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Hardy Personality In Wycliffe Bible Translators' screening of potential members, considerable attention has been given to various negative traits which are significant (and undesirable) with positive traits assumed by the absence of the negative ones. Recognizing that missionary life calls for special qualities which will be uniquely tested, a committee of Christian care-givers and mission personnel has identified and described behaviorally the following qualities of a hardy personality, positive traits that will enable the cross cultural worker to serve God joyfully and be productive under difficult situations; i.e. to retain and maintain emotional, physical and spiritual health. Lack of any of these traits is an indicator that growth is needed, not a cause for guilt or shame. The greatest missionary of all acknowledged his weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10), and his sinfulness (1 Timothy 1:15-16) but endured crushing experiences (2 Corinthians 4:7-10; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28) and drew his strength from Christ (Phil. 4:12-13). So may we. The reason for describing these qualities behaviorally rather than accepting the candidate's statement of their presence is that the behavioral manifestation is likely to be more accurate than the verbal claim. The members of the committee are deeply committed to God's standards, and the utilization of His resources. While it is possible for a non-Christian to be emotionally hardy, the godly person brings to all of life an acknowledgment of personal inadequacy and of God's sufficiency, and a compassionate awareness of human frailty in self and others. So for the godly person, hardiness does not replace dependence on God, or do away with a sense of weakness. All glory belongs “…to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy…” (Jude 24).
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