First and foremost, I’m grateful to my friends scattered in places around the world who have confided in me the joys and challenges of interacting with the North American church, including me. One of my driving agendas in this book is to allow more North Americans to hear their voices.
Second, I’m grateful for the benefit of many conversations with readers of the first edition of this book. Your input provoked me to think deeper and at times differently about certain aspects of short-term missions. A growing number of researchers are now investigating this topic, and several ministry leaders are rising to the challenge to do short-term missions with cultural intelligence. It’s one thing to write about these ideas. It’s another thing to do something about it. Thank you to those who are actually improving short-term missions.
I have immense gratitude for my editor and friend, Bob Hosack, who took a chance on me a few years ago as an unproven author because of his shared interest in these concerns. He and the rest of the team at Baker continue to be wonderful publishing partners.
Most of all, I’m grateful for my precious daughters, Emily and Grace, and my soul mate and wife, Linda. Not only do they give me the space, inspiration, and encouragement to write, but they also embrace these ideals with me. I’m not worthy of you dear women!