It Shouldn't Happen to Missionaries

Fülszöveg

Dr Eric Barrett, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, Dsc, FRGS, FRMetS etc,
long combined a nationally and internationally-honoured career in
environmental and space science with distinctive and strategic
'overtime* missionary work with SGA. Since his health-related early
retirement from the University of Bristol in 2003, Eric has co-directed
4Hy with his wife Rosemary.
'Missionaries, 'humom* and 'shock honor* are rarely spoken of together.
However, the world can be a testing place, and missionaries are human beings
who — like the rest of us — don't always get things right. Perhaps more than most of
us, their lives are lived relatively unpredictably 'ontheetjge': the edge of the church;
the edge of society; at what sometimes seems to be the edge of civilisation; and even
from time to time on the very edges of their faith.
Thus there is much scope for missionary life to go contrary to plan, resulting in
happenings that are surprising, strange or even really funny and others that... Tovább

Fülszöveg

Dr Eric Barrett, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, Dsc, FRGS, FRMetS etc,
long combined a nationally and internationally-honoured career in
environmental and space science with distinctive and strategic
'overtime* missionary work with SGA. Since his health-related early
retirement from the University of Bristol in 2003, Eric has co-directed
4Hy with his wife Rosemary.
'Missionaries, 'humom* and 'shock honor* are rarely spoken of together.
However, the world can be a testing place, and missionaries are human beings
who — like the rest of us — don't always get things right. Perhaps more than most of
us, their lives are lived relatively unpredictably 'ontheetjge': the edge of the church;
the edge of society; at what sometimes seems to be the edge of civilisation; and even
from time to time on the very edges of their faith.
Thus there is much scope for missionary life to go contrary to plan, resulting in
happenings that are surprising, strange or even really funny and others that are
definitely not amusing at the time. Abilities to cope with the unexpected, unwanted,
comical or even the alarming are vital parts of the gifting God grants missionaries
to stay their course.
Between them Eric and his 'second blessing' wife Rosemary have clocked up six
decades' worth of experience in missionary matters, but in this lively and illuminating
new book Eric confines himself mainly to events that have befallen them since they
began €4H'/Magyar Misszió in 2003.
Giving glimpses of aspects of missionary life that are rarely reported, this unusual
yet always God-honouring narrative should be required reading for all wTho have a
heart for front-line Christian endeavour and want to prepare for it, or understand
how to pray better for those called and sent to serve on 'The Field'.
Dr Eric BamfL earlier with Gillian his first wife\ arid now with Rosemary his second wife has
been crossing our historical country, Hungary, several times every year He /ores our people and we
lore him became, despite the kinds of challenges he writes about in this book, he has done so much
for our people. In his head Eric is a scientist but in his heart is a real missionary. We praise God
for him and know that a great reward is awaiting him in Heaven.
Rev Dr Steiner József, Bradenton, Florida, USA
Since Eric knows tin world as an experienced traveller, it is interesting to see that he, too, has
encountered brick walk and detours. His love for Eastern European people and his desire that they
hear the gospel has been his life *s goal Ruth Deytieka Erdel, Senior Missionary,
Slavic Gospel Association, Mishawaka, Indiana I SA Vissza