Missionaries

 

Missions in Focus: 10 Ways to Encourage Missionaries

 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24

Discouragement is perhaps the single greatest weapon Satan uses to deter and defeat effective ministry. Below are 10 ways we can engage in encouraging our missionaries in the ministries they are serving in. Comments on the encouragement this brings missionaries are also included.

 

  1. Pray for them and let them know that you are doing so frequently. “One of the most encouraging/inspiring things we receive from people is a quick note via email to say that they are ‘thinking’ of us.”

  2. Send real mail. “Send us a birthday card. This doesn’t have to be some long handwritten note, just a little card – maybe even printed at home.” 

  3. Pray for the people the missionaries serve and not only for the missionaries and their families.

  4. Recruit others to pray for the missionary’s area of service (city, people group, etc.) or for the missionaries themselves. “This can be an amazing thing to have a person or group of people actively supporting the work that we are doing overseas – becoming an advocate for our city/work. It really encourages us to know that there are people going to bat for us and raising more prayer support for the work.”

  5. Go visit them with the purpose of serving and encouraging them in their work. “Have a group of your people come to minister to us as we are seeking to pour out our lives to others.”

  6. Send them updates and pictures of you and your family (by mail or email).

  7. Ask questions about their work. “I know that this has been said, but truly CARING about the work is the best way to encourage us.”

  8. Continue to be a Christian friend and continue to minister to them. “Ask us those hard questions. Do a little pastoral counseling with us.”

  9. Support them financially. “Finding out if we have any specific needs and meeting those needs is great.”

  10. Seek to encourage them when they are on stateside assignment. “Invite us out to lunch or dinner. Nothing fancy is needed. Remember we’ve just been in places where we may not have been able to even enjoy a little Mexican food.”

For more information on our supported missionaries please contact the church office or Pastor Malcolm.