"I have been thinking about this boy. I think about him so often. I don't want to see him anymore though because I don't want to miss him again...it hurts too much. I don't think he's real. I have never met him. I don't know his name. I saw him in my dream. I just saw his eyes. When I saw his eyes I could see everything.

I left an empty seat this month at my dear friend's wedding. She called me over Skype at 5:30 a.m., the musical traffic of Southeast Asia already singing in the background. At that early hour, I exchanged excited words with a glowing bride a few minutes before she walked down the aisle.

‘Just shut your eyes. He can’t actually see you. Turn around. You don't have to keep wasting your time. Walk away. There’s no one stopping you. What difference does it really make if I choose not to follow Him?’

What would happen if we prioritized our lives around this promise of God? How would our careers be different? Where would we prioritize our time and energy? Why would we live where we live and go where we go?

The last word Jesus gave His followers was to go and make disciples of all nations. He did not suggest we only share his teachings with people who are not too different and not too set in their ways.

What Makes A Good Missionary?

As an organization that seeks to mobilize the next generation of missionaries, this frequently asked question is the topic of many conversations.

Is a good candidate for missionary work someone who has the ability to learn a new language? Is it flexibility? Is it a combination of many different things?

As much as we try to provide answers and stories of what Cafe 1040 does, it is the students who have been through the program who provide the best insights.

Every student that goes through our overseas mentorship has a unique story of how God led him or her to Cafe 1040.

Find out how God moved in Bryan to be a part of our South Asia summer program.

In the year before I left for Southeast Asia, I researched everything I should expect during my first months as a missionary. I studied culture shock charts, looked at line graphs of stress levels overseas, asked for advice about how to endure the life of a single missionary, stockpiled my anti-diarrhea medicine, and braced my supporters for a life-altering transition.

Over the years, we have sat down with numerous mothers, fathers, friends, cousins and coworkers talking about international missions. Inevitably by the end of the conversation, we have ventured onto the question of safety.

Is missions safe? Is where you are living safe? Do you feel safe overseas? Will my son or daughter be safe in your program?

The question comes in many forms but the heart of the question remains the same.

Sam grew up as a self-proclaimed redneck mountain man. In the hills of West Virginia, he was always outside learning about the land. While studying agriculture and irrigation in his college years, Sam was drawn to Cafe 1040's mentorship program and spent a semester in North Africa, where he clearly felt God calling him into missions. But he wasn’t sure where. Or how.

Have you ever looked closely at an optical illusion?  There’s one in particular that comes to mind.  You have probably seen it. It looks like an image of a vase.  It’s an illusion because the image of the vase is actually the space between two faces, but most people only notice the vase. It doesn’t matter how long you stare at the picture before you figure it out.  Once you notice the faces, they can never be unseen.

What is the number one reason missionaries pick up, pack up their bags and head back to their home country? Surprisingly, it has nothing to do with finances, homesickness or cultural exhaustion.

Are you curious about what an overseas missions mentorship is like? We could explain the different features of what you will experience but there’s really no better way to learn than from the students themselves.

Most long-term missionaries were first introduced to missions through a short-term trip. Short-term mission trips usually range somewhere between 1-2 weeks and are great opportunities for people in every stage of life to engage in God’s global mission.

Sometimes it can be easy to fall into the daily, humdrum routine of living life overseas, but my work of building relationships, learning tools, and sharing the love of Jesus has given every moment here a purpose.

An Interview with Cafe 1040’s Executive Director

"Recently, I was invited to attend a seminar at a church for people considering becoming missionaries. The church does this event annually to help its members navigate the process “from the church pew to the overseas location.”  Friends, this is a treacherous journey.  I have heard many missionaries say “getting there was harder than being here!”  

Where were you 90 days ago? While it’s hard to think back that far, I know where I was: sitting apprehensively in an airport, unsure of what to expect for the next 3 months, but eager to see what God had in store.

In the last few years, there has been a new wave of opportunities for people to leverage their jobs for gospel advancement. Often called “Marketplace Missions,” this idea refers to taking your career and moving it to a strategic location for the mission of God.

Are you passionate about photography? Do you get excited thinking about a degree in Nursing? Are you pursuing a degree in law?

Do you ever wonder what a day could look like overseas? Each day is full of stories and new experiences. Each part of our overseas mentorship is designed to expose students to different ways to engage culture. This past week, we had a group of students in a home stay, which is where students live with a local family for about a week.  This is a tool we use to immerse students in culture and language and to give them an intimate view of different beliefs. For many, this is the first time they have experienced other religions in this way. It’s also a time where God opens the students’ eyes to what He is up to and how they can be a part of it.

Logan knew he needed to overcome this fear, but he still was quite nervous. How could he share the story of his relationship with Jesus cross-culturally with grace and no fear? His mentor listened to his concerns and encouraged him to pray for an opportunity to share his story.