I have been involved in missions in some capacity for the past 15 years. During that period of time I have gone on short-term trips, lived in another country, worked as a missions pastor and have served as the director of a missions agency for the past four years. It’s not a tremendously long time to have worked in a certain field, but I do feel that I have learned a few things along the way.
Through the years there are always certain topics that keep coming across my mind or my desk. One of those topics is the relationship between the missionary and their home church. When I say home church, I’m referring to the church that either they were sent out of or the church that provides the most relationship/covering for the missionary. I understand that this is a broad subject and can’t possibly be exhaustively covered in a short article, but I do want to highlight just two things that have always caught my attention and for the most part been proven true over the years. The format you will see below is me stating some of my observations and then I will provide a prayer point below each observation.
1. Churches kind of “fall” into missions… In my experience many churches don’t set out to dominate the world in missions. Typically there is more of the focus on the “Jerusalem” part of Acts 1:8 and a little less on the “to the ends of the earth.” This is probably right and a point I’m certainly not arguing. Churches are called to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and that obviously starts within the community where the church is planted. Many times it’s later down the road when the word “missions” starts to enter the church vernacular and that usually comes from the wild zealot who wants to take the Gospel to the lost tribes of far west China. Wait, I think I might know that guy.
Anyway, typically at some point, in some fashion (usually with a few key families wanting to do missions work as a vocation), a local church has to make a decision on how they are going to respond to the call of missions. It’s at this time where the church who was doing either nothing or minimal efforts in missions has to make some big decisions. Decisions that will ultimately affect many families lives. It’s at this point where the local church has affectively “fallen” into missions whether desired or not. Knowing this, I think it’s always important for the missionary to have maximum grace for the church and for the church to have maximum grace to the missionary. Most of the time both parties are on a learning curve in the ever changing missions world.
Prayer Point –
A:That churches whether young or old in their existence or large or small in their size will be led by the Holy Spirit and obey what the Lord has for their church in the world of missions.
B: That as they follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit that great vision and provision will come forth for the Kingdom.
2. Missionaries thrive with a healthy home church relationship… I’m in direct contact with hundreds of missionaries. One of the main things I have realized over the years is that if a missionary has a home church who sent them and also supports them then almost always (I would say 90% of the time) that missionary really thrives on the field. I think this is the most optimum scenario for a home church and a missionary. Obviously, this scenario is not always available for a multitude of different reasons, I totally get that.
Here are a few reasons why I believe this to be true… A: It usually means the missionary has a good reputation with the church and the church leadership really knows & believes in the missionary. B: Because of the relationship, the church leadership desires to be a part of the missionaries life in some capacity despite the distance. C: The church community because of the investment through the years from the missionary has a great desire to get behind the missionary in prayer and financial support. D: The church community provides a great network for the missionary out side if his/her own family and friends. A strong network is a HUGE key to the livelihood of a missionary.
Prayer Point –
A: That more churches would sent out missionaries.
B:That more missionaries would have a deepened relationship with their home church.
C: That every missionaries network would grow and increase!
Marvin Slaton – Modern Day Director
