Expectations And Burnout: Women Surviving the Great Commission

by Sue Eenigenburg, Robynn Bliss

Missionary women have high expectations when they respond to God's call; of themselves, their mission agencies, host cultures, churches, co-workers, and even of God. These expectations are often times impossible to fulfill and can lead to mental and physical exhaustion. Eighty percent of missionary women feel they have come close to burnout, whether they were married or single, traditional or tent making, new or experienced. In Expectations and Women Surviving the Great Commission, Sue provides research and surveys from the field while Robynn lends her own personal experiences to demonstrate how burnout can happen and how God can bring life from ashes. Join them as they explore how to develop realistic expectations and yet maintain faith in our sovereign God who continues to accomplish the impossible.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Christian Living, Faith

258 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Amanda Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve read on missionary expectations and burn out. It might become a major recommendation that I make for people who want to go or who are new to the field. It was practical, biblically informed, and realistic.

[Claire Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, what a book. The ending (which I just now finished) left me in some good tears. The Great Commission is hard and taxing and we must count the cost before jumping into pursuing it, especially cross-culturally. This book was a lovely deep, honest, thoughtful way to count part of that cost, namely, the expectations it brings and often wrecks of oneself, God, and others. I highly recommend for any missionary woman or husband looking to go out on the mission field. I say husband as well because I think there is much here for them to understand the struggles their wife may face.

[Kayla Peker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt this book accomplished what it set out to do. This book left me feeling known, convicted, and encouraged.

“It is our prayer that as a result of this book God would help … women to recognize any unrealistic expectations they have of themselves and to align their expectations, braced for reality, while walking by faith in God” (227).

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

She's got some good things to say, and Robynn's addition really enhances the book. But she's often super-redundant. For the subject and her findings as well as a few practical ways to recognize expectations I'd give the book a 3.5. For the writing style and layout (redundancy and lots of circling around to things), I'd give it a 2.

[Kristi Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book that I have recommended many times!!

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredible book. every woman that is moving abroad should read (whether *specifically* for the great commission or just for working abroad as a believer. super insightful and backed by research. you should read it before you move abroad but also during your time and after! The authors shared a lot about their own experiences and put words to some of the real difficulties and perceived expectations (some that we just put on ourselves but no one else has for us!) as well as navigating some of the legit expectations people have for you when you move abroad and how to navigate that. I also really appreciated how much they talked about the importance of sharing the real experiences of being on the field because so many who have desires to work internationally have only heard a lot of the exciting parts of it, but most of life abroad is not glamorous. I think a lot of people see international workers on this pedestal, but this book does a good job at speaking into that and reminding people that international workers are still just normal people. All in all I really appreciated the book and wished I would have read it before moving abroad!

[Mdmaurer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource for mission agencies, member care, sending churches, and missionaries. Sue uses the research from her doctoral work linking expectations and burnout. While Robynn shares from her own experience of burnout on the field. Together they offer hope and encouragement for the global workers, but also challenges them to look at their own expectations they have, perceive others have and even the ones that others have that are real. Highly recommend.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ladies that wrote this did their research! A need on bookshelf if helping those in cross-cultural ministry

[Rebecca Adelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You must remember the worthiness of the Pearl of Great Price… There are things I love about my passport country: hot running water, tortilla chips, cheese whiz, coffee crisp chocolate bars, Tim Horton's donuts - and yet I love the Pearl more, much more. There's no comparison. I will sacrifice anything to acquire it. Writing this now, it strikes me that this willingness to sacrifice has to persist. There are things I love about Asia. Will I sacrifice those to acquire the Pearl of Great Price who is here, patiently waiting for me to start looking?”

The Pearl is worthy.

[Hannah Rudolph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worthwhile

This book had many helpful points to make and suggestions for how to help yourself have realistic expectations as you work in ministry especially cross-culturally. Having personally experienced burnout, I know it is real, and I feel that I learned things in this book which are helping and will help me in the future.

One drawback of the book is that the Kindle version has some bugs. Repeatedly, a header section which was supposed to be somewhere else was in the middle of a paragraph on the wrong page. It wasn’t a big deal in that I could easily read and see there was a format issue, but it was still somewhat annoying. There were several other glitches like that; I’m guessing something went haywire in the process of turning the book into a Kindle book. Another thing was that (I’m assuming since it was done as a doctoral thesis) the author repeatedly put in the name and year of books or authors she was quoting. I found this cumbersome. Otherwise, I would recommend it.

[Nikaley Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this book is an excellent read for any Christian woman living oversees, no matter what her job is there. We come with expectations, we develop new ones and alter old ones. This book addressed so many of the things I'd personally experienced or seen other women experience. I think it's one to read as you first come out and then revisit on a regular basis. I will highly recommend it to all!

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful book full of honesty, truth, and practical insights whether you are new to missions or if you have served overseas for a long time and want to avoid burnout. Rings true to my experience with trying to avoid the pitfalls of burnout.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good! Helpful to process overseas living and expectations, very interesting to hear Bliss' story in Central Asia. Accurate expectations for living overseas is needed, not inflated stories of salvation, etc

[Barbara]

Excellent insight into the life of female missionaries. Non Deprecating, honest and written with much self examination. Practical solutions and considerations offered. A must read for any female going to the mission field

[Candy Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent for any woman in ministry!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot of truth here that made me examine my own expectations and disappointments, and the need to cling to God. --great book after a couple years away from home.

[Amy Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the spring book club choice for spring 2015 -- it is my go-to book on expectations.

[Anna Brotherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book - could be improved by adding suggestions on how to avoid burnout once you're heading there...

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A necessary read for any woman on the mission field.

[Cecily Paterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very real and helpful look at burnout.

Some genuine gems here. Definitely worth the read. Robyn's part especially is intense but helpful. I thought it was a good read.

[Charles U. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good insight. Even though this book was written specifically to women, I also learned allot. We all have expectations and some are more reasonable than others. I found my self relating to much of what was being explained, as I am currently serving in Africa and sensing burnout close to the end of a very stressful year of ministry, especially dealing with cross cultural issues, finances and other Christian workers. I learned that I need lots of prayer, personal support and rest. problem is those are not always readily available. in any case recommend this book to Christian cross cultural workers.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skimmed through this book today. Well worth purchasing. It has a good outline, clear handles to grasp ideas, and helpful use of stories.