michele's news 9/14

8/11/2019 Michele's News 9/14

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SEPTEMBER M K , M I S S I O N A R Y A N D T H I R D - C U L T U R E A D V O C A T E 2014

Tere is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.M. Angelou

Tere are numerous ways of describing this ministry. Consulting. Teaching. Mentoring. Creating. But afer a

summer lled with consultations, seminars and MK retreats, Im tempted to dene this work as story-

centeredeliciting stories, unraveling them, reframing them and watching God redeem them.

I wish I could share the stories I hear with you.Teyre steeped in confusion, celebration, doubt and faith. On

one day last week, the stories that landed in my inbox dealt with gambling addiction, God's existence, sexual

sin, choosing a college, bulimia, friend-making, traumatic memories and how to nd a counselor who will

work via Skype. Each one of them was a fragile plea for understanding and help.

I dont think its a coincidence that my next speaking event, near Vancouver (Oct. 3-5), is titled StoriesRedeemed. Perhaps especially in the MK world, stories are the common thread that links us to each other.

(See important medical update on page three.)

Stories Redeemed

MICHLES NEWS

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SUMMER STORIES

Tis summers retreats and seminars were both thrilling and sobering

thrilling because we got to witness learning and growth, and sobering as

participants began to reveal their untold stories of family secrets, hidden

pain, physical challenges and spiritual ambivalence.

Te end result looked a lot like healing. Heres how the MKs said it:

We started out with leaders saying, We have to trust each other. We

need to be transparent. I learned this week that its really important.

Getting to be with other MKs who just get it. Tere is so much that

doesnt need to be explained.

I loved hearing about the experiences and hardships of other MKs, and

how they relate to mine.

MK staffwho not only know what theyre teaching, but have lived

through it and are willing to share their stories.

At the beginning of this week, I felt really alone about my difficulties and

my doubts, but I realized that if you talk about it, you can get through it..

UNFINISHED STORIES

Stories are mobile and ever-evolvingand God is the author of

redemptive narratives. Pray for MKs who struggle with the complexity

of their lives, that their pain and their story will indeed be redeemed.

Pray also for missionary parents, that those who heard hard truths in

the sessions I led this summer will heed the warnings and prioritize their

childrens wellbeing as they head overseas to serve God.

Be shepherds of Gods flock that is under your care, watching over them not because youmust, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be. I Peter 5:2

IN CASE YOUMISSED THESE!

A few articles on significant

topics. To view them, go to:

www.michelephoenix.com

Then click blog and scroll

down to the titles listed below.

MKs AND RELATIONSHIPS

Why we do things differently.

PORN AND THE ANTI-

TRAFFICKING GENERATION

Pointing out the dissonance.

THE SINGLES PALETTEAssumptions about singleness.


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michele's news 9/14

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