CARRIERS OF THE GOSPEL



CARRIERS OF THE GOSPEL

Practical Mission Points from a Missionary’s Heart

Sue Zemke, Baptist World Mission in Japan

WWFBC Ladies’ Retreat – March 24-25, 2006

Introduction – about us and our ministry Lamentations 3:22-25

HOW YOU CAN HELP MISSIONARIES

Pray Romans 15:30-33

• Read prayer letters

• Pray specifically

o Physical needs

o Spiritual needs

o Emotional health

o Open doors, courage, clarity

o Fruitful labor

o Cultural pressures

o Communication in foreign language

o Missionaries’ children

• Adapt to culture

• Appreciate the privilege of living in a different land

• Protection

• Schooling needs

o Financial needs and pressures

o Political stability of country

• If God prompts, pray now!

• Keep your list updated

Personal communication through letters or e-mail I Timothy 6:17-18

• Identify yourself and church affiliation

• When e-mailing, avoid non-descript e-mail subjects or blank subject lines (blank subject lines mean automatic deletion in spam software); avoid forwarding chain letters, forwards, jokes, petitions

• Tell about yourself and the church

• Ask about specific things mentioned in prayer letters but don’t ask too many questions

• Use caution in asking general questions such as “What’s it like in…?” or

“Tell me about your typical day”

• Avoid library or Internet questions

• Use the correct address

• For children – Pen pals can be fun but sometimes it’s difficult for an MK to reply to someone they don’t know

o If possible, enclose a picture of the child

o Help the child to be informed in writing to the MK; also that he doesn’t ask library or general questions

o Assure that the child tells about himself

o Be patient in waiting for a reply

o Avoid asking for something material from the MK

Remembering special days

• Ask the missionary for birthdays and anniversary (check their prayer card first to see if listed)

• Give enough time for overseas cards to arrive

• Choose appropriate cards for children

• Keep track of where the missionary is living and send cards to the correct address

Church Communication

• Plan ahead – “Lack of planning on your part should not constitute an emergency on my part.”

o State your needs/desires clearly

o Give a reasonable deadline for the missionary

• Consider your requests

• Missionaries pray for their supporting churches. Let the missionary know how things are going at the church at least once or twice a year so the missionary can pray more specifically

• Communicate support changes and special monetary gifts Philippians 4:14-19

Packages and special gifts

• ***Always check with missionary if it is advisable to send a package as well as their suggestions for the method

• Always give enough time for the package to arrive

• Ask the missionary family what they might need or like

• Surprises can be fun!

• Assure the package does not contain prohibited or restricted items

• Do not overrate the value of the package. Taxes could be incurred.

• If the missionary requests that you send something handmade, do quality work

• Most missionaries primarily listen to CDs (not cassette tapes)

• Check with the missionary before sending a DVD to assure they have a player and that they have a “region one” compatible player

• Use caution in sending items you would not want or use. “Can the missionary use it?”

• Take care in sending soap and food items in the same package (put in Ziploc bags)

• Cushion items well

• Tape box well

• A special gift from a sending church (or to all your missionaries) is a CD or set of CDs from a ladies’, men’s, or couples’ retreat!

• Small packages are just as fun. Fill a half-gallon milk/juice carton. Note:  effective May 2007, postal regulations have changed.  Packages go by air mail only.

Does the church know its missionaries?

• Missionary bulletin board kept up-to-date

o World map to show where missionaries are serving

o Pictures of missionaries with names and their country

• Monthly synopses of missionary prayer letters so church people can take it home and more easily pray for missionaries

• Missionary letters posted on board or in a binder

• Ladies Missionary Group, Holding the Ropes, Men for Missions

o Have prayer letters available and highlight key requests (entire letter need not be read)

o Brief devotional on prayer or mission work

o Focus is time of prayer

o Determine if your group can meet a need for a missionary

o Keep meeting flowing to encourage others to attend

• Send the pastor and his wife to visit a missionary on the field or visit the missionary yourself!

o Allow enough time for the missionary to adjust to life on the field; this might not be until their second term

o Ask the missionary if or when it’s a good time to visit

o Assure the missionary can house guests or that appropriate arrangements are made

o Check with missionary if there is room in his vehicle

o Try not to financially burden the missionary – do your homework to know costs of travel, food, etc.

o Assure thorough communication before visit regarding goals of visit (i.e. desire to see ministry and sites, ministry only)

o Ask the missionary for advice regarding customs and dress in their country…and heed the advice!

A missionary is visiting my church!

• Introduce yourself

o If you are the pastor’s wife, be sure to introduce yourself right away

o Do not monopolize your time with the missionary

• Avoid leaving missionaries in the dark regarding the schedule

o Meals – none, before service, after service, at a home, at a restaurant

o Provide an itinerary if there for more than a day

o Information provided before arrival is fantastic!

• Include missionary kids in church or Christian school activities

• If the missionary family arrives at the church early for a meeting or is at the church between events during a conference, show them a room or place where they can relax

• If present for a few days, give the missionary suggestions for appropriate attire for non-Sunday daytime activities (men, women, and children)

• Utilize the missionary as much as possible!

• Invite willing missionaries to join the choir during the missions conference; many love to sing in groups but rarely have the opportunity

• Love offering is a bonus only if it is more than covering costs to church and return journey. Extra funds often are use to purchase supplies towards next term, medical/dental/vision expenses, special projects.

• Give the missionary family a time to be alone as well as a time for fellowship

o If “free time” give suggestions of tourist sites, parks, etc.

o If at church, offer things for children to do (games, play in gym,…)

• Some churches desire to do special things for missionaries

o If you give a gift basket, stock it with items the missionary and family can use. Consider size.

o Missionary closets

▪ Consider missionary’s space limitations; some do not have room in their vehicle or residence; expense of getting items to the field is also a factor

▪ Stock items that are useable

o Ideas that many missionaries can use: gift cards, stationery, writing tablets, thank you note cards, regular envelopes, towel and washcloth, sheet sets, postage stamps, plastic storage containers, Ziploc bags

o Only give the missionary a food shower if you know they have room to take the items, a place to store them, and time left to consume them. Asking for food preferences is preferable!

o Allow the missionary couple to have a “lunch date” and watch their children!

o Most women enjoy a trip to the mall!

o Men’s recreational activity (bowling, hunting, golf, museum)

Housing missionaries

• Let them know in advance what the housing plans are

• If in a house, assure appropriate accommodations

o Enough beds or sleeping space for each family member

o Privacy as much as possible

o Something for the children to do

o Avoid housing situations that might make the missionary family nervous or uncomfortable

o Offer laundry facilities

o Offer use of iron

o Because missionaries are in a different environment, nightlights can be of help; have in bathroom, hallway, and available in sleeping quarters

o Alarm clock, box of tissues, trash can in sleeping quarters

o Small basket of sometimes-forgotten items (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, rinse, comb, soap, shaver)

• If putting up missionaries at a hotel/motel, also assure appropriate accommodations. For a family of more than four, verbalize how you plan to have the family sleep with two queen or double beds.

• Prophet’s chambers should have an informational sheet with any guidelines while staying there as well as contact telephone numbers.

Meals for missionaries

• Be aware of special diets, allergies, food preferences

• Meals can be served at church or at a home

• Grill out

• Keep meals simple

• Graciously accept refusals of seconds or desserts

• Pack lunches if needed for travel, considering missionary preferences

Missionary thoughts

• Reverse culture shock coming back for furlough

• Furlough needs (focus on home church or nearby supporting churches) – housing, vehicle, food/meals/restaurant gift cards for the first few days after arrival, time to rest and adjust, shopping (clothing and shoes), help in obtaining good professional services (dental, medical, legal)

• Travels can be tiring but it is blessing to present the ministry

• Missionaries who do the Lord’s work on a “hard field” are no less effective if souls are won by the ones instead of by the tons. Our job is to do what God has us to; He gives the increase

• Glass house syndrome

• MKs have lived in another culture for several years. Help your children understand that, by virtue of that, they will think, act, and react differently than other peers who have lived stateside their entire lives.

• Don’t forget about MKs in USA (housing during college breaks, care packages, job, pray for them)

Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men

SUGGESTED READING (not necessarily 100% endorsed)

Greene, H. Leon. A Guide to Short Term Missions: A Comprehensive Manual for Planning an Effective Mission Trip. Waynesboro, GA: Gabriel Publishing. 2003.

Jordan, Peter. Re-Entry: Making the Transition from Missions to Life at Home. Seattle, WA: YWAM Publishing. 1992.

Pollock, David C. and Ruth E. Van Reken. Third Culture Kids. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc. 1999.

This book is not written just for missionaries, and it is not written from a biblical orientation. However, it is well written and has sound advice.

Porter, Carol and Mike Hamel, editors. Women’s Ministry Handbook. Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Publishing. 1992.

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