Missionary Biography Book Reflection Paper Questions
DSchool Assignment
Read a missionary biography and then write a reflection paper on that missionary - a minimum 2-page report (double spaced).
Read a missionary biography and then write a reflection paper on that missionary - a minimum 2-page report (double spaced).
There is freedom given here as to how you structure the paper but we are not so much looking for a summary of what happened in this person's life, but…
A deep reflection on what you learned from this missionary life. See this paper as an opportunity to talk about the things that moved you, touched, and challenged you.
Your observations on the inner life in the face of external pressure and complex situations in missionary work. These observations come from challenges they faced, the choices they made, the lessons learned, etc. Remember, we can learn not just from the good and amazing things these missionaries did, but also from any poor choice or mistake they made.
What did God reveal to you about yourself, your present trajectory (and/or need for change), and your call and purpose in life? What changes were inspired in you from this missionary biography? What new perspectives did you gain? What weaknesses in your way of life did you notice from this observation of someone else's life?
1. What did you learn about God from the life of this missionary?
2. What did you learn about God’s heart for the lost and/or the poor, from this missionary’s life?
3. What did you learn from this missionary’s life that you want to incorporate into your life? How will you step into it in obedience?
What was the mission, goal, dream, and/or need for change that this missionary fought for?
What factors shaped this missionary?
(i.e.: life experiences, ideas, and/or personal spiritual beliefs – if any) What personal characteristics or traits may have influenced your subject’s beliefs? What seems to have most influenced your subject’s actions? Conversely, how might life conditions have had influence over this person?
What rejection, failure, and/or challenges/obstacles did this missionary encounter along the way?
What personal weaknesses, personal struggles, and/or personal failures did this missionary deal along the way?
Did your subject make any big mistakes or unfortunate personal or professional choices (internal or from within the person)? Make sure you tell the truth based on your findings. Don’t hide the failures and weaknesses because you like him or her. Be honest!
Also look at their inner life. What battles raged underneath? What ways of thinking had to die for new life to arise?
What risks did he/she take along the way?
In talking about risks, I mean before the true outcome of their choices plays out, we take steps into the unknown not fully knowing what will happen. We count the cost (expected possible dangers and results) but we do not really know if that is how things will play out. In launching off into missionary work, these workers knew there were many risks involved, including the loss of life or loved ones. What were those risks they were fully aware of, and yet went for it anyways?
What was the cost on himself/herself, his/her family, and/or his/her followers for doing what he/she chose to do?
Costs is the actual negative outcome flowing out of their choices. What were the personal losses they incurred to see the Good News of the Gospel spread to these new regions of the earth?
How did cooperation contribute to his/her ability to bring change?
In what ways was cooperation and team work, key to their success? How did they work with others, sometimes in limited ways and other times in full trust, in ways that increased their impact?
Did they need to refuse partnership with some people because it would hinder the work?
What new and creative ways or ideas did this missionary use to bring about change?
How was their approaches innovative? What can we learned about the way they did ministry, shared the Gospel in this foreign country/culture, raise up local workers?
What did this missionary contribute to the world? How were people changed for the better?
What qualities did you find most admirable in this world missionary?
Explain why you found these qualities admirable.
Was the mission, goal, or dream of this world changer ever reached in his/her lifetime?
If not → How much later after his/her death was it reached?
If not → What still needs to be accomplished or changed for this dream to be realized?