Honorably Wounded: Stress Among Christian Workers

By Marjory F. Foyle

Book Overview

As a psychiatrist, medical doctor, and former missionary, Dr. Foyle provides insights and special help for the stress and pressures of full-time Christian service.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0825460239
• ISBN13: 9780825460234
• Release Date: August 2001
• Publisher: Monarch Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.7" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

A Classic

Marjory Foyle, psychiatrist and career missionary, presents an overview of the current missions environment. She cites four major changes from the previous missions milieu: (1) The impact of generational psychology (more relational and more mobile) (2) Changes related to the duration of service (shorter terms) (3) Growing importance of holistic member care worldwide (church and agency accountability) (4) Change in social backgrounds of new personnel (many from troubled families) She also provides a chapter detailing the nature of stress. Three major components involved in stress are described: The event itself, appraisal of the event, and coping methods. The natural reactions to stress, fight or flight, are examined as to whether they are healthy or unhealthy in nature. A discussion of anger as constructive or destructive is also given. What follows those introductory chapters are other ones on topics particularly relevant to the interplay of stress and cross-cultural ministry. The chapter titles are as follows: Dealing with Depression and Discouragement Adjustment and Culture Shock Occupational Stress Interpersonal Relationships Parental and Home-country Stress Stress and Singleness Missionary Marriages Stress and Missionary Children Each of those chapters offers research findings, vignettes from cases illustrative of the respective topic, and practical advice on how to cope in light of that particular stressor. She then concludes the book with two chapters suggesting specific ways clinical and pastoral missionary care providers can best serve missionaries. An overview of selection, assessment, continuing care, and reentry issues are examined. Dr. Foyle is among the premier voices in the development of the emerging missionary member care field. When she speaks others should listen. She has impeccable credentials: career missionary, medical doctor/psychiatrist, PhD in psychology, researcher, practitioner, and student of the Scripture. Her writing is like her speaking: pointed, clear, grounded in experience and research, no nonsense, and practical. I highly recommend this book to any missionary, member care provider, or other interested party. Honourably Wounded is a seminal work in the field of missionary care. It is a classic.