Sue Eenigenburg is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Lancaster Bible College and Graduate School. She has been in cross-cultural ministry since 1986 and is currently Director of Women's Ministry for Christar. Sue 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: Women Surviving the Great Commission.
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
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. The authors' description of expectations starts in the
first chapter by examining women's responses to the Great
Commission. Other chapters focus on expectations women have of
themselves, their sending churches, agencies, co-workers, host
cultures, and even God. Combined with the challenges of
cross-cultural life and work, unmet expectations often lead to
emotional, spiritual, and physical fatigue. If women do not
seriously examine their expectations before serving
cross-culturally, they may become candidates for burnout. Several
chapters focus on Bliss' journey as a demonstration of how her
unrealistic expectations led to burnout and how God transformed her
in the midst of difficulty. Why is such a book necessary? According
to the authors' survey of over three hundred female respondents
from a range of mission agencies, eighty percent stated they had
come close to burnout. This alarming statistic impacted both single
and married women engaged in traditional or tentmaking types of
ministry. All of the respondents conceded to feeling emotional and
physical fatigue due to unrealistic expectations in the field (p.
171). One area of expectation mentioned by over fifty percent of
the respondents was building relationships with nationals (p. 129).
For example, one woman wondered about her friends' motives in
building their relationship: "I thought nationals would desire my
friendship for who I was, not what I could give to them monetarily"
(p 129). The authors make the point that workers need to go "as
learners, not only of the culture and language, but also in areas
such as how to build relationships" (p. 128). In the final
chapters, Eenigenburg and Bliss explore symptoms, possible causes,
and solutions of burnout in order to help avoid it altogether. They
provide insight in developing realistic expectations and
maintaining a strong faith in God's purposes. Two things they
suggest are becoming aware of symptoms and causes of burnout and
developing a personal plan to continue in ministry while
proactively working to avoid burnout (p. 187). Mission agencies,
church workers, lay persons, and mentors will find the guidelines
in this book helpful as they seek to support others in
cross-cultural ministry. In reading this work, one realizes the
lack of simple solutions. In spite of the complexities, the authors
offer a fresh and authentic approach to the issues discussed in
this book. This work will be a helpful resource for women seeking
to live by faith and becoming whole persons as they participate in
the Great Commission worldwide. Cheri Pierson, Assistant Professor,
Intercultural Studies /TESOL, Wheaton College
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