Like a Train Ride: Transitions in Ministry

By Sue Eenigenburg

After finishing Bible school and seminary, my husband and I felt called to board the “missions train." So, 41 years ago we went to an orientation for new personnel. Before we could board the train, we attended many events to learn how the train ran and where it was going. We discovered what we would need to do and what our roles would be.

The next year we were on the train. We were excited about the trip, knew where it was going and were thankful for those leading the way. Though we had so much to learn, we knew the direction and felt enthusiastic. We met new people, learned a new language and culture. We had the privilege of networking with others on different trains going in the same direction.

On the journey, co-workers asked for our input on how the train was running. As we collaborated with others, we sometimes adjusted the workings on the train. But we stayed on the same course. Feeling a valued part of the process, I enjoyed having a voice and working with others on the train to keep it moving. What a meaningful, exciting adventure!

Younger people with fresh vision and creative ideas joined us. They had new ways to keep the train going forward. We were able to give advice, but soon it became clear that they were quite capable of leading the way. It was a delight to step back, be a resource and continue working on the train. Our responsibilities were now like those we had when we first boarded. We loved being on the train and were still excited about its direction and cared about the people on it, but our voices didn’t seem as needed as they once were.

When I first moved back to my home country, some days I wondered if I was still on the train. I missed its sway and motion. I sometimes felt like I got shuffled off to a strange depot.

Several things contributed to this feeling. I was getting older and didn’t live overseas. After 37 years of living and working with teams, I was no longer on that same kind of team. I missed collaborating. I was experiencing reverse culture stress in a place where I should have felt like I belonged.

My loss of identity and the struggle with how to describe myself surprised me. I used to say, “I’m a cross-cultural worker,” or “I serve in mission leadership.” I’ve helped with church planting for a long time, and I have the same heart and inner identity. I’m still serving. But I now live in my birth country, and though it has changed since we left, we are not serving across cultures. Or are we? So much has changed, it can feel strange. I find myself observing the culture and discerning how I can adapt and where I fit.

I am still on the train, but in a different compartment. In the same ministry, yet different. The train and track are the same, but my roles have changed. We’ve been back “home” for almost three years now, and I’ve felt more comfortable with each passing year. I enjoy mentoring and coaching those newer on the train. I can encourage those who’ve been on the train for a while and lost sight of why they are on it. I can develop relevant resources for those on the train. I am praying for those who still serve overseas. I also pray for those saying goodbye to loved ones to move to another corner of the world. I can help clear the tracks when barriers loom. I can keep my eye on that final destination while I work hard in the present.

We currently live near train tracks. I hear the train whistle multiple times daily. I wonder where it is going and want to jump on and travel. Adventure beckons. And then I remember, though it looks and feels different, I’m still on a train. I can continue to do my part for the Great Commission. Though I might not feel like I’m traveling, I’m still moving forward for the glory of God.