About Us
No. Missionaries often describe the process as clarifying and therapeutic, but it is not considered counseling or therapy.
It is best conducted in person as soon as possible after the incident, ideally within 24–72 hours.
Our mission agency, Gospel Furthering Fellowship, has funds set aside to provide in-person Critical Incident Stress Management Debriefings for missionaries on short notice—at no cost to the missionary, their sending church, or their sending agency. Availability depends on our ministry commitments at the time of the request and on travel logistics.
Yes, we are honored to serve like-minded missionaries.
At each return to the United States following a term of service on the mission field, including at retirement. We suggest that the missionary be debriefed 2-3 months after they return. This allows for immediate needs and concerns to have been met.
A critical incident is a sudden and unexpected event in the life of a missionary that has the potential to overwhelm their normal emotional, psychological, or spiritual coping abilities. It is something beyond the usual experiences of missionary life—leaving a person feeling unprepared or unable to manage. The effect of the incident may be physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual.
The cost for an individual/couple debriefing is the missionary’s travel, meals, and lodging if they are needed (depending upon the location). The cost for a group debriefing is for travel to the debriefing location (TN or PA), accommodations, and for the meals during the debriefing. There is no
financial benefit to any individuals or organization for the M.E.N.D. ministry.
Yes. We ask missionaries to reach
out to their sending church for help with the cost before requesting a scholarship from us.
Yes. We use only first names. Those who attend can use a fictitious first name if they choose. We do not discuss sending agencies, sending churches, or fields of service.
No, any talk is entirely voluntary. We respect a missionary’s privacy and confidentiality. We will not say anything publicly or privately that will or could identify a missionary.
We will only violate a missionary's confidentiality if we come to know that they are a danger to themselves, a danger to others, have broken the laws of their passport or host country, or if their conduct would jeopardize the qualifications set by their home church and sending agency. If any of these come to be known we will work to assist the missionary in informing their sending pastor of the situation and to work through the issue with them if requested to do so.
• A natural disaster in the host country
• A sudden, severe illness or injury to a spouse or child
• The kidnapping of a family member or ministry colleague
• A break-in, robbery, or physical/sexual assault
• The sudden betrayal of a trusted ministry leader, jeopardizing ministry or residency in the host country
• The unexpected death, illness, or injury of a family member in the passport country
Lives Changed
“I went into the debrief not knowing what to expect.”
“It was very helpful to decompress and untangle things in our minds.”
– Faithful Missionary
