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Available Articles on Attrition

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Author: DeValve, J.
Title: Mentoring new missionaries: A neglected ministry.
Evangelical Missions Quarterly,  Vol. 44, pp. 24-29.   2008
Summary:  This article details the essential components of missionary mentors and tells what those mentors do as they come alongside newcomers to the field.
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Author: Malone, K.
Title: The importance of "missionary fit": Fleshing out calling and giftedness.
Evangelical Missions Quarterly,  Vol. 44, pp. 14-20.   2008
Summary:  This article promotes people serving on the basis of their giftedness promoting more satisfaction, less frustration, greater church growth, and more of an impact on those served.
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Author: Webb, K. E.
Title: Coaching for on-field development.
Evangelical Missions Quarterly,  Vol. 44, pp. 284-291.   2008
Summary:  This article proposes the use of coaching as the best way to develop new leadership while people are serving on the field.
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Author: Cousineau, A. E.
Title: The 16PF and Marital Satisfaction Inventory as predictors of missionary job success.
Journal of Psychology and Theology,  Vol. 35, pp.317-327.   2007
Summary:  This research was conducted on 158 missionaries between 1982 and 2002 to find empirical evidence that assessments before serving actually predicted how well people functioned as missionaries.
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Author: Sheffield, D.
Title: Assessing intercultural sensitivity in mission candidates and personnel.
Evangelical Missions Quarterly,  Vol. 43, pp. 22-28.   2007
Summary:  This article calls for a change from criterion-based models listing the qualities we want in missionaries to a developmental model which asses qualities with an emphasis on movement toward intercultural sensitivity.
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Author: Trimble, D. E.
Title: Organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and turnover intention of missionaries.
Journal of Psychology and Theology,  Vol. 34, pp. 349-360.   2006
Summary:  This article reports a study surveying 468 missionaries and testing three models relating job satisfaction and affective organizational commitment to turnover intention using structural equation modeling.
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Author: Haile, D.
Title: Where are we going in MK education?
Evangelical Missions Quarterly,  Vol. 42, pp. 462-470.   2006
Summary:  This article reminds us that huge changes are taking place in missions and MK schools around the world. It specifically considers four challenges in education and five possible routes to take to meet these challenges.
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Author: Barnett, K. L.
Title: Psychological and spiritual predictors of domains of functioning and effectiveness of short-term missionaries.
Journal of Psychology and Theology.  Vol. 33, pp. 27-40..   2005
Summary:  This article reports a study investigating how psychopathology, current object relations, and spiritual development relate to short-term missionary performance and psychological distress. Participants were 40 undergraduates ages 18-27 serving a 6-18-week summer internship.
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Author: Blocher, D.
Title: Good agency practices; Lessons from ReMAP II.
Evangelical Missions Quarterly,  Vol. 41, pp. 228-237.   2005
Summary:  This article is a summary of the results of a WEA study of 600 agencies with nearly 40,000 long-term missionaries. It reveals the agency cultures, policies and practices that promote missionary retention.
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Author: Andrews, L. A.
Title: The Family in mission: Understanding and caring for those who serve
   Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   2004
Summary:  This book is the final product of 15 years of study of missionary kids and missionary families by the MK-CART/CORE group and supported by several mission agencies. This report includes material from 23 contributors.
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Author: Andrews, L. A.
Title: "The call" to ministry.
The Family in mission: Understanding and caring for those who serve (pp. 33-44).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   2004
Summary:  A sense of Gods call is a source of strength, perseverance, and satisfaction. This chapter considers the theological dimensions, definition, and features of the call as well as things that masquerade as the call.
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Author: Swanson, B.
Title: Families and missions.
The Family in mission: Understanding and caring for those who serve (pp. 23-32).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   2004
Summary:  This chapter discusses how families and mission life enhance each other and complicate each other, and then calls for further study of both.
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Author: Campbell, M.
Title: Making adjustments favorably.
Frontline women: Negotiating crosscultural issues in ministry (pp. 31-55).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   2003
Summary:  A chapter considering the special needs of women as they adapt to the host culture as well as suggestions for meeting those needs.
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Author: Silzer, S. T.
Title: Combating chronic stress by restoring God's image.
Frontline women: Negotiating crosscultural issues in ministry (pp. 165-176).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   2003
Summary:  An autobiographical case study exploring the relationship between stress and chronic illness, specifically the development of her cancer.
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Author: Patterson, F.
Title: Missionary trauma on the front lines: Bridging the gap between Christian counseling and global missions.
Christian Counseling Today.  11, No. 3, pp. 18-22.   2003
Summary:  An article consisting of a missionary's description of a traumatic experience and a psychologist's response to what was done (really not done) and what can and should be done.
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Author: Kraft, M. G.
Title: Frontline women.
   Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   2003
Summary:  A book dealing with a broad spectrum of women's issues in missions, this book is filled with positive, practical suggestions for everyone in missions.
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Author: Powell, J.
Title: Enhancing Missionary Vitality: Mental Health professions Serving Global Mission.
   Palmer Lake, CO, Mission Training International.   2002
Summary:  A comprehensive, 500-page book about member care of primarily North American missionaries consisting of 56 Chapters gathered into 9 parts with from 1 to 12 chapters in each of the parts. This is the most valuable resource on North American member care available at the beginning of the 21st century.
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Author: Rosik, C. H.
Title: The why and how of restorative care.
Enhancing missionary vitality: Mental health professions serving global mission (pp. 373-379).  Palmer Lake, CO: Mission Training International.   2002
Summary:  This chapter presents a continuum of potions for restorative member care from furlough consultation to residential care. It also describes the missionary restoration program at Link Care.
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Author: Hicks, R.
Title: Doing member care in Red zones: Examples from the Middle East.
Doing member care well: Perspectives and practices from around the world (pp. 193-206).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   2002
Summary:  This chapter looks at the warning signs of Red-zone stress, offers suggestions for persons living in Red zones, and provides guidelines for administrators and leaders to help their Red-zone personnel.
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Author: Lindquist, B.
Title: Member care in the service of missions: What is in the driver's seat?
Enhancing missionary vitality: Mental health professions serving global mission (pp. 33-40).  Palmer Lake, CO: Mission Training International.   2002
Summary:  This chapter raises a variety of thought-provoking questions about member care issues which everyone involved in member care should consider.
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Author: Wickstrom, D. L.
Title: Choosing the right people: Factors to consider in pre-field assessment.
Enhancing missionary vitality: Mental health professions serving global mission (pp. 219-225).  Palmer Lake, CO: Mission Training International.   2002
Summary:  This chapter gives a brief history, assessment criteria, a rationale for psychological tests, benefits of well-done professional evaluations, and pitfalls which can cause assessments to be misleading and potentially harmful.
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Author: Williams, K.
Title: Training missionaries in how to relate well: Pay a little now or a lot later.
Enhancing missionary vitality: Mental health professions serving global mission (pp. 245-252).  Palmer Lake, CO: Mission Training International.   2002
Summary:  This chapter describes the Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills workshop offered for ten years by ITP. Good interpersonal skills are critical to missionary effectiveness and longevity.
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Author: Donovan, K.
Title: Reinventing missionary commitment.
Doing member care well: Perspectives and practices from around the world (pp. 295-307).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   2002
Summary:  A chapter suggesting that for Generation X to make the rich contribution to missions which its members are capable "Systems Thinking" within mission agencies could become the means of making the necessary commitment.
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Author: Swanson, B.
Title: A mindset and department for member care.
Doing member care well: Perspectives and practices from around the world (pp. 435-444).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   2002
Summary:  A chapter with the thesis that it is more important to have a member care attitude (mindset) permeating the organization than to have a member care department.
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Author: O'Donnell, K.
Title: Doing Member Care Well :Perspectives and Practices from Around the World.
   Pasadena, CA, William Carey Library.   2002
Summary:  A comprehensive, 566-page book about member care around the world consisting of 50 Chapters gathered into 3 parts with 5 sections in each of the last two parts . This is the most valuable resource on world-wide member care available at the beginning of the 21st century.
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Author: Jones, G.
Title: Career development for mission personnel.
Doing member care well: Perspectives and practices from around the world (pp.369-375).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   2002
Summary:  This chapter shows how a good job fit, serving with one's gifts/strengths, ongoing training, and willingness to sacrifice all blend together to form resilient, effective, and satisfied mission personnel.
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Author: Van Ochs, B.
Title: 10 Challenges that may make going home look attractive: Some of them are real doozies!
Evangelical Missions Quarterly,  37, 466-471.   2001
Summary:  An article giving 10 factors that may contribute to missionary attrition.
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Author: Pirolo, N.
Title: The reentry team: Caring for your returning missionaries.
   San Diego, CA: Emmaus Road International   2000
Summary:  A book written for the local church about reentry containing many stories written anonymously by missionaries each analyzed relative to 9 factors relative to length of time for reentry, 9 areas of life experience, 5 reentry behavior patterns, 6 areas in which missionaries need care, and 5 scriptural-based steps to full integration. Excellent for missionaries as well as local church mission committees.
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Author: Roembke, L.
Title: Building Credible Multicultural Teams.
   Pasadena, CA, William Carey Library.   2000
Summary:  A well-written book anchored in theology, anthropology, and empirical research, a book which is not only theoretical but practical as well. Useful to anyone working on a multicultural team.
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Author: Pascoe, R.
Title: Homeward Bound: A Spouse's Guide to Repatriation,
   Vancouver, BC, Canada: Expatriate Press.   2000
Summary:  A book about re-entry written for spouses (primarily women) of ones who have lived and worked overseas. It is written both from the head and from the heart.
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Author: O'Donnell, K.
Title: Developing member care affiliations: Personal reflections and community psychology contributions.
Journal of Psychology and Theology.  27, 119-129.   1999
Summary:  An article summarizing the state of RIMAs (Regional Interagency Member-care Affiliations), including the characteristics of RIMAs and a dozen examples.
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Author: Schubert, E.
Title: A suggested prefield process for missionary candidates.
Journal of Psychology and Theology.  27, 87-97.   1999
Summary:  An article giving a suggested steps missionary candidates should proceed through in selection, going from less expensive to more expensive, so that a mission organizations resources can be maximally utilized. The appendices are particularly useful.
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Author: Jensma, J.
Title: Critical incident intervention with missionaries: A comprehensive approach.
Journal of Psychology and Theology.  27, 130-138.   1999
Summary:  An article calling for using a combination of CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) in the treatment of traumatized missionaries.
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Author: Taylor, W. D.
Title: Introduction: Examining the iceberg called attrition.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 3-14).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter introducing the book the author edited. This chapter gives an excellent overview of the problem of attrition along with the author's personal observations.
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Author: Davies, S.
Title: Attrition in the United Kingdom.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 155-159).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A brief chapter on the attrition rates in the United Kingdom. Much of it is based on the cultural differences between boosters and busters.
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Author: Limpic, T.
Title: Brazilian missionaries: How long are they staying?
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 143-154).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter looking at attrition in the Brazilian missionary force. Many of the statistics come from mission administrator's memories rather than from recorded data.
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Author: Moon, S. S.
Title: Missionary attrition in Korea: Opinions of agency executives.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 129-142).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter looking at missionary attrition in Korea in light of the growing movement and increasing attrition, along with suggestions for decreasing attrition in the Korean mission force.
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Author: Blocher, D.
Title: Further findings in the research data.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 105-125).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter looking at the results of ReMAP more completely and in a different way. It looked at the effect of demographic variables and procedural variables, noting which ones have the greatest effect on reducing attrition.
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Author: Brierly, P. W.
Title: Missionary attrition: The ReMAP research report.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 85-103).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter presenting the data from the ReMAP research project done on preliminary data, before all the data was in. Gives demographic data as well as overall data, data from old sending countries combined, new sending countries combined, and data for each individual country.
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Author: Lewis, J.
Title: Designing the ReMAP research project.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 77-83).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter giving a good background of how the ReMAP research project was carried out.
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Author: Donovan, K.
Title: Reflections on attrition in career missionaries: A generational perspective into the future.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 41-73).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter detailing the differences between generations of missionaries during the second half of the twentieth century along with suggestions on how to capitalize in the best characteristics of both to carry out the Great Commission.
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Author: McKaughan, P.
Title: Missionary attrition: Defining the problem.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 15-24).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter looking at whether or not attrition is a problem and looking at related problems, suggesting changing the mission system and terminology.
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Author: O'Donnell, K.
Title: An international guide for member care resources.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 325-338).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter listing missionary care resources by continent and country. An update of "Member care resource guide" published in Evangelical Missions Quarterly, January, 1996.
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Author: Anyomi, S.
Title: Attrition in Ghana.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 161-170).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter about attrition in Ghana. Follow-up was done so that every survey was returned, and the author was very candid about the failings of some missionaries in the past.
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Author: Giron, R.
Title: An integrated model of missions.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 25-40).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter presenting a model of missions with four major parts: selection, training, sending and pastoral-care/supervision. The first two are very thorough and well developed, while the last two are rather sketchy.
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Author: Anyomi, S.
Title: Mission agency screening and orientation and effect of attrition factors: Perspective of the new sending countries.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 229-239).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter about selection and preparation in an attempt to reduce attrition. It is primarily about African missionaries to other cultures.
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Author: Taylor, W. D.
Title: Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition.
   Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A book describing the Reducing Missionary Attrition Project (ReMAP) conducted by the World Evangelical Fellowship Missions Commission which was conducted to identify the causes, explore solutions and deliver products and services to mission agencies and churches worldwide to help reduce undesirable attrition.
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Author: Taylor, W. D.
Title: Challenging the missions stakeholders: Conclusions and implications; further research.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 341-360).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter summarizing what has been learned in this major research study along with implications for everyone involved and some suggestions for further research.
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Author: Taylor, W. D.
Title: Interview of six church pastors from five nations: Attrition issues.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 313-323).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter consisting of an interview of six pastors from five nations asking them six specific questions about attrition issues.
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Author: Pollock, D.
Title: What about the missionary kids and attrition?
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 303-312).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter summarizing the needs of MKs as related to attrition along with suggestions for parents, churches, and agencies for meeting those needs.
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Author: Ng, B.
Title: Some reflections on pastoral care: Perspective of the new sending countries.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 277-286).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter giving an excellent overview of the need for pastoral care. This chapter is written specifically about Asian missionaries, but pertains to missionaries from any part of the world.
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Author: Elkins, P.
Title: Attrition in the USA and Canada.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 171-179).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter presenting the data of the survey in north America along with two examples of mission agencies who have minimized the attrition rate.
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Author: Harrison, M. S.
Title: On-field training and supervision: Perspective of the old sending countries.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 265-275).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter about on-field training and supervision looking at various issues involved, types, benefits, and personnel involved.
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Author: Kang, S.
Title: Missionary attrition issues: Supervision. Perspective of the new sending countries.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 251-264).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter about supervision, discussing its scope, guidelines and strategies. Particularly good relative to supervision in restricted access countries.
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Author: Lindquist, B.
Title: Mission agency screening and orientation: A personal journey. Perspective of the old sending countries.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 241-249).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter considering screening and orientation problems written by someone who has been involved for more than a quarter of a century, so that he can speak from personal experience.
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Author: Dipple, B.
Title: Formal and non-formal pre-field training: Perspective of the old sending countries.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 217-228).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter discussing the kind of preparation necessary to help avoid attrition.
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Author: Adiwardana, M.
Title: Formal and non-formal pre-field training: Perspective of the new sending countries.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 207-215).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter discussing pre-field training considerations in new sending countries, primarily Brazil.
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Author: Platt, D.
Title: A call to partnership in the missionary selection process: Perspective of the old sending countries.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (195-206).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter calling for a return to a biblical theology of missions including partnership in selection and preparation. This partnership is to be between the local church and the sending agency.
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Author: Ekstrom, B.
Title: The selection process and the issue of attrition: Perspective of the new sending countries.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 183-193).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter considering the problem of selection of missionary candidates in the new sending countries. It emphasizes the role of the local church, gives criteria for selection and recommendations for the selection process.
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Author: O'Donnell, K.
Title: Member care on the field: Taking the longer road. Perspective of the old sending countries.
Too valuable to lose: Exploring the causes and cures of missionary attrition (pp. 287-302).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1997
Summary:  A chapter giving an overview of member care in the mid 1990s. This is an excellent summary of what is available as well as a call for what more is needed. The member care needs and resources grid is particularly helpful in integrating staff, services, stages, and stressors.
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Author: Donovan, K.
Title: "Beauty for ashes"--Redeeming premature field departure.
Evangelical Missions Quarterly,  27, 18-22.   1991
Summary:  An article that discuses the adjustments that missionaries make when returning to their home country, especially returning early. If contains many practical suggestions to help in that adjustment.
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Author: Allen, F.
Title: Why do they leave? Reflections on attrition.
Helping missionaries grow: Readings in mental health and missions (pp. 421-431).  Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.   1988
Summary:  An article about why people leave missions citing eight reasons, primarily from the author's memory rather than survey data. It also includes information form four mission organizations. Same as in Evangelical Missions Quarterly, 1986, 22, 118-129.
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Author: Mumper, S. E.
Title: Does attrition threaten the future of missions?
Christianity Today.  (November 6, 1987), 31, 53-55.   1987
Summary:  An article looking at the effect of attrition on carrying out the Great Commission, with emphasis on retirement and changing demographics.
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Author: Allen, F.
Title: Why do they leave? Reflections on attrition.
Evangelical Missions Quarterly,  22, 118-129.   1986
Summary:  An article about why people leave missions citing eight reasons, primarily from the author's memory rather than survey data. It also includes information from four mission organizations. Same as in O'Donnell & O'Donnell (1988), Helping missionaries grow (pp. 421-431), Pasadena, CA: William Carey Press.
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