christian College of Hope International University, Fullerton, California

A much-needed tool to help that oft-overlooked population, parents sending children and grandchildren off to the far corners of the globe.

Connie Blake
director of debriefing and renewal, Mission Training International

How to thrive and stay
connected when your children
and grandchildren serve cross-culturally

Cheryl Savageau, EdD and Diane Stortz

InterVarsity Press
P.O. Box 1400
Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
World Wide Web: www.ivpress.com
E-mail:

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from InterVarsity Press.

InterVarsity Press is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, a movement of students and faculty active on campus at hundreds of universities, colleges and schools of nursing in the United States of America, and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. For information about local and regional activities, write Public Relations Dept. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, 6400 Schroeder Rd., P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895, or visit the IVCF website at www.intervarsity.org.

ISBN: 978-0-8308-5929-0

Copyright 2008 by Cheryl Savageau, EdD, and Diane Stortz

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.. Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1966. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

It is strange how there will be days, like today,