Healthy Missionaries
Healthy Missions Work
For missionaries, by missionaries
A mental health non-profit of former missionaries now utilizing their mental health training to give back to missionaries
Care with Purpose
Missionary Mental Health International exists to support and provide well-being care to Christian missionaries. More specifically, our mission is to equip Christian missionaries with excellent and distinctive support for their spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being. Our mission exists to support our vision: To see Christian missionaries on the front lines of the Kingdom of God around the globe flourish and thrive in their field of work in order to see the continued advancement of the good news and gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.
The Problem
Many Christian missionaries express time and time again several similar pains: they’re spiritually, emotionally, and mentally drained and suffering. This is due to feeling lonely, isolated, unsupported, unequipped for challenges, increasingly tired and losing a grasp on their call and longevity, financially lacking, not knowing where to turn for help. Their sending organization is either under equipped or unwilling to answer these challenges. Or, they don’t have a sending organization.
If a Christian missionary is able to find an agency able to help them solve these problems, often they run into a few more problems that we hope to solve. These agencies do not have like minded Christian staff members, have not served as missionaries themselves before, and most of all, their staff isn’t highly qualified and licensed to handle the presenting emotional and mental needs, and at a reasonable cost and accessibility.
While there are other similar agencies like ours, we conclude that there is way more demand than supply at this point in time. As Jesus observed, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Matthew 9:37. We believe that while we are not the only agency providing this service, there is so much need that we can help provide this need until it is fulfilled.
Due to these barriers, this is why Missionary Mental Health International was created.
Our Staff
Noe Rivera, LMFT
Noe Rivera, received the call to the nations from God when he was 14 years old. He fostered that passion to the nations for many years before making the dream a reality at 29 years old. He became an international missionary for 6 years: 3 years leading month long trips for young adults to over 20 countries, and 3 years living in Guatemala as a missionary base founder. During this time, he personally experienced numerous heart wrenching times of defeat in the midst of many joys. He slowly began to realize the need for greater spiritual, emotional, and mental health support to allow him to stay energized in his faith and committed to his call to the nations. Upon returning to the States, he dreamed of one day turning his pain into purpose, to start a nonprofit network dedicated to support Christian missionaries worldwide.
Noe is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California.
Addie Michlitsch, LPCC
Addie has been drawn to caring for others since she was young. She has felt a draw to be near to those who are in pain and has an optimistic, hopeful demeanor that God is in charge and healing is possible. She was called to missions as a teenager though it did not come to fruition until she was a young adult - traveling to over 11 countries in 11 months. Upon returning, she pursued professional counseling and addiction treatment and has had the vision of providing that care to missionaries on the field. This vision has lined up with partners, Noe and Victoria, and Addie is excited to care for the Church’s “frontline” workers more directly through MMHI.
Addie is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the state of Minnesota.
Victoria Hicks, LMFT, LPC
Victoria has always had a desire to serve in missions since high school. Starting with trips to Mexico and a trip to Romania before stumbling on a trip for 11 months long to over 15 different countries. While becoming a long term missionary was never a direction she felt led, since then she has been involved in missions support in various way. First, through supporting teams coming to Atlanta for mission trips to refugees. Second, to serving for a non-profit helping short term missionaries transition back well through coaching. Since high school on her first mission trip to Mexico, she has been involved with supporting missions in many different capacities. Now, wanting to use her gifts in counseling and teaching to support missionaries and their mental health for years to come at MMHI.
Victoria is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia.
Are you seeking support?
Are you a missionary needing some support? Or even an organization that doesn’t know where to start? Reach out today and we can help you find the care you are needing!