Outside of the Lord Himself, two of the most valuable assets of the evangelical church are church planters and missionaries. Without these ambassadors for Christ on the frontlines, numerical growth would be curtailed considerably!
If you agree with the above assertion, then you need to ask yourself if you are participating in the overall support of our denomination’s mission developers and missionaries. Since this is a World Witness site, the following thoughts relate to our workers overseas but application can be made to those who serve Outreach North America as well.
Automobile owners don’t need to be told that their vehicles will eventually fail to function if the oil is left unchanged and the tires are never rotated. Why, then, do so many church members disregard their helping role when it comes to the care of Christ’s foreign representatives?
During summers, for example, as many as eight World Witness missionary couples can spend some time in the States. Did you ever consider hosting an open house so that they can enjoy informal exchanges with friends and new acquaintances? Other ideas include: giving them gift certificates for groceries and shopping; offer a vacation home; provide free babysitting; prepare a meal; listen to their concerns; pay for them to attend a conference; and transport them to the airport.
For those missionaries on the field, ensure that there is a small group within your church that is connecting with each missionary your congregation supports. The group can commit to prayer, regular correspondence, sending of care packages (e.g., food, sermon tapes, bulletins, & new Christian books), and circulation of mission prayer concerns. If possible, get your church to finance a pastoral visit to the field or try to go yourself. See if a college scholarship fund can be initiated in behalf of the missionary children. Be ready to assist when emergencies arise such as helping with plane tickets for a funeral. Try to acknowledge birthdays and anniversaries.
We Associate Reformed Presbyterians agree that our goal is not for our missionaries to survive on the mission field - we want them to thrive! A little encouragement goes a long way with most individuals, and you are honoring our Lord Jesus when you assist the laborers who tend to His vineyards in Germany, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Middle East, Wales, among Muslims & Persians, and also in the lands where our cooperative missionaries serve.
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