Sacred Siblings: Valuing One Another for the Great Commission

by Sue Eenigenburg, Suzy Grumelot

In Sacred Siblings: Valuing One Another for the Great Commission we learn about how teams come together with varying expectations of what team life should be. The authors offer ideas and positive practices of valuing one another based on a survey from 289 missionaries, representing 12 mission agencies. These practices not only build unity and understanding of each other, but enable greater effectiveness in ministry.
Read this and have your agency make moves to be better prepared for the increasingly single next generation of field workers and take action for team effectiveness now.

This book:

• Highlights 16 differences between the perspectives of married and single people.
• Offers helpful tools to address the challenges and enhance strengths.
• Asks applicational questions that would initiate dialogue among invested parties.
• Addresses the necessity of releasing physical family members to follow God’s leading.
• Points out differences in organizational policies and practices based upon marital status.

Genres: Religion

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2019

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book as research for the editorial I’m writing for “Japan Harvest,” a magazine for and by missionaries. Our incoming issue is themed “Singleness” and two missionaries recommended someone write a review on this book. Instead I’ve read it and will recommend it in my editorial, to our 1,000+ readers. Such valuable content. I hope and pray that mission leaders will take this and start many necessary conversations on these topics.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d put this on my list of “must read” books for cross-cultural workers, if only for the conversations it would hopefully start.

Sue (a married long-term worker) and Suzy (a single long-term worker) partner up to survey 289 men and women about their experiences on ministry teams overseas. Through their research, they present statistically significant differences between how single and married people experience things like training, communication, relationships, and expectations. They also share insightful quotes and stories as they challenge people to treat one another as “sacred siblings” — brothers and sisters in Christ who are seeking to love, honor, and understand one another (regardless of gender or marital status).

A few examples: More married people than single people said “I have a way to process information after team meetings” and “there is good communication between married and single people on my team.” More single people than married people said “I thought my team would be like a family, but it does not provide the community I need” and “I am seen as a perceived threat to the marriages of couples on my team.”

[Angela Condie · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent discussion of the issues in teams overseas. Highly recommended.

[Scout · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!! I’m recommending this to everyone I know! I love that this book had a large survey with voices from men and women, single and married, and I learned a lot from the multiple perspectives.

[Hannah of the Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not that great of a book. But a very important and needed topic.

[Kathleen Moy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing and greatly respecting both of the authors and being passionate about the subject, I’ll start by acknowledging my inevitable bias! But, here goes-

In short, this is a wonderful resource and a valuable read, especially for anyone serving in ministry. Whether single or married, it can only help one grow in awareness and sensitivity to others and further open up streams of communication.

In the book, Eeiningburg and Grumelot present a unique and immensely practical workbook on the dynamic between singles and married couples on teams. The structure is largely built around a widely distributed survey, approaching subjects like leadership dynamics, team communication and expectations, work life balance, and more. The authors did an excellent job of weaving together the data, personal stories of theirs and others, and providing practical application steps.

This may be a personal preference more than anything, but the reason I give it 4/5 stars is I feel more could have been done to vision cast for the impact having married and single adults standing shoulder to shoulder, united in purpose can have in ministry. But I write that knowing that the aim of the book was geared more towards the practical aspects. In short, I would highly, highly recommend this resource!