In January 2025 Global Trellis conducted a comprehensive survey inquiring about sexual harassment, abuse, and assault on the field. Next Thursday, February 26th we will publish the extensive results.

We, the committee of three who processed the data, have had months to read, wrestle with, and allow this important subject to sink in. Instead of dumping all of the data on you, we are taking this week and next week to prepare you for the paper.

As an onramp to this important topic we have three articles:
1. Why this paper is needed (the article you are reading)
2. What you can expect from the paper (on Thursday)
3. How you can consume the paper (next Tuesday)

Collectively, all of us in cross-cultural work have built a rickety bridge across the gorge of sexual harassment, abuse, and assault. Many cross-cultural workers and organizations are doing their best to navigate an issue that is deeply painful, widely present, and often poorly addressed. But too often, the structures meant to support people are fragile—full of gaps, uncertainty, and silence.

This paper is necessary because the bridge should not be rickety. People deserve something stronger. Here are five reasons why this paper is necessary and a quote for each area from participants to give you a taste of what’s to come in the paper. 

1. A lack of clarity around language
One response we encountered was the quiet question: “Does this count?” Many individuals struggle to name what they experienced. When language is vague or inconsistent, harmful behavior can be minimized, overlooked, or left unaddressed. Clear definitions matter because clarity is often the first step toward understanding, accountability, and care.

One participant said, “Maybe it doesn’t even qualify as sexual harassment??” The double question mark from this participant speaks volumes as to the confusion people have and how to even talk about some of these topics.

2. Theological confusion about calling and God’s protection
In many faith-based contexts, theology shapes how people interpret suffering, harm, and endurance. Some wrestle with whether speaking up reflects a lack of faith, or whether harm is simply part of the cost of service. We wrote in part to confront the theological distortions that can keep survivors silent and allow unhealthy systems to persist.

One person we interviewed shared, “They said to my face, ‘Yes, but he’s doing such a good job. He’s brought so many people to Christ’” when abuse was raised.

3. A gap in prefield and on-field training
We also saw a disconnect between what people are trained for and what they actually face. Many enter cross-cultural work with little preparation for the realities of sexual harassment, coercion, or abuse in their environments. We wanted to better understand these experiences so that individuals and organizations can be equipped with training that is honest, practical, and preventative.

When asked about prefield training, a participant shared that her training and field orientation communicated more along the lines of “stop being friendly” and “don’t go to the market on your own.” She added, “It always kind of came back as, ‘Well, it’s your fault that this is happening to you.’”

4. Harassment and abuse occur both within organizations and on the field
Sexual harm is not limited to one setting. It can occur within sending structures, team dynamics, leadership relationships, or in the broader context where people serve. Both individuals and organizations need preparation, clear pathways for response, and cultures of support—not denial or surprise.

Another participant shared that: “The worker was harassed by her supervisor in our (large) mission organization. The organization removed her from the field, but not him. In essence, she was punished for reporting the incident. The harasser sustained no known consequences.”

5. Because sexual harassment, abuse, and assault are, sadly, a part of life

Perhaps most importantly, we wrote this paper because too many people have carried these experiences under-supported. And yet, the survey results made clear that sexual harassment, abuse, and assault are not rare exceptions—they occur with a frequency that many would not expect or want to acknowledge. The issue is not distant or occasional; it is present in the lived experience of more cross-cultural workers than is often assumed. By listening carefully and presenting the data with care, we hope to reduce isolation, invite stronger conversations, and help build systems where survivors are supported and perpetrators are held accountable.

A participant shared, “As an adult serving in Ethiopia and Djibouti, people would grab my boobs in public or pinch my butt without reprimand. Only when I was walking in a group including many females or at least one man, or had a friend’s baby in my care, did I relax knowing I wouldn’t be bothered. Male (white or black) teammates I was in public with would be propositioned by prostitutes in front of me regularly in Ethiopia.”

This paper is one effort to strengthen the bridge over the topic of sexual harassment, abuse, and assault on the field and to replace uncertainty with clarity, silence with truth, and fragility with a commitment to safety, dignity, and justice.

Harassment, abuse, and assault aren’t how life is supposed to be, so let’s talk about them! And then let’s do something about them. On Thursday we will share what you can expect from Let’s Talk About It: Sexual Harassment, Abuse, and Assault on the Field.

Amy, Stacey, and Danny