Below you will find a few suggestions of how to take care of a missionary that is SENT OUT from your congregation.
The role of the sending church is different than the role of the receiving church, so we must work as a team to provide good care for our missionaries.
What a privilege to be involved in caring for our missionaries!
Before leaving the church
- Pray for the missionary by name
- Know his/her concerns, fears, prayer requests
- Assign people to pray monthly for the missionary
- Support his/her family in prayer and preparation for departure
- Collaborate financially as much as possible
*Choose a fund-raising coordinator who will be the primary contact between the missionary and people committed to consistently give to the missionaries ministry.
At the time of sending out
- Pray for the missionary and his/her family
- Plan an all-church lunch or dinner celebration, to rejoice in the privilege of sending workers for
- the harvest into other cities or countries
- Collect a final offering for trip expenses as well as any other expenses
- Understand his/her emotional situation as he or she is changing and adapting to a new place.
During the time of missionary service
- Be willing to understand cultural differences and personality changes.
- Pray for her/his ministries, donors, families and personal issues (studies, local church, relationships, etc.)
- Provide advice about different topics that they might be dealing with - this can be done through specific days of counseling, which are established monthly by video call or phone call.
- Send email and “snail mail” birthday and greeting cards to provide continual encouragement.
- Reach financial goals. Keep in contact about how the missionary is financially proceeding and what can be done to help reach their financial goals.
When he or she returns...
- Pray for the missionary as he/she experiences reverse culture shock when arriving back to his/her home country.
- Give emotional and spiritual support as well as time to be with family and friends once again.
- Prepare a welcome home party to thank the missionary for his/her service and willingness to serve God cross-culturally.
Tutor/Appointed Counselor – Sending District
One of the important aspects to facilitate the comprehensive care of the Missionaries in Genesis, is the need to find a person to assist in care and counseling during the time of missionary service. Therefore, in order to help his/her Superintendent, the missionary may appoint that person before leaving the field. It is suggested this person has the following qualities:
- Spiritual maturity: He is known by the fruits of the Spirit, for his counseling and pastoral skills, and handling difficult situations in a calm manner.
- Missionary approach: It is recommended that the person be a role model for the missionary, be easily approached and, encourage others to participate in conversations.
- Willingness and responsibilities: This person must comply with the provisions of the missionary regarding monthly calls on issues such as: time, duration, frequency, etc., so that the given objective is fulfilled.
- Able to maintain confidentiality: many of the issues the missionary will face are confidential, not because they are negative, rather for better protection and performance of work in the field.
- Access to technology: It keeps the costs down and maintains the relationship, so that you can have a video call with the missionary for appropriate follow up on physical and emotional experiences in the field.
- It is NOT recommended to be a family member. Often the family will see with the eyes of over-protection and that can lead to difficult situations in the field; therefore it is recommended that the person is outside the family, yet wise and able to lead and serve with the eyes of Christ in this process.
Purpose:
The goal of this relationship “counselor-missionary” is to have a trusted person with whom the missionary can have for a healthy field experience.
Expected activities Mentor / Advisor:
- Minimum of one verbal communication per month.
- Wise counsel regarding transition and separation adjustments.
- Wise counsel of issues with family, pastors, leaders and people close to the missionary for their benefit
- Notification of urgent issues with leaders (if necessary), such as: Superintendent, Genesis office staff, family, and others.