Cross-cultural ministry is full of curveballs. Visa application red tape, language barriers, theological disagreements, cultural mishaps—you never know what you’re going to get on an average Tuesday afternoon. No one knows this better than Matt and Hannah.
Matt and Hannah served on a Frontiers team among an unreached people group for many years; but before going to the field, they completed pre-field training with Global Frontier Missions (GFM).
GFM’s Missionary Training School is a US-based program that focuses on three main categories of field worker growth: head (knowledge), heart (character), and hands (skill). These are developed through classroom lectures, one-on-one mentorship, and local outreach among refugees and international students. Matt and Hannah both loved this holistic approach to training—especially when it came to team life.
Personal conflict with team members is often the key reason missionaries report coming off the field. Pre-field training in emotional health and conflict resolution is essential. Hannah says GFM gave them “a glimpse into being in community and working with other people towards a common goal.” She also notes how important it is for missionaries to have the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them before heading overseas, where the stakes are usually much higher.
Matt says his skill building extended into the classroom section of the program, where they focused on understanding diverse theological positions. Participants read books from opposing perspectives on issues such as spiritual gifts or baptism and were then encouraged to examine each perspective against Scripture. This exercise opened his eyes to the validity of differing stances and the need for grace in delicate conversations—a valuable tool to have in every area of life!
Frontiers is committed to being grace oriented and puts a high value on this kind of training. We welcome believers from a variety of Christian theological backgrounds to serve with us, trusting that the Gospel is essential, and all other doctrines can be worked out in grace and love.
After completing their training with GFM, Matt and Hannah headed to South Asia, serving for seven years in a country they loved and felt called to.
Now that they have returned to the States, Matt and Hannah work on the other side of missions: sending. They both serve at Frontiers as Field Prep Coaches, which is an important role dedicated to preparing potential goers for overseas work. They interview candidates, prepare them for Frontiers-specific training, help determine what further development is needed, and walk with them all the way until launch. It’s a vital role at Frontiers, and one that requires much wisdom and grace.
Even though Matt and Hannah always knew GFM helped prepare them for the field, they appreciate it even more now that they’re on the other side of training. It’s “way more important than I thought. The things [candidates] are given to do are essential for longevity and team life,” says Matt.
Frontiers loves working closely with training partners to ensure every worker we send is well equipped for cross-cultural life. It’s impossible to predict everything that will happen on the field, but through proper training, workers can be prepared to respond well to the curveballs that come.
We are thankful for our training partnership with GFM, and all the ways it helps us send candidates who are prepared to respond well in changing environments. Find out more about GFM’s Missionary Training School here.
