Seeing the perspective of a veteran cross-cultural
missionary in an interview with that person can give you interesting insights
Try this list of questions when you interview someone who
has significant experience as a missionary elsewhere in the world.
Use this list of questions to hear a missionary's heart and probe for enlightening experiences,
stressful challenges and reflections.
"I don't know what to ask when I interview a missionary!"
Don't know anyone to interview for this assignment? Email me and I'll send
suggestions:
Interview assignment for world missions classes
Need to interview a veteran missionary, but you don't know what to ask? Explore these
areas.
Remember that the objective of this assignment is NOT to get specific bits of
information. The objective is for you to spend time talking with a veteran of cross-cultural
missionary service.
Biographical data: dates and places of missionary service, formal
education, family, and other pertinent background.
What in your childhood prepared you for missionary service?
Who or what was most helpful in preparation times (book or person)?
If the clock could be turned back, what changes (if any) would you want to make in your
own personal preparation for service?
Misconceptions that had to be overcome
What do you perceive are your strengths in ministry
What do you see as your weak points in ministry
What part of missionary work do you enjoy most or find the most rewarding?
What parts of your cross-cultural service would you like a chance to do differently?
A humorous incident involving either the target language or culture?
Most embarrassing or humiliating moment in cross-cultural contact?
Greatest disappointment or disillusionment?
Most treasured memory?
Specific ways life has been richer because of cross-cultural service?
Favorite scripture passage that relates to experience?
Your own missionary hero or model?
Are there specific people in the target culture who have had a significant impact on you? If
so, who and in what ways?
What advice would you give to people headed for cross-cultural service?
Your report can be written up as:
A transcript of questions and answers
A newspaper or magazine article
Some personal reflections triggered by what was said in the interview
Global Evangelism assignment instructions video
Your reflections after interviewing a veteran missionary
Simplified grading rubric for this writing assignment at Nazarene Bible College. It can
double as a checklist for students prior to submitting their work to Scribe.
Was the assignment submitted on time?
Was this a report of an interview of someone with significant global missionary experience
(more than just a single 10-day mission trip)?
Was the person specifically identified and information on where they served and how long
they were there included?
Was the interview reported as being done face-to-face, via Skype, Zoom or telephone rather
than by email?
Does the report meet minimum length requirements?
Did the interview and the report seem shaped in some way by material encountered in this
course?
Is the report acceptable college-level reflective writing?
Is the submission relatively free of proof-reading, grammatical and syntax errors?
In terms of achieving assignment goals, would this interview report be considered
exceptional, excellent, good, acceptable, minimal or inadequate?
Note: The course web pages on the official Nazarene Bible College site contain
expanded written instructions for this interview assignment
If you cannot come up with a missionary to interview, email me and I'll send you a list of
possibilities
