Missionary Care (Part 2)

There is a difference between a sending church and a supporting church. In most cases, we are supporting churches. A sending pastor/church is responsible for a missionary. A supporting pastor/church is responsible to a church for the stewardship of missionary dollars. What can we do about Missionary Care? A. Pastors/churches need to identify the essential issues when it comes to mission boards. 1. The process by which a board accepts a missionary. ??What do you assume is true of a missionary when they visit your church seeking financial support?? 2. What is the board’s understanding of and approach to missionary care? 3. Whose responsibility does the board consider missionary care? 4. What percentage of a missionary’s support goes to the mission board and what is it used for? B. Pastors/churches need to stay updated on the essential subjects when it comes to mission boards. C. Pastors/churches need to be familiar with the missionaries sent/supported by the church. We need an information sheet on every missionary that we support with the essential information for each one. It should include the names, birthdays, and anniversary of family members. The name of their sending church, including the pastor’s name and contact information D. Pastors/churches should have realistic expectations regarding the missionaries that they support. A key question for pastors/churches regarding the missionaries that they support should be “What are your goals for this term?” They should be definable…realistic, and measurable. Those goals, where they led, and the goals for the next term are what a missionary visit should be about. “Evangelism…Discipleship and Leader Training” are not goals. Church Planting is not a goal. E. Pastors/churches need to be familiar with resources that are available to missionaries. We do not have to be every resource. However, we can be the link to resources. F. Pastors/churches should expect the missionaries that they send/support to participate in a professional debriefing for the missionary's benefit when they return for furlough, an emergency, and when they end their missionary career…and…they should assist them in doing so. Conclusion: A sending pastor/church is responsible to a church for a missionary. A supporting pastor/church is responsible to a church for the stewardship of missionary dollars. © This document is the property of the Gospel Furthering Fellowship and is not to be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission. revised 1/3/24