How to care for your missionaries from afar
Who are the easiest people to care for? Generally, it is those who we see most regularly! But when missionaries cross cultures to proclaim the news of Christ, they need a faithful team of “fellow workers for the truth” (3 John 1:8) – people who commit to supporting these workers for the long-term. This includes care.
It can be challenging to know how to care for missionaries when we live so far away from them, and since they are usually only able to visit for a short time every few years. So we’ve put together some simple suggestions of how you can be caring for the missionaries you and your church support.
1. Keep in touch with them
One great way you can care for your missionaries is simply by keeping in touch with them. Find out their email address or note their mailing address on their Prayer Card and then write an email or letter to them. You could even record a short video introducing yourself and your family, and send it to them via Dropbox! Your missionaries may not always be able to reply, but they will always appreciate your message.
Plus, when your link missionary sends out a prayer newsletter, make sure to hit ‘reply’ and let them know you’re praying. This is a great way to not only commit their prayer requests to the Lord, but also to encourage them with your prayerful support. Another idea is to write out the prayer you prayed and send it to your missionary for their encouragement.
Important note: Some missionaries serve in secure locations, meaning they are unable to receive emails and letters directly. Contact them instead through the NSW & ACT branch. Just make sure to remove any Christian language such as Bible, Christian, church and Jesus, and don’t mention the name of the organisation they work for. Find out more.
2. Remember their whole family
Another way you can show care for your missionaries is by finding ways to serve their whole family. Ask about the significant dates for your missionary family – the birthdays of children, the missionaries’ wedding anniversary – or for single missionaries you can find out their birthday and the anniversary of the day they first left for their location. Send them a message on these important dates, and if you’re in a position to, you can also organise to send them cards and gifts by post.
You can also help your own family get involved in missionary care! Your kids could write letters for the children of the missionaries you partner with. Or as a family you could set aside a regular time to pray together for your missionaries, and for the work of the gospel across the world.
3. Find practical ways to serve them
In these challenging times throughout our world, it is unlikely you will be able to meet in-person with your link missionaries on Home Assignment. But this doesn’t need to stop you from finding practical ways to serve them!
Your missionaries might need help with organising a car to use during Home Assignment, and you may be able to find someone from your church who can help out. Or you could offer to pick up some groceries for your missionaries and fill their pantry before they arrive. Just get in touch with the CMS office to arrange this.
For missionaries serving in their locations, you can think about other practical help they might need. Find out items that your missionaries are missing, or that are hard to find in their location, and send it to them. Just make sure you check with your missionary first before you send over a package.
You may also like to consider how your whole church can get involved in missionary care. Your youth group could put together a playlist of their favourite Christian songs – to encourage your missionaries who may not be singing English songs at their church!
Thank you for seeking to care for your link missionaries. Your prayerful care makes a real difference in the lives of CMS workers, and helps them to be encouraged as they cross cultures to share the great news of Jesus.
