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What mission travelers need to know before serving overseas- News about Ebola naturally raises concern, especially for churches preparing to send teams overseas. The good news is that, according to the CDC, the overall risk to travelers from the United States remains low. However, mission leaders should stay informed and include current health information as part of their trip planning. What is happening? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is responding to a

Find a helpful book summary for Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions here.

For decades, churches have used the term short-term mission trip to describe experiences that send teams overseas for one or two weeks to serve, learn, encourage partners, and engage with communities around the world. While these trips can be valuable, many churches and organizations are beginning to ask whether the word mission always accurately reflects the purpose of every trip. Authors such as Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, through their work with The Chalmers Center an

Understanding the Call to Justice and Compassion I came across a couple of lengthy quotes by Father Oscar Romero, a priest from El Salvador who became archbishop of San Salvador in 1977. Tragically, he was assassinated while conducting Mass in 1980. The quotes are directly from the book Moral Leadership for a Divided Age by David P. Gushee and Colin Holtz. They epitomize the mature and transformed leadership that Father Romero exhibited in his later life. He, like many of us,

This exercise is designed to enhance your resilience. Practicing it when you are not under stress will help you remain calm during challenging times. The Tree Exercise Begin by reading Psalm 1. This step is crucial! Now, close your eyes (or fix your gaze on a single point). Imagine you are a tree. What type of tree do you envision yourself as? Picture that tree vividly. In your mind, observe your surroundings. Is your tree standing alone? What does the landscape look like aro

International travel can be an exhilarating adventure, opening up a world of new experiences and cultures. However, to make the most of your journey and ensure a smooth and hassle-free trip, being prepared is key. One essential aspect of international travel preparation is staying informed about the current requirements for vaccinations. Health and safety should be a top priority when exploring new destinations, and different countries often have specific vaccination requirem

A Quick Primer for understanding and following the US State Department's Travel Advisories Find the perfect devotional for your team at www.justkindhumility.org/shop Making the decision to travel internationally to serve others is a multi-faceted process. Having a discernible call or invitation usually precedes the decision. Weighing personal, professional and family obligations factors in, as well as financial responsibilities. Another part of the process that should not be

In 2021, I had the tremendous opportunity to complete a graduate program at Wheaton's Humanitarian Disaster Institute (https://www.wheaton.edu/academics/academic-centers/humanitarian-disaster-institute/ ). During my time there, I met many wonderful friends and colleagues. Pastor Dennis Kilama was among those I was able to learn from, collaborate with, and highly respect. When I came upon an article that he added to the Better Samaritan blog forum, my heart jumped for joy! His

(updated 2026) Best Advice: Don’t overpack Packing can be overwhelming. You want to pack what’s important, but also what is comforting. The downfall for every packing job is the idea of including too many “choices”. Giving yourself several daily choices of shoes, jeans, and jackets can lead to a situation where you will find that you have overpacked. This cannot be stressed enough: pack light and plan to re-wear clothes and shoes. Afterall, this is the way most of the majorit

Ethics is based on well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues(1). Storytelling can happen in many ways, perhaps verbally or visually. It also happens through writing and in media. Therefore, being an ethical storyteller means becoming aware of how we share information about the people we are serving, whether through photographs, writing or video.

Many have fled the nation of Afghanistan, and many have decided to stay or have no other viable choice. Fleeing one’s home country has many challenges such as finding adequate shelter, remaining safe, obtaining provisions for basic needs, adjusting to new culture and language, establishing a viable livelihood. Remaining in Afghanistan presents huge challenges as well- most out of the personal control of individuals. For instance, according to the World Food Programme, confli

I am always impressed by the outlook of Wheaton's Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership (HDL) social media posts and today I found a timely post by Rebekah Thompson who is a Masters student in their HDL program. Her piece convincingly weaves justice and the Gospel into the fabric of biblical justice. Read more of her article from Christianity Today entitled "Social Justice and Biblical Justice are Actually One and the Same" here: When you hear the sentence “justice is only par

Being a part of a humanitarian mission entails much more than just doing good and being kind. It extends further than distributing basic necessities and provisions. The work of humanitarians has structure and accountability. One of these measures of structure and accountability is the Code of Conduct: 10 Core Principles which was jointly prepared by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross. According

In Brené Brown’s famous TED talk of June 2010, which has been viewed 53 million times, she confesses to running into a wall in her vulnerability research. In this talk she relates a session with her therapist where she confides, “Well, I have a vulnerability issue. And I know that vulnerability is the core of shame and fear and our struggle with worthiness, but it appears that it is also the birthplace of joy, of creativity, of belonging, and of love.” (1) I have listened to

Article by Claire Stewart, Senior manager of strategic initiatives at HOPE International, from the Better Samaritan I found this article timely and wise. In this article by Claire Stewart from HOPE International, the differences between needs based assistance and asset-based assistance is discussed. 2 key elements for discerning which to use involved timing and listening. Read more here: https://www.christianitytoday.com/better-samaritan/2021/may/needs-vs-assets-however-you-e

I came across a couple of lengthy quotes by Father Oscar Romero, a priest from El Salvador who became archbishop of San Salvador in 1977 and was assassinated while conducting Mass in 1980. The quotes are directly from the book Moral Leadership for a Divided Age by David P. Gushee and Colin Holtz. The quotes epitomize the mature and transformed leadership that Father Romero exhibited in his later life. He, like many of us, was changed by a life transforming event that opened h

Learning about Refugee and Forced Migration through a class at Wheaton’s Humanitarian and Disaster Institute (Humanitarian and Disaster...

In this season of uncertainty, unrest and division we can feel discouraged or even hopeless. Some of us may experience fear of the unknown or fear of the known. Others find they are experiencing deep sadness over relationships that have hit rocky spots in this contentious time. But, a very common feeling during this time is anger which quickly- too quickly! - finds its way into relationships if we are not careful. As I reflected on this, I was reminded of Ken Sande’s book The

Christians who, by their action or inaction, add to the brokenness of the world, seriously undermine our witness to the gospel of peace.” th

We are able to know God because He graciously reveals himself to us.