Expectations and Burnout

Missionary women have high expectations when they respond to God’s call; of themselves, their mission agencies, host cultures, churches, co-workers, and even of God. These expectations are often times impossible to fulfill and can lead to mental and physical exhaustion. Eighty percent of missionary women feel they have come close to burnout, whether they were married or single, traditional or tent making, new or experienced.

In Expectations and Burnout: Women Surviving the Great Commission, Sue provides research and surveys from the field while Robynn lends her own personal experiences to demonstrate how burnout can happen and how God can bring life from ashes. Join them as they explore how to develop realistic expectations and yet maintain faith in our sovereign God who continues to accomplish the impossible.

Sue Eenigenburg and Robynn Bliss’ new book, Expectations and Burnout: Women Surviving the Great Commission, is a unique resource that applies to women preparing for cross-cultural ministry or for those who have long-term experience. The combination of sound research and personal reflection assists women engaged in cross-cultural ministry in understanding the relationship between unrealistic expectations and burnout. The sources of these expectations are discussed in-depth, but the book also provides a balanced perspective of God’s grace in the midst of severe difficulty.
— Cheri Pierson, Assistant Professor, Intercultural Studies /TESOL, Wheaton College
Solid in its research and conclusions, profoundly deep in its personal reflection, Expectations and Burnout: Women Surviving the Great Commission is an extremely valuable resource for those who are preparing to go or already engaged in long-term cross-cultural ministry. While filled with beneficial insight I am most encouraged by the emphasis on God’s grace and continuing transforming work through the pain of burnout!
— Dr. Steve Coffey, International Director, Christar

Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter One: The Exploration Begins: A Study of Expectations and Burnout
Survivor Tip #1: Remember you are called, chosen, and clay
Chapter Two: Robynn: A Survivor’s Story
Survivor Tip # 2: Make time to meditate
Chapter Three: The Exploration Continues: Expectations of Herself and Her Roles
Survivor Tip #3: Release expectations
Chapter Four: The Exploration Continues: Expectations and Her Sending Agency
Survivor Tip # 4: Endure with glorious power
Chapter Five: The Exploration Continues: Expectations and the Sending Church
Survivor Tip #5: Recognize the love God has for His Bride
Chapter Six: The Exploration Continues: Expectations and Co-workers
Survivor Tip # 6: Recognize the spiritual warfare
Chapter Seven: The Exploration Continues: Expectations of and for Her Host Culture
Survivor Tip #7: Heaven is our home
Chapter Eight: The Exploration Continues: Expectations and God
Survivor Tip #8: Leave room for God
Chapter Nine: The Exploration Continues: When God Doesn’t Meet Her Expectations
Survivor Tip #9: Trust God through the “if onlys”
Chapter Ten: Exploring Burnout Symptoms and Causes
Survivor Tip # 10: Count your “mosquito bites”
Chapter Eleven: Exploring Solutions: Dealing With Expectations to Avoid Burnout
Survivor Tip # 11: Pray for maximum blessing even when you have minimum energy
Chapter Twelve: Robynn’s Continuing Story and Some of our Conclusions

Appendix A: Sample Survey
Bibliography

Authors

Sue Eenigenburg

Sue Eenigenburg
Sue Eenigenburg has been in cross-cultural ministry since 1986 and lived on four different continents. She is married to Don. Their clan includes four children, their spouses, and twelve grandchildren. She is the author of Screams in the Desert and More Screams, Different Deserts. Sue co-authored Expectations and Burnout, Sacred Siblings, and Grit to Stay Grace to Go. Sue likes playing word games, reading mysteries, and eating chocolate.

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Robynn Bliss

Robynn Bliss
Robyn Bliss grew up in Pakistan and returned to North America to attend Briercrest Bible College. She and her husband Lowell ministered over 13 years in South Asia with Christar. Together they served in leadership, helped start an international fellowship, were on a church planting team, launched a Christian Ashram, and began a language-learning program. Robynn and her family returned to North America exhausted, but God in His tender grace restored and healed. Burnout was God's tool in revamping her expectations of who He meant her to be all along.

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Pages: 258
Publisher: William Carey Publishing
William Carey Publishing
Binding: Paperback
Publish Year: 2010
ISBN: 9780878085231
Vendor: William Carey Library