Cheryl Savageau talks with us about the needs and realities of Parents of Missionaries.

ABOUT CHERYL W. SAVAGEAU, EdD, LPC: After an early career as a secondary school teacher Cheryl dedicated her professional life to Christian counseling. For more than 35 years she counseled and taught families, teens, couples, individuals and groups in churches, colleges, private practice and in public agencies located in Ohio, SC, NC, the Philippines, and India. She considers her work with Parents of Missionaries a highlight of her service. Together with POM Diane Stortz, Cheryl co-authored the groundbreaking book, Parents of Missionaries. Today Cheryl volunteers as head of the Wellness Ministry at her church in North Carolina where she worships with her husband, daughter, son-in-law and three granddaughters. Her son, daughter-in-law and three grandsons live in Ohio. Her entire family shares faith in Jesus Christ and cheers for The Ohio State Buckeyes.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE: • Parents of Missionaries: How to Thrive and Stay Connected When Your Children and Grandchildren Serve Cross-Culturally by Cheryl Savageau, Diane Stortz • Tip Sheets for Parents of Missionaries by Diane Stortz and Cheryl Savageau (PDF file)

• Parents of Global Workers - POMs (Facebook group)

• ABWE: Parents of Missionaries Ministry

Ericka Lopez-Harris gives a Biblical and practical understanding of lament in the life of a global worker. ABOUT ERICKA LOPEZ-HARRIS: Ericka Lopez-Harris has been serving in cross-cultural ministries since 1992. In 2010, she joined Oasis Rest International (formally known as Life Impact Ministries) with a desire to further the Gospel by strengthening global Workers. Ericka Lopez-Harris also facilitates grief workshops for ministry leaders primarily living cross culturally. Providing coaching and caregiving retreats for countless leaders, she is honored that many find her “easy to talk to” including strangers in the grocery line. Her lamenting poem, "My Soul's Winter" received the “Author’s Pick” award and is published in Poetry in Winter. She studied Psychology at California State University Long Beach. Her expansive learning of loss and life transitions occurred while living in 12 different countries. Most recently, she, her hubby and two active sons lived in Costa Rica for eight years. Currently living in Bend, Oregon, she enjoys walking near the Deschutes River in the summer and being fireside with a good biography in the winter. Ericka Lopez-Harris gives a Biblical and practical understanding of lament in the life of a global worker. ABOUT ERICKA LOPEZ-HARRIS: Ericka Lopez-Harris has been serving in cross-cultural ministries since 1992. In 2010, she joined Oasis Rest International (formally known as Life Impact Ministries) with a desire to further the Gospel by strengthening global Workers. Ericka Lopez-Harris also facilitates grief workshops for ministry leaders primarily living cross culturally. Providing coaching and caregiving retreats for countless leaders, she is honored that many find her “easy to talk to” including strangers in the grocery line. Her lamenting poem, "My Soul's Winter" received the “Author’s Pick” award and is published in "Poetry in Winter". She studied Psychology at California State University Long Beach. Her expansive learning of loss and life transitions occurred while living in 12 different countries. Most recently, she, her hubby and two active sons lived in Costa Rica for eight years. Currently living in Bend, Oregon, she enjoys walking near the Deschutes River in the summer and being fireside with a good biography in the winter. Ericka is also nearing the publishing phase of a resource for teens/young adults TCKs. "Remembering: A creative memory journal about a special person in your life." This journal will use art, story, poems, nature and songs to create a very personal and treasured collection of memories. Find more information about her work at OasisRest.org ADDITIONAL RESOURCE: • Poetry in Winter by Christine Owens

• No More Faking Fine: Ending the Pretending by Esther Fleece Allen • Ericka will also be co-facilitating a 5-month cohort for ministry leaders who are actively processing loss(es), meeting virtually starting February 2024. “Journey through Grief: A Cohort for Leaders”

Link to Flyer | Link to Registration

Dr. Herb Lamp unpacks the importance of holistic self-care.

ABOUT DR. HERB LAMP:

Dr. Herb and Debbie Lamp are Midwesterners at heart, even though they have lived for much of their adult lives in Europe—Serbia, Austria and Germany. Presently, the Lamps serve with Barnabas International and pastor the global workforce of mission personnel through word, prayer, counsel, and encouragement.

Herb holds a doctorate in spiritual formation from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is the author of Journey With Me: Spiritual Formation for Global Workers (Wm. Carey Publishing, 2021) and co-author with Debbie of The Prodigal: A Spiritual Retreat (Snowfall Press, 2023). ADDITIONAL RESOURCE: • Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us (Transforming Resources) by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun • Journey With Me: Spiritual Formation for Global Workers by Herbert F. Lamp Jr. • Soulful Spirituality: Becoming Fully Alive and Deeply Human by David G. Benner PhD. (Many of his books are helpful.) • Sacred Pathways: Nine Ways to Connect with God by Gary Thomas